The document discusses VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) technology, which combines numerous electronic components onto a single substrate to form integrated circuits, contrasting with discrete circuits. The evolution of VLSI technology is traced from the invention of the transistor, highlighting its significant role in transforming electronic devices by enhancing speed, reducing size and cost, and improving reliability. It emphasizes various applications of VLSI chips across communication networks, digital signal processing, computers, and other fields.

1. By
G. Mahalakshmi Malini (AP/ECE),
Faculty Of Engineering,
Avinashilingam Institute For Home Science And Higher Education For Women,
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

2. VLSI is an acronym and when expanded, this
actually means Very Large Scale Integration or
Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits.

3. What is a circuit?
A printed circuit board with different components
soldered on to that – capacitors, transistors, diodes,
resistors, connecting wires is a discrete circuit.
What is an integrated circuit?
in contrast, in an integrated circuit, the entire circuitry
that is, the active and passive elements – everything is in
housed on the same substrate.

4. What is VLSI technology, how did the technology
evolve & how VLSI technology has succeeded in
making a drastic change in our daily life?
 Invention of transistor was the driving factor of growth in
the VLSI technology . Before that let us know the
electronic evolution.
 Electronic deals with circuits which involve various active
and passive components.
 These circuits are used in various electronic devices and
are called electronic circuits.
 Originally the components used in electronic circuits like
diode were made up of vacuum tubes and were called
discrete components.

5.  Later when the solid state devices was invented, the
components were made up of semiconductors.
 Vacuum tubes had the disadvantages of its size, power
requirement and reliability.

6.  In 1965, Godon Moore, an industry pioneer
predicted that the number of transistors on a chip
doubles every 18 to 24 months.
 He also predicted that semiconductor technology
will double its effectivess every 18months and many
other factors grow exponentionally

7. year No. of Transistors
SSI 1964 1 to 20
MSI 1968 20 to 100
LSI 1971 100 to 1,000
VLSI 1980 1,000 to 10,000
ULSI 1984 10,000 and more

8.  Reduces the size of circuits
 Reduces the effective cost of the device
 Increases the operating speed of circuits
 Requires less power than discrete components
 Higher reliability
 Qccupies a relatively smaller area

9. VLSI chips are widely used in
 Voice and data communication networks
 Digital signal processing
 Computers
 Commercial electronics
 Automobiles
 Medicine and many more