20403 Semiconductor Devices and Microelectronics

Credits: 4 intermediate credits in Electronics or in Chemistry

Prerequisites: none

Required: Differential and Integral Calculus I (or Infinitesimal Calculus I) and Semiconductors

Recommended: General Chemistry1 (or General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II, for Biology Students; or General Chemistry I + General Chemistry II), Thermodynamics, Electronics I, Modern Physics

Authors: Adir Bar-Lev, Gady Golan

The course surveys the field of semiconductor devices, from junction diodes through laser diodes and advanced transistors used in integrated microelectronic circuits. It is a continuation of Semiconductors (20402) and is intended for Open University students focusing on Physics or Electronics.

The course is designed to acquaint students with the physical principles of a variety of semiconductor devices and to enhance their understanding of their planning, manufacture and integration in electronic systems. The section on technology presents a comprehensive overview of modern planar technology which serves as the foundation for the field of microelectronics.

Topics: Static characteristics of P-N diodes; Dynamic behavior of P-N diodes; Field-Effect-Transistors (FETs); MOS transistors and CMOS circuits; Amplification and switching – various transistor models; The bipolar transistor – structure and mode of operation, small signal model; Additional devices and integrated structures; M-S technology and integrated circuits; Introduction to integrated circuits.


1or General Chemistry (20477 or 20487), which is no longer offered.