Microwave transistors: Bipolar and FET for small signal and power applications

IC technology is a dominant factor behind the revolution in modern-day electronics. The first major impact of ICs was felt in the reduction of cost and size of computer-logic circuits, and a second generation of computers based on ultra-low-cost LSI micro processors now being introduced. For technical reasons ICs were once judged to be less applicable to analog problems. Ingenuity and hard work have overcome many of these initial barriersto the extent that linear ICs are not only less expensive, but, also out perform many of their discrete predecessors. However, the inroads made by ICs into the domain of the analog designer have largely been achieved by gain-block circuits-primarily operational amplifiers - although, comparators, differential amplifiers, video amplifiers, and instrumentation amplifiers, have also played a strong part.