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Electrical and Computer Engineering

18310 – Fundamentals of Semiconductor Devices

12 units

In this course you will receive an introduction to the operation and fabrication of the most important semiconductor devices used in integrated circuit technology together with device design and layout. At the end of the course you will have a basic understanding of pn diodes, bipolar transistors, and MOSFETs as well as some light emitting and light detecting devices such as photodiodes, LEDs and solar cells. You will also receive an introduction to the fundamental concepts of semiconductor physics such as doping, electron and hole transport, and band diagrams. In the laboratory you will learn how to lay out both bipolar and MOS devices and you will design small (2-3 transistor) circuits. The laboratory portion of the course emphasizes the relation between device design and layout and circuit performance. You will also experimentally evaluate the operation of amplifier and gate circuits fabricated with discrete devices. This course will give you an excellent understanding of the operation and fabrication of the devices which is necessary for high-performance analog and digital circuit design.

This course replaced 18-311 in Spring 2005.

3 hrs. lec., 3 hrs. lab.

Prerequisite: 18-220 (Note: the prerequisite is typically waived for MSE students who intend to pursue the Electronic Materials Minor)

Last updated on October 9, 2006

ECE classifications

Undergraduate areas

Applied Physics

Undergraduate designations

Breadth, Coverage

This course is currently being offered.

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Past semesters

S07, S06, S05

Hover over a semester for more information.

Please note that the course history information is incomplete and/or may reflect different courses offered under the same course number.



5000 Forbes Avenue / Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 / Phone: 412-268-7400 / Fax: 412-268-2860