He left it there, singing its quiet, obsolete, essential song. And somewhere, in the dark of the Oregon rainforest, a monument to everything that ever switched from off to on continued to decide, over and over again, that being a transistor was still worth the trouble.
Transistors have several key characteristics:
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It is often called the greatest invention of the 20th century. But when people talk about "all transistors," they aren't just talking about one specific component. They are talking about a vast, diverse family of devices that switch, amplify, and control the flow of electricity.
Next time you are designing a circuit, take a moment to appreciate the nuance between the BJT and the FET. Choosing the right one is the difference between a project that sizzles and a project that fizzles.
If you peel back the layers of modern technology—your smartphone, your car, the International Space Station—you will find a common denominator: the transistor.