Operating Principles of Semiconductor Devices

Book excerpt: Electronic components made out of semiconductors surround us in our daily lives. Semiconductor devices are used in computers, hand-held devices, and cell phones. They are also used to control the power in refrigerators, ovens, and dish-washers. They are used extensively in the cars we drive, the trains we ride in, and the airplanes we fly in. Semiconductor devices are also the principle component of solar panels on our homes. In short, semiconductor devices are present in most anything that pertains to energy, communications, or information. This book is an introduction to the operating principles of these semiconductor devices. This book is appropriate for undergraduate students in engineering.