Large-Scale Integration

What Does Large-Scale Integration Mean?

Large-scale integration (LSI) is the process of integrating or embedding thousands of transistors on a single silicon semiconductor microchip. LSI technology was conceived in the mid-1970s when computer processor microchips were under development.

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LSI is no longer in use. It was succeeded by very large-scale integration (VLSI) and ultra large-scale integration (ULSI) technologies.

Techopedia Explains Large-Scale Integration

LSI defines the technology used to build powerful microchips or integrated circuits (IC) in a very small form factor. It succeeded small-scale integration (SSI) and medium-scale integration (MSI), which included tens to hundreds of transistors per microchip. LSI consists of thousands of transistors that are closely embedded and integrated with a very small microchip.

One of the first components built on LSI technology was 1-K bit RAM, which contained 4,000 transistors. Later components and microprocessors held up to 10,000 embedded transistors.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…