Book excerpt: Solid-State Circuits provides an introduction to the theory and practice underlying solid-state circuits, laying particular emphasis on field effect transistors and integrated circuits. Topics range from construction and characteristics of semiconductor devices to rectification and power supplies, low-frequency amplifiers, sine- and square-wave oscillators, and high-frequency effects and circuits. Black-box equivalent circuits of bipolar transistors, physical equivalent circuits of bipolar transistors, and equivalent circuits of field effect transistors are also covered. This volume is divided into three sections comprised of 11 chapters and begins with an introduction to the basic physics of bulk semiconductors, diodes, and transistors, along with the construction and characteristics of devices and integrated circuits. Physics is kept to the minimum necessary for the understanding of devices. Attention then turns to the fundamental use of semiconductors in rectifier, amplifier, and oscillator circuits. The high frequency use of transistors is given consideration, and in all examples designs from device characteristics are included. The remaining chapters focus on the development of equivalent circuits of transistors. This approach highlights the alternating current operation of devices, and some of the more sophisticated circuits using semiconductor devices are demonstrated. This book will be of interest to students and practitioners of electronics and electrical engineering.