Generation of Integrated Circuits

As number of transistor, which can be fabricated in a single chip increased through generation, We believe more transistor and more complex IC's are yet to come.

SSI  (Small Scale Integration) introduced in 1964, Having transistors 1 - 10 and logic gates 1 - 12

MSI (Medium Scale Integration) introduced in 1968, Having transistors 10 - 500 and logic gates  13 - 99

LSI (Large Scale Integration) introduced in 1971, having transistors 500 - 20000 and logic gates 100 - 9999

VLSI (Very Large Scale Integeration) introduced in 1980, having transistors 20000-1000000 and logic gates 10000 to 99999

ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration) introduced in 1984, having transistor 1000000 and more and logic gates 100000 and more

WSI (Wafer Scale Integration) is a means of building very large integrated circuits that uses an entire silicon wafer to produce a single "super-chip".

SoC or SOC (System On Chip) is an integrated circuit in which all the components needed for a computer or other system are included on a single chip.

3D-IC (3 Dimensional Integrated Circuit) has two or more layers of active electronic components that are integrated both vertically and horizontally into a single circuit.

Name	Signification	Year	Transistors number	Logic Gates number
SSI	small-scale integration	1964	1 to 10	1 to 12
MSI	medium-scale integration	1968	10 to 500	13 to 99
LSI	large-scale integration	1971	500 to 20 000	100 to 9999
VLSI	very large-scale integration	1980	20 000 to 1 000 000	10 000 to 99 999
ULSI	ultra-large-scale integration	1984	1 000 000 and more	100 000 and more