phinds said:Even if you COULD make VTs really small, the glass enclosure for one would be HUGE compared to a single transistor on a wafer, AND the power consumption would be enormously higher. What could possibly be the point of reverting from an excellent technology to a vastly inferior one?
Vacuum tubes are not made small because they require a certain amount of space to function properly. The size of a vacuum tube is determined by its internal components, which need a specific amount of distance between them for the tube to operate correctly.
While it is possible to make vacuum tubes smaller, there are limitations due to the physical properties of the materials used. As the size of the tube decreases, the distance between the components also decreases, which can lead to interference and decreased performance.
Vacuum tubes are typically made of glass or metal, with metal electrodes and a vacuum inside. The electrodes are often made of tungsten or other metals with high melting points to withstand the high temperatures generated by the flow of electricity.
Yes, vacuum tubes have largely been replaced by solid-state components such as transistors and integrated circuits. These components are smaller, more reliable, and consume less power than vacuum tubes.
Vacuum tubes were the primary electronic components used before the invention of transistors in the 1950s. They were used in a variety of applications, including radios, televisions, and early computers. At the time, they were the most reliable and efficient means of amplifying and switching electrical signals.