The correct answer is: B. integrated circuit
An integrated circuit (IC), also known as a microchip, is a small electronic device that contains a number of electronic components, such as transistors, resistors, and capacitors, all of which are etched onto a thin slice of semiconductor material. ICs are used in a wide variety of products, including computers, cell phones, and automobiles.
Integrated circuits have been the key to recent developments in automation because they have allowed for the miniaturization of electronic devices. This has made it possible to create smaller and more powerful machines that can be used to automate a wide range of tasks.
The other options are incorrect because they are not electronic components that have been the key to recent developments in automation.
- A. improved vacuum tube: A vacuum tube is a device that uses a vacuum to amplify or switch electronic signals. Vacuum tubes were once the primary component in electronic devices, but they have been largely replaced by transistors and integrated circuits.
- C. diode: A diode is a semiconductor device that allows current to flow in one direction only. Diodes are used in a variety of electronic circuits, including rectifiers, amplifiers, and oscillators.
- D. transistor: A transistor is a semiconductor device that can be used to amplify or switch electronic signals. Transistors are the basic building blocks of integrated circuits, and they have revolutionized the electronics industry.
- E. None of the above: None of the other options are electronic components that have been the key to recent developments in automation.