There are a number of automotive applications that use discrete semiconductors, including ignition coil driver circuits, airbag systems, and power steering systems.

A discrete semiconductor contains a single semiconductor device, such as a diode or transistor. It is the polar opposite of an integrated circuit semiconductor, which contains many devices on a single piece of semiconductor. The following are examples of discrete transistors.

Because they are designed for high power and high frequency, Discrete Semiconductor are frequently discrete and singular devices today. For example, the transistor on the far right is a power transistor, and the hole at the top is for putting a bolt through it to secure it against a heat sink to ensure the heat it generates is "wicked away" and does not damage it.

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