Short for
system-on-chip, a
chip that holds all of the necessary
hardware and
electronic circuitry for a complete system. SoC includes on-chip memory (
RAM and
ROM), the
microprocessor,
peripheral interfaces,
I/O logic control, data converters, and other components that comprise a complete computer system. Applications include digital cameras, cellular phones,
set-top boxes,
PDAs, and uses in
nanotechnology and medical technology.