Integrated Circuits

Some types of electronic components can be super-miniaturized, allowing thousands of parts fit into an area smaller than your fingernail. These "integrated circuits" (ICs) are used in everything from simple electronic toys to the most advanced computers. The music, alarm, and space war ICs (U1, U2, and U3) in Snap Circuits are actually modules containing specialized sound-generation ICs and other supporting components (resistors, capacitors, and transistors) that are always needed with them. This was done to simplify the connections you need to make to use them. The description for these modules are given here for those interested, see the projects for connection examples:

Music IC (U1)

Debut: Sound Activated Switch

Alarm IC (U2)

Debut: Space War Alarm Combo

Space War IC (U3)

Debut: Space War Alarm Combo