Definition: Tri-Gate transistor

A type of 3D FinFET transistor from Intel introduced in 2011 with its Ivy Bridge microarchitecture. The "tri" in Tri-Gate means the gate wraps around three sides of a fin-shaped channel from source to drain instead of residing on top of the channel in the traditional 2D planar design. See SuperFin.

Better Performance

Because the gate wraps around the fin-like channel, the Tri-Gate transistor provides greater performance and less current leakage. For faster and more stable switching, more fins are used. (Images courtesy of Intel Corporation.)

Six Fins Each

This matrix (center) is an actual image of three transistors, each with six fins. The drains from the first become the sources for the second, and so on. Metal layers interconnect all the source, drain and gate elements to complete the circuit design. (Image courtesy of Intel Corporation.)

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Definition: Tri-Gate transistor