Division 5 For the purposes of headings 8541 and 8542:

1. (A)

   ‘Diodes, transistors and similar semiconductor devices’ are semiconductor devices the operation of which depends on variations in resistivity on the application of an electric field.

2. (B)

   ‘Electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies’ are:

   1. (a)

      monolithic integrated circuits in which the circuit elements (diodes, transistors, resistors, capacitors, interconnections, etc.) are created in the mass (essentially) and on the surface of a semiconductor material (doped silicon, for example) and are inseparably associated;

   2. (b)

      hybrid integrated circuits in which passive elements (resistors, capacitors, interconnections, etc.), obtained by thin- or thick-film technology, and active elements (diodes, transistors, monolithic integrated circuits, etc.), obtained by semiconductor technology, are combined to all intents and purposes indivisibly, on a single insulating substrate (glass, ceramic, etc.). These circuits may also include discrete components;

   3. (c)

      microassemblies of the moulded module, micromodule or similar types, consisting of discrete, active or both active and passive, components which are combined and interconnected.

For the classification of the articles defined in this note, headings 8541 and 8542 shall take precedence over any other heading in the nomenclature which might cover them by reference to, in particular, their function.