For many new communications systems—such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), cable TV, and local area networks (LANs)—traditional switching techniques have become inadequate. To meet the demands of these applications, semiconductor switching devices must now handle wider bandwidths and offer more on-chip features to achieve low chip-count solutions. Higher integration, smaller packages, easier device paralleling/combining, and improved dynamic performance are essential features for designing large-capacity switching systems.