ABSTRACT
Circuits are often represented in a simplified manner by means of a circuit diagram, also called an electronic schematic. The schematic diagram depicts the circuit using simplified, standard symbols that show components as well as connections for power and signals. The schematic circuit diagram is the engineer’s and circuit designer’s basic tool. Unlike the block diagram, the circuit schematics show the actual connections between components, however, the physical arrangement of the individual components need not match the actual board. The actual symbols used in electronic schematics have changed and some have become obsolete as the components they represented are no longer used. Circuit design software and individual companies often introduce extensions and variations to the standard symbol set. There is an Institute for Printed Circuits standard for every aspect of printed circuit board design, manufacture, and testing.
