Circuit schematics- an overview

 

Circuit schematics meaning and utility

Circuit Schematics

 

In my introduction post published very recently, I briefly explained the start of my new blog on PCB designing and assembling for the benefit of electronics enthusiasts, novices and the student community for the happy building of simple electronics projects. Further, I mentioned that the objective of this blog would be elaborated on in my coming posts and how I am going to present my tutorials on PCB designing and assembling. As such I would like to bring out some factual information on the need for my blog at this juncture for the benefit of all.

 

Before jumping into actual PCB designing and assembling of the schematics, we quickly go through certain specific items like circuit elements and schematic

 

 

Circuit elements

 

You all know very well that Resistors, Capacitors, Diodes, Transistors, ICs, Coils, Transformers, etc are all electronic components that go into assembling electronic gadgets. They form part of the circuit schematics. In technical terms, they are called ‘circuit elements’. The list includes Semiconductors, ICS, inductors, transducers, speakers, buzzers, etc. There are lakhs and lakhs of such discrete circuit elements that exist in the electronics world. These circuit elements possess values, that differ in sizes, operating tolerances and safety features and functions under specific voltage/current sources. We are not going deep into these items as it is not our aim now and it is beyond the scope of the blog, we should have some basic understanding of what is what.

 

Components and their functions

 

As such certain selected discrete circuit elements grouped when associated with each other and put together tend to perform certain functions for which the circuit has been designed. Put together means when these components are interconnected directly or through electrical wires according to definite rules and set of patterns they give the desired output and perform the specific functions when they are energized from proper power sources for which it has been configured. The individual elements behave according to their nature of construction to give certain outputs.

 

 

Association of Circuit elements

 

As we have seen that Electronic circuit as it is called is nothing but specific value components in specified numbers that are put together rather than interconnected with external conductors or wires in a definite pattern with strict schematic order and properly energize the circuit functions as designed to function in that way. Hence ‘electronics circuit schematic’ is the ultimate combination of circuit elements in a specified pattern of interconnections among the circuit elements. Thereby the individual components depict their own characters for which it has been made.

 

Characteristics of components

 

Very briefly we rush up the purpose of some important components here. Resistors control the flow of current in circuits, and capacitors (non-electrolytic) block the flow of current but at the same time allow AC  signals to pass through. Electrolytic capacitors smoothen the AC waveforms and somewhat regularise the output signal. Pulse variations are regularised for the passage of pure DC.

 

Diodes and rectifiers act as a one-way switch that allows current to flow in one direction. Whereas semiconductors like transistors function in a variety of ways, namely, like a switch, signal- voltage-current amplification task besides inverting, driving and pulsating jobs.

 

Thus each circuit elements according to the characteristics of the component offer appropriate functions in the circuit schematics. The list goes on and need not be described fully here. If you are interested you can find enormous information on such items online as well as in books.

 

Concluding remarks

 

In the coming posts, we will discuss other details of assembling circuit schematics and how to hook up simple circuits. Pl. give your comments and suggestions for the benefit of all.