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A schematic is a diagram that represents the elements of a system
System

System is a set of interacting or interdependent entities, real or abstract, forming an integrated whole.The concept of an "integrated whole" can also be stated in terms of a system embodying a set of relationships which are differentiated from relationships of the set to other elements, and from relationships between an element of the se...
 using abstract, graphic symbol
Symbol

A symbol is something such as an entity, picture, written word, sound, or particular mark that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention....
s rather than realistic pictures. A schematic usually omits all details that are not relevant to the information the schematic is intended to convey, and may add unrealistic elements that aid comprehension.






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A schematic is a diagram that represents the elements of a system
System

System is a set of interacting or interdependent entities, real or abstract, forming an integrated whole.The concept of an "integrated whole" can also be stated in terms of a system embodying a set of relationships which are differentiated from relationships of the set to other elements, and from relationships between an element of the se...
 using abstract, graphic symbol
Symbol

A symbol is something such as an entity, picture, written word, sound, or particular mark that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention....
s rather than realistic pictures. A schematic usually omits all details that are not relevant to the information the schematic is intended to convey, and may add unrealistic elements that aid comprehension. For example, a subway map intended for riders may represent a subway station with a dot; the dot doesn't resemble the actual station at all but gives the viewer the information he needs without unnecessary visual clutter. A schematic diagram of a chemical process uses symbols to represent the vessels, piping, valves, pumps, and other equipment of the system, emphasizing their interconnection paths and suppressing physical details. In an electronic circuit diagram
Circuit diagram

A circuit diagram is a simplified conventional pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified standard symbols, and the electric power and signal connections between the devices....
, the layout of the symbols may not resemble the layout in the physical circuit. In the schematic diagram, the symbolic elements are arranged to be more easily interpreted by the viewer.

Electrical and electronic industry


4 Bit Counter
In electronic design automation
Electronic design automation

Electronic Design Automation is the category of tools for designing and producing electronic systems ranging from printed circuit boards to integrated circuits....
, until the 1980s schematics were virtually the only formal representation for circuits. More recently, with the progress of computer technology, other representations were introduced and specialized computer languages were developed, since with the explosive growth of the complexity of electronic circuits, traditional schematics are becoming less practical. For example, hardware description language
Hardware description language

In electronics, a hardware description language or HDL is any language from a class of computer languages and/or programming languages for formal description of digital logic and electronic circuits....
s are indispensable for modern digital circuit
Digital circuit

Digital electronics are electronics systems that use digital signals. Digital electronics are representations of Boolean algebra and are used in computers, mobile phones, and other consumer products....
 design.

Schematics for electronic circuits are prepared by designers using EDA (Electronic Design Automation
Electronic design automation

Electronic Design Automation is the category of tools for designing and producing electronic systems ranging from printed circuit boards to integrated circuits....
) tools called schematic capture
Schematic capture

Schematic capture or schematic entry is a step in the design cycle of electronic design automation at which the electronic diagram, or Circuit diagram of the designed electronic circuit is created by a designer....
 tools or schematic entry tools. These tools go beyond simple drawing of devices and connections. Usually they are integrated into the whole IC design flow and linked to other EDA tools for verification and simulation of the circuit under design.

In electric power systems design, a schematic drawing called a one-line diagram
One-line diagram

In power engineering, a one-line diagram or single-line diagram is a simplified notation for representing a three-phase power system. The one-line diagram has its largest application in Power flow study....
 is frequently used to represent substations
Electrical substation

An electrical substation is a subsidiary station of an electricity Electrical generation, electric power transmission and electricity distribution system where voltage is transformed from high to low or the reverse using transformers....
, distribution systems or even whole electrical power grids. These diagrams simplify and compress the details that would be repeated on each phase of a three-phase
Three-phase

In electrical engineering, three-phase electric power systems have at least three conductors carrying voltage waveforms that are 2p/3 radians offset in time....
 system, showing only one element instead of three.

Schematics in repair manuals


Schematic diagrams are used extensively in repair manuals to help users understand the relative position of parts and to provide graphical instruction to assist in taking apart and rebuilding mechanical assemblies. Many automotive and motorcycle repair manuals devote a significant number of pages to schematic diagrams.

See also


  • Circuit diagram
    Circuit diagram

    A circuit diagram is a simplified conventional pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It shows the components of the circuit as simplified standard symbols, and the electric power and signal connections between the devices....
  • Energy Systems Language
    Energy Systems Language

    The Energy Systems Language , also referred to as Energese, Energy Circuit Language and Generic Systems Symbols, was developed by the ecologist Howard T....
  • chart
    Chart

    and A chart is a visual representation of data, in which the data are represented by symbols such as bars in a bar chart or lines in a line chart....
    , diagram
    Diagram

    A diagram is a 2D geometric model symbolic representation of information according to some visualization technique. Sometimes, the technique uses a Three-dimensional space visualization which is then graphical projection onto the 2D surface....
  • straight-line diagram
    Straight-line diagram

    A straight-line diagram is a diagram of a road where the road is shown as a straight line. Such diagrams are usually produced by a highway department, and display features along the road, including bridges and intersecting roads....


External links

  • Many Circuits and Electronic Projects.
  • Largest collection of circuit schematics.
  • Large collection of electronic circuit schematics.