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Circuits and Devices

• A circuit is a collection of interconnected

electrical devices such that charge (usually
Schematic Diagrams and Symbols electrons) can flow through it continuously
without beginning or end.
Peter Mathys • Each electrical device is a component that is
treated as a separate entity.
ECEN 1400
• Devices typically encountered in circuits are
batteries, resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes,
transistors, OpAmps, integrated circuits, etc.

Circuit Symbols Example

• To specify and document electrical circuits, Corresponding

standardized symbols are used for the devices Physical Circuit Schematic Diagram

and the wires that interconnect them.

• Circuit symbols are also used for conceptual
devices such as ideal voltage and current
sources, and to simplify schematics, e.g., by
using a common reference or ground potential
with an associated ground symbol.

(Ideal) Sources and Ground Example Using Ground

In electronic circuits
ground is used as an Simple flashlight circuit with voltage source, switch, and lamp.
electrical reference point.

In electrical power
distribution systems ground
(“earth”) is the electrical
potential of the Earth’s
conductive surface.

(a) All wires shown (b) Bottom wire (c) Using ground
explicitly replaced by connections and
connection battery as source.
through ground.

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Switches Resistors

SPDT switch, construction view

Color Code Standard Values

Standard values for resistors and other components. The most common values
are shown in bold on the first line.

Diodes Lamps and LEDs

Diodes are “one-

way streets” for
current.

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Capacitors Inductors, Transformers

Transistors (BJT) Transistors (JFET, MOSFET)

JFET: Junction Field-Effect Transistor

BJT: Bipolar Junction Transistor

MOSFET: Metal Oxide Semiconductor

Field-Effect Transistor

Operational Amplifiers Example

Switching Regulator:
Simple but non-
trivial example of a
schematic.