Block Drawing Symbology

DOE-HDBK-1016/2-93 ELECTRONIC DIAGRAMS, PRINTS, AND SCHEMATICS Electronic Diagrams and Schematics PR-04 Page 12 Rev. 0 Figure 12 Example Blocks Block Drawing Symbology Not all electronics prints are drawn to the level of detail depicting the individual resistors and capacitors, nor is this level of information always necessary. These simpler drawings are called block diagrams. Block diagrams provide a means of representing any type of electronic circuit or system in a simple graphic format. Block diagrams are designed to present flow or functional information about the circuit or system, not detailed component data. The symbols shown in Figure 12 are used in block diagrams. When block diagrams are used, the basic blocks shown above (Figure 12) can be used for almost anything. Whatever the block represents will be written inside. Note that block diagrams are presented in this chapter with electronic schematics because block diagrams are commonly found with complex schematic diagrams to help present or summarize their flow or functional information. The use of block diagrams is not restricted to electronic circuits. Block diagrams are used extensively to show complex instrument channels and other complex systems when only the flowpath of the signal is important. Examples of Block Diagrams The block diagram is the most basic and easiest to understand of all the types of engineering prints. It consists of simple blocks that can represent as much, or as little, as desired. An example of a block diagram is shown in Figure 13. This particular block diagram represents an instrumentation channel used to measure the neutron flux, indicate the measured flux, and generate output signals for use by other systems.