Interconnect Diagrams: A Comprehensive Infographic

If you’ve never worked with one before, interconnect diagrams can appear confusing and complex.

So, we created the infographic below to help demystify interconnect diagrams and provide a starting point for understanding the different components and configurations that make them work.

Interconnect Diagrams:
A Comprehensive Infographic

Interconnection Diagram:

The visual structure of a circuit that displays components used in the circuit to show flow of power and signals between components.

Differences between wiring diagrams and schematics:

Schematic Diagrams…

show you the components in the form of standardized symbols, values, and lines to demonstrate current flow direction.

In a schematic diagram, components with specific functions are shown as symbols, instead of each components physical appearance.

For example, the schematic diagram of a circuit is symbolic of what the actual physical component would look like.

Symbols are set by the IEEE and IPC engineering communities and are internationally standardized, though, in some cases, these standards may vary by country.

interconnect-diagram-schematic-diagram

Wiring Diagrams…

demonstrate the layout of components that makeup the a circuit. Typically wiring diagrams are created with the use of CAD, VLSI, on a breadboard, or a graphic design tool like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.

Pictorial components are used in place of component symbols and lines are used to represent wires that connect each component.

interconnect-diagram-wiring-diagram

What is a cable block diagram?

A cable block diagram is a simple written-out set of instructions drawn out in blocks for each component used within the circuit.

The blocks are accompanied with text within or around them to describe each components function.

Connections between these components are demonstrated using lines with arrows to show current flow direction and text to describe the connection of the line.

interconnect-diagram-block-diagram

What is the use of schematic diagrams?

Schematic diagrams are used to communicate the anatomy of a circuit, the components that are being used, and the directional flow of power throughout the circuit.

How do you read a schematic diagram?

You must understand the electrical engineering principles and standardized symbols.

Begin working your way through the diagram starting with the power symbol and working your way through the instructions your are given depending on the diagram.