Electrical Terminology
Introduction
Often times some general EE terms are used and because we have newer members I wanted to create a document to clearly state how they should be used and what the industry standard definitions and best practices are. Clear communication is critical for proper coordination within our team. Please ask questions if you have concerns or questions. We can absolutely update this document if needed!
History
This lesson was learned in conversation in discord here.
This is intended to be used for 2024 system architecture 2024 System Architecture initially and has evolved further since.
Terminology
Nouns
IC
one of two meannings
integrated circuit
a circuit in a single package
individual contributor
a single person working on a project
Requirements
A list of stipulations that must be met by a system to be satisfactory
from google: a thing that is compulsory; a necessary condition.
Guidelines
from google: a general rule, principle, or piece of advice.
A loose requirement that is much more general and is not necessary but recommended
Design
A plan of how something should be fabricated or assembled
From google: a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made.
Assembly
A collection of assembled components
Net
A single electrical conductor
A “net name” indicates the purpose or use case of said net
Pinout
refers to which pins on a connector or pins on a component or colors of wires in a harness represent which electrical nets of a connector
can be used in the context of a connector associated with a component or a harness
generally this information is conveyed via a table or a schematic
Component list
list of parts you’re going to use
general part numbers or brief component descriptions
generally doesn't include:
quantity
details
exact part numbers
Populated
refers to:
components in a PCBA
components in a system
means the component is present physically
Depopulated
means a component is not present physically
for example:
“the case for the board is depopulated” means the board is not inside the case
“that component is depopulated on the PCBA” means the physicaly component is not placed on the footprint that is dedicated for it on the PCB
BOM
pronounced as it sounds and not said by letters
short for bill of materials
includes for each schematic designator
precise manufacturer part numbers
or an indication that no part should be populated: i.e. DNP
quantities
configurations/alternatives (if applicable)
Note that there does not need to be a BOM line item for every designator as items flagged as "generic no bom" (for example mounting holes) will not be included in the BOM even if they have a designator in the schematic.
Diagram
blocks diagram
blocks represent components (shown with MPNs)
lines represent an electrical connection
without detail as to how that thing is connected, just saying its connected electrically
i.e. ambiguous as to RF link, cable link, or wire link
Cable
a set of wires
normally encased in insulation
Wire
single piece of copper conductor, normally encased in insulation
Schematic
components with designators with all of their exposed electrical conductors mapped to a pin
Components are generally referred to as “symbols” at this stage and all of their available interface exposed electrical conductors are referred to as “pins”.
generally MPNs or more descriptors are provided in the schematic though this is not required as this information is specified within the BOM
lines represent single conducting wires (or chunks of copper for a PCB) between components.
Placement
an indication of where every components in space is physically placed
for PCBs we generally consider this to be 2d
for systems (a collection of boards and mechanical housings) we consider this as 3d
Please note by definition placement requires knowing specific information about every component in a system, this requires knowing the components part numbers, and precise dimensions. Further, many component specific electrical guidelines may need to be recognized. This was discussed in some detail in this discord conversation.
This does not include interconnects taking up space
Interconnects
cables and wires in a system
copper pours, planes, and traces in a PCB
Layout
for systems layout is placement including the interconnects
for PCBs layout is placement including all the copper interconnects defined within your schematic
By definition a layout design necessitates having a placement design, though placement and layout are often performed in parallel by a designer because layout requirements influence placement.
Note this also includes the pcb physical dimensions and any board cutouts, including drills such as vias and mounting holes.
Harness
a cable (or set of cables) containing wires that connect components together.
Harness schematic
diagram showing positions of each wire in a harness and how they connect to components electrical ports
may specify requirements for wire:
colors
gauges
twisting
etc.
Harness layout
indicates
materials
wire gauges
wire lengths
casings
insulations
their positions for a harness.
Can be either done in a CAD or just have these parameters written out clearly
PCB
printed circuit board
bare board
no components fitted
a PCB design is defined by a PCB layout
Variant
a specific list of component MPNs to be fitted in the corresponding to footprints on a PCB
multiple variants correspond to a single pcb
This definition was chosen to align with https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/design-variants .
PCBA
printed circuit board assembly
bare board with all of the components for a given variant soldered into it
System
In a literal sense a system is something that takes input(s) and produces output(s)
this could be anything!
From an EE perspective a system is where multiple boards and mechanical systems come together
From a product perspective (which WARG generally uses) a system would be our entire drone and ground station setup.
Target System
For a PCBA the target system is the system that the PCBA will be integrated into
MPN
Manufacturer Part Number
(Power) Rail
A constant current or constant voltage net
Examples of specific rails: GND, 5V
Passive (Element)
includes: resistors, capacitors, and inductors
may include other components though is a bit ambiguous
does not include: integrated circuits with digital logic, transistors
Verbs
Float
generally refers to pins on an IC or connector
means make the pin not electrically connected to anything
Pull High/Low
means using a resistor (or anything more broadly) to pull a normally high impedance net to a certain state (normally GND or PWR)
for example, I2C requires pullup resistors.
Design
Creating a schematic or layout model in CAD or on paper for review or to help coordinate with others as to what you intend to do
Fabrication
construction of a bare component
PCB fabrication is fabricating the bare board
Assembly
constructing a new larger more integrated component from a set of individual components
PCBA assembly is assembling the bare board (PCB) and components together via soldering
for a system this is assembling the PCBAs and harnesses into a vehicle.
Wiring
an ambiguous term generally generally associated with assembly specifically in the context of assembling or connecting a harness
Manufacturing
Fabrication and assembly
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