BLOCK DIAGRAMS

Block diagrams• A way to show schematically the individual subsystems of

a design with arrows to show the direction that signals flow through the subsystems.• It is a quick way to determine what the subsystems do in the

system without analysing the full circuit or looking at an entire software program.

Block diagrams• A way to show schematically the individual subsystems of

a design with arrows to show the direction that signals flow through the subsystems.• Sometimes the blocks are labeled with the name of the subsystem.

http://www.hobbyprojects.com/block_diagrams/block_diagrams.html

Block diagrams• A way to show schematically the individual subsystems of

a design with arrows to show the direction that signals flow through the subsystems.• Sometimes the blocks are labelled according to the mathematics

that the subsystem performs on the input signal

http://www.vis.uky.edu/~cheung/courses/ee422G/lecture10.pdf

Electronic Design Project• I expect to see at least one block diagram for the entire

system – the optical pulse meter in: • Each team member’s notebook

• Changes in the design of subsystems should be shown by changes to the block diagram.• For example, there will need to be a filter and an amplifier in the analogue

portion of the circuit. If the order in which these two are changes as the team designs the pulse meter, then a new block diagram should be added to everyone’s lab notebook. The old block diagram should stay in the notebook!

• The final report• The final presentation.

FLOWCHARTING

Flowchart• Visual representation (a diagram) of the activities that will

be performed to complete a task or project.• Used frequently to describe the sequence of steps in a software

programme.• Also used to outline the tasks that need to be done on a manufacturing

line or to complete a design project.• In these cases, the flow chart is usually coupled with a Gantt chart.

ChartsFlowchart

Gantt Chart

Common ShapesName Description

Action A process or action such as a calculation, assignment, etc.

Start/Begin and Stop/End Shows where the flow starts and stops

Decision Indicates that a decision has been made between 2 or more choices

Flowlines Shows the order in which actions are to be completed

Connector Shows where a flow restarts when it doesn’t fit on a single page.

Input/Output Indicates where date is either collected, stored, or stored.

Examples of Flowcharts

http://www.rff.com/structured_flowchart.htm

Loops

These are some times called

• Do loops• For-Next loops• If-Then statements• If-Else statements• While statementshttp://www.rff.com/structured_flowchart.htm

Infinite Loops

In Microelectronic Systems, we used while(1) to

continuously loop through the mbed programs.

http://creately.com/blog/diagrams/part-2-15-mistakes-you-would-unintentionally-make-with-flowcharts/

Single and Multiple Ends

http://www.rff.com/structured_flowchart.htm

Connector

http://www.rff.com/structured_flowchart.htm

Other Symbols

https://conceptdraw.com/a697c3/p1/preview/640/pict--audit-flowchart-symbols-design-elements-audit-flowchart

Electronic Design Project• I expect to see at least one flowchart for the mbed

software program in: • Each team member’s notebook

• Use it when first thinking through how the program should be written.• Use it to document the final version of the program.

• The final report• The final presentation.