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A system is a collection of components that function together to perform a specific task. Various systems are encountered in everyday life. It is common practice to refer to the bones of the human body as the skeletal system.
Electronic systems are similar in the sense that they consist of collections of electronic and electrical parts interconnected in such a way as to perform a specific function. The components of an electronic system include transistors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors, as well as standard Electronics Parts such as switches and connectors among others. All of these components are interconnected with individual wires or with printed circuit boards. In addition, many automotive electronic systems incorporate specialized components known as Pressure Sensor or actuators that enable the electronic system to interface with the appropriate automotive mechanical systems.
Any electronic system can be described at various levels of abstraction, from a pictorial description or a schematic drawing at the lowest level to a block diagram at the highest level. For the purposes of the present discussion, this higher-level abstraction is preferable. At this level, each functional subsystem is characterized by inputs, outputs, and the relationship between input and output. Normally only the system designer or maintenance technician would be concerned with detailed schematics and the internal workings of the system. Furthermore, the only practical way to cover the vast range of automotive electronic systems is to limit our discussion to this so- called system level of abstraction. It is important for the reader to realize that there are typically many different circuit configurations capable of performing a given function.
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