Signal as a Choice - Electronic Circuits Step by Step

Electronic signals can be modelled as choices that open or close an ideal switch. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

A low signal means open

In this simplified electronic model, a LOW signal is represented by an open switch.

\text{LOW} \Rightarrow \text{open}

A high signal means closed

A HIGH signal is represented by a closed switch, so the load has a conducting path.

\text{HIGH} \Rightarrow \text{closed}

The signal chooses topology before size

The signal state decides whether the path exists. Current size comes after that graph choice.

\begin{array}{c|c|c}\text{signal}&\text{switch}&\text{path}\\\text{LOW}&\text{open}&\text{broken}\\\text{HIGH}&\text{closed}&\text{conducting}\end{array}