Schematic Symbol Design for Complex (High Pin Count) Connectors

[arbartz]

Hey all,

I'm in the process of my first large design (engineering capstone project) and I'm at the point where I need to pick connectors.  I've settled on the specific connectors that I'm going to use, but I'm a bit unsure of how to eloquently design the schematic symbol.  I could always go ahead and just make a long block with each pin in a row, but that looks ugly and isn't too intuitive to someone else looking at the schematic.  So I'm just looking for any suggestions from those more experienced.

For reference, here's one of the connectors I'm using: http://www.molex.com/pdm_docs/sd/5007620481_sd.pdf

Thanks,
Austin

[ataradov]

Typically connectors like this are made so that each row is its own "gate".

[arbartz]

Typically connectors like this are made so that each row is its own "gate".

So does that mean I'd have a separate block for each row then?  For example, a block containing Pins A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K,L,M for Row 1, then another for Rows 2,3,4?

[ataradov]

Correct. Don't make them all as one symbol, look at how ICs with multiple gates are done. You make a symbol for one row of pins (A-M), and then combine 4 such gates into a component. This way you can position each row anywhere you want on the schematic.

[arbartz]

Alrighty, makes sense to me.  Thanks!

[Mattylad]

And for a connector like a DIN41612 96 pin (rows A1-32, B1-32, C1-32) you can always (if you software allows) use an individual symbol per pin.

This allows you to place the connector pins near the circuitry that they are joined to. This will remove the need to have a single sheet with all 96 pins on and lots of links off to other sheets, which can be hard to follow.