How to align circuit elements inside nodes

Question

I am following this example (Block Diagrams in TikZ) on how to put circuitikz elements inside a node box using \newcommand. The elements seems to be centered when outside the \newcommand, but when I tried using them inside a Tikz picture, the alignment was lost. How to I center align, both vertically and horizontally, the \newcommand elements (circuitikz) inside the rectangular node box. In the example I as following, the figures are neatly aligned inside the nodes. What am I missing? Thanks for the help.

Below is what I have so far.

% For drawing block diagrams, plotting, circuits, etc
\documentclass{beamer}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{circuitikz}
\usetikzlibrary{shapes, arrows, arrows.meta, positioning, calc, quotes, backgrounds,     intersections, fit, matrix}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{frame}{Tikz picture inside a node}
\newcommand{\Sampler}{
\begin{circuitikz}
    \draw (0,0) to [opening switch] (2.5,0);
    \node (label) at (1.25, -0.4){$F_s=1//T$};
\end{circuitikz}
}
% This is supposed to be inside the box
\begin{circuitikz}
    \draw (0,0) to [opening switch] (2.5,0);
    \node (label) at (1.25, -0.4){$F_s=1//T$};
\end{circuitikz}
\qquad
% But when I use the \newcommand \Sampler, alignment is lost
\begin{tikzpicture}[auto, node distance=2cm,>=latex']
    \coordinate (IN) at (0,0);
    \node [draw, fill=blue!20, rectangle, 
    minimum height=1.5cm, minimum width=1.5cm, right = 2.0cm of IN, name=SAMP1]{\Sampler};
    \coordinate[right = 2cm of SAMP1] (OUT);
\draw[-&gt;] (IN)node[left, align=left]{Analog\\signal} to node[midway]{$\scriptstyle x_a(t)$}(SAMP1);
\draw[-&gt;] (SAMP1) to node[midway]{$\scriptstyle x(n)\equiv x_a(nT)$} (OUT)node[right, align=left]{Discrete-time\\signal};

\end{tikzpicture}
\end{frame}
\end{document}

Zarko · Accepted Answer · 2021-02-20T13:39:18.287

Remedy for your problem is consider @Rmano comment below (original answer). Problem arise by transfer of settings outer tikzpicture to inner one.

original answer: This you can avoid in your particular case by use text height instead minimum height(first example) or removeminimum height` from outer node options (second example).

First example:

\documentclass{beamer}
\usepackage{circuitikz}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta, 
                %backgrounds, calc, fit, intersections, matrix,
                positioning, 
                quotes,      
                }
\begin{document}
\begin{frame}[fragile]
\frametitle{Tikz picture inside a node}
\newcommand{\Sampler}{%
\begin{circuitikz}
    \draw (0,0) to [opening switch, a={$F_s=1/T$}] (2.5,0);
\end{circuitikz}
}
\Sampler
\begin{center}
    \begin{tikzpicture}[auto, 
node distance = 2cm,
       every edge/.style = {draw, -Latex},
      every label/.style = {align=left},
every edge quotes/.style = {font=\scriptsize}
                        ]
\coordinate[label=left:Analog\signal] (IN);
\node (SAMP1)   [draw, text height=15mm, fill=blue!20, right=of IN] {\Sampler};
\coordinate[label=right:Discrete-time\signal,
            right=of SAMP1] (OUT);
\draw   (IN)    edge ["$x_a(t)$"] (SAMP1) 
        (SAMP1) edge ["$x(n)\equiv x_a(nT)$"] (OUT);
    \end{tikzpicture}
\end{center}
\end{frame}
\end{document}

Second example:

Addedndum: Considering proper nesting of TikZ pictures the MWE is:

\usepackage{circuitikz}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta, 
                positioning, 
                quotes,      
                }
\newbox\Sampler
\sbox{\Sampler}{%
\begin{circuitikz}
    \draw (0,0) to [opening switch, a={$f_s=1/T$}] (2.5,0);
\end{circuitikz}}
\begin{document}
\begin{frame}[fragile]
\frametitle{Tikz picture inside a node}
\usebox{\Sampler}
\begin{center}
\begin{tikzpicture}[auto, 

node distance = 22mm,
       every edge/.style = {draw, -Latex},
      every label/.style = {align=left},
every edge quotes/.style = {font=\footnotesize},
                N/.style = {draw, fill=blue!20, minimum size=16mm, inner sep=1ex} 
                        ]
\coordinate[label=left:Analog\signal] (IN);
\node (SAMP1)   [N, right=of IN] {\usebox{\Sampler}};
\coordinate[label=right:Discrete-time\signal,
            right=of SAMP1] (OUT);
\draw   (IN)    edge ["$x_a(t)$"] (SAMP1) 
        (SAMP1) edge ["$x(n)\equiv x_a(nT)$"] (OUT);
    \end{tikzpicture}
    \end{center}
\end{frame}
\end{document}

which gives the similar result as second example:

In simple cases like this it works, but notice that your are nesting tikzpictures, and it will fail sooner or later. Better use a box: https://tex.stackexchange.com/a/66037/38080 — Rmano, Feb 20 '21 at 09:00
@Rmano, you are right. I add addendum to answer where is considered link which you kindly provide me. — Zarko, Feb 20 '21 at 09:41

How to align circuit elements inside nodes

1 Answers1