Duty cycle
telecommunication, the term duty cycle has the following meanings:
1. In an ideal pulse train, i.e., one having rectangular pulses, the ratio of the pulse duration to the continuous operation to (b) the total specified period of operation.
3. In a continuously variable slope delta (CVSD) modulation converter, the mean proportion of binary "1" digits at the converter output in which each "1" indicates a run of a specified number of consecutive bits of the same polarity in the digital output signal.
4. In a periodic phenomenon, the ratio of the duration of the phenomenon in a given period to the period.
Note: In a piece of electrical equipment, e.g. , an electric motor, the period for which it may be operated without deleterious effects, e.g. , from overheating.
Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188
