duty cycle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'duty cycle' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used in engineering and technology to refer to the period of time during which a device or machine operates as a percentage of its total operating cycle. For example, "The duty cycle of this machine is 10%."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The duty cycle is 50%.

Cornell University

It depends on the duty cycle.

Power Sources and Supplies

Five Volts gives 100% duty cycle, while 0 Volts gives 0% duty cycle.

Cornell University

To calculate the duty cycle the following equation was used OCR1x = (20000 - 40000*duty cycle).

Cornell University

"You match the duty cycle with the vehicle," he said.

The New York Times

The duty cycle of the stack array is about 0.7.

Nature

Register OCR2 can determine the duty cycle of the PWM.

Cornell University

A PWM works from an averaging of its duty cycle.

Cornell University

This value divided by 256 is the PWM duty cycle.

Cornell University

As the duty cycle increased, the lap-shear strength increased.

Surface and Coatings Technology

These parameters were frequency, duty cycle, and voltage.

Applied Surface Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing electronic circuits or systems, be precise about whether you're referring to the "duty cycle" of a signal, power supply or a specific component. For example, specify "the duty cycle of the PWM signal" rather than just "the duty cycle".

Common error

Avoid miscalculating "duty cycle" by ensuring you use consistent units (e.g., time, frequency) and understand the full cycle period. A common mistake is confusing the on-time with the period, leading to inaccurate percentages.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "duty cycle" functions as a noun, often modified by adjectives (e.g., "high duty cycle", "variable duty cycle"). It refers to the ratio of active time to total time in a cyclic process. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

60%

Academia

25%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "duty cycle" is a versatile term, primarily functioning as a noun to describe the ratio of active time to the total cycle time of a system or device. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct and can be used effectively in written English. With a high frequency across scientific, academic, and even news media sources, understanding "duty cycle" is crucial for technical literacy. To ensure accuracy, specify the system component or signal you're describing. Remember, miscalculations are frequent, so always double-check your numbers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on-time ratio

Focuses on the proportion of time a device or process is active compared to its total operational time.

pulse width modulation ratio

Specifically refers to the ratio used in PWM techniques, emphasizing the modulation aspect.

active time percentage

Highlights the percentage of time an element or process is actively functioning.

power cycle duration

Concentrates on the length of a complete power cycle, indirectly relating to the active/inactive time ratio.

operational time fraction

Emphasizes the fraction of total time that a system or component is operational.

work-rest ratio

Implies a balance between activity and inactivity, applicable in contexts where periodic breaks occur.

mark-space ratio

A term used primarily in electronics to indicate the ratio of the duration of a pulse to the interval between pulses.

activity period ratio

Emphasizes the proportion of time devoted to a specific activity within a larger timeframe.

cyclic ratio

Simply refers to a generic ratio within a cycle, less specific than "duty cycle".

time-on proportion

Highlights the proportion of time a system or component is actively running.

FAQs

How is "duty cycle" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "duty cycle" refers to the proportion of time a device or process is active. For example, "The motor's "duty cycle" was set to 50% to conserve energy".

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "duty cycle"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "on-time ratio", "active time percentage", or "pulse width modulation ratio" as alternatives to the phrase ""duty cycle"".

What factors influence the selection of an appropriate "duty cycle" for a device?

Factors include power consumption, thermal management, performance requirements, and lifespan considerations. The appropriate "duty cycle" balances these factors to achieve optimal system operation.

What's the relationship between "duty cycle" and power consumption?

Generally, a higher ""duty cycle"" results in greater power consumption, as the device is active for a larger portion of its cycle. Reducing the duty cycle can be an effective way to conserve energy.