Editing Duty cycle (section)

== Applications ==

=== Electrical and electronics ===
In [[electronics]], duty cycle is the percentage of the ratio of pulse duration, or pulse width (PW) to the total period (T) of the waveform. It is generally used to represent time duration of a pulse when it is high (1). In [[digital electronics]], signals are used in rectangular waveform which are represented by logic 1 and logic 0. Logic 1 stands for presence of an electric pulse and 0 for absence of an electric pulse. For example, a signal (10101010) has 50% duty cycle, because the pulse remains high for 1/2 of the period and low for 1/2 of the period. Similarly, for pulse (10001000) the duty cycle will be 25% because the pulse remains high only for 1/4 of the period and remains low for 3/4 of the period.
[[Electric motors]] typically use a duty cycle of less than 100%.  For example, if a motor runs for one out of 100 seconds (or 1/100 of the time), its duty cycle is 1/100, or 1%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.electricmotors.machinedesign.com/guiEdits/Content/bdeee1/bdeee1_3.aspx|title=Electric Motors|publisher=Machine Design|access-date=March 23, 2011}}</ref>

[[Pulse-width modulation]] (PWM) is used in a variety of electronic situations, such as power delivery and voltage regulation.

In electronic music, music [[synthesizers]] vary the duty cycle of their audio-frequency oscillators to obtain a subtle effect on the [[tone color]]s.  This technique is known as pulse-width modulation.

In the printer / copier industry, the duty cycle specification refers to the rated throughput (that is, printed pages) of a device per month.

In a [[welding power supply]], the maximum duty cycle is defined as the percentage of time in a 10-minute period that it can be operated continuously before overheating.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zena.net/htdocs/FAQ/dutycycle.shtml|title=What does the term duty cycle mean?|publisher=ZENA, Inc. welding systems|access-date=March 23, 2011}}</ref>

=== Biological systems ===
The concept of duty cycles is also used to describe the activity of neurons and [[muscle fibers]]. In [[neural circuit]]s for example, a duty cycle specifically refers to the proportion of a cycle period in which a neuron remains active.<ref name=Harris-Warrick />