By Gabriel Dockery
Updated Mar 24, 2022
Image: LightFieldStudios/iStock/GettyImages
Pulse width is the duration a signal remains active during each cycle. It defines the signal’s duty cycle and is essential for designing and analyzing electronic systems, from power supplies to communication circuits. Calculating pulse width boils down to a simple ratio: the active time divided by the total cycle time.
Determine the active duration (time the signal is on) and the full cycle duration (time for one complete on/off cycle). Place the active duration in the numerator and the cycle duration in the denominator.
Divide the active time by the total cycle time to obtain a fractional value.
Multiply the result by 100 to express the pulse width as a percentage. This duty‑cycle percentage can then be used to compute the effective voltage: V_eff = V_in × (pulse width % / 100).
