Engineering English
Duty Cycle
Electronics Engineering · Electrical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: Duty cycle is the fraction of one switching period during which a switch or device is in the on-state. It is typically expressed as a percentage and is a critical parameter in pulse-width modulation and converters.
Example in context
“Increasing the duty cycle of the buck converter raises the output voltage, but care must be taken to avoid exceeding the maximum duty cycle limit.”
“Buck dönüştürücünün görev döngüsünü artırmak çıkış voltajını yükseltir, ancak maksimum görev döngüsü sınırını aşmamaya dikkat edilmelidir.”
Where engineers use it
Duty cycle is a central parameter in all switching converters. Engineers use it to calculate output voltage, inductor ripple current, and to ensure the controller operates within safe limits for efficiency and thermal performance.
Synonyms: duty ratio, on-time ratio
In Electrical Engineering
The ratio of the time a device or signal is active to the total period of the cycle, usually expressed as a percentage.
“The power converter must operate at a duty cycle of 75% to maintain the required output voltage.”
Practice: can you use “Duty Cycle” at work?
You are designing a boost converter for a battery-powered device. The input voltage varies, and you need to calculate the required duty cycle range to maintain a regulated 5V output.
Show a model answer
“Adjust the duty cycle to achieve the desired output voltage.”
“Duty Cycle” in 21 languages
| English | Duty Cycle |
|---|---|
| Turkish | görev döngüsü |
| French | rapport cyclique |
| German | Tastverhältnis |
| Spanish | ciclo de trabajo |
| Chinese | 占空比 |
| Arabic | دورة العمل |
| Portuguese | ciclo de trabalho |
| Russian | коэффициент заполнения |
| Japanese | デューティサイクル |
| Italian | ciclo di lavoro |
| Vietnamese | chu kỳ nhiệm vụ |
| Hindi | ड्यूटी चक्र |
| Thai | รอบการทำงาน |
| Indonesian | siklus kerja |
| Korean | 듀티 사이클 |
| Bengali | ডিউটি চক্র |
| Dutch | inschakelduur |
| Swedish | arbetscykel |
| Finnish | käyttösuhde |
| Ukrainian | коефіцієнт заповнення |
Frequently asked questions
What does Duty Cycle mean in engineering?
Duty cycle is the fraction of one switching period during which a switch or device is in the on-state. It is typically expressed as a percentage and is a critical parameter in pulse-width modulation and converters. In Electronics Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Duty Cycle?
Duty Cycle is pronounced /ˈdjuːti ˈsaɪkəl/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Duty Cycle used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “Increasing the duty cycle of the buck converter raises the output voltage, but care must be taken to avoid exceeding the maximum duty cycle limit.”
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