3-50
SUMMARY
This chapter has presented information on waveforms and wave generators. The information that
follows summarizes the important points of this chapter.
A waveform which undergoes a pattern of changes, returns to its original pattern, and repeats that
same pattern of changes is called a PERIODIC waveform.
Each completed pattern of a waveform is called a CYCLE.
A SQUARE WAVE is identified by, two alternations equal in time that are square in appearance.
One alternation is called a PULSE. The time for one complete cycle is called the PULSE REPETITION
TIME (prt). The number of times in one second that the cycle repeats itself is called PULSE
REPETITION RATE (prr) or PULSE REPETITION FREQUENCY (prf). The length of the pulse
measured in the figure (T0 to T1) is referred to as the PULSE WIDTH (pw). The left side of the pulse is
referred to as the LEADING EDGE and the right side as the TRAILING EDGE.
A RECTANGULAR WAVE has two alternations that are unequal in time.
A SAWTOOTH WAVE has a linear increase in voltage followed by a rapid decrease of voltage at
the end of the waveform.