Impulsregelung

Impulsregelung, also known as pulse control or pulse width modulation (PWM) control, is a technique used in control systems to regulate the output of a system by varying the width of control pulses. Instead of a continuous control signal, the controller outputs a series of pulses. The duration of these pulses, or their duty cycle, determines the average power delivered to the system.

The core principle involves rapidly switching a system on and off. The longer the "on" period relative to the total cycle time, the higher the average output. This on/off switching is typically performed by power electronic devices such as transistors or thyristors. The control signal is generated by comparing a desired setpoint with the actual system output, and the difference (error) is used to adjust the pulse width.

Impulsregelung is widely used in various applications due to its efficiency and simplicity. Common examples include motor speed control, where varying the pulse width of voltage supplied to a motor alters its rotational speed. It is also employed in power supplies for voltage regulation, in lighting systems for dimming, and in heating elements for temperature control. The effectiveness of impulsregelung relies on the system's ability to average the pulsed input, smoothing out the rapid switching to produce a desired quasi-continuous output.