Impulzusokká

Impulzusokká is a term used in theoretical discussions of signal processing and neuromorphic engineering to describe a method of converting a continuous or discrete signal into a sequence of discrete electrical impulses. In this scheme, the information from the original signal is carried by the pattern of impulses—either by their average density, by the precise timing between impulses, or by a combination of both—rather than by the amplitude of a waveform.

Mechanism and encoding. A common implementation uses a leaky integrator or a comparator that monitors the input signal. When the internal state crosses a predefined threshold, a short, standardized pulse is emitted and the state is reset. Depending on the design, the resulting impulse train can be rate-encoded (the signal level is represented by the average pulse rate) or temporally encoded (the inter-pulse intervals convey information). Some variants also modulate pulse width or amplitude, though the canonical form emphasizes time-based information.

Decoding and reconstruction. To recover or approximate the original signal, a receiver or processor integrates the pulse train using a suitable reconstruction kernel or filters, and may apply thresholding or calibration to compensate for timing jitter and noise. The fidelity of reconstruction depends on the chosen encoding, the precision of pulse timing, and the characteristics of the processing hardware.

Applications and relevance. Impulzusokká encoding is discussed in contexts such as neuromorphic engineering, event-based sensing, and low-power communications, where spike-based representations offer advantages in asynchronous operation and energy efficiency. It relates to other pulse-based schemes such as pulse-density and pulse-position modulation and to broader concepts of spike coding in neural-inspired systems.

Etymology. The term derives from impulzus (impulse) and -okká, a Hungarian suffix indicating a transformation into that state.