Signaltriggered

Signaltriggered is a term used in technical contexts to describe actions or processes that are initiated by a detected input signal or by a condition derived from a signal. It conveys an event-driven mode of operation, in contrast to continuous, time-scheduled, or polling-based approaches. The exact interpretation of signaltriggered can vary by field, but it generally denotes responsiveness to signal presence, level, or change.

In electronics and instrumentation, a signaltriggered event occurs when a monitored signal crosses a predefined criterion, such as a threshold, an edge, or a slope. The trigger then starts or halts a process, initiates data capture, switches modes, or drives a subsequent subsystem. Examples include a camera that exposes an image when light intensity crosses a threshold, or a data logger that records samples only after a sensor signal exceeds a set level.

In software and digital signal processing, signaltriggered behavior is implemented with interrupts, callbacks, or state machines that react to signal events. This enables lower power consumption, reduced data volume, or real-time responsiveness in systems such as audio processing, communications, and sensor networks.

Usage and interpretation of signaltriggered can differ across disciplines and vendors. Some contexts treat it as synonymous with edge-triggered or threshold-triggered mechanisms, while others distinguish between actions such as signal gating versus signal routing.

See also: triggering, thresholding, edge detection, event-driven programming, data acquisition.