Styringssignal

Styringssignal (from Scandinavian languages, meaning "control signal") denotes an electrical or electromagnetic signal used to command, regulate or coordinate the behavior of a device, subsystem or process. It functions as an instruction from a controller—such as a microcontroller, programmable logic controller (PLC) or remote operator—to an actuator, switch, motor or other controlled element.

Styringssignal can be analog or digital. Analog signals vary continuously in voltage, current or frequency and are used where variable control is required. Digital signals convey discrete states (e.g., on/off) or encoded commands; common forms include binary logic levels, pulse-width modulation (PWM) and serial data streams. Key properties include amplitude, frequency, duty cycle, timing and encoding scheme, which determine how the receiving device interprets the command.

In control systems, styringssignal may represent setpoints, start/stop commands or timing cues, and are central to both open-loop and closed-loop (feedback) control architectures. Generation often involves signal conditioning, isolation and amplification to meet voltage, current and safety requirements. Interfacing standards and practices—such as TTL/CMOS logic levels, current loop interfaces or galvanic isolation—ensure compatibility and reduce noise susceptibility.

Applications span industrial automation, robotics, telecommunications, building management and consumer electronics. Reliability, latency and error detection are important design considerations, particularly in safety-critical systems where redundancy and diagnostic signaling are commonly employed.