Zyklusverhältnis

Zyklusverhältnis is a term found in German technical and scientific literature that describes the relationship between two cyclic quantities or processes. There is no single, universal definition; its exact meaning depends on the field and context. In general, it refers to how one cycle compares to another in terms of duration, frequency, or a portion of time within a cycle.

Mathematically, if two processes have cycle lengths T1 and T2 (the time for one complete cycle), the Zyklusverhältnis can be expressed as the ratio T1/T2. If the relevant quantities are cycle frequencies f1 and f2 (cycles per unit time), the ratio is f1/f2, which is the inverse of the duration ratio (since f = 1/T). In many engineering contexts, the concept closely aligns with the duty cycle, the fraction of time a signal or actuator remains in a particular state within a single cycle.

Applications vary by domain. In electronics and signal processing, the cycle ratio often corresponds to the duty cycle, such as the ratio of on-time to the total period in a pulse-width modulated signal. In mechanical systems, it can describe how often a repeated action occurs relative to another cycle, such as comparison of actuation cycles or engine cycles. In climatology or biology, the term may be used more loosely to compare the lengths or rates of periodic phenomena, like seasonal patterns or biological rhythms.

Calculation example: if one process completes a cycle every 2 seconds and another every 5 seconds, the duration-based Zyklusverhältnis is 2/5 = 0.4; the corresponding frequency-based ratio is f1/f2 = (1/2)/(1/5) = 2.5.

Notes: The term is not standardized across disciplines; always refer to field-specific definitions and conventions.