dutycycleresoluutiota

Duty cycle resolution refers to the smallest incremental change that can be made to the duty cycle of a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal. The duty cycle of a PWM signal is the ratio of the time the signal is "on" to the total period of the signal, often expressed as a percentage. For example, a 50% duty cycle means the signal is on for half of its period and off for the other half.

The resolution of the duty cycle is determined by the control mechanism used to generate the PWM signal. In digital systems, this is typically achieved using timers and comparators. The timer counts up or down, and when its value matches a comparison value, the PWM output is toggled. The resolution is limited by the number of bits used for the timer and the comparator. A higher number of bits allows for finer control and thus a higher duty cycle resolution.

For instance, an 8-bit timer can provide 2^8 = 256 discrete levels for the duty cycle, ranging from 0% to 100%. This means the smallest possible change in the duty cycle would be approximately 100% / 256, or about 0.39%. A 16-bit timer offers 2^16 = 65,536 levels, resulting in a much finer resolution. The required duty cycle resolution depends on the application. High-precision motor control or audio amplification might necessitate a high resolution, while simpler applications like LED dimming may tolerate a lower resolution.