# Sqaure wave

#### Annu007

Joined Jun 12, 2006
11
I need to calculate an average value of a square wave (Frequency- 48MHz).

Amplitude- 5V.
50% duty cycle.

#### Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
18,806
Originally posted by Annu007@Jun 12 2006, 02:00 PM
I need to calculate an average value of a square wave (Frequency- 48MHz).

Amplitude- 5V.
50% duty cycle.
[post=17680]Quoted post[/post]​
The frequency is not relevant. The average of a square wave with a 50% duty cycle that swings between 0V and +5V is V/2 or 2.5 volts. There is a more complicated derivation involving the integration of a pair of unit step functions which gives the same result. Another derivation is to integrate V(t) with respect to t divided by T, the length of a single period.

There is also the statistical approach which is to take the Expected Value of the Voltage. It is 1/2*5V + 1/2*0V = 2.5 Volts. This is the same case as a Bernoulli trial

#### windoze killa

Joined Feb 23, 2006
605
Originally posted by Papabravo@Jun 13 2006, 08:41 AM
The frequency is not relevant. The average of a square wave with a 50% duty cycle that swings between 0V and +5V is V/2 or 2.5 volts. There is a more complicated derivation involving the integration of a pair of unit step functions which gives the same result. Another derivation is to integrate V(t) with respect to t divided by T, the length of a single period.

There is also the statistical approach which is to take the Expected Value of the Voltage. It is 1/2*5V + 1/2*0V = 2.5 Volts. This is the same case as a Bernoulli trial
[post=17682]Quoted post[/post]​
Of course this is true for a square wave that goes from 0V to +5V. If it was symetrical around 0V ie. -2.5V to +2.5V then the average would be zero.

Simple answer for a 50% duty cycle is 1/2 the peak to peak value. This also holds true for any symetrical wave form with a 50% duty cycle.

#### Annu007

Joined Jun 12, 2006
11
Hello,
Is there a circuit I can use (like a filter) with which I can measure the DC value of this wave?

Regards

#### windoze killa

Joined Feb 23, 2006
605
Originally posted by Annu007@Jun 13 2006, 09:18 PM
Hello,
Is there a circuit I can use (like a filter) with which I can measure the DC value of this wave?

Regards
[post=17693]Quoted post[/post]​
Yes. A DC multimeter will do that. It will measure the DC average of the signal.

#### Papabravo

Joined Feb 24, 2006
18,806
Originally posted by windoze killa@Jun 13 2006, 05:44 PM
Yes. A DC multimeter will do that. It will measure the DC average of the signal.
[post=17699]Quoted post[/post]​
Assuming that it can follow the 48 MHz. signal. It would not surprise me that a typical multimeter would read something smaller than V/2.

#### windoze killa

Joined Feb 23, 2006
605
Originally posted by Papabravo@Jun 14 2006, 11:48 AM
Assuming that it can follow the 48 MHz. signal. It would not surprise me that a typical multimeter would read something smaller than V/2.
[post=17703]Quoted post[/post]​
ooooppppsss missed that little detail.