Engineering English
Pulse Width Modulation
Mechatronics & Robotics · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A method of controlling the average power delivered to an electrical load by rapidly switching the supply on and off, varying the duty cycle. It is widely used in motor drives and servo systems to regulate speed and torque.
Example in context
“The servo amplifier uses pulse width modulation to control the motor current and achieve precise velocity regulation.”
“Servo amplifikatör, motor akımını kontrol etmek ve hassas hız regülasyonu sağlamak için darbe genişlik modülasyonu kullanır.”
Where engineers use it
Pulse width modulation is generated by the motion controller's PWM outputs, used in amplifier stages to drive motor windings. Engineers need it to implement efficient, low-heat current control in servo and stepper drives.
Synonyms: PWM, pulse-duration modulation
Antonyms: linear modulation
Practice: can you use “Pulse Width Modulation” at work?
A junior engineer is tuning a brushless DC motor drive; the torque output is unstable. Explain how adjusting the pulse width modulation parameters can smooth the current waveform.
Show a model answer
“Adjust the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal to achieve the required motor torque.”
“Pulse Width Modulation” in 21 languages
| English | Pulse Width Modulation |
|---|---|
| Turkish | Darbe Genişlik Modülasyonu |
| French | Modulation de Largeur d'Impulsion |
| German | Pulsweitenmodulation |
| Spanish | Modulación por Ancho de Pulso |
| Chinese | 脉冲宽度调制 |
| Arabic | تعديل عرض النبضة |
| Portuguese | Modulação por Largura de Pulso |
| Russian | Широтно-импульсная модуляция |
| Japanese | パルス幅変調 |
| Italian | Modulazione di Larghezza di Impulso |
| Vietnamese | Điều chế độ rộng xung |
| Hindi | पल्स चौड़ाई मॉड्यूलेशन |
| Thai | การปรับความกว้างพัลส์ |
| Indonesian | Modulasi Lebar Pulsa |
| Korean | 펄스 폭 변조 |
| Bengali | পালস প্রস্থ মড্যুলেশন |
| Dutch | Pulsbreedtemodulatie |
| Swedish | Pulsbreddsmodulering |
| Finnish | Pulssinleveysmodulaatio |
| Ukrainian | Широтно-імпульсна модуляція |
Frequently asked questions
What does Pulse Width Modulation mean in engineering?
A method of controlling the average power delivered to an electrical load by rapidly switching the supply on and off, varying the duty cycle. It is widely used in motor drives and servo systems to regulate speed and torque. In Mechatronics & Robotics, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Pulse Width Modulation?
Pulse Width Modulation is pronounced /pʌls wɪdθ ˌmɒdjuˈleɪʃən/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Pulse Width Modulation used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The servo amplifier uses pulse width modulation to control the motor current and achieve precise velocity regulation.”
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