Pulse Edges — Standard definitions of rise time (tr) and fall time (tf) Fill in the standard reference levels used to define a pulse’s rise and fall times: tr is measured from ________ to ________; tf is measured from ________ to ________.
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A10%, 90%, 90%, 10%
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B90%, 10%, 10%, 90%
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C20%, 80%, 80%, 20%
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D10%, 70.7%, 70.7%, 10%
Answer
Correct Answer: 10%, 90%, 90%, 10%
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Rise and fall times provide standardized measures of how quickly a digital signal transitions. The industry-standard convention uses percentage thresholds of the final amplitude to avoid ambiguity caused by ringing and overshoot.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- We assume a monotonic transition between well-defined LOW and HIGH levels.
- Measurement thresholds are taken as fractions of the steady-state amplitude.
- Oscilloscope rise/fall measurements typically default to these standard percentages.
Concept / Approach:By convention, rise time tr is the time required for a waveform to transition from 10% to 90% of its final amplitude; fall time tf is measured from 90% down to 10%. This symmetric convention captures the main transition interval and minimizes sensitivity to endpoint aberrations.
Step-by-Step Solution:Identify rise time reference → lower threshold 10% to upper threshold 90%.Identify fall time reference → upper threshold 90% to lower threshold 10%.Map to choices → “10%, 90%, 90%, 10%.”
Verification / Alternative check:Oscilloscope manuals and digital design texts consistently define tr and tf using 10–90% thresholds. Some RF specs use 20–80% for bandwidth correlation, but that is a different (non-default) standard.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- b: Reverses rise/fall definitions.
- c: 20–80% is a nonstandard alternative, not the common digital default.
- d: 70.7% is a special amplitude (1/√2) used for bandwidth, not edge timing.
Common Pitfalls:Measuring from 0% to 100% leads to inconsistent results due to overshoot, undershoot, and noise at endpoints.
Final Answer:10%, 90%, 90%, 10%