Settling time

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Settling time is the time required for an output to reach and remain within a given error band following some input stimulus.

The settling time of an amplifier or other output device is the time elapsed from the application of an ideal instantaneous step input to the time at which the amplifier output has entered and remained within a specified error band, usually symmetrical about the final value. Settling time includes a very brief propagation delay, plus the time required for the output to slew to the vicinity of the final value, recover from the overload condition associated with slewing, and finally settle to within the specified error.

Settle time on a gun/weapon

The settle time on a gun is the time taken for it to start back up again after it has stopped firing. An example of a gun with a very high settle time is the Minigun which takes at least 3 seconds to start up again.

[edit] Mathematical detail

Settling time depends on the system response and time constant.

The settling time for a 2nd order, closed loop system responding to a step response is

Ts = − ln(tolerancefraction) / (naturalfreq * dampingratio)

Thus, settling time to within 2%=0.02 is:

[edit] See also

• Rise time
• Step response

[edit] External links

Wikisource has a paper on settling time measurements.:

Wikisource:High accuracy settling time measurements

• Second-Order System Example
• Op Amp Settling Time
• Graphical tutorial of Settling time and Risetime