What is the definition of duty cycle during the averaging time for RF exposure?
The difference between the lowest power output and the highest power output of a transmitter
Incorrect, because the duty cycle is not about the difference in power outputs but about the timeframe of transmission activity.
The difference between the PEP and average power output of a transmitter
Incorrect, because it confuses duty cycle with the difference between Peak Envelope Power (PEP) and average power, which are different metrics.
The percentage of time that a transmitter is transmitting
Correct, because the duty cycle is indeed defined as the percentage of time a transmitter is actively transmitting during the averaging time.
The percentage of time that a transmitter is not transmitting
Incorrect, because it talks about the percentage of time a transmitter is not transmitting, which is essentially the inverse of the duty cycle, but not its definition.
Explanation
The concept of duty cycle is crucial in the context of RF exposure and safety because it directly impacts how much radio frequency (RF) energy is being radiated over time. When we discuss RF exposure, we are concerned about how much energy a person might be exposed to during the operation of a transmitter. The duty cycle specifically refers to the percentage of time that a transmitter is active versus inactive during a given period. This is important because even if a transmitter has a high power output, if it is only active for a small portion of the time, the average exposure would be lower. This averaging time is often considered over a six-minute interval for the sake of safety calculations. Answer 2, ‘The percentage of time that a transmitter is transmitting,’ accurately captures this definition. This helps ensure that assessments of RF exposure take into account the actual operating habits and patterns, leading to a more realistic and safe evaluation of risk.
T0C11 2022-2026