Terminology » RF Basics » Ripple Factor vs. Form Factor: Definitions and Formulas

Ripple Factor vs. Form Factor: Definitions and Formulas

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average
waveform
form factor
ripple factor

This article explains the difference between ripple factor and form factor, highlighting their respective formulas and applications.

Ripple Factor

The ripple factor is a measure of the purity of the DC output produced by a rectifier. Essentially, it tells you how much unwanted AC “ripple” is present in the supposedly DC signal. A lower ripple factor indicates a cleaner DC output.

Ripple Factor Formula:

Ripple Factor=RMS Value of Wave ComponentsAverage DC Value\text{Ripple Factor} = \frac{\text{RMS Value of Wave Components}}{\text{Average DC Value}}

In other words, it’s the ratio of the RMS (Root Mean Square) value of the AC components to the average DC value. The RMS value represents the effective value of the alternating current components within the signal.

Form Factor

The form factor, on the other hand, is defined as the ratio of the RMS value of an alternating current or voltage to its average value. It’s a measure of the shape of the waveform.

Form Factor Formula:

Form Factor=RMS ValueAverage Value\text{Form Factor} = \frac{\text{RMS Value}}{\text{Average Value}}

So, while both involve RMS and average values, the ripple factor focuses on the AC components in a DC signal, and the form factor deals with the overall shape characteristics of an AC waveform.

EVM Converter: dB to RMS

EVM Converter: dB to RMS

Convert Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) between dB and RMS values. Understand modulation quality in wireless systems with this easy-to-use tool.

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error vector magnitude
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