A sequence of events is isochronous if the events occur regularly, or at equal
time intervals. The term isochronous is used in several technical contexts, but usually refers to the primary subject maintaining a constant period or interval (the reciprocal of
frequency), despite variations in other measurable factors in the same system. Isochronous timing is a characteristic of a repeating event whereas
synchronous timing refers to the relationship between two or more events.[1]
In
horology, a mechanical
clock or
watch is isochronous if it runs at the same rate regardless of changes in its drive force, so that it keeps correct time as its
mainspring unwinds or chain length varies. Isochrony is important in
timekeeping devices. Simply put, if a power providing device (ie a spring or weight) provides constant torque to the wheel train, it is isochronous (since springs provide weaker power the less pressure is applied it isn't isochronous, but since gravity's force on a mass is constant then it is isochronous).
In
telecommunications, an
isochronous signal is one where the
time interval separating any two corresponding transitions is equal to the
unit interval or to a multiple of the unit interval; but phase is arbitrary and potentially varying.
The term is also used in
data transmission to describe cases in which corresponding significant instants of two or more sequential signals have a constant
phase relationship.
Isochronous burst transmission is used when the information-bearer channel rate is higher than the input data signaling rate.
In the
Universal Serial Bus used in
computers, isochronous is one of the four data flow types for USB devices (the others being Control, Interrupt and Bulk). It is commonly used for streaming data types such as video or audio sources. Similarly, the
IEEE 1394 interface standard, commonly called Firewire, includes support for isochronous streams of audio and video at known constant rates.[2]
In
particle accelerators an
isochronous cyclotron is a cyclotron where the field strength increases with radius to compensate for relativistic increase in mass with speed.
A sequence of events is isochronous if the events occur regularly, or at equal
time intervals. The term isochronous is used in several technical contexts, but usually refers to the primary subject maintaining a constant period or interval (the reciprocal of
frequency), despite variations in other measurable factors in the same system. Isochronous timing is a characteristic of a repeating event whereas
synchronous timing refers to the relationship between two or more events.[1]
In
horology, a mechanical
clock or
watch is isochronous if it runs at the same rate regardless of changes in its drive force, so that it keeps correct time as its
mainspring unwinds or chain length varies. Isochrony is important in
timekeeping devices. Simply put, if a power providing device (ie a spring or weight) provides constant torque to the wheel train, it is isochronous (since springs provide weaker power the less pressure is applied it isn't isochronous, but since gravity's force on a mass is constant then it is isochronous).
In
telecommunications, an
isochronous signal is one where the
time interval separating any two corresponding transitions is equal to the
unit interval or to a multiple of the unit interval; but phase is arbitrary and potentially varying.
The term is also used in
data transmission to describe cases in which corresponding significant instants of two or more sequential signals have a constant
phase relationship.
Isochronous burst transmission is used when the information-bearer channel rate is higher than the input data signaling rate.
In the
Universal Serial Bus used in
computers, isochronous is one of the four data flow types for USB devices (the others being Control, Interrupt and Bulk). It is commonly used for streaming data types such as video or audio sources. Similarly, the
IEEE 1394 interface standard, commonly called Firewire, includes support for isochronous streams of audio and video at known constant rates.[2]
In
particle accelerators an
isochronous cyclotron is a cyclotron where the field strength increases with radius to compensate for relativistic increase in mass with speed.