integrator

An integrator in measurement and control applications is an element whose output signal is the time integral of its input signal. It accumulates the input quantity over a defined time to produce a representative output.

Integration is an important part of many engineering and scientific applications. Mechanical integrators are the oldest type and are still used for metering water flow or electrical power. Electronic analogue integrators, which have generally displaced mechanical integrators, are the basis of analog computers and charge amplifiers. Integration can also be performed by algorithms in digital computers.