A single dwell cam mechanism has a motion function which follows a dwell-rise-fall sequence that repeats.

It is sometimes desired to use a rise function such that the acceleration of the follower is non-zero at its end of the rise. To maintain continuity, the fall function often begins such that the follower has the same non-zero acceleration as it had at the end of the rise function. The follower then stays stationary during the dwell function, with its velocity, acceleration, and jerk zero.^[2]

There are a number of functions that can provide these motion requirements. A double-harmonic function is a common example used for single dwell.