Introduction

to
Signals & Systems
06-08-2014

What is a Signal?
Signals are variables that carry information
A signal is a pattern of variation of some
form
A Signal is the function of one or more
independent variables
that carries some
information
to
represent
a
physical
phenomenon mathematically.
One-dimensional signal - when function
depends on a single variable. eg: Speech signal
Multi-dimensional when function depends on
two or more variables eg: An image

How a Signal is
Represented?

Mathematically, signals are represented as a

function of one or more independent
variables.
For instance a black & white video signal
intensity is dependent on x, y coordinates and
time t f(x,y,t)
On this
course, we shall be exclusively
f(t
)
concerned
with signals that are a function of a
single variable: time

Types of signals One Classification

Signals

Continuous-time

Continuous-value

Analog

Discrete-time

Continuous-value

Discrete

Discrete-value

Digital

Types of signals
Analog signals: continuous in time and amplitude
Example: voltage, current, temperature,

Digital signals: discrete both in time and amplitude

Example: attendance of this class, digitizes analog signals,

Discrete-time signals: discrete in time, continuous in amplitude

Example: hourly change of temperature

Theory of digital signals would be too complicated

Requires inclusion of nonlinearities into theory

Theory is based on discrete-time continuous-amplitude signals

Most convenient to develop theory
Good enough approximation to practice with some care

In practice we mostly process digital signals on processors

Need to take into account finite precision effects

Types of signals
Continuous time
Continuous amplitude
Continuous time
Discrete amplitude
Discrete time
Continuous amplitude
Discrete time
Discrete amplitude

Continuous time (CT) and

Discrete time (DT) signals

CT signals take on real or complex values as a function of an

independent variable that ranges over the real numbers and
are denoted as x(t).
DT signals take on real or complex values as a function of an
independent variable that ranges over the integers and are
denoted as x[n].
Note the subtle use of parentheses and square brackets to
distinguish between CT and DT signals.

Periodic vs. Aperiodic

Signals

Periodic signals have the property that x(t T) = x(t) for all t.
The smallest value of T that satisfies the definition is called the
period.
Shown below are an aperiodic signal (left) and a periodic
signal (right).

Causal vs. Non-causal

A causal signal is zero for t < 0 and an non-causal signal is

zero for t > 0

Right- and left-sided signals

A right-sided signal is zero for t < T and a left-sided signal is
zero for t > T where T can be positive or negative.

Bounded vs. Unbounded

A signal can be bounded or unbounded, but meaningful signal is

always bounded

Even vs. Odd

Even signals xe(t) and odd signals xo(t) are defined as

xe(t) = xe(t) and xo(t) = xo(t).
Any signal is a sum of unique odd and even signals. Using
x(t) = xe(t)+xo(t) and x(t) = xe(t) xo(t), yields
xe(t) =0.5(x(t)+x(t)) and xo(t) =0.5(x(t) x(t)).

Examples of signals
Examples of signal include:
Electrical signals
Voltages and currents in a circuit

Acoustic signals
Acoustic pressure (sound) over time

Mechanical signals
Velocity of a car over time

Video signals
Intensity level of a pixel (camera, video) over
time

Elementary Signals
Sinusoidal Signals
Exponential Signals
Singularity Signals
Step signal
Ramp signal
Impulse signal

What is a System?
Systems process input signals to produce output
signals
Examples:

A circuit involving a capacitor can be viewed as a system

that transforms the source voltage (signal) to the
voltage (signal) across the capacitor
A CD player takes the signal on the CD and transforms it
into a signal sent to the loud speaker
A communication system is generally composed of three
sub-systems, the transmitter, the channel and the
receiver. The channel typically attenuates and adds
noise to the transmitted signal which must be processed
by the receiver

How a System is
represented?
A system takes a signal as an input and
transforms it into another signal
Input
signal
x(t)

System

Output
signal
y(t)

In a very broad sense, a system can be

represented as the ratio of the output signal
over the input signal
That way, when we multiply the system by the
input signal, we get the output signal
This concept will be firmed up in the coming weeks

Different types of systems

Continuous-time
systems

and

Discrete-time

A continuous-time system is a system

which accepts only continuous-time
signals only to produce continuous-time
internal and output signals.
A discrete-time system is a system
which accepts only discrete-time signals
to produce discrete-time internal and
output signals.

Different types of systems

Fixed (Time invariant) and Time variant
systems
Time invariant (fixed)
characteristics of the
change with time.

Time variant
characteristics of the
with time.

behaviour and
system do not
behaviour and
system change

Different types of systems

Linear and Non-linear systems
A system, in continuous-time or
discrete-time, is said to be linear if it
obeys principle of superposition and
homogeneity.

A system, in continuous-time or
discrete-time, which does not obey any
one of the above is non-linear system

Different types of systems

Lumped and distributed systems
Instantaneous and dynamic systems
Active and passive systems
Causal and non-causal systems
Stable and unstable systems
Invertible and non-invertible systems