Continuous Time Convolution

In this animation, the continuous time

convolution of signals is discussed.
Convolution is the operation to obtain
response of a linear system to input x(t). The
output y(t) is given as a weighted
superposition of impulse responses, time
shifted by
Course Name: Signals and Systems Level: UG

Author
Phani Swathi Chitta
Mentor
Prof. Saravanan Vijayakumaran
 Learning Objectives
After interacting with this Learning Object, the learner will be able to:
• Explain the convolution of two continuous time signals
 Definitions of the components/Keywords:

1 Convolution of two signals:

Let x(t) and h(t) are two continuous signals to be convolved.

2 The convolution of two signals is denoted by

which means

where  is the variable of integration.

3

5
 Master Layout
1 Signals taken to convolve

f(t) g(t)
2 2 21

3 --22 22 t
** 1 t

Output of the
y(t) convolution

1
4
t
-2 0 2 3

5
1 Step 1:
f(t) = 2 g(t)= -t+1

2 21

2
--22 22 t 1 t

3 Instruction for the animator

• The first point in DT has to appear

before the figures.
Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

• f(t) and g(t) are the two continuous signals to be convolved.

• The convolution of the signals is denoted by
• Then the blue figure has to appear.
• After that the red figure has to appear. which means

4 • After the figures, the next point in DT

has to appear.
where  is a dummy variable.

5
1 Step 2:
g(t-)
g(-) 2 2
f() f()
1 1

2
-2 -1 2  -1 + t t -2 2 

Fig. a Fig. b

3 Instruction for the animator

• The figure in blue in fig. a has to

appear then its label should appear.
Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

• The signal f() is shown

• Then the red figure has to appear. • The reversed version of g() i.e., g(-is shown

• After that the labeling of red figure • The shifted version of g(-i.e., g(t-) is shown
4 has to appear.
• In parallel to the fig. the text in DT has
to appear.
• First two sentences in DT has to appear
with fig. a
• The last sentence should appear with
fig. b.

5
1 Step 3: Calculation of y(t) in five stages

Stage - I : t < -2
g(t-)
2
f()
1

2
-1 + t t -2 2 

3 Instruction for the animator

• The figure in blue has to appear then

its label should appear.
Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

• The signal f() is shown

• Then the red figure has to appear. • The reversal and shifted version of g(t) i.e., g(t-is shown

• After that the labeling of red figure • Two functions do not overlap

4 has to appear.
• In parallel to the fig. the text in DT has
• Area under the product of the functions is zero

to appear.
• After the figures, the 3, 4 lines in DT
should appear.

5
1 Step 4:
Stage - II : -2 ≤ t < -1
2
g(t-) f()
1

2
-1 + t -2 t 2 

3 Instruction for the animator

• The figure in blue has to appear then

its label should appear.
Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

• The signal f() is shown

• Then the red figure has to appear. • The reversal and shifted version of g(t) i.e., g(t-is shown

• After that the labeling of red figure • Part of g(t- overlaps part of f()

4 has to appear.
• In parallel to the fig. the text in DT has
• Area under the product
to appear.
• After the figures, the 3, 4 lines in DT
should appear.

5
1 Step 5:
Stage - III : -1 ≤ t < 2
2
g(t-) f()
1

2
-2 -1 + t t 2 

3 Instruction for the animator

• The figure in blue has to appear then

its label should appear.
Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

• The signal f() is shown

• Then the red figure has to appear. • The reversal and shifted version of g(t) i.e., g(t-is shown

• After that the labeling of red figure • g(t- completely overlaps f()
4 has to appear.
• In parallel to the fig. the text in DT has
• Area under the product
to appear.
• After the figures, the 3, 4 lines in DT
should appear.

5
1 Step 6:
Stage - IV : 2 ≤ t < 3
2 f()

1 g(t-)

2
-2 -1 + t 2 t 

3 Instruction for the animator

• The figure in blue has to appear then

its label should appear.
Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

• The signal f() is shown

• Then the red figure has to appear. • The reversal and shifted version of g(t) i.e., g(t-is shown

• After that the labeling of red figure • Part of g(t- overlaps part of f()

4 has to appear.
• In parallel to the fig. the text in DT has
• Area under the product
to appear.
• After the figures, the 3, 4 lines in DT
should appear.

5
1 Step 7:
Stage - V : t ≥ 3
2 f()
g(t-)
1

2
-2 2 -1 + t t 

3 Instruction for the animator

• The figure in blue has to appear then

its label should appear.
Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

• The signal f() is shown

• Then the red figure has to appear. • The reversal and shifted version of g(t) i.e., g(t-is shown

• After that the labeling of red figure • Two functions do not overlap

4 has to appear.
• In parallel to the fig. the text in DT has
• Area under the product of the functions is zero

to appear.
• After the figures, the 3, 4 lines in DT
should appear.

5
1 Step 8: Output of Convolution

y(t)
1

2
t
-2 0 2 3

3 Instruction for the animator

• The figure in green has to appear then

its label should appear.
• In parallel to the fig. the text in DT has
Text to be displayed in the working area (DT)

• The signal y(t) is shown

to appear.
• After the figure, the equations in DT
0 for t  2
should appear .  t 2  2t for  2  t  1
4 
y (t )  f (t ) * g (t )  1 for  1  t  2
t 2  6 t  9 for 2  t  3

0 for t  3
5
Electrical Engineering
Slide Slide Slide Slide Slide
1 3 24-26 28 27
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
(questionnaire) (Further Reading)

) and g(t-

f( Interactivity:
+1 Try it yourself

f(t) g(t)
+1 +1

-1
-1 t t
-1
f( ) g(t- Select Select
+1

+1 +1
-1


+1 -1

+1
t
-1
13
The four signals must be repeated under select for both f(t) and g(t)
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Electrical Engineering
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
(questionnaire) (Further Reading)

) and g(t-

f( Interactivity:
+1 Try it yourself

f(t) g(t)
+1 +1
-1

t t
-1 -1
f( ) g(t- Select Select
+1
+1 +1

-1

-1

+1
+1

t
-1
14
The signal selected under f(t) must be shown
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Electrical Engineering
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
(questionnaire) (Further Reading)

) and g(t-

f( Interactivity:
+1 Try it yourself

f(t) g(t)
+1 +1
-1


-1 t t
-1
f( ) g(t- Select Select
+1
+1 +1

-1

-1

+1
+1

t
-1
15
The signal selected under g(t) must be shown
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Electrical Engineering
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1 3 24-26 28 27
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
(questionnaire) (Further Reading)

) and g(t-

f( Interactivity:
+1 Try it yourself

f(t) g(t)
+1 +1

-1
-1 t t
-1
f( ) g(t- Select Select
+1
+1 +1

-1

-1

+1
+1

t
-1
16
The red figure is the shifted and reversed version of g(t) The slides 16-21 should be shown in a smooth fashion
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Electrical Engineering
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
(questionnaire) (Further Reading)

) and g(t-

f( Interactivity:
+1 Try it yourself

f(t) g(t)
+1 +1

-1
-1 t -1 t
f( ) g(t- Select Select
+1
+1 +1

-1

-1

+1
+1

t
-1
17
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Electrical Engineering
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
(questionnaire) (Further Reading)

) and g(t-

f( Interactivity:
+1 Try it yourself

f(t) g(t)
+1 +1
-1


-1 t -1 t
f( ) g(t- Select Select
+1
+1 +1

-1

-1

+1
+1

t
-1
18
Credits
Electrical Engineering
Slide Slide Slide Slide Slide
1 3 24-26 28 27
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
(questionnaire) (Further Reading)

) and g(t-

f( Interactivity:
+1 Try it yourself

f(t) g(t)
+1 +1
-1


-1 t -1 t
f( ) g(t- Select Select
+1
+1 +1

-1

-1

+1
+1

t
-1
19
Credits
Electrical Engineering
Slide Slide Slide Slide Slide
1 3 24-26 28 27
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
(questionnaire) (Further Reading)

) and g(t-

f( Interactivity:
+1 Try it yourself

f(t) g(t)
+1 +1
-1


-1 t -1 t
f( ) g(t- Select Select
+1
+1 +1

-1

-1

+1
+1

t
-1
20
Credits
Electrical Engineering
Slide Slide Slide Slide Slide
1 3 24-26 28 27
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
(questionnaire) (Further Reading)

) and g(t-

f( Interactivity:
+1 Try it yourself

f(t) g(t)
+1 +1
-1


-1 t -1 t
f( ) g(t- Select Select
+1
+1 +1

-1

-1

+1
+1

t
-1
21
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Introduction Definitions Analogy Lets Sum up (summary)
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f(t) +1
+1 +1

-1 t * -1
-1

f(t)
+1 +1

-1 t *
+1
+1 +1

*
-1 -1 -1

22
The same procedure is done to the above given combination of signals
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+1 +1

*
-1

+1 +1

23
The same procedure is done to the above given combination of signals
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1
Questionnaire
1. If the unit-impulse response of an LTI system and the input signal
both are rectangular pulses, then the output will be a
Answers: a) rectangular pulse b) triangular pulse

2 c) ramp function d) none of the above

x(t) δ(t-5)
2. Find Convolution
3
*
5

Answers: a) b)

4 5 5

5
1
Questionnaire
3. If impulse response and input signal both are unit step
responses, then the output will be
2
*
3 Answers: a) Triangular pulse b) Unit step function
c) Ramp function d) None of the above

4 4. The convolution integral is given by

i) ii)
Hint: let
Answers: a) i b) ii c) Both i and ii d)either i or ii
5
1
Questionnaire
5. If h(t) is a unit-step function and x(t) is a unit-ramp function, then
the output y(t) will be a
Answers:
2
a) step function b) ramp function
c) Triangular pulse d) Quadratic function

4
5
 Links for further reading

Reference websites:
Books:
Signals & Systems – Alan V. Oppenheim, Alan S. Willsky, S. Hamid
Nawab, PHI learning, Second edition.
Signals and Systems – Simon Haykin, Barry Van Veen, John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.

Research papers:
 Summary
• The convolution operation is used to obtain the output of linear
time – invariant system in response to an arbitrary input.
• In continuous time, the representation of signals is taken to be
the weighted integrals of shifted unit impulses.
• The convolution integral of two continuous signals is represented
as

where

• The convolution integral provides a concise, mathematical way to

express the output of an LTI system based on an arbitrary
continuous-time input signal and the system‘s response.