Aditya College of Engineering & Technology

WELCOME
TO
ONLINE LECTURE
ON

SIGNALFLOW GRAPH
By

R VENKATESH
Dept of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Aditya College of Engineering & Technology
Surampalem.

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Objectives
• Introduction to Signal Flow Graphs
 Definitions

 Terminologies

• Signal-Flow Graph Models

• Block Diagram to Signal Flow Graph

 Example

• Mason’s Gain Formula

 Example
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Introduction
• “ A signal flow graph is a graphical representation of the relationship between variables of a
set of linear algebraic equation.”
• A signal-flow graph consists of a network in which
nodes are connected by directed branches.
• It depicts the flow of signals from one point of a system to another and gives the relationships
among the signals.

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Fundamentals of Signal Flow Graphs

• Consider a simple equation below and draw its signal flow graph: y  ax

• The signal flow graph of the equation is shown below; b Every variable in a signal flow graph is
designed by a Node.
• Every transmission function in a signal flow graph is designed by a Branch.
• Branches are always unidirectional.
• The arrow in the branch denotes the direction of the signal flow.

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Terminologies
• An input node or source contain only the outgoing branches. i.e., X1

• An output node or sink contain only the incoming branches. i.e., X4

• A path is a continuous, unidirectional succession of branches along which no

node is passed more than ones. i.e.,

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• A forward path is a path from the input node to the output node. i.e.,

X1 to X2 to X3 to X4 , and X1 to X2 to X4 , are forward paths.

• A feedback path or feedback loop or Loop is a path which originates and terminates on the same
node. i.e.; X2 to X3 and back to X2 is a feedback path.

• A self-loop is a feedback loop consisting of a single branch. i.e.; A33 is a self loop.

• The gain of a branch is the transmission function of that branch.

• The path gain is the product of branch gains encountered in traversing a path.

i.e. the gain of forwards path X1 to X2 to X3 to X4 is A21A32A43

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• The loop gain is the product of the branch gains of the loop. i.e., the loop gain of the feedback loop from X2 to
X3 and back to X2 is A32A23.
• Two loops, paths, or loop and a path are said to be non-touching if they have no nodes in common

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Signal-Flow Graph Models

xo is input and x4 is output

x1  ax0  bx1  cx2 f

x2  dx1 
c
x0 x1 x2 x3 x4
a d h
ex3 g
x3  fx0 
b e
gx2 x4  hx3

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Prob: Construct the signal flow graph for the following set of simultaneous
equations.
X2 = A21X1 + A23X3
X3 = A31X1 + A32X2 + A33X3
X4 = A42X2 + A43X3
SOLUTION

• There are four variables in the equations (i.e., x1,x2,x3,and x4) therefore four nodes are required to
construct the signal flow graph.
• Arrange these four nodes from left to right and connect them with the associated branches.

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Block Diagram to SFG

Block Diagram Signal Flow Graph

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Example-1

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Example-2

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Mason’s Rule (Mason, 1953)

• The block diagram reduction technique requires successive application of fundamental relationships in
order to arrive at the system transfer function.
• On the other hand, Mason’s rule for reducing a signal-flow graph to a single transfer function requires
the application of one formula.
• The formula was derived by S. J. Mason when he related the signal-flow graph to the simultaneous
equations that can be written from the graph.

• The transfer function T, of a system represented by a signal-flow graph is;

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𝑪 ( 𝒔)
  P i
T=
Where, 𝑹 ( 𝒔) i1
i

n = number of forward paths.

Pi = the i th forward-path gain.
∆ = Determinant of the system ;
Δ = 1 - (sum of all individual loop transmittances) + (sum of loop transmittance products of all
possible pair of non-touching loops) - (sum of loop transmittance products of all possible
triplets of non-touching loops) + (……) - (……)

∆i = Determinant of the ith forward path .

∆is called
CONTROL SYSTEMS the signal flow graphRdeterminant
VENKATESH or characteristic function. 15
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Systematic approach
1. Calculate forward path gain Pi for each forward path i.

2. Calculate all loop transfer functions.

3. Consider non-touching loops 2 at a time.

4. Consider non-touching loops 3 at a time.

5. etc

6. Calculate Δ from steps 2,3,4 and 5

7. Calculate Δi as portion of Δ not touching forward path i

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Example 1:
Apply Mason’s Rule to calculate the transfer function of the system represented by following Signal Flow
Graph

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Example 2:
Apply Mason’s Rule to calculate the transfer function of the system represented by following Signal Flow Graph

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