Representing Signals

Elementary Signals :1.3

Introduction
 In signal processing we need an appropriate
reference frame, so that we can place the
signals we try to analyze. Since we deal with
signals, any reference frame of interest has
to be made of signals with well known
properties, which reflect the kind of
information we want to extract.
Introduction
 Several important elementary signals that
occur frequently in applications also serve
as a basis for representing other signals.
 The following signals are some of the

continuous- time elementary signals of

interest:
1. The unit step function.
2. The Ramp function.
3. The sampling & sinc signals.
4. The unit impulse function.
Objectives
 After completing this session, you will be
able to:
1. To know the elementary signals, and how
to define the above continuous time
signals mathematically and graphically.
2. To know the properties of the elementary
signal.
3. To know how to represent other signals.
4. To simplify the solution of the some
engineering problems.
The Unit Step function )1
 The unit step u (t ) is defined as:
1 t  0
u (t ) 
0 t  0
 Graphically u (t )

t
The Unit Step function )1
 This signals is an important signal for
analytic studies, and it also has many
practical applications.
 The function is used in the mathematics of

control theory and signal processing to

represent a signal that switches on at a
specified time and stays switched on
indefinitely.
The Unit Step function )1
 It is also used in structural mechanics
together with Dirac Delta function (to be
studied later on in this section) to describe
different types of structural loads.
 The shifted version of the unit step is:

u (t  a )
1 t  a 1
u (t  a ) 
0 t  a
a t
The Unit Step function )1
 The reflected unit step is:

u ( t )
1 t  0
u ( t )  1
0 t  0
t
The Unit Step function )1
 u (t )
The scaled unit step remain the same as
, why?

u (t )
1 t  0
u ( t )  1
0 t  0
t
The Unit Step function )1
 From the step signal we can represent other
types of signals, such as:
A. Rectangular signal rect (t ) .
B. Signum Signal Sgn(t ) .
The Unit Step function )1
A. Rectangular signal: rect (t  )
 The rect signal is defined as: 1
t 1   t 
rect ( )  2 2
 0 otherwise  2  2 t
Where is the width of the rectangular signal.
 We can representrect (t  ) using the unit
step function:
rect (t  ) u (t   2)  u (t   2)
The Unit Step function )1
 The following figures illustrate that subtract
figure b from figure a, the result is the
rectangular shape as shown in figure c.
u (t   2) u (t   2)
1 1

 2 t  2 t
Fig (a) Fig (b)
rect (t  )
1

 2  2 t
Fig (c)
The Unit Step function )1
B. The Signum Signal:
 We define the Signum Signal as:
Sgn(t )
 1 t  0
1

Sgn(t )  0 t 0
 1 t  0
 t
1

 And we can representSgn(t ) as:

Sgn(t ) u (t )  u ( t )
:Example 1
 Represent the following graph using the:
i. rect signal.
ii. The unit step u (t ) signal.
x(t )
A

a b t
:Exercise 1
 Sketch the following signals:
1) x1 (t ) u (t )  5u (t  1)  2u (t  2) .
2) x2 (t ) u (t ).u (t  a ), a  0 .
3) x3 (t ) u (t )u ( a  t ), a  0 .
Ramp signal (Function)
 The ramp function is a unary real function, whose graph is shaped
like a ramp. It can be expressed by numerous definitions, for
example "0 for negative inputs, output equals input for non-negative
inputs". The term "ramp" can also be used for other functions
obtained by scaling and shifting, the unit ramp function (slope 1,
starting at 0).
 In mathematics, the ramp function is also known as the positive part.
 Its applications : In machine learning, it is commonly known as a
rectifier (neural networks) or ReLU (rectified linear unit) activation
function activation function or a rectifier in analogy to half-wave
rectification in electrical engineering. In statistics (when used as
a likelihood function) it is known as a tobit model.
The Ramp Signal )2

The ramp signal r (t ) is defined as a causal signal:

( causal signal is any signal that is zero prior to time zero.
Thus, ifdenotes the signal amplitude at time (sample) n, the
signal x is said to be causal if for all )
 t t 0
r (t ) 
0 t  0

 Graphically:
Properties of the ramp
:signal
dr (t )
1) u (t ) .
dt
t

2) r (t )  u ( ).d .


◦ The device that accomplishes this operation is

called an integrator.
3)  r (t ) results in changing the slopeof
where is the slope.  1
 r (t )
 1
 t t 0
 r( t )  1
 1
0 t 0
1 t
 Properties of the ramp
signal:
 The general form of the triangular function is:
 (t  )

 
2

2
t
Properties of the ramp
:signal
4) From the ramp signal we can represent other types of
signals, such as triangular function  (t ).
(t )
1

 1
2
1
2
t
 using the ramp signal:
(t ) 2r (t  0.5)  4r (t )  2r (t  0.5)
:Exercise 1
 Express the following function using the Ramp
function.

x(t )

4 2 1 t
Exercise 2:HW
 Express the following figure using the ramp signal.

x(t )

5 7
1 2 4 t
1
The Sampling & Sinc )3
Signals
A. The Sampling Signal Sa(t ) is defined as:
 1 t 0
Sa (t )  sin( t )
otherwise
 t
 Graphically: Sa(t )
1

  
 2 2 t
:Properties of the Sa(t)
1. The zero crossing (Sa(t ) 0 ) occurs at:
t k where k 1, 2, 3, ...
2. The area under the curve ofSa(t ) is equal
to  . That means:




Sa (t ).dt 
:The Sinc Signal
B. The Sinc signal is defined:

 1 t 0
 sin( t )
sinc(t)  otherwise
  t

 The only difference between the two definitions ( & ) is the

scaling of the variable t (the x-axis) by a factor .
 That means, is a compressed version of .
 The following figure illustrates the difference between the
two mentioned signals.
:The Sinc Signal
 is the normalized , the normalization course the definite
integral of the function over the real numbers to equal “1”
(whereas the same integral of the unnormalized function
has a value of ).
 As a further useful property, all of the zeros of the function
are integer value t.

sin c( t ) 0 at t 1, 2 , 3...etc .

:The Sinc Signal
 The Sinc function is the Fourier transform (F.T) of the
rectangular function which has many interests in the
telecommunication world.
 The Sinc function is fundamental in the concept of
reconstructing the original continuous bandlimited signal
from uniformly spaced samples of that signal.
 The Sinc signal is commonly used in DSP applications.
:Exercise 3
 Draw and determine the first five zero crossing points
of the negative and the positive side.
The unit impulse (Dirac )4
:Delta or Delta)
 The unit impulse is defined as:

 Graphically:
(t )
1

t
The unit impulse (Dirac )4
:Delta or Delta)
 The  ( t ) function satisfy:
I. The peak occurs at t=0.
II. Their duration is short, so as  0 . Where
is the width of the signal.
III. The total area under each function equal
to one.
IV. All are even function.
:The unit impulse (Dirac Delta or Delta) )4
We can approximate ( t ) by using the following
function:
The total area is equal to one.

 ( t ).dt 1

The unit impulse (Dirac )4
:Delta or Delta)
 The shifted delta function is defined:

{
𝛿 ( 𝑡 − 𝑎) =
1 , 𝑡=𝑎
0 , 𝑜𝑡 h 𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒

(t  a )
 Graphically:
1

a t
:Applications of δ(t)
 The delta function, occupies a central place
in signal analysis. Many physical phenomena
such as point sources, point charges,
concentrated loads on structures, and voltage
or current sources acting for very short times
can be modeled as delta functions.
:Properties
b
of δ(t)
1.

a
x( t ). ( t ).dt  x( 0 ) . where a  0  b

Example: x( t ) t 2  2t  5 so:

x( 0 ) 5 and 0  [ 2 ,5]
5
 x( t ). ( t ).dt x( 0 ) 5
2
:Properties
b
of δ(t)
.for a  t  b
2.

a
x( t ). ( t  t o ).dt  x( t o ) o

And zero for t o  ( a ,b )

Which commonly known the shifting property.
2
e.g.: if x( t ) t  2t  5 , find:
4

x( t ). ( t  3 ).dt

4

First we find x(-3) then apply the property:

x(  3 ) 8 and  3  [ 4 , 4]
4
 x( t ). ( t  3 ).dt x(  3 ) 8
4
:Properties of δ(t)
b

3. x( t  t
a
o ). ( t ).dt  x(  to ) where a 
.  to  b

e.g.: if x( t ) t 2  2t  5 , find:
3

1
x( t  2 ). ( t ).dt
First we find x(2) then apply the property:
x( 2 ) 13 and 2  [ 1, 3]
3
 x( t  2 ). ( t ).dt x( 2 ) 13
1
:Properties of δ(t)

4.
 ( t ).dt 1 .


This leads to:

t
u( t )   ( t ).dt


du( t )
  ( t )
dt
:Properties of δ(t)
5. x( t ). ( t  to )  x( to ). ( t. to )

Which commonly known the sampling theorem.

2
e.g.: if x( t ) t  2t  5 , find:
x( t ). ( t  1 )

Sol:
x( 1 ). ( t  1 ) 8. ( t  1 )
:Properties of δ(t)

6.  ( t )  (  t )

That means the delta function is even

function.
:Properties of δ(t)
 
1 to
7. 

 ( at  to ).dt 
a 

 ( t  . ).dt
a

2
e.g.: if x( t ) t  2t  5 , find:
5

x( t ). ( 2t  8 ).dt

5
5 5
1 1
Sol: x( t ). ( 2t  8 ).dt  x( t ). ( t  4 ).dt  x( 4 )
5
2 5 2
:Properties of δ(t)
b

8. x( t ). ' ( t  t

a
o ).dt  x.' ( to )

2
e.g.: if x( t ) t  2t  5, find:
5

x( t ). ' ( t  3 ).dt

5 5

Sol: x( t ). ' ( t  3 ).dt  x' ( t

5
o ) where to 3

x' ( t ) 2t  2  x' ( 3 ) 8

5

x( t ). ' ( t  3 ).dt  x' ( 3 )  8

5
:Properties of δ(t)
 
1 to
9. 

 ' ( at  to ).dt 
a 

 ' ( t  ).dt .
a

e.g:
 
1 to


 ' ( 2t  3 ).dt   ' ( t  ).dt
2  2
:Properties of δ(t)
b

  (n) n (n)
10. x( t ). ( t  t o ).dt (  1 ) x ( to ) .
a

2
e.g: if x( t ) t  2t  5 , find:
5

x( t ). ' ' ( t  3 ).dt

5 5

x( t ). ' ' ( t  3 ).dt (  1 ) .x' ' ( t

2
Sol: o ) where to 3
5

x' ( t ) 2t  2  x' ' ( t ) 2  x' ' ( 3 ) 2

5

x( t ). ' ' ( t  3 ).dt 2

5
:Example 3
Evaluate:
3

 . (2t  4)..dt
(t  2)
I. e
0

II. 4signals and systems second ed. haykin

1 1
 ( t  2 ) . ' (  t  ).dt
2

4
3 2
III. .
:Example 3


III. 
0
t  1.e( 1 t ) . ( t  2 ).dt .

IV.

 .u(  1 ).u( 2   ).d .
:Exercise 4
Evaluate:


e . ( 3  5 ).d .

I.

2

2 2  2
II.  ( 2  ). sin( ) .
 
:Exercise 4


 ( t  2 ).dt .

3 (2)
III. t .



 2 
IV. 

sin( ). cos( ). ( 1  ).d .
4  
:Complex Exponential Signals

 The complex exponential signal

(a) Exponentially increasing

( b )Exponentially decreasing sinusoidal sinusoidal signal;
signal.
 Using Euler's formula, this signal can be defined
as
)+()
The fundamental period of is given by
Homework
 Express the signals shown in the following figure in
terms of unit step functions.