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Hey it's a me again @drifter1!
Today we continue with my mathematics series about Signals and Systems. There's much to talk about Signals and so let's first get into the Basics...
So, without further ado, let's get straight into it!
Signals are functions used for specific purposes, that can be split into two types based on how "often" samples are taken of them:
If samples are taken continuously, as time goes by (and so in respect to time itself), then the signal is of continuous-time, whilst when samples are taken after specific sampling intervals the signal is of discrete-time.
Signals can also be categorized based on their deterministic or non-deterministic nature.
A signal is deterministic if there is no uncertainty in respect to its value at any instance of time. This basically means that a deterministic signal can be perfectly defined by a mathematical formula.
On the other hand, non-deterministic signals are of random and so uncertain nature. Such signals can only be modelled in probabilistic terms.
Signals are periodic when they repeat a specific pattern every time period T or sampling N.
Mathematically speaking, any signal that satisfies the following condition(s) is periodic:
A signal is a energy signal if it has finite energy, whilst a signal is a power signal if it has finite power.
Its worth noting that a signal cannot be both, energy and power simultaneously, and that it may be neither of them.
The energy of a signal is calculated using:
The power of a signal is calculated using:
Lastly, signals are also categorized as real and imaginary:
An easy way to check if a signal is real or imaginary is using the complex conjugate of the signal:
The unit step function, u(t), is defined as:
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This function is the best test signal.
The unit impulse function, δ(t), is defined as:
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The ramp signal, r(t), is defined as:
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A parabolic signal t2/2can be easily defined using r(t) or u(t) as:
Turning the unit step function into an odd function [u(t) = -u(-t)] creates the so called signum or sign function, sgn(x):
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Exponential signals are of the generic form:
The shape of the exponential depends on the value of the parameter a:
Any signal of the form:
or
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The sinc function, sinc(t), is defined as:
The sampling function, sa(t), is defined as:
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Mathematical equations used in this article, where made using quicklatex.
And this is actually it for today's post!
Next time we will dive even more into Signals...
See Ya!
Keep on drifting!
