Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Lecture 8: Impulse Response

ECE 401: Signal and Image Analysis

University of Illinois

2/14/2017
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

1 Interpolation Review

2 Discrete-Time Systems

3 Impulse Response
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Outline

1 Interpolation Review

2 Discrete-Time Systems

3 Impulse Response
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Interpolation Review

The following signal is passed through two different D/A circuits,

both with a sampling frequency of Fs = T1 = 10, 000Hz. The first
circuit is a piece-wise-constant (PWC) interpolator, and constructs
a signal xPWC (t). The second is a piece-wise-linear (PWL)
interpolator, and constructs a signal xPWL (t).


 0.7 n = −1
1.0 n = 0

x[n] =

 0.7 n = −1
0 otherwise


Draw xPWC (t) and xPWL (t).

Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Outline

1 Interpolation Review

2 Discrete-Time Systems

3 Impulse Response
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Discrete-Time System

A discrete-time system is anything (software, hardware,

wetware, or vaporware) that accepts one signal x[n] as input,
and generates another signal y [n] as output.
In this class we’ll assume that the behavior of the system is
predictable, so we can write a system equation specifying
the relationship between input and output.
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Examples: Averaging

Here’s a system that takes the average of two consecutive

input samples:
1
y [n] = (x[n] + x[n − 1])
2
Here’s a system that takes the average of three consecutive
input samples:
1
y [n] = (x[n + 1] + x[n] + x[n − 1])
3
Here’s a system that takes a weighted average of five
consecutive input samples:

y [n] = 0.1x[n−2]+0.2x[n−1]+0.4x[n]+0.2x[n+1]+0.1x[n+2]
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Examples: Differencing

dx
Here’s a system that estimates y [n] ≈ dt using the
forward-Euler method:
1
y [n] = (x[n + 1] − x[n])
T
dx
Here’s a system that estimates y [n] ≈ dt using the
backward-Euler method:
1
y [n] = (x[n] − x[n − 1])
T
dx
Here’s a system that estimates y [n] ≈ dt using the
central-Euler method:
1
y [n] = (x[n + 1] − x[n − 1])
2T
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Other Examples

d 2x
Here’s a system that estimates y [n] ≈ dt 2
:

1
y [n] = (x[n + 1] − 2x[n] + x[n − 1])
T2
Here’s a system that estimates the degree to which the most
recent 20 samples of x[n] resemble cos(πn/10):
19
X  πm 
y [n] = cos x[n − m]
10
m=0
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Other Examples

Here’s a system that acts kind of like an integral:

∞
X
y [n] = x[n − m]
m=0

Here’s a system that just delays the input:

y [n] = x[n − 3]
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Outline

1 Interpolation Review

2 Discrete-Time Systems

3 Impulse Response
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Special signals that you need to know

The unit impulse is


1 n=0
δ[n] =
6 0
0 n=

The unit step is 

1 n≥0
u[n] =
0 n<0
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Impulse Response

The “impulse response” of a system, h[n], is the output that

it produces in response to an impulse input.

Definition: if and only if x[n] = δ[n] then y [n] = h[n]

Given the system equation, you can find the impulse response
just by feeding x[n] = δ[n] into the system.
If the system is linear and time-invariant (terms we’ll define
later), then you can use the impulse response to find the
output for any input, using a method called convolution that
we’ll learn in two weeks.
For today, let’s get some practice at finding the impulse
response from the system equation.
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Example: Averaging

Consider the system

1
y [n] = (x[n] + x[n − 1])
2
Suppose we insert an impulse:

x[n] = δ[n]

Then whatever we get at the output, by definition, is the impulse

response. In this case it is

1 0.5 n = 0, 1
h[n] = (δ[n] + δ[n − 1]) =
2 0 otherwise
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Example: Forward Euler

Consider the system

y [n] = x[n + 1] − x[n]

Suppose we insert an impulse:

x[n] = δ[n]

Then whatever we get at the output, by definition, is the impulse

response. In this case it is

 1 n = −1
h[n] = (δ[n + 1] − δ[n]) = −1 n = 0
0 otherwise

Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Example: Second Difference

Consider the system

y [n] = x[n + 1] − 2x[n] + x[n − 1]

Suppose we insert an impulse:

x[n] = δ[n]

Then whatever we get at the output, by definition, is the impulse

response. In this case it is

 1 n = −1, 1
h[n] = (δ[n + 1] − 2δ[n] + δ[n − 1]) = −2 n=0
0 otherwise

Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Example: Cosine Matcher

Consider the system

19
X  πm 
y [n] = cos x[n − m]
10
m=0

Suppose we insert an impulse:

x[n] = δ[n]

Then whatever we get at the output, by definition, is the impulse

response. In this case it is

cos πn


10 0 ≤ n ≤ 19
h[n] =
0 otherwise
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Example: Integrator

Consider the system

∞
X
y [n] = x[n − m]
m=0

Suppose we insert an impulse:

x[n] = δ[n]

Then whatever we get at the output, by definition, is the impulse

response. In this case it is

h[n] = u[n]
Interpolation Review Discrete-Time Systems Impulse Response

Example: Delay

Consider the system

y [n] = x[n − 3]
Suppose we insert an impulse:

x[n] = δ[n]

Then whatever we get at the output, by definition, is the impulse

response. In this case it is

1 n=3
h[n] = δ[n − 3] =
0 n 6= 3