Chapter-2: Fourier Series

Introduction:
Fourier analysis involves the resolution of certain classes of signals into the
superposition of sines and cosines ( sinusoidal components ) or, equivalently
complex exponential signals.
The output of a system to a sinewave is another sinewave of the same frequency
( but with a different phase and amplitude) under two conditions:
a) If the system is linear, and
b) If the system is time-invariant.
Periodic signals have Fourier series representation(Continuous-Time Fourier
Series(CTFS) and Discrete-Time Fourier Series(DTFS))
Aperiodic (or non-periodic) signals have Fourier transform representation
(Continuous-Time Fourier Transform(CTFT) and Discrete-Time Fourier Transform
(DTFT))

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 Fourier Series Definition:
A general periodic signal or function can be represented as an infinite sum of sine
and cosine function (or, equivalently complex exponential function)which are then
itself periodic. This series of sine and cosine terms (or, complex exponential terms)
is called Fourier series.
Fourier series can be studied as under:
1) Continuous-Time Fourier Series(CTFS) , and
2) Discrete-Time Fourier Series(DTFS)

1) Continuous-Time Fourier Series(CTFS) :

It has the following forms:
A. Trigonometric Fourier series
B. Compact trigonometric Fourier series, and
C. Complex exponential Fourier series

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A. Trigonometric Fourier Series:
A CT periodic signal  have the trigonometric Fourier series representation given as 

Then we have ....1

Also we can write,
 =  , is
 the fundamental
frequency.
 ….2
 ….3
Note that  because s when 

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Let us define,  =  and  = …..ii
So that  i.e., 
Then eq. (ii), 
 …..iii

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Again let us define,  and  then eq. 3 becomes

 …..iv

Periodicity of the Trigonometric Fourier Series:

We have the compact trigonometric Fourier series is

Then for periodicity, we know 
Therefore, 

But 

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 Therefore, 
  for all t.
Thus, trigonometric Fourier series is periodic function of period .

C) Complex Exponential Fourier Series:

1) Linear Combinations of Harmonically Related Complex
Exponentials:
The periodic complex exponential is given as …..i

where  is the fundamental period and is the fundamental
frequency.
Then harmonically related complex exponential is
  …..ii
where, fundamental frequency is  
fundamental period is 

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Thus the linear combinations of harmonically related complex exponential is

Or  …..iii
which is periodic with period  .
Eq. (iii) is the complex exponential Fourier series and the  are called
Fourier series coefficients. It is also called synthesis equation.
The terms for  of  are called fundamental components or first harmonic
components.
The terms for  are called second harmonic components.
The terms for  are called  harmonic components.

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2) Determination of Fourier series Representation of CT
Periodic Signal:
The Exponential Fourier series is
=  …..i
Multiplying both sides of 1 by and
 integrating over the period  , we get

Interchanging the order of summation and integration in RHS, we have
 …..ii
But we know

0 0
𝑇
𝑇


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 Then eq. 2 reduces to


Therefore, 
0

𝑇
In general,  …..iii
Eq. 3 is the required expression for Fourier series coefficients .Eq. (iii) is
also called 0

𝑇
analysis equation.

Conversion of Trigonometric Fourier Series into

Complex Exponential Fourier Series:


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Conversion of Complex Exponential Fourier Series

into Trigonometric Fourier Series:




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 Solved examples:
1) Let , which has fundamental frequency Determine
 the Fourier series coefficients.
2) Determine the Fourier series coefficients of the periodic signal in the figure below.

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1) Solution:
Given, 
where, is
 the fundamental frequency.


+ +1+ 
Comparing this with the eq. 
or +…..


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We get
 , , 

, 
 



And .

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2) Solution:
From the given figure the signal  is defined as


The signal is periodic with fundamental period T and fundamental frequency

=. This is a square wave.
Fourier series coefficients:
We have, 

𝑇

, 

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We know, 

𝑇

 

Therefore,  T1

-T1

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For  ,  then
, 


 

 

 and so on.

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The plot of  for  is shown below.

𝐷
𝑛
n

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Dirichlet Conditions:
This is a set of conditions which guarantees that a signal  has its Fourier series
representation except at some isolated values of t for which is discontinuous.
Conditions:
1) Over any one period,  must be absolutely integrable, i.e.,
 .....i

In this case  is also0finite.

𝑇


 

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2) The signal contains finite number of maxima and minima over any finite
period.
3) The signal  has finite number of discontinuities over any finite period.

Examples that violets Dirichlet conditions:

1)  . This signal is periodic with period 1, but violets condition 1.

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2)  for This signal is periodic with period 1 but violets
condition 2.

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3)

This signal is periodic with period  but violets condition3.

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 The Fourier Spectrum:
A periodic signal  can be specified into two equivalent ways:
1. the time-domain representation where  is defined as a function of time, and
2. the frequency-domain representation where the signal is defined in terms of its
spectrum. It consists of frequency components 0,,  .. called spectrum.

We know  where {}   is the phase.

Amplitude spectrum:
The plot of amplitudes  versus frequency is called amplitude spectrum.
For real-valued periodic signal =  , where is the complex
conjugate of  . Then  = 
That is , amplitude spectrum is symmetric or even function of n.

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Phase spectrum:
The plot of phase  versus frequency gives the phase spectrum.

Phase spectrum is asymmetric or odd function of n.
Since both the amplitude and phase of  have nonzero values only for discrete
frequencies that are integers, the spectrum (amplitude and phase spectrum) is also
referred as discrete spectrum or line spectrum.

Note that if we specify the periodic signal  we can determine its spectrum;
conversely, if we specify the spectrum, we can determine the corresponding signal.

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 Properties of CTFS:
The CTFS representation consists of a number of properties which may be used to
develop conceptual fundamentals and in reducing the complexity of Fourier series
of many signals.

1) Linerity:
Let 
and  , both are periodic with period .
then , …..i
 is also periodic with period .

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 Proof:
We know, 
 0

𝑇

  





2) Time Shifting:
Let 
then  …..i

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Proof:
We have ,  


Let,  =  and  it will also range over . Then
 



0
𝑇
Note that .Hence,
 time-shifting does not change the amplitude. It only changes the
phase spectrum.
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3) Frequency Shifting:
Let 
then  …..i
Proof:
We have, 
This implies that 
Thus we can write,  
0

𝑇
0 0
𝑇
𝑇
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4) Time reversal:
If 
then  …..i
Proof:
We have ,  …..ii

then, 
Let in RHS , we get

In general,  …..iii
Therefore 

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 Time reversal in signal  dies not change in the period T0 , but results in a time
reversal of the corresponding sequence of Fourier series coefficients.
Cases:
I. When  =  for all t (even signal),= .
II. When  = - for
 all t (odd signal), = .

5) Time Scaling:
If 
then  …..i
That is, this property does not change the Fourier series coefficients but change the
fundamental period (and thus fundamental frequency).
Proof:
Let 


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where  and 
Let  =  then ’  0 ,

𝑇
’
Therefore , 
Put 
Therefore, =
Hence , 

/a

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6) Multiplication:
If  and 
then   …..i
where  are periodic with period T0.
Proof:
Given 

then   { } { }
 …..ii
Put  in eq.i , then 
when  and
 when  

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 Then eq.1 becomes

i.e., 
If  are the Fourier series coefficients of  then we have
 …..iii
where,  
Note that  is convolution of  and  .

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7) Conjugation and Conjugate Symmetry:
Taking the complex conjugate of a periodic signal  has the effect of complex
conjugation and time reversal on the corresponding Fourier series coefficients.
That is, if

then  …..i
Proof:
Let,  …..ii
Taking complex conjugate on both sides ,we get

Put , we obtain
 …..iii
Therefore , 

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Cases:
i. If  is real:
Here,  then  , i.e.,  

Hence 

i. If  is real and even:

If  is real 

If  is even 
Then    , i.e., 
Which shows that  is purely real and contains no imaginary part.
In this case  is real.

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iii. If  is real and odd:
If  is real 
If is
 odd 
Then   ,i.e., 
In this case , Fourier series coefficients are purely imaginary and odd.
Also 0

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8) Convolution:
If  , and 
then the convolution of  and  over a period , results in a signal  ,
such that . …..i

Proof:
The convolution(for periodic signals) is defined as

From time shifting property, we have , thus


Hence, 

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9) Parseval’s Relation for CT Periodic Signals:
It states that the total average power of a periodic signal  is equal to the sum of the
average power of its harmonic components (or Fourier components).
Mathematically,  …..i
where,  is the total average power of the periodic signal .
Proof: 0

𝑇

 and
 0is the complex conjugate of .
𝑇
0
𝑇
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Then we have,


0 0

𝑇
𝑇
 {}

0

𝑇


𝑇
Where 2 is the average power in the nth harmonic (or Fourier series) component. The
power spectrum is the symmetric spectrum.

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 Note:
a. A spectrum showing the relation of average power to the corresponding frequency
component(harmonics) is called power density spectrum.

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