Introduction to

Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

 Three Types of Signal in Signal Processing
• Continuous-Time Signals (Analog Signals) : 𝒙 𝒕
§ Continuous values for time
§ Continuous values for amplitude
• Discrete-Time Signals (Sequences) : 𝒙[𝒏]
§ Discrete values for time
§ Continuous values for amplitude
• Digital Signals : 𝒙[𝒏] 1

§ Discrete values for time

§ Discrete values for amplitude
• Data points can only take on a finite number of values
1

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 Continuous-Time Signals (Analog Signals)
• Continuous-Time (CT) signal is a signal that exists at every instant of time
§ A CT signal is often referred to as analog signal
𝒙 𝒕
§ The independent variable 𝑡 is a continuous
variable
§ Continuous signal can assume any value over a
𝑡
continuous range of numbers

• Most of the signals in the physical world are CT signals.

§ Examples: voltage & current, pressure, temperature, velocity, etc.

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 Discrete-Time Signals
• A signal defined only for discrete values of time is called a discrete-time
(DT) signal or simply a sequence
• DT signal 𝑥 𝑛 can be obtained by taking samples of an analog signal 𝑥(𝑡)
at discrete instants of time : 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑥(𝑛𝑇)
• The values of each sample 𝑥[𝑛] is continuous

Sampling : :𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑥(𝑛𝑇)

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 Digital Signals
• Digital signal is a discrete-time signal whose values are quantized and
represented by digits
§ Discrete-Time
• 𝑛 = ⋯ , −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, …
§ Discrete-Amplitude
• 𝑥 𝑛 ∈ 0,1,2,3,4
1
• A finite set of numbers
• The digital signal is the sampled and quantized (rounded) representation of
the analog signal. A digital signal consists of a sequence of samples, which in
this case are integers: 0, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, ...

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 Continuous-Time Signal Discrete-Time Signal

Continuous-Time Discrete-Time
𝒙 𝒕 𝒙[𝒏]
Continuous-Amplitude Continuous-Amplitude

1 𝒏

𝒙[𝒏] Discrete-Time
Discrete-Amplitude

Digital Signal

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 Typical Digital Signal Processing System
• A typical DSP system involving ADC and DAC with the digital signal
processed by digital signal processor
§ ADC (Analog-to-Digital Conversion) : Sampling of analog signals to generate
digital signals
§ DAC (Digital-to-Analog Conversion) : Reconstruction of analog signals from digital
signals

Anti-Aliasing
Filter

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 Analog vs. Digital Signal Processing
Analog input Signal 𝒙(𝒕) Analog output Signal 𝐲(𝒕)
Analog
Signal Processor

Analog Signal Processing

Analog input Analog output

Signal 𝒙(𝒕) Signal y(𝒕)
A/D Digital D/A
converter Signal Processor converter

Digital Signal Processing

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 Why Not Analog Signal Processing?
• Analog signal processing is achieved by using analog components such
as:
§ Resistors
§ Capacitors Analog
Lowpass
§ Inductors Filter

• The inherent tolerances associated with these components, temperature,

voltage changes and mechanical vibrations can dramatically affect the
effectiveness of the analog circuitry.

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 Advantages of DSP (1)
• A digital programmable system allows flexibility in reconfiguring the DSP
operations simply by changing the program. Reconfiguration of an
analogue system usually implies a redesign of hardware, testing and
verification that it operates properly.
• DSP provides better control of accuracy requirements.
• Digital signals are easily stored on storage media i.e. hard disk

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 Advantages of DSP (2)
• The DSP allows for the implementation of more sophisticated signal
processing algorithms.
• In some cases, a digital implementation of the signal processing system
is cheaper than its analogue counterpart.
• DSP consume relatively less power than analog counterpart.
• DSP processor can be reuse for many applications

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Summary of Why DSP
• Advantages
§ Flexible in operation
§ Accurate results
§ Stable system
§ Data storage – less expensive
§ Low cost
• Disadvantages
§ Limited speed of operation
DSP Applications
• Consumer electronics
§ Smartphone, HDTV, cameras, …
• Transportation
§ GPS, engine control, airplane tracking, …
• Medical
§ Imaging, monitoring (EEG, ECG), …
• Military
§ Target tracking , surveillance, …
• Remote sensing
§ Astronomy, climate monitoring, weather forecasting, ...
 DSP is Everywhere (1)
• Sound applications
§ Compression, enhancement, special effects, synthesis, recognition, echo
cancellation,…
§ Cell Phones, MP3 Players, Movies, Dictation, Text-to-speech,…
• Communication
§ Modulation, coding, detection, equalization, echo cancellation,…
§ Cell Phones, dial-up modem, DSL modem, Satellite Receiver,…
• Automotive
§ ABS, GPS, Active Noise Cancellation, Cruise Control, Parking,…

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 DSP is Everywhere (2)
• Medical
§ Magnetic Resonance, Tomography, Electrocardiogram,…
• Military
§ Radar, Sonar, Space photographs, remote sensing,…
• Image and Video Applications
§ DVD, JPEG, Movie special effects, video conferencing,…
• Mechanical
§ Motor control, process control, oil and mineral prospecting,…

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Typical Signal Processing Problems
1. Eliminating Nosie

2. Signal Restoration (Correcting distortion)

3. Extracting an indirect quantity from measured signals

4. Signal Compression
Typical Signal Processing Problems (1)
• Eliminating Nosie

Noisy ECG Clean ECG

DSP
 DSP Example : Nosie Removal
• 50/60 Hz Interference
Cancellation in
Electrocardiography

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 DSP Example : Signal Spectrum Analysis

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Typical Signal Processing Problems (3)
• Signal Restoration (Correcting distortion)
Motion Blur Restored Image
Typical Signal Processing Problems (3)
• Extracting an indirect quantity from measured signals
§ Determine aircraft position and velocity
Typical Signal Processing Problems (4)
• Signal Compression
§ Image compression is a type of data compression applied to digital
images, to reduce their cost for storage or transmission.