Mathematical Description of

Continuous-Time Signals

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.
EditedbyDr.RobertAkl
Typical Continuous-Time Signals

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 2
Continuous vs Continuous-Time
Signals
All continuous signals that are functions of time are
continuous-time but not all continuous-time signals are
continuous

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 3
 Continuous-Time Sinusoids

g t Acos 2 t / T0 Acos 2 f0t Acos 0t

Amplitude Period Phase Shift Cyclic Radian
(s) (radians) Frequency Frequency
( Hz) (radians/s)

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 4
Continuous-Time Exponentials
g t Aet/

Amplitude Time Constant (s)

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 5
Complex Sinusoids

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 6
 The Signum Function
1 , t 0

sgn t 0 , t 0
1 , t 0

Precise Graph Commonly-Used Graph

The signum function, in a sense, returns an indication of

the sign of its argument.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 7
 The Unit Step Function

1 , t 0

u t 1 / 2 , t 0
0 , t 0

The product signal g t u t can be thought of as the signal g t

turned on at time t 0.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 8
 The Unit Step Function

The unit step function can mathematically describe a

signal that is zero up to some point in time and non-
zero after that.

v RC t Vb u t
i t V / R e u t
b
t/ RC

v t V 1 e
C u t
b
t/ RC

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 9
The Unit Ramp Function

t , t 0 t

ramp t u d tu t
0 , t 0

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 10
The Unit Ramp Function
Product of a sine wave and a ramp function.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 11
 Introduction to the Impulse
1 / a , t a/ 2
Define a function t
0 , t a/ 2

Let another function g t be finite and continuous at t 0.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 12
 Introduction to the Impulse
The area under the product of the two functions is
a/2
1
A g t dt
a a/2
As the width of t approaches zero,
a/2
1 1
lim A g 0 lim dt g 0 lim a g 0
a0 a0 a a0 a
a/2

The continuous-time unit impulse is implicitly defined by

g 0 t g t dt

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 13
The Unit Step and Unit Impulse
As a approaches zero, g t approaches a unit
step and g t approaches a unit impulse.

The unit step is the integral of the unit impulse and

the unit impulse is the generalized derivative of the
unit step.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 14
 Graphical Representation of the
Impulse
The impulse is not a function in the ordinary sense because its
value at the time of its occurrence is not defined. It is represented
graphically by a vertical arrow. Its strength is either written beside
it or is represented by its length.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 15
 Properties of the Impulse
TheSamplingProperty

g t t t dt g t

0 0

The sampling property extracts the value of a function at

a point.
TheScalingProperty
1
a t t0 t t0
a
This property illustrates that the impulse is different from
ordinary mathematical functions.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 16
 The Unit Periodic Impulse

The unit periodic impulse is defined by

T t t nT , n an integer
n

The periodic impulse is a sum of infinitely many uniformly-

spaced impulses.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 17
The Periodic Impulse

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 18
 The Unit Rectangle Function
1 , t 1/ 2

rect t 1 / 2 , t 1 / 2 u t 1 / 2 u t 1 / 2
0 , t 1 / 2

The product signal g t rect t can be thought of as the signal g t

turned on at time t 1 / 2 and turned back off at time t 1 / 2.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 19
Combinations of Functions

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 20
 Shifting and Scaling Functions
Let a function be defined graphically by

and let g t 0 , t 5

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 21
Shifting and Scaling Functions
Amplitude Scaling, g t Ag t

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 22
Shifting and Scaling Functions

Timeshifting, t t t0

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 23
Shifting and Scaling Functions
Timescaling, t t/ a

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 24
 Shifting and Scaling Functions

t t0
Multiple transformations g t Ag
a
A multiple transformation can be done in steps
amplitude
t t t0
g t Ag t
scaling, A

tt/a
Ag ttt0
Ag
a a
The sequence of the steps is significant
amplitude
t t t0
g t Ag t
scaling, A ttt0
Ag t t0
tt/a
Ag t0 Ag
a a

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 25
Shifting and Scaling Functions
t t0
Simultaneous scaling and shifting g t Ag
a

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 26
Shifting and Scaling Functions

Simultaneous scaling
and shifting, Ag bt t0

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 27
Shifting and Scaling Functions

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 28
Shifting and Scaling Functions

If g 2 t Ag1 t t0 / w what are A, t0 and w?

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 29
 Shifting and Scaling Functions
Height +5 2 A 0.4 , g1 t 0.4 g1 t

Width +6 2 w 1 / 3 0.4 g1 t 0.4 g1 3t
Shift left by 5/3 t 5 / 3 0.4 g 3t 0.4 g 3 t 5 / 3
0 1 1

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 30
Shifting and Scaling Functions

If g 2 t Ag1 wt t0 what are A, t0 and w?

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 31
 Shifting and Scaling Functions
Height +5 2 A 0.4 g1 t 0.4 g1 t
Shift left 5 t 5 0.4 g t 0.4 g t 5
0 1 1

Width +6 to +2 w 3 0.4 g t 5 0.4 g 3t 51 1

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 32
Shifting and Scaling Functions

If g 2 t Ag1 w t t0 what are A, t 0
and w?

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 33
 Shifting and Scaling Functions

Height +5 3 A 0.6 g1 t 0.6 g1 t
Width +6 3 w 2 0.6 g t 0.6 g 2t 1 1

Shift Right 1/2 t 1 / 2 0.6 g 2t 0.6 g 2 t 1 / 2

0 1 1

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 34
Shifting and Scaling Functions

If g 2 t Ag1 t / w t0 what are A, t0 and w?

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 35
 Shifting and Scaling Functions
Height +5 3 A 0.6 g1 t 0.6 g1 t
Shift Left 1 t 1 0.6 g t 0.6 g t 1
0 1 1

Width +6 3 w 1 / 2 0.6 g t 1 0.6 g 2t 11 1

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 36
Differentiation

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 37
 Integration

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 38
Even and Odd Signals
Even Functions Odd Functions
g t g t g t g t

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 39
Even and Odd Parts of Functions
g t g t
The even part of a function is g e t .
2
g t g t
The odd part of a function is g o t .
2
A function whose even part is zero is odd and a function
whose odd part is zero is even.
The derivative of an even function is odd and the derivative
of an odd function is even.
The integral of an even function is an odd function, plus a
constant, and the integral of an odd function is even.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 40
Even and Odd Parts of Functions

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 41
Products of Even and Odd Functions
Two Even Functions

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 42
Products of Even and Odd Functions
An Even Function and an Odd Function

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 43
Products of Even and Odd Functions
An Even Function and an Odd Function

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 44
Products of Even and Odd Functions
Two Odd Functions

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 45
Integrals of Even and Odd Functions

a a a

g t dt 2 g t dt
a 0
g t dt 0
a

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 46
Integrals of Even and Odd Functions

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 47
 Periodic Signals
If a function g(t) is periodic, g t g t nT where n is any integer
and T is a period of the function. The minimum positive value of T
for which g t g t T is called the fundamental period T0 of the
function. The reciprocal of the fundamental period is the fundamental
frequency f0 1 / T0 .

A function that is not periodic is aperiodic.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 48
 Sums of Periodic Functions
The period of the sum of periodic functions is the least common
multiple of the periods of the individual functions summed. If the
least common multiple is infinite, the sum function is aperiodic.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 49
 ADC Waveforms

Examples of waveforms which

may appear in analog-to-digital
converters. They can be
described by a periodic repetition
of a ramp returned to zero by a
negative step or by a periodic
repetition of a triangle-shaped
function.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 50
Signal Energy and Power

The signal energy of a signal x t is

x t
2
Ex dt

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 51
Signal Energy and Power

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 52
 Signal Energy and Power
t 1
Find the signal energy of x t 2 rect t / 2 4 rect u t 2
4
2
t 1
x t 2 rect t / 2 4 rect 4 u t 2 dt
2
Ex dt

2
t 1
Ex 2 2 rect t / 2 4 rect 4

dt

t 1 t 1
Ex 4 rect t / 2 16 rect
2
16 rect t / 2 rect
2
dt
2
4 4

t 1 t 1
Ex 4 rect t / 2 dt 16 rect dt 16 rect t / 2 rect dt
2 2
4 2
4
1 1 1

Ex 4 dt 16 dt 16 dt 8 48 32 24
1 2 1

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 53
 Signal Energy and Power

Some signals have infinite signal energy. In that case

It is more convenient to deal with average signal power.
The average signal power of a signal x t is
T /2
1
x t dt
T T
2
Px lim
T /2

For a periodic signal x t the average signal power is

1

2
Px
x t dt
T T
where T is any period of the signal.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 54
 Signal Energy and Power

A signal with finite signal energy is

called an energy signal.

A signal with infinite signal energy and

finite average signal power is called a
power signal.

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 55
 Signal Energy and Power
Find the average signal power of a signal x t with fundamental
period 12, one period of which is described by
x t ramp t / 5 , 4 t 8
8 0
1 1 1
x t ramp t / 5 dt t / 5 dt
2 2 2
Px dt
T T 12 4 12 4
0 64 / 3 16
0
1 t2 1 0
Px / 3 0.0711
3
dt t
12 4 25 300 4 300 225

M.J.RobertsAllRightsReserved.EditedbyDr.RobertAkl 56