EECE 301 Signals & Systems

Prof. Mark Fowler

Note Set #5
Basic Properties of Systems Reading Assignment: Section 1.5 of Kamen and Heck

1/9

Course Flow Diagram

The arrows here show conceptual flow between ideas. Note the parallel structure between the pink blocks (C-T Freq. Analysis) and the blue blocks (D-T Freq. Analysis). New Signal Models
Ch. 1 Intro
C-T Signal Model Functions on Real Line System Properties LTI Causal Etc D-T Signal Model Functions on Integers

Ch. 3: CT Fourier Signal Models

Fourier Series Periodic Signals Fourier Transform (CTFT) Non-Periodic Signals

Ch. 5: CT Fourier System Models

Frequency Response Based on Fourier Transform

Ch. 6 & 8: Laplace Models for CT Signals & Systems

Transfer Function

New System Model

New System Model

Ch. 2 Diff Eqs

C-T System Model Differential Equations D-T Signal Model Difference Equations Zero-State Response Zero-Input Response Characteristic Eq.

Ch. 2 Convolution
C-T System Model Convolution Integral D-T System Model Convolution Sum

New System Model

New Signal Model Powerful Analysis Tool

Ch. 4: DT Fourier Signal Models

DTFT (for Hand Analysis) DFT & FFT (for Computer Analysis)

Ch. 5: DT Fourier System Models

Freq. Response for DT Based on DTFT

Ch. 7: Z Trans. Models for DT Signals & Systems

Transfer Function

New System Model

New System Model 2/9

1.5 Basic System Properties

There are some fundamental properties that many (but not all!) systems share regardless if they are C-T or D-T and regardless if they are electrical, mechanical, etc. An understanding of these fundamental properties allows an engineer to develop tools that can be widely applied rather than attacking each seemingly different problem anew!!

The three main fundamental properties we will study are: 1. Causality 2. Linearity 3. Time-Invariance
3/9

Causality: A causal (or non-anticipatory) systems output at a time t1 does not

depend on values of the input x(t) for t > t1

The future input cannot impact the now output

A Causal system (with zero initial conditions) cannot have a non-zero output until a non-zero input is applied.

Causal System
Input t Output t

Non-Causal System
Input t Output t

Most systems in nature are causal

But we need to understand non-causal systems because theory shows that the best systems are non-causal! So we need to find causal systems that are as close to the best non-causal systems!!!

4/9

Linearity: A system is linear if superposition holds:

x1(t)
Linear System

y1(t)

x2(t)

Linear System

y2(t)

x(t) = a1 x1(t)+ a2 x2(t)

Linear System

y(t) = a1 y1(t)+ a2 y2(t)

x1(t)

Non-Linear

y1(t)

x2(t)

Non-Linear

y2(t)

x(t) = a1 x1(t)+ a2 x2(t)

Non-Linear

y(t) a1 y1(t)+ a2 y2(t)

5/9

If a system is linear: a scaled input gives a scaled output

Same scaling factor

x(t)

Linear System

y(t)

kx(t)

Linear System

ky(t)

When superposition holds, it makes our life easier! We then can decompose complicated signals into a sum of simpler signals and then find out how each of these simple signals goes through the system!! This is exactly what the so-called Frequency Domain Methods of later chapters do!!!

Systems with only R, L, and C are linear systems! Systems with electronics (diodes, transistors, op-amps, etc.) may be non-linear, but they could be linear at least for inputs that do not exceed a certain range of inputs.
6/9

Time-Invariance
Physical View: The system itself does not change with time Ex. A circuit with fixed R,L,C is time invariant.
Actually, R,L,C values change slightly over time due to temperature & aging effects. A circuit with, say, a variable R is time variant (assuming that someone or something is changing the R value)

Technical View: A system is time invariant (TI) if:

x(t) x(t-t0) x(t) t x(t-t0) t t0 t0 y(t-t0) t
7/9

system

y(t) y(t-t0) y(t) t

Systems described by Linear, Constant-Coefficient Differential Equations are Continuous-Time, Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) Systems Differential equations like this are LTI
d n 1y (t ) d mx(t ) dx(t ) d ny (t ) + an 1 + ... + a0 y (t ) = bm + ... + b1 + b0 x(t ) an dt n dt n 1 dt m dt
- coefficients (as & bs) are constants TI - No nonlinear terms Linear Examples Of Nonlinear terms

d k x (t ) d p x (t ) x n (t ), dtp , k dt

d k y (t ) d p y (t ) y n (t ) , dt p , etc. k dt

8/9

Systems described by Linear, Constant-Coefficient Difference Equations are Discrete-Time, Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) Systems Difference equations like this are LTI

a0 y[n ] + a1 y[n 1] + ... + a N y[n N ] = b0 x[n ] + b1 x[n 1] + ... + bM x[n M ]

- coefficients (as & bs) are constants TI - No nonlinear terms Linear Examples Of Nonlinear terms

x n [n ],

x[n p ] x[n m ] ,

y n [n ],

y[n p ] y[n m ] , etc.

9/9