Chapter-3 Signals(Analog and Digital)

Analog and Digital Data

Analog Data

One way to characterize analog data is that it simply exists without being measured. For
analog data to be converted to digital form, it must be captured and rendered using specific
technologies. Typically, digital data uses a simple binary system to build data sets that
represent audio or video input.

For one simple example of the difference between analog and digital data, consider moving
water. The analog data is the actual water surface in motion, which human senses would
perceive as the changes to physical motions as well as the color, texture and even smell of
the water itself. A digital format would convert either the physical movement, color
properties or both into data sets that will simulate these properties in a hardware interface,
or store them for research purposes.

Although some new technologies may blur the line between analog data and digital data,
the essential nature of analog data will always be the archetype on which digital
conversions are based. In other words, while digital data can simulate and render analog
data, it is extremely limited in its ability to comprehensively recreate analog data.

Digital Data

Digital data is data that represents other forms of data using specific machine language
systems that can be interpreted by various technologies. The most fundamental of these
systems is a binary system, which simply stores complex audio, video or text information in
a series of binary characters, traditionally ones and zeros, or "on" and "off" values.

One of the biggest strengths of digital data is that all sorts of very complex analog input can
be represented with the binary system. Along with smaller microprocessors and larger data
storage centers, this model of information capture has helped parties like businesses and
government agencies to explore new frontiers of data collection and to represent more
impressive simulations through a digital interface.

From the earliest primitive digital data designs to new, highly sophisticated and massive
volumes of binary data, digital data seeks to capture elements of the physical world and
simulate them for technological use. This is done in many different ways, but with specific
techniques for capturing various real-world events and converting them into digital form.

One simple example is the conversion of a physical scene to a digital image. In this way,
new digital data is somewhat similar to older data systems that converted a physical view
or scene to chemical film. One of the major differences is that digital data records visual
information into a bitmap, or pixelated map, that stores a particular color property for each
bit on a precise and sophisticated grid. By using this straightforward essential system of

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Chapter-3 Signals(Analog and Digital)
data transfer, the digital image was created. Similar techniques are used to record audio
streams in a digital form.

Analog Signals

Analog signal is a kind of continuous wave form that changes over time. An anlaog signal is
further classified into simple and composite signals. A simple analog signal is a sine wave
that cannot be decomposed further. On the other hand, a composite analog signal can be
further decomposed into multiple sine waves. An analog signal is described using
amplitude, period or frequency and phase. Amplitude marks the maximum height of the
signal. Frequency marks the rate at which signal is changing. Phase marks the position of
the wave with respect to time zero.

Digital Signals

Digital signals also carry information like analog signals but is somewhat is different from
analog signals. Digital signal is noncontinuous, discrete time signal. Digital signal carries
information or data in the binary form i.e. a digital signal represent information in the form
of bits. Digital signal can be further decomposed into simple sine waves that are called
harmonics. Each simple wave has different amplitude, frequency and phase. Digital signal
is described with bit rate and bit interval. Bit interval describes the time require for sending
a single bit. On the other hand, bit rate describes the frequency of bit interval.

A digital signal is more immune to the noise; hence, it hardly faces any distortion. Digital
signals are easier to transmit and are more reliable when compared to analog signals.
Digital signal has a finite range of values. The digital signal consists 0s and 1s.
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Chapter-3 Signals(Analog and Digital)
Difference Between Analog and Digital Signal

Analog and Digital are the different forms of signals. Signals are used to carry information
from one device to another. Analog signal is a continuous wave that keeps on changing over
a time period. Digital signal is discrete in nature. The fundamental difference between
analog and digital signal is that analog signal is represented by the sine waves whereas, the
digital signal is represented by square waves. Lets us learn some more differences between
analog and digital signal with the help of comparison chart shown below.

ANALOG SIGNAL DIGITAL SIGNAL

An analog signal is a continuous wave A digital signal is a discrete wave that
that changes over a time period. carries information in binary form.

An analog signal is represented by a sine A digital signal is represented by square

wave. waves.

An analog signal is described by the A digital signal is described by bit rate and
amplitude, period or frequency, and bit intervals.
phase.
Analog signal has no fixed range. Digital signal has a finite numbers i.e. 0
and 1.
An analog signal is more prone to A digital signal is less prone to distortion.
distortion.
An analog signal transmit data in the form A digital signal carries data in the binary
of a wave. form i.e. 0 and 1.

The human voice is the best example of an Signals used for transmission in a
analog signal. computer are the digital signal.

Periodic Signal

Definition: A signal is considered to be periodic signal when it is repeated over cycle of time
or regular interval of time. This means periodic signal repeats its pattern over a period. The
function f(x) can be periodic if it satisfies following equation.

➤f(x + p) = f(x)
Example:
The cosine signal is periodic with periodicity value of 2π.

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Chapter-3 Signals(Analog and Digital)

A simple periodic analog signal such as sine wave or cosine wave can not be decomposed
into simpler signals. A composite periodic analog signal is composed of multiple sine waves.
The figure-1 depicts typical composite periodic signal.

The frequency is rate of change with respect to time. The frequency and period are inverse
of each other. Hence following can be implied.

➤ f = 1/T and T = 1/f,

The units such as seconds(s), milliseconds(ms), microseconds(µs), nanoseconds (ns) and

picoseconds (ps) are used for time period while units such as Hz, KHz, MHz, GHz and THz
are used for frequency. The figure-2 depicts time domain and frequency domain
decomposition of the composite periodic signal. This is derived from the fact that a
complete sine wave in the time domain can be represented by one single spike in frequency
domain.

Aperiodic Signal | Non-periodic Signal

Definition: A signal is considered to be non-periodic or aperiodic signal when it does not

repeat its pattern over a period (i.e. interval of time).

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Chapter-3 Signals(Analog and Digital)

Depicts time domain and frequency domain decomposition of the composite aperiodic
signal. Following are the two classic examples of aperiodic signal type.

Example#1:

Signal created by microphone or telephone when one or two words are pronounced. In this
application, composite signal can not be periodic in nature. Hence it is referred as aperiodic
signal.

Example#2:

Signal propagated by AM radio station or FM radio station

Difference between periodic signal and aperiodic signal

periodic signal aperiodic signal

A signal which repeats itself after a specific
interval of time is called periodic signal.
A signals that repeats its pattern over a
period is called periodic signal,
Continuous time signals are said to be
periodic.
Both the Analog and Digital can be
periodic or aperiodic.
A signal which does not repeat itself after a
specific interval of time is called aperiodic
signal.
A signal that does not repeats its pattern
over a period is called aperiodic signal or
non periodic.
Get over in limited time called aperiodic or
non periodic...
In data communication periodic analog
sigals and aperiodic digital signals are
used.

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