LEC # 1:

INTRODUCTION TO SIGNALS
AND SYSTEMS
Dr. Arsla Khan
Course Contents
Text Book:
Signals and Systems by A. V. Oppenheim and A. S. Willsky with S.
■ Introduction H. Nawab, Second Edition Prentice Hall, 2012

■ Basic operations on signals

■ Basic system properties
■ Time domain analysis of continuous and discrete time systems
■ Fourier series analysis of CTS and DTS
■ Fourier transform analysis of CTS and DTS
■ Laplace Transform
■ Z - Transform
Signal
■ Signal is defined as:
– “Any varying quantity that is intended to convey information”
e.g. human speech, temperature, voltage on telephone wires

– “a dependent variable or function of one or more independent variables

𝑓(𝑡1 , 𝑡2 , … 𝑡𝑛 )

signal Independent Variables

■ Noise is also a signal but it carries unwanted information

■ Single Variable Signal → If signal is dependent on one variable only. 𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑔(𝑡)

■ Multi Variable Signal → If signal is depending on more than one variable. 𝑓(𝑥1 , 𝑥2 )
Important: difference btw signal and a dc value

■ anything which is varying is a signal but a constant value is not a signal

■ e.g. AC is a signal because current is changing with time. Whereas DC is not a signal
because in DC, current is not changing with time.
System
■ It is defined as
– System is a device or group of devices which operates on signals
– The meaningful interconnection of physical devices and components is called
as system
– An entity that process a set of signals (input signal) and produces another set
of signals.
– e.g. Communication system
■ System alone can not achieve anything so it must be linked with a signal.

(response)

(excitation) desirable signal

Signal Types on basis of time-axis

■ 1) Continuous Time Signals (CTS)

■ 2) Discrete Time Signals (DTS)
1) Continuous Time Signal (CTS)

■ Signals which are specified/defined for all values of time (t)

■ Independent variable is time (t)

■ It is written as 𝑓 𝑡 , 𝑥 𝑡 , 𝑜𝑟 𝑔(𝑡)
2) Discrete Time Signals (DTS)

■ Signals specified at discrete time intervals.

■ Magnitude can be any value (1, 1.1, 2.3 etc.) but on time axis, signal is only defined
at discrete points/ integer values (-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 etc. ).
■ Independent variable is index or time-index [n]
■ In discrete domain, signal can also be termed as sequence

■ It is written as 𝑓 𝑛 , 𝑥[𝑛], 𝑜𝑟 𝑔[𝑛]

f [n] f [n]

f [n]
n

n
 Mathematical Representation of Signals
■ How to write DTS signals??
■ Exp #1:

■ 𝑥1 𝑛 = {0,0,1,2,3,0,0,2,2,0}

Position of sample at zeroth place i.e. n=0

■ 𝑥2 𝑛 = {0, −2, −2,2,2,0, −2,0}

Position of sample at zeroth place i.e. n=0

n -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
𝑥1 𝑛 0 0 0 1 2 3 0 0 2 2 0
𝑥2 𝑛 0 -2 -2 2 2 0 -2 0 0 0 0
CTS: CTS are defined in the form of ranges. x(t)

1 2<𝑡<4
■ 𝑥 𝑡 =ቊ
0 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒

2 −3 < 𝑡 < 0
■ 𝑓 𝑡 = ቐ 2𝑒 −𝑡/4 0 < 𝑡 < 6
0 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒

??? 1 < 𝑡 < 2

■ 𝑓 𝑡 = ቐ 1 2<𝑡<4
0 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒

Prepared by: Dr. Arsla Khan, CUI Lahore Campus 10

How to define ramp signal? B (2,1)

■ Define points in which ramp exists

A (1,0)
■ Point A (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) = (1,0)
■ Point B (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) = (2,1)
■ Write equation for line and put values
𝑦−𝑦1 𝑥−𝑥1
■ =
𝑦2 −𝑦1 𝑥2 −𝑥1 𝑡−1 1<𝑡 <2
𝑦−0 𝑥−1
■ = 𝑓 𝑡 = ቐ1 2<𝑡<4
1−0 2−1 0 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑠𝑒
■ 𝑦 =𝑥−1
■ Replace 𝑥 with 𝑡 and 𝑦 with 𝑓(𝑡)
■ ∴𝑓 𝑡 =𝑡−1

Prepared by: Dr. Arsla Khan, CUI Lahore Campus 11

Operations on Signals
■ In general, we can vary two parameters of signals x(t) = Acos(t)
– Time A = Amplitude of the signal x(t)
– Amplitude (t) = Time

■ Operations with respect to x-axis (Time axis) / Transformations on the independent variable
– Time Shifting
– Time Reversal/Folding
– Time Scaling

■ Operations with respect to y-axis (Amplitude) / Transformations on the dependent variable

– Amplitude Scaling
– Amplitude Addition and Subtraction
– Amplitude Multiplication and Division
– Differentiation and Integration
Time Shifting
■ Time Delay
– When the signal is delayed, it is shifted right
i.e. x(t - k) or x[n - k] ∴ where k is positive
e.g. x(t - 2), x(t - 1.5), x[n - 2], x[n - 3]
■ Time Advance
– When the signal is advanced, it is shifted left
i.e. x(t + k) or x[n + k] ∴ where k is positive
e.g. x(t + 2), x(t + 1.5), x[n + 2], x[n + 3]
Exp 1: For x(t), sketch x(t - 2) and x(t + 2)
x(t - 2): Delay
Here k is +ve so delayed version of x(t).
since k=2 so the delay is of 2 steps.

■ t–2=0 →t=0+2=2
■ t–2=1 →t=1+2=3
■ t–2=2 →t=2+2=4
■ t–2=3 →t=3+2=5
■ t–2=4 →t=4+2=6

Shifted towards right by 2 steps so it is a delayed signal

x(t + 2): Advance
Here k is -ve so advanced version of x(t).
since k = - 2 so the advancement is of 2 steps.

x(t + 2)

■ t+2=0 →t=0+2=-2
■ t+2=1 → t = 1 - 2 = -1
■ t+2=2 →t=2-2=0
■ t+2=3 →t=3-2=1
■ t+2=4 →t=4-2=2

Shifted towards left by 2 steps so it is an advanced signal

Exp 2: For x[n], sketch x[n - 2]
■ n–2=0 →n=2–0=2
■ n–2=1 →n=1+2=3
■ n–2=2 →n=2+2=4
■ n–2=3 →n=3+2=5
■ n–2=4 →n=4+2=6

Shifted towards right by 2 steps so it is a delayed signal

PP. 1) For signals given, sketch
i) x(t – 2.5)
ii) x(t + 1)

(b) (c)
(a)
PP. 2) For signals given, sketch
i) x[n-1]
ii) x[n+3]

(a) (b) (c)

Thank You !!!