ECE 460 – Introduction to Communication Systems

Homework #1

1. Using the exponential Fourier series representation, find and plot the amplitude and phase
spectra for the signal:

x(t) = 10 + 20 cos (100π t − 30° ) + 30 sin ( 200π t − 120° )

Label the x-axis in terms of f(Hz).

Answer:
150
|X| arg X
15 15 30
10 10 10
-100 50
f(Hz)
-50 100
f(Hz)
-100 -50 50 100 -30

150

2. For the periodic pulse train shown below, assume T = 1mS.

x(t)
1
... ...

-T -τ/2 τ/2 T
a. Write an expression for the Fourier series coefficients of this pulse train if τ = 0.5mS
b. What percentage of the power is contained in frequencies at 2 KHz and lower for the
waveform of part a?
c. Write an expression for the Fourier series coefficients if τ = 0.2 mS
d. What percentage of the power is contained in frequencies at 2 KHz and lower for the
waveform of part c?
!πn$ !πn$
Answer: a. X n = 0.5sinc # & b. 91% c. X n = 0.2sinc # & d. 77.9%
" 2 % " 5 %
3. For the periodic waveform shown below:

f(t)

1
... ...

t
-4 -1 1 4

a. Find Fn, the exponential Fourier series coefficients of f(t).

b. How many frequency components must be included to obtain at least 99% of the
power in the signal?
. ( " %+
0 2 *1− cos $ nπ '-; n≠0
Answer: a. Fn = / n π )
2 2
# 2 &, b. DC, fundamental, and 2nd harmonic
0
1 1 / 4; n=0

4. For the periodic repeating exponential shown below

x(t) e-t

1
... ...

t
-1 1 2 3
a. Find Xn, the exponential Fourier series coefficients of x(t).
b. What percentage of the total power is contained in the DC component?
1 "#1− e−1 $%
Answer: a X n = b. 92.4%
1+ jn2π

Problems 5 - 7 require the use of MATLAB. Read and perform the examples in MATLAB
Tutorial #1 before attempting these problems.

5. For the pulse waveform used in problem 2a:

a. Plot the values of Fn versus n for -4 ≤ n ≤ 4 using MATLAB (Note: the
MATLAB sinc function is defined differently than the way we have defined it in
class. Use the help function in MATLAB to look up the correct usage.).
 b. Approximate the waveform x(t) using a truncated exponential Fourier series with
-4 ≤ n ≤ 4. Use MATLAB to plot this approximation on the same graph as the
actual x(t) for –1mS ≤ t ≤ 1mS.
c. Repeat part b, but for -30 ≤ n ≤ 30.

6. Using the exponential Fourier series coefficients obtained in problem 3 for the periodic
triangular waveform:
a. Plot the amplitude spectrum for this signal versus frequency (in Hz) for -1.5 ≤ f ≤
1.5Hz. Use the Fourier series coefficients that you found in problem 3a, do NOT use
MATLAB to find them.
b. Use MATLAB to plot the triangular waveform, f(t) versus t for -2 ≤ t ≤ 2.
c. Approximate the waveform using a truncated exponential Fourier series with -2 ≤ n ≤
2. Use MATLAB to plot this approximation on the same graph as the actual
triangular waveform from part b for -2 ≤ t ≤ 2.
d. Repeat part b for -20 ≤ n ≤ 20.

7. Using the exponential Fourier series coefficients obtained in problem 4 for the periodic
exponential waveform:
a. Plot the amplitude spectrum for this signal versus frequency (in Hz) for -5 ≤ f ≤ 5Hz.
Use the Fourier series coefficients that you found. Do NOT use MATLAB to find
them.
b. Plot the phase spectrum for this signal versus frequency (in Hz) for -5 ≤ f ≤ 5Hz.
c. Approximate the waveform using the exponential Fourier series with -2 ≤ n ≤ 2. Use
MATLAB to plot the actual exponential waveform along with a plot of this
approximation for 0 ≤ t ≤ 1.
d. Repeat part c for -20 ≤ n ≤ 20.