Signals and Systems

CE/EE301
• Convolution is computed as follow
∞ ∞
𝑦 𝑡 = 𝑥 𝑡 ∗ ℎ 𝑡 = න 𝑥 𝜏 ℎ 𝑡 − 𝜏 𝑑𝜏 = න ℎ 𝜏 𝑥 𝑡 − 𝜏 𝑑𝜏
−∞ −∞

• Label the signals variable as 𝜏

• Reverse one of the functions around the y axis
• Shifting it by t
• Multiplying the two signals
• Calculating the area under this product (integration)

2
1. Consider the functions h(τ) and x(τ)
2. Reverse h(τ) and shift by “t”
3. Note, for t < 0, the product of x(τ) and h(t- τ) is
zero, and consequently, y(t) is zero.
4. When t>0

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4
• Convolution of two pulses each of height 1

x(t) h(t)
1 1

0 1 t 0 2 t

∞
𝑦 𝑡 = 𝑥 𝑡 ∗ ℎ 𝑡 = න 𝑥 𝜏 ℎ 𝑡 − 𝜏 𝑑𝜏
−∞
5
 h(t)
1

0 2 t

h(-t) h(t-t) h(t-t)

1 1 1

-2 0 t 0 t 0 t
t t-2 t
t-2
1. Reverse function
2. Shift function h(-t) 3. Increase ‘t’

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 x(t) x(t) x(t) x(t)

0 1 t 0 1 t 0 1 t 0 1 t

h(t-t) h(t-t)
h(t-t) h(t-t)

0 1 t 0 1 t 0 1 t 0 1 t
t-2 t t-2
t-2<0 t t-2 t t-2 t
0<t<1 t-2<1 t-2>1
1<t<2
2<t<3 t>3 7
 1 1 1 1

0 1 t 0 1 t 0 1 t 0 1 t
t-2<0 t-2<1 t-2>1
1 0<t<1 1 1 1 t>3
1<t<2 1<t<3

0 1 t 0 1 t t
t-2 0 1 0 1 t
t-2 t t t-2 t t-2 t

1 1 1

0 t 0 1 t 0 1 t
t
t-2
𝑡 1 1

𝑦 𝑡 = න 𝑑𝜏 = 𝑡 𝑦 𝑡 = න 𝑑𝜏 = 1 𝑦 𝑡 = න 𝑑𝜏 = 3 − 𝑡 𝑦 𝑡 =0
8
0 0 𝑡−2
 y(t)

𝑡 0<𝑡<1 1
1 1<𝑡<2
𝑦 𝑡 =
3−𝑡 2<𝑡<3
0 𝑡>3
0 1 2 3 t