C. A.

Bouman: Digital Image Processing - January 9, 2012 1

Continuous Time Fourier Transform (CTFT)

Z
∞ −j2πf t
F (f ) = −∞ f (t)e dt

Z
∞ j2πf t
f (t) = −∞ F (f )e df

• f (t) is continuous time. (Also known as continuous pa-

rameter.)
• F (f ) is a continuous function of frequency −∞ < f <
∞.
C. A. Bouman: Digital Image Processing - January 9, 2012 2

Useful Continuous Time Signal Definitions

Rect Function

1.2


1 for |t| ≤ 1/2
1


 0.8

• Rect function: rect(t) = 


0.6

0 otherwise
0.4

0.2

−0.2

−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3

Step Function

1

1 for t ≥ 0 
 0.5

• Step function: u(t) = 


0

0 for t < 0 −0.5

−1

−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3


1 for t > 0 





1

0.5
Sign Function

• Sign function: sgn(t) =  0 for t = 0


0

−0.5

 −1 for t < 0

 −1
 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3

Sinc Function

1.2

sin(πt) 1

0.8

• Sinc function: sinc(t) = 0.6

0.4

πt 0.2

−0.2

−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3

Lambda Function

 1.2


 1 − |t| for |t| ≤ 1 1

0.8

• Lambda function: Λ(t) = 


0.6

0 for |t| > 1

0.4

0.2

−0.2

−3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3
C. A. Bouman: Digital Image Processing - January 9, 2012 3

Continuous Time Delta Function

• The “function” δ(t) is actually not a function.

• δ(t) is defined by the property that for all continuous func-

tions g(t) Z
∞
g(0) = −∞ δ(t)g(t)dt

• Intuitively, we may think of δ(t) as a very short pulse with

unit area.
1
 
Z
∞
g(0) = lim −∞  rect(t/ǫ) g(t)dt
ǫ→0 ǫ
Intuitively (but not rigorously)
1
δ(t) = lim rect(t/ǫ)
ǫ→0 ǫ
C. A. Bouman: Digital Image Processing - January 9, 2012 4

Useful CTFT Relations

CT F T
δ(t) ⇔ 1

CT F T
1 ⇔ δ(f )

CT F T
rect(t) ⇔ sinc(f )

CT F T
sinc(t) ⇔ rect(f )

CT F T
Λ(t) ⇔ sinc2(f )
C. A. Bouman: Digital Image Processing - January 9, 2012 5

CTFT Properties

Property Time Domain Function CTFT

Linearity af (t) + bg(t) aF (f ) + bG(f )
Conjugation f ∗(t) F ∗(−f )
1
Scaling f (at) |a| F (f /a)
Shifting f (t − t0) exp {−j2πf t0} F (f )
Modulation exp {j2πf0t} f (t) F (f − f0)
Convolution f (t) ∗ g(t) F (f ) G(f )
Multiplication f (t)g(t) F (f ) ∗ G(f )
Duality F (t) f (−f )
• Inner product property
Z
∞ ∗
Z
∞ ∗
−∞ f (t)g (t)dt = −∞ F (f )G (f )df