Terms SIGNAL- is formally defined as a function of one or more variables, which conveys information on the nature of physical phenomena

system 1. An integrated assemblage of hardware and/or software elements operating together to accomplish a prescribed end purpose (e.g., servo system, operating system, and communications system). 2. A methodology incorporating fixed and ordered procedures for accomplishing an end purpose. 3. A self-contained computer workstation digital signal processing Abbreviation, DSP. A method of signal enhancement that operates by eliminating confusion between digital states. This improves dynamic range and frequency response, reduces the number of errors, and virtually eliminates noise. It is used extensively in digital communication and recording, often in conjunction with analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion to enhance the quality of analog signals and recordings. alias A label that is an alternate term for items of the same type; a label and several aliases can identify the same data element in a computer program. aliasing 1. In analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion, a false output signal that results from a sampling rate that is too slow. Ideally, the sampling rate is at least twice the highest input signal frequency. 2. Sawtooth-like irregularities, also called jaggies, which are sometimes introduced into a bit-mapped computer image when it is changed in size. analog-to-digital conversion 1. A process in which an analog signal (such as a voice waveform) is changed into a digital or binary signal that conveys the same information. This process is commonly used in digital computers to encode sounds and images. It is also used in communications systems to improve efficiency, minimize the necessary bandwidth, and optimize the signal- to-noise ratio. 2. A process in which

continuous mechanical motion is encoded into a digital or binary electronic signal.

Aliasing: The process where a sinusoid changes from one frequency to another as a result of sampling or other nonlinear action. Usually results in a loss of the signals information. Decomposition: The process of breaking a signal into two or more additive components Convolution sum: Mathematical equation defining convolution for discrete systems. Discrete signal: A signal that uses quantized variables, such as a digitized signal residing in a computer. Evenlodd decomposition: A way of breaking a signal into two other signals, one having even symmetry, and the other having odd symmetry. Domain: The independent variable of a signal. For example, a voltage that varies with time is in the time domain. Other common domains are the spatial domain (such as images) and the frequency domain (the output of the Fourier transform). Nyquist frequency, Nyquist rate: These terms refer to the sampling theorem, but are used in different ways by different authors. They can be used to mean four different things: the highest frequency contained in a signal, twice this frequency, the sampling rate, or one-half the sampling rate. Passband: The band of frequencies a filter is designed to pass unaltered. Quantization error: The error introduced when a signal is quantized. In most cases, this results in a maximum error of *% LSB, and an rms error of 11fl LSB. Also called quantization noise. Time domain: A signal having time as the independent variable. Also used as a general reference to any domain the data is acquired in.