Signal and Systems

Signals
Some Useful Signal Models
• REMARK:
• In the area of signals and systems, the step, the impulse, and the exponential
functions play very important roles. Not only do they serve as a basis for
representing other signals, but their use can simplify many aspects of the
signals and systems.
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
1 𝑡≥0
• Function defined by 𝑢 𝑡 = ൜
0 𝑡<0
• 𝑢 𝑡 can be used to force a signal to start
at 𝑡 = 0 and hence become causal
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
𝑘 𝑘
• 𝑢 𝑡 − 𝑡0 = 𝑢 𝑡 − 𝑡0 for any positive integer 𝑘, since 0 =0
and 1 𝑘 = 1
𝑏 𝑏
• 𝑢 𝑎𝑡 + 𝑏 = 𝑢 𝑎 𝑡 + =𝑢 𝑡+ ,𝑎 ≠ 0
𝑎 𝑎
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Plot 𝑢 2𝑡 − 3
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Plot 𝑢 2𝑡 − 3
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Sketch 𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑢 𝑡 + 2𝑢 𝑡 − 1 − 4𝑢 𝑡 − 2
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Sketch 𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑢 𝑡 + 2𝑢 𝑡 − 1 − 4𝑢 𝑡 − 2
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• 𝑢 𝑡 proves very useful in specifying piecewise functions.
• 𝑥 𝑡 =𝑢 𝑡−2 −𝑢 𝑡−4
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Use the unit step function to describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Use the unit step function to describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Use the unit step function to describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Use the unit step function to describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡 using a single expression valid for
all 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡 using a single expression valid for
all 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡 using a single expression valid for
all 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡 using a single expression valid for
all 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡 using a single expression valid for
all 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡 using a single expression valid for
all 𝑡
Unit Step Function 𝑢 𝑡
• Example: Describe the signal 𝑥 𝑡 using a single expression valid for
all 𝑡
Unit Impulse Function 𝛿 𝑡
• The unit impulse function 𝛿 𝑡 is one of the most important functions
in the study of signals and systems.
• Also called Dirac delta function.
• Was first introduced by Nobel Prize winning physicist Paul Dirac.
• Definition: ∞

𝛿 𝑡 = 0, 𝑡 ≠ 0 and න 𝛿 𝑡 𝑑𝑡 = 1
−∞
Unit Impulse Function 𝛿 𝑡
• Can be visualized as a tall, narrow, rectangular pulse of
Understanding 𝛿 𝑡

𝑑𝑢𝑟 𝑡
∴ 𝛿 𝑡 = lim
Δ→0 𝑑𝑡
• So, 𝛿 𝑡 can be visualized as a rectangular pulse whose width is Δ and
1 1
whose height is . Hence, its area is Δ =1
Δ Δ
Understanding 𝛿 𝑡
• Other pulses, such as
the exponential,
triangular, or Gaussian
types, may also be used
in impulse
approximation.
• Clearly, the exact
impulse function
cannot be generated in
practice; it can only be
approached.