398

Pseudo Random Binary Sequence on Second Order System

Maimun Huja Husin, Mohamad Faizrizwan Mohd
Sabri, Ade Syaheda Wani Marzuki, Kasumawati
Lias
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
e-mail: hhmaimun@feng.unimas.my
Mohd Fuaad Rahmat
Faculty of Electrical Engineering
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
UTM Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
e-mail: fuaad@fke.utm.my


AbstractPseudo random binary sequence (PRBS) signal was
developed using MATLAB software and used as a forcing
function in simulated second order system. The autocorrelation
function (ACF) of the input signal and cross correlation
function (CCF) between input and output signal were
performed using MATLAB software and transfer function of
the system was estimated from the correlograms. For
verification of the simulation work, PRBS generator circuit
was build using transistor-transistor logic and analyzed using
Dynamic Signal Analyzer (DSA). PRBS is used as forcing
function to an unknown system. The ACF of the input signal
and CCF between input and output signal were performed
using DSA and the transfer function model of the unknown
system was estimated.
Keywords-PRBS, ACF, CCF, correlograms
I. INTRODUCTION
It is important to study and generate PRBS because of the
difficulty faced in generating a truly random sequence. A
PRBS is not a truly random sequence but with long sequence
lengths, it can show close resemblance to truly random signal
and furthermore it is sufficient for test purposes [1]. PRBS
have well known properties and the most important point is
its generation is rather simple. Moreover, knowing how a
PRBS signal is generated make it is possible to predict the
sequence. Outermost it makes error that might occur in the
sequence is possible to register and count.

A PRBS signal is a popular input signal for system
identification because it is persistently exciting to the order
of the period of the signal. A maximum length PRBS signal
has a correlation function that resembles a white noise
correlation function [2]. This property does not hold for non-
maximum length sequences. Thus the PRBS signal used in
identification processes should be a maximum length PRBS
signal. The maximum possible period for a maximum length
sequence (MLS) is N = 2
n
- 1 where n is the order of the
PRBS.

MLS can be generated by an n stage shift register with
the first stage determined by feedback of the appropriate
modulo two sum of the last stage and one or two earlier stage.
This structure is usually called linear feedback shift register
and its general structure is shown in Figure 1.


Figure 1. Linear feedback shift register

The output can be taken from any stage and is a serial
sequence of logic states having cyclic period Nt. If
feedback is taken from the modulo 2 sum of the wrong
register stages, then the resulting cyclic sequence has length
less than the maximum length, and will not be suitable. The
correct stages the most commonly used lengths are shown in
Table 1.

Table 1: Feedback configuration of linear feedback shift
register [3]
No. n N = 2
n
- 1 Feedback
1 2 3 2, 1
2 3 7 3, 1
3 4 15 1, 4 / 3, 4
4 5 31 2, 5 / 3, 5
5 6 63 1, 6 / 5, 6
6 7 127 1, 7 / 4, 7

II. ACF AND CCF
The ACF of a signal x(t) is given the symbol
xx
() and is
defined as,
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399
( )
T
T
)dt x(t)x(t
2T
1
T
lim
xx
)
-
-

(1)
or
( )
)
-
-

T
T
)x(t)dt x(t
2T
1
T
lim
xx
(2)
where ) ( t - t x and ) ( t - t x are displacement of signal
) (t x .

CCF is a measure of dependence of one signal on the
other. CCF is defined as,
( ) )dt x(t)y(t
2T
1
lim
T
T
T
xy
)
-

- (3)
or
( )
)
-

-
T
T
T
xy
)dt y(t)x(t
2T
1
lim (4)
where ) ( t - t y and ) ( t - t x are displacement of signal
) (t y and ) (t x respectively.

III. SECOND ORDER RC LOW PASS FILTER CIRCUIT
The second order system used as unknown system in the
hardware implementation of PRBS signal is shown in Figure
2.


Figure 2. Second order RC circuit

The values for each components in the second order RC
circuit are R1 = R2 = 470 k, R3 = 4.7 k, C1 = C2 = 0.1
F and R4 is a potentiometer of 10 k. Value of R4 is varies
according to type of second order system being tested as
shown in Table 2.

Table 2. RC low pass filter second order system transfer
function
No Type of
second order
system
R4 value Transfer function
1 Critically
damped
R4 = 0O
452.7 42.6s s
452.7
2
- -
2 Underdamped 0<R4<9.4
kO
R4 = 5kO 452.7 19.9s s
452.7
2
- -

IV. EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP
A PRBS signal is used as an input to determine the model
of second order system. The autocorrelation of the input
signal (PRBS signal) and cross correlation between the input
and output signal is performed using the Dynamic Signal
Analyzer (HP35670A DSA). For critically damped response,
value of potentiometer is set to 0O while for under damped
response; potentiometer is set to 5kO.

V. RESULT
A. Critically damped response
Figure 3 shows the ACF graph for PRBS signal for MLS
of N = 63. Measurement curve represents the hardware
analysis result while prediction curve represents the software
analysis result. It can be shown from the graph that height of
the ACF triangle, V
2
= 0.95V and bit interval is 0.1281s for
the measurement curve. As for the prediction curve, the ACF
triangle, V
2
= 1V and the bit interval is 0.1s.


Figure 3. ACF of PRBS signal for MLS of N = 63

Figure 4 shows the CCF of the output signal obtained
using PRBS signal as the input to the RC second order
critically damped system. Measurement curve represents the
hardware analysis result while prediction curve represents
the software analysis result.

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Figure 4. CCF of output signal using PRBS signal

From the CCF and ACF graphs of the measurement
curves, model parameter for the hardware analysis can be
calculated using the following steps:
a) The height of ACF triangle shown in Figure 3 is
V
2
=0.95V and the bit interval is 0.1281s. The impulse
strength is V
2
times the bit interval which evaluates to
0.95V 0.1281s = 0.12 Vs.
b) The response appears to be a combination of rise and
decay wave. The general form is ) (
t t
e e A
o - -
- . This
response curve is difficult to analyze using correlation
technique. It is easier by using frequency response
method.
c) The time constant to be 0.10056s (decay) and 0.02086s
(rise). So, = 9.94 and = 47.94 .
d) A is obtained from value of peak height, A = 1.103 .
e) Divide by the unit impulse response,
) ( 19 . 9 ) (
94 . 47 94 . 9 t t
e e t f
- -
-
f)
52 . 476 88 . 57
22 . 349
94 . 47
19 . 9
94 . 9
19 . 9
) (
2
- -

-
-
-

s s
s s
s F

B. Under damped response
Figure 5 shows the ACF graph for PRBS signal for MLS
of N = 63. Measurement curve represents the hardware
analysis result while prediction curve represents the software
analysis result. It can be shown from the graph of the
measurement curve, height of the ACF triangle is V
2
= 0.95V
and bit interval is 0.1281s. For the software analysis (shown
by the prediction curve), the ACF triangle, V
2
= 1V and the
bit interval is 0.1s.


Figure 5. ACF of PRBS signal for MLS of N = 63

Figure 6 shows the CCF of the output signal obtained
using PRBS signal as the input to the RC second order under
damped system for both hardware and software analysis.


Figure 6. Cross correlation function of output signal using
PRBS signal

From the CCF and ACF graphs, model parameter for the
hardware analysis can be calculated. For the hardware
analysis, the following steps are used to determine the
transfer function of the prediction curves:
a) The height of ACF triangle shown in Figure 5 is V2 =
0.95V and the bit interval is 0.1281s. The impulse
strength is V2 times the bit interval which evaluates to
0.95V 0.1281s = 0.12 Vs.
b) The response appears to be a decaying sine wave. The
general form is t Ae
t
c
o
sin
-
. This response yields a
good approximation to impulse response.
c) is obtained from cycle time,
rad/s 39 . 17
3612 . 0
2

r
c
d) is obtained from peak decay ratio,
96 . 4
7592 . 0
3098 . 0
ln
3612 . 0
2
|
.
|

\
|
o
e) A is obtained from the first peak height, A = 1.073
f) Divide by the unit impulse response,
t e t f
t
39 . 17 sin 94 . 8 ) (
96 . 4 -

g)
01 . 327 92 . 9
47 . 155
39 . 17 ) 96 . 4 (
) 39 . 17 ( 94 . 8
) (
2 2 2
- -

- -

s s s
s F
VI. DISCUSSION
The transfer function obtained in hardware analysis for
both critically damped and under damped responses are not
very close to the actual transfer function used in the
hardware analysis. This is due to the difficulty in obtaining
the correct transfer function using correlation technique for a
CCF graph of the second order critically damped response
which does not yield a good approximation to an impulse
response.

The correlations for both critically damped and under
damped responses are carried for a short period of time. This
has affected the result obtained from the correlation analysis.
In order to help smoother the curves, longer period of
correlation is needed, provided the dynamic characteristic of
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the system being tested remained unchanged over long
period of time span involved.

VII. CONCLUSION
A PRBS is a random bit sequence that repeats itself. The
properties of PRBS hold, together with the simple generation
and acquisition scheme makes them ideal for test purposes. If
the sequence length of a PRBS is chosen long enough, the
power spectrum of the sequence will show very close
resemblance to that of a truly random sequence.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This is a self-funded work and the author wishes to thank
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak for supporting the
dissemination of this research.

REFERENCES
[1] Tan, A.H. and Godfrey, K.R. (2002). The generation of binary and
near binary pseudorandom signals: an overview. IEEE Trans. Instrum.
Meas. 51(4), 583-588
[2] Sodestrom, T. and Stoica, P. (1989). System Identification.
Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall International (UK) Ltd
[3] Mohd Fuaad Rahmat, KH Yeoh, Sahnius Usman and Norhaliza
Abdul Wahab, Modelling of PT326 Hot Air Blower Trainer Kit
Using PRBS Signal and Cross Correlation Technique, Journal of
Technology Part D, UTM Publisher, June 2005, volume 42, pp 9 22
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