UNIT I CLASSIFICATION OF SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS 9

Continuous time signals (CT signals) - Discrete time signals (DT signals) - Step, Ramp,
Pulse, Impulse, Sinusoidal, Exponential, Classification of CT and DT signals - Periodic
& Aperiodic signals, Deterministic & Random signals, Energy & Power signals - CT
systems and DT systems- Classification of systems Static & Dynamic, Linear &
Nonlinear, Time-variant & Time-invariant, Causal & Noncausal, Stable & Unstable.
A Signal is the function of one or more independent variables that carries some
information to represent a physical phenomenon.
A continuous-time signal, also called an analog signal, is defined along a continuum
of time. A continuous-time real (or complex) is any real-valued (or complex-valued)
function which is defined for all time t in an interval, most commonly an infinite
interval. Eg., ECG, AC Signal.

Fig.1. Continuous time signal

A discrete-time signal is defined at discrete times in an interval of time.

Fig.2. Discrete time signal

Other types of discrete signals may be obtained by sampling a continuous time signal at
regular time intervals. Fig 2 is the sampled version of the Fig.1.

There is another class of signals called as the Digital Signal which are discretized and
quantized in amplitude. The digital signals are generally expressed in Binary Values
ie., 0s and 1s.

Unit step function is defined as

U(t)= 1 for t >= 0
0 otherwise

In the case of delayed unit step function, the signal starts from delayed time unit and it
may be represented by,
U(t-a)= 1 for t >a
0 otherwise

Fig. 3.1 Unit Step function

Fig. 3.2 Delayed Unit Step function

Continuous time Unit Ramp Function is defined by

r(t)= 0 ,t<0
t, t0

A ramp signal starts at t=0 and increases linearly with time t.

The rectangle function (x) is a function that is 0 outside the interval [-1/2,1,1/2] and
unity inside it. It is also called the gate function, pulse function, or window function,
and is defined by

Fig.4.1 Pulse function(Rectangular)

The Unit Triangular pulse is defined as,

(t) =

1-(|t|/a), |t|<=a
0

, |t|>a

Fig.4.2 Pulse function(Triangular)

Impulse functions are functions that are zero everywhere except at one single points
and furthermore when integrated over R give a nonzero value.
(t)= 0 for all t 0, and R
-

Fig.5. Impulse Function

Properties of the Impulse Function:
Sampling Property:
-

Scaling Property:

Replication property:

Sinusoidal Signal:
A continuous time sinusoidal signal is given by
X(t)=A sin(t+)
Where A is the amplitude, is the frequency in radians/ second, is the phase angel in
radians.

Real Exponential Signal:

A real exponential signal is defined as

Where both "A" and "" are real. Depending on the value of "" the signals will be
different. If "" is positive the signalx(t) is a growing exponential and if "" is negative
then the signal x(t) is a decaying exponential. For =0, signal x(t) will be constant.

Complex exponential Signal:

The complex exponential signal is given by

Where "s" is a complex variable and it is defined as

Classification of Signals:
o
o
o
o

Deterministic & Non Deterministic Signals

Periodic & A periodic Signals
Even & Odd Signals
Energy & Power Signals

Deterministic & Non Deterministic Signals

Deterministic signals:

Behavior of these signals is predictable w.r.t time

There is no uncertainty with respect to its value at any time.

These signals can be expressed mathematically.

For example x(t) = sin(3t) is deterministic signal.

Non Deterministic or Random signals:

Behavior of these signals is random i.e. not predictable w.r.t time.

There is an uncertainty with respect to its value at any time.

These signals cant be expressed mathematically.

For example Thermal Noise generated is non deterministic signal.

Periodic signals and aperiodic signals:

A continuous time signal is periodic if it satisfies the following equation,

x(t) = x(t+T)

for all t

The smallest value of T that satisfies the above equation is known as fundamental period.
A signal is said to be aperiodic signal if it doesnt satisfy the above signal.

Fig.8.1 Periodic Signal

Fig.8.2 Aperiodic Signal

A discrete time signal is periodic if

x(n) = x(n+N)

For satisfying the above condition the frequency of the discrete time signal should be
ratio of two integers., i.e. f = k/N

Energy and Power Signals:

Energy Signal

A signal with finite energy and zero power is called Energy Signal i.e.for energy
signal
0<E< and P =0

Signal energy of a signal is defined as the area under the square of the magnitude of
the signal.

Ex

x t dt
2

The units of signal energy depends on the unit of the signal.

The signal energy of a for a discrete time signal x[n] is

Ex
Power Signal

x n

Some signals have infinite signal energy. In that caseit is more convenient to deal
with average signal power.

For power signals

0<P< and E =

Average power of the signal is given by

1
Px lim
T T

T /2

T / 2

For a periodic signal x(t) the average signal power is

Px

2
1
x
t
dt

T
T

T is any period of the signal.

x t

Periodic signals are generally power signals.

dt

The average signal power of a discrete time power signal x[n] is

1
Px lim
N 2 N

N 1

n N

x n

SYSTEM:

Systems process input signals to produce output signals

A system is combination of elements that manipulates one or more signals to

accomplish a function and produces some output.

Continuous time systems:

A continuous time system is one which operates on continuous time input signal and
produces a continuous time output signal. Eg., Filters, Motors.
X(t)

SYSTEM

Y(t)

Discrete time systems:

A discrete time system is one which operates on discrete time input signal and produces a
discrete time output signal.

X(n)

Types of Systems:

Causal & Anticausal

Linear & Non Linear

Time Variant &Time-invariant

Stable & Unstable

Static & Dynamic

SYSTEM

Y(n)

Causal & Non-causal:

Causal system : A system is said to be causal if the present value of the output signal
depends only on the present and/or past values of the input signal.

Example:

Anticausal system : A system is said to be anticausal if the present value of the output

y[n]=x[n]+1/2x[n-1]

signal depends only on the future values of the input signal.

Example: y[n]=x[n+1]+1/2x[n-1]

Linear & Non Linear:

A system is said to be linear if it satisfies the principle of superposition

For checking the linearity of the given system, firstly we check the response due to
linear combination of inputs

Then we combine the two outputs linearly in the same manner as the inputs are
combined and again total response is checked

If response in step 2 and 3 are the same,the system is linear othewise it is non linear.
T[ax1(t)+ bx2(t)] = aT[x1(t)]+ bT[x2(t)]

Static & Dynamic:

A static system is memoryless system

It has no storage devices

its output signal depends only on present values of the input signal but not on the past
or future inputs.
Eg:

y(t) = x2(t)-------------Static System

y(t) =

--- -Dynamic system

Stable & Unstable:

A system is said to be bounded-input bounded-output stable (BIBO stable) iff every

bounded input results in a bounded output.

i.e.

t | x(t ) | M x t | y(t ) | M y

The system represented by

y(t) = A x(t) is unstable ; A1
Reason: let us assume x(t) = u(t), then at every instant u(t) will keep on multiplying with A
and hence it will not be bonded
Time Invariant and Time Variant Systems:

A system is said to be time invariant if a time delay or time advance of the input
signal leads to a identical time shift in the output signal.

yi (t ) H {x(t t0 )}
H {S t 0{x(t )}} HS t 0{x(t )}
y0 (t ) S t 0{ y(t )}
S t 0{H {x(t )}} S t 0 H {x(t )}