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Signals and Systems

Dr. Shurjeel Wyne
Lecture 5
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Outline
Introduction to systems
CT and DT systems
Interconnection of systems
Properties of a system
Linearity
Time Invariance
Causality
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Systems
A system operates on an input signal to produce
an output signal OR
A system when provided with an input signal
responds with an output signal.
CT System
Transforms CT input signal x(t) to CT output signal y(t)
DT System
Transforms DT input signal x[n] to DT output signal y[n]
) ( ) ( t y t x
continuous
time (CT)
discrete
time (DT)
y(t) x(t)
y[n] x[n]
j j n y n x
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Systems
Example 1: RLC circuit an electrical system
Example 2: Shock absorber a mechanical system
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5
Very different physical systems can have a very similar
mathematical description.
Many systems of interest, but not all such systems, are
described by differential and difference equations.
: y[n] = x[n] + 1.1*y[n-1]
Such an equation may require addittional information
(initial conditions, boundary conditions) to completely
describe input-output behavior of a system:
Independent variable can be something other than
time, such as space. Such systems may have
boundary conditions, rather than initial conditions.
Systems
Observations
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Systems are generally composed of sub-systems
Understanding of the sub-systems and their
interconnection can be used to understand whole
system operation.
Series/cascade
Parallel
Feedback
System Interconnections
System 1 System 2
x y
System 1
System 2
x
y
+
System 2
System 1
x y
+
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SYSTEM PROPERTIES
(Linearity, Causality, Time-invariance, etc.)
These properties have practical significance
because they allow us to:
Predict system response without having to
do detailed mathematical analysis.
Develop important tools for system analysis
and design.
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Linearity
allows system response to be analysed as the sum of
simpler responses
Specifically, a linear system must satisfy 2 properties:
- Scaling: x
1
(t) y
1
(t) a x
1
(t) ay
1
(t), a eC
- Additivity: x
1
(t) y
1
(t) x
1
(t)+x
2
(t) y
1
(t) + y
2
(t)
Linearity combines both: ax
1
(t)+bx
2
(t) ay
1
(t) + by
2
(t)
Example:
y(t) = 3*x(t) Linear or Non-linear?
y(t) = 3*x(t)+2 Linear or Non-linear?
y(t) = 3*x
2
(t) Linear or Non-linear?
Equivalent definitions apply to DT systems.
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Linearity and Superposition
Let x[n] can be decomposed as:
Let a linear systems response to basis signals is:
Then the linear systems response to x[n] will be:

+ + = =
k
k k
n x a n x a n x a n x ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [
2 2 1 1

+ + = =
k
k k
n y a n y a n y a n y ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [
2 2 1 1
] [ ] [ n y n x
k k

superposition applies to all linear systems in both CT & DT 10
Causality
A system is causal if the output at any time instant
depends on current and past inputs only and it does
not depend on future inputs, e.g., output y(t
0
) will only
depend on input x(t) for t t
0
in a causal system.
A system that has some dependence on input values
from the future (in addition to possible dependence on
past or current input values) is termed non-causal
Causality is not a concern for systems that process
previously recorded signals, e.g. taped cricket match,
or when independent variable is space, e.g., image
processing applications.

=
=
n
k
k x n y ] [ ] [

=
+
=
M
M k
M
k n x n y ] [ ] [
1 2
1
accumulator system is causal:
y[n] only depends on x[n], x[n-1],
Averaging filter is non-causal
y[n] depends on x[n+1], x[n+2],
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Time Invariance
A system is time-invariant (TI) if its behavior does
not change with time. A time shift in the input signal
results in an identical time shift in the output signal
Mathematically, TI implies that
Which of the following represent TI systems?
)) ( sin( ) ( t x t y =
] [ ] [ n nx n y =
If x[n] y[n]
Then x[n - n
0
] y[n - n
0
]
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Time Invariance
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Invertible and Inverse Systems
A system is said to be invertible if distinct inputs
lead to distinct outputs
If a system is invertible, an inverse system exists
which, when cascaded with the original system,
yields an output equal to the input of first system
Which of the following are invertible?
y(t) = 2x(t)
y(t) = x
2
(t)
Widely used as a design principle in:
Encryption, decryption
System control applications
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System with and without Memory
A system is said to be memoryless if its current
output depends only on its current input
DT memoryless system
DT systems with memory
CT memoryless system; a resistor
CT system with memory, a capacitor

=
=
n
k
k x n y ] [ ] [
] 1 [ ] [ = n x n y
2 2
]) [ ] [ 2 ( ] [ n x n x n y =
accumulator
delay
, ) , )R t i t v =
, ) , )dt t i
C
t v
t
}

=
1