Lecture 1b:

Signals and System

EEEB233 | Signals and System

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi
Dept. of Electronics and Communication Engineering.
Moodle: http://lms.uniten.edu.my/moodle/
Email: iza@uniten.edu.my
 Topics Covered

1. Signal Operations
2. Classification of Signals and Systems
3. Signal Properties
4. Standard Signals

Signals and Systems

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi
Semester I (2013/2014)
 Classification of Signals
Definition 1 [Signals]:
Functions of one or more independent variables and contain information
about the behavior or nature of some phenomenon or process.
Example:
1. Current in an electrical circuit is a function of time.
2. Photograph – brightness function of 2 spatial variables.
3. Video - brightness function of 3 variables (2 spatial and 1 time)

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi Signals and Systems Semester I (2013/2014)
 Classification of Signals

Definition 2 [Continuous-Time Signals and Discrete-Time Signals]:

A Continuous-Time (CT) signal has a value defined for each point in
time t. Written as x(t); t is continuous.
Example:
1. Current through a resistor
2. Atmospheric pressure as a
function of altitude.
Definition 3 [Discrete-Time Signals and Discrete-Time Signals]:
A Discrete-Time (DT) signal has a value defined only at discrete points
in time n. Written as x[n]; n is discrete (or integer value)
Example:
1. The stock market index.
 Classification of Signals
Definition 4 [Deterministic Signal]:
A deterministic signal behave in a fixed known way with respect to
time. Its value at each point in time is known and fixed..
Example:
1. Sinusoidal function.

Definition 5 [Random Signals]:

A value of random signal at any given point in time is unknown. It’s
characterized by a probability distribution function.
Example:
1. Noise (continuous-time)

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi

 Classification of Signals

Definition 6 [Continuous Signal]:

A (simply) continuous signal is one which is a continuous function at all
values of the independent variable (time).
Example:
−𝑡, 𝑡 ≤ 0
𝑥 𝑡 = � 2
𝑡 , 𝑡>0

Definition 7 [Piecewise Continuous Signals]:

A piece-wise continuous signal is one which is a continuous function at
all, except a countable number of values of the independent variable.
Example:
−𝑡, 𝑡≤0
𝑥 𝑡 =�
𝑡 + 1, 𝑡 > 0

Signals and Systems

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi
Semester I (2013/2014)
 Classification of Signals

Definition 8 [Simply Defined Signal]:

A signal represented by a single equation (or rule) for all values of the
independent variable is referred to as a simply defined signal.
Example:
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑡; 𝑥 𝑛 = 2𝑛
Definition 9 [Piecewise Defined Signals]:
A signal represented by a set of equations, with each equation valid over
a specific time span in referred to as a piecewise defined signal.
Example:
𝑡 0<𝑡≤1
𝑡2 1 < 𝑡 ≤ 2 0 𝑛<0
𝑥 𝑡 = ⋮ ⋮ ; 𝑥 𝑛 = � 𝑛 0 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 10
𝑡𝑘 𝑘 − 1 < 𝑡 ≤ 𝑘 (0.5)𝑛 𝑛 > 10
⋮ ⋮

Signals and Systems

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi
Semester I (2013/2014)
 Classification of Signals
Definition 10 [Periodic CT-Signal]:
x(t) is periodic iff there exists a real number T>0 such that 𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑇 = 𝑥 (𝑡)
for all t, where T is called the Time Period of x(t).
min T = To is called the Fundamental Time Period of x(t)
1
𝑓° = is called the Fundamental Frequency
𝑇°
2𝜋
𝜔° = also referred to as Fundamental Frequency
𝑇

Example: Sinusoidal Signal cos 𝜔° 𝑡

NOTE: This property of signals will be discussed in detail later.

 Classification of Signals
Definition 10 [Periodic DT-Signal]:
x[n] is periodic iff there exists an integer N>0 such that x[n + N] = x[n] for
all n, where N is called the Time period of x[n].
min N = No is called the Fundamental Time Period of x[n].
1
𝑓° = is called the Fundamental Frequency
𝑁°
2𝜋
𝜔° = also referred to as Fundamental Frequency
𝑁
Example: Complex Exponential Signal 𝑒 𝑗𝜔° 𝑡 .

NOTE: This property of signals will be discussed in detail later.

 Classification of Signals
Definition 11 [Even Signal]:
x(t) is said to be an even signal if it is identical to its time-reversed
counterpart, is: with its reflection about the origin.
𝑥 −𝑡 = 𝑥 (𝑡) for all t,
𝑥 −𝑛 = 𝑥[𝑛]
Example:
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑡 2 ; cos 𝑡 .
 Classification of Signals
Definition 12 [Odd Signal]:
x(t) is said to be an odd signal if
𝑥 −𝑡 = −𝑥 (𝑡) for all t,
It’s must necessarily be 0 at t=0 or n=0
Example:
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑡; sin 𝑡 .

x(t)

Signals and Systems

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi
Semester I (2013/2014)
 Classification of Signals
Definition 11 [Even & Odd Signal]:
Note that any signal can be broken into a sum of two signals. One of which
is even composition and another one is odd composition.

1
𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝑥[𝑛] + 𝑥[−𝑛]
2
1
𝑂𝑂𝑂 𝑥[𝑛] = 𝑥[𝑛] + 𝑥[𝑛]
2

Example a:
Find the even and odd decomposition of a discrete-time signal below:

x[n] 1

… …

n
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
 Classification of Signals
Solution:
Find the even and odd decomposition of a discrete-time signal below:
 How to determine whether a given signal is an even signal, odd signal or
neither even nor odd signal???
For an example, if the signal is named as x(t)
STEP 1:
a) Check whether 𝑥 −𝑡 = 𝑥 𝑡 .
b) If 𝑥 −𝑡 = 𝑥 𝑡 , then the signal x(t) is an even signal. (STOP HERE)
c) If 𝑥 −𝑡 ≠ 𝑥 𝑡 , 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑡𝑡 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 𝑡𝑡 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 2.
STEP 2:
a) Check whether 𝑥 −𝑡 = −𝑥 𝑡 .
b) If 𝑥 −𝑡 = 𝑥 𝑡 , 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑥 𝑡 is an odd signal. (STOP HERE)
c) If 𝑥 −𝑡 = 𝑥 𝑡 , then need to proceed to Step 3.
STEP 3:
a) The signal x(t) is neither even nor odd signal.

Note: You need to perform time reversal to the signals if it is given graphically.
 Classification of Signals
Definition 13 [Real Signal]:
A signal x(t) or x[n] is said to be a real signal if
𝑥 𝑡 𝑜𝑜 𝑥[n] is real valued for all values of t or n.
Example:
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑒𝑡.

Definition 14 [Complex Signal]:

A signal x(t) or x[n] is said to be a complex signal if
𝑥 𝑡 𝑜𝑜 𝑥[n] is complex valued for at least one value of t or n.
Example:
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑒 𝑗𝑗 .

Signals and Systems

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi
Semester I (2013/2014)
 Classification of Signals
Definition 15 [Energy Signal]:
The total energy 𝐸∞ in x(t) or x[n] is
+∞ +∞
𝐸∞ = ∑𝑛=−∞ |x 𝑛 |2 𝐸∞ = ∫−∞ |𝑥 𝑡 |2 𝑑𝑑.

𝐸∞ < ∞ ⇒ 𝑥 𝑛 𝑜𝑜 𝑥(𝑡) is an Energy Signal.

Definition 16 [Power Signal]:

The average power 𝑃∞ in x(t) or x[n] is
1 1 +𝑇
𝑃∞ = lim ∑+𝑁
𝑛=−𝑁 |x 𝑛 |2 𝑃∞ = lim ∫−𝑇 |𝑥 𝑡 |2 𝑑𝑑.
𝑁→∞ 2𝑁+1 𝑇→∞ 2𝑇

𝑃∞ < ∞ ⇒ 𝑥 𝑛 𝑜𝑜 𝑥(𝑡) is a Power Signal.

Note:
This property of signals based on the strength will be discussed in detail later.
 Classification of Signals

Definition 15 [Energy Signal]:

Signal with finite total energy (zero average power).
- This is an energy signal.
- Those signals for which 𝐸∞ < +∞
- Such signals have zero average power.

Example:
4 0≤𝑡≤1
𝑥 𝑡 =�
0 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
Find the 𝐸∞ and 𝑃∞ of the signal above.
 x(t)
Definition 15 [Energy Signal]:
4
Solution:
4 0≤𝑡≤1
𝑥 𝑡 =�
0 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 t
-1 0 1 2
Find the 𝐸∞ and 𝑃∞ of the signal above.
 Classification of Signals

Definition 16 [Power Signal]:

Signal with finite total average power (Infinite total energy).
- Those signals for which 𝑃∞ > 0
- Such signals have infinite total energy, 𝐸∞ = ∞
- This is a power signal.

Example:
𝑥 𝑛 = 4.
Find the 𝐸∞ and 𝑃∞ of the signal above.
Definition 16 [Power Signal]: x[n]
4
Solution: … …
𝑥[𝑛] = 4
Find the 𝐸∞ and 𝑃∞ of the signal above. -1 0 1 2 t
 Classification of Signals
Definition 17 [Finite-Duration and Infinite-Duration Signal]:
x(t) or x[n] is a finite duration signal if
𝑥 n = 0 for −∞ < 𝑛1 ≤ 𝑛 and 𝑛 ≤ 𝑛° < ∞ or
𝑥(t) = 0 for −∞ < 𝑡1 ≤ 𝑡 and 𝑡 ≤ 𝑡° < ∞.
Hence, a finite-duration signals has a starting and en ending time.
If x[n] or x(t) is not finite-duration, it is an infinite-duration signal.
An infinite-duration signal may be
• Right-sided
• Left-sided, or
• Two-sided.

Signals and Systems

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi
Semester I (2013/2014)
 Classification of Signals
1. Definition 18 [Right-sided]:
x(t) or x[n] is right-sided if it has a finite starting time, but ends only at
+ ∞; 𝑖. 𝑒.,
𝒙 𝐧 = 𝟎 for −∞ < 𝑛1 ≤ 𝑛 or 𝒙(𝐭) = 𝟎 for −∞ < 𝑡1 ≤ 𝑡

2. Definition 19 [Left-sided]:
x(t) or x[n] is left-sided if it has a finite ending time, but starts at −∞; 𝑖. 𝑒.,
𝒙 𝐧 = 𝟎 for 𝑛 ≤ 𝑛1< ∞ or 𝒙(𝐭) = 𝟎 for 𝑡 ≤ 𝑡1< ∞.
 Classification of Signals
3. Definition 20 [Two-sided]:
x(t) or x[n] is two-sided if it has no finite starting or ending time. The signal
is nonzero over all real number; 𝑖. 𝑒.,
It starts at −∞ and ends at +∞

Signals and Systems

Nor Iza binti Mohd Rawi
Semester I (2013/2014)
 Classification of Signals
Definition 21 [Bounded and Unbounded Signals]:
x(t) or x[n] is bounded, if there exists a real number 𝐵 < ∞ such that
𝑥 n ≤ 𝐵 < ∞𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑛 𝑜𝑜
𝑥(𝑡) ≤ 𝐵 < ∞𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑡
Hence, a bounded signal has a minimum and a maximum value.
Example:
• 𝑥 𝑡 = 𝐴 sin 𝑡 is bounded since |𝐴 sin 𝑡| ≤ 𝐴, but
𝜋
• 𝑥 𝑛 = tan 𝑛 is unbounded since tan = ∞.
2