Outline

• Signal flow graph notation.

Signal Flow Graphs • Signal flow graph from block diagram.
• Mason’s rule.
M. Sami Fadali • Transfer function.
EBME Dept.
University of Nevada

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Notation Nise’s Approach

R(s) V1(s) V2(s) C(s) R(s) V1(s) V2(s) C(s)
• Node variable = sum of flows into the node G1(s) G2(s) G3(s)
G1(s) G2(s) G3(s)
(no subtraction) R(s) V1(s) V2(s) C(s)
• Node for each variable.
• Line for each transfer function. V1(s)
G1(s) 1
G1(s)
C(s) V1(s) C(s) R(s)
R(s) R(s) G2(s) 1 G2(s)
R(s) C(s) R(s) C(s) V2(s) C(s)
V2(s)
G(s) G3(s) 1
G(s) V3(s) G3(s)
V3(s)
R(s) E(s) R(s) E(s)
1 R(s) E(s) R(s) E(s) C(s) C(s)
C(s) +
+ G(s) G(s)
G(s) R(s) 1
1 E(s) C(s)

C(s)   H(s) H(s)
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 SFG from Block Diagram Ex. SFG from Block Diagram
1. Draw a node for each input (source) and output
(sink).
2. Draw a node for each summing junction output.
3. Draw a node for each additional pickoff point.
4. Move minus to each block preceding subtraction. 1
= − ⇔ =
5. Draw edges to connect the nodes and label them +
with transfer functions.

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Ex. SFG from Block Diagram

Feedback Control System

Not a loop
1
=
+3
100 100 1/
= =
+2 1 + 2/
= +5
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 Mason’s Rule Forward Path Gains
Gives overall transfer function in terms of:
• Forward path gains (no vertices repeat).
• Loop gains (path starts and ends at same node).
• Products of loop gains for nontouching loops. T1  G7 G5G 4 G3G 2 G1
• Nontouching loops: no common nodes.
T2  G7 G6 G 4 G3G 2 G1
• Two nontouching loops, three nontouching
loops, …. or T  G 7 (G5  G 6 )G 4 G3G 2 G1
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Loop Gains Mason’s Rule

• The overall transfer function is

(i ) G 2 H 1 , G 4 H 2 , G 4 (G5  G 6 ) H 3
(ii ) G2 H1G4 H 2 , G2 H1G4 (G5  G6 ) H 3 i.e. eliminate all loops touching path
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 Example Forward Path Gains
• Find the overall transfer function using
Mason’s rule

T1  G5G 4 G3G 2 G1
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Loop Gains Calculation

(1) G2 H1 , G4 H 2 , G7 H 4 , G2G3G4G5G6G7G8
(2) G2 H1G4 H 2 , G2 H1G7 H 4 , G4 H 2G7 H 4
(3) G2 H1G4 H 2G7 H 4
Δ = 1 − ∑loop gains + 2 non−touching loop gains

− 3 non−touching loop gains

(1) G2 H1 , G4 H 2 , G7 H 4 , G2G3G4G5G6G7G8
(2) G2 H1G4 H 2 , G2 H1G7 H 4 , G4 H 2G7 H 4
(3) G2 H1G4 H 2G7 H 4 15
  1  G 2 H 1  G 4 H 2  G7 H 4  G 2 G3G 4 G5G6 G7 G8 
 G 2 H 1G 4 H 2  G 2 H 1G7 H 4  G 4 H 2 G7 H 4 
 G 2 H 1G 4 H 2 G7 H 4 16
 Ex. Mason’s Rule
Apply Mason’s Rule
T1  G3G2G1 T2  G3G1
(1)  H1G2G1 , H 2G2 , H 3G3
1
(2) H1G2G1 H 3G3 , H 2G2 H 3G3

C (s) 
Tk  k
  1  H1G2G1  H 2G2  H 3G3 G (s)   k
R(s) 
 H1G2G1 H 3G3  H 2G2 H 3G3
T1  G5G 4 G3G 2 G1 G G G  G3G1
 3 2 1

1  1  G7 H 4
C ( s ) T1 1 G5 G 4 G3G 2 G1 1
G (s)   
R(s)   17 18