Standard Test Signals

• The characteristics of actual input signals are a sudden shock, a

sudden change, a constant velocity, and constant acceleration.

• The dynamic behavior of a system is therefore judged and compared

under application of standard test signals – an impulse, a step, a
constant velocity, and constant acceleration.

• The other standard signal of great importance is a sinusoidal signal.

 Standard Test Signals
• Impulse signal
• The impulse signal imitate the
sudden shock characteristic of
actual input signal.
δ(t)
A t0
 (t )  
0 t0 A

• If A=1, the impulse signal is called 0 t

unit impulse signal.
 Standard Test Signals
• Step signal
• The step signal imitate the
sudden change characteristic
u(t)
of actual input signal.

A t0 A
u( t )  
0 t0

0 t

• If A=1, the step signal is

called unit step signal
 Standard Test Signals
• Ramp signal r(t)

• The ramp signal imitate the

constant velocity
characteristic of actual input
signal.
 At t0 0 t
r(t )  
0 t0
r(t)

ramp signal with slope A

• If A=1, the ramp signal is
called unit ramp signal r(t)

unit ramp signal

 Standard Test Signals
p(t)
• Parabolic signal
• The parabolic signal imitate
the constant acceleration
characteristic of actual input
signal.
 At 2 0 t
 t0
p( t )   2 p(t)
0 t0

parabolic signal with slope A
p(t)
• If A=1, the parabolic signal is
called unit parabolic signal.

Unit parabolic signal

Relation between standard Test Signals
A t0
• Impulse  (t )   d
0 t0
 dt
A t0
• Step u( t )  
d
0 t0
 dt
• Ramp  At
r(t )  
t0
0 t0 d
 dt
• Parabolic  At 2
 t0
p( t )   2
0 t0

Laplace transform
• Laplace transform converts a time domain function to s-domain function by integration from zero
to infinity of the time domain function, multiplied by e-st.
• The Laplace transform is used to quickly find solutions for differential equations and integrals.
• Derivation in the time domain is transformed to multiplication by s in the s-domain.
• Integration in the time domain is transformed to division by s in the s-domain.