Communication Systems

Fourier

Dr. Farah Haroon

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Linearity of the Fourier Transform
The FourierF transform is a linear function of x(t)
x1 (t )  X 1 ( j )
F
x2 (t )  X 2 ( j )
F
ax1 (t )  bx2 (t )  aX 1 ( j )  bX 2 ( j )

This follows directly from the definition of the Fourier

transform (as the integral operator is linear) & it easily
extends to an arbitrary number of signals
Like impulses/convolution, if we know the Fourier
transform of simple signals, we can calculate the Fourier
transform of more complex signals which are a linear
combination of the simple signals
 F.T of a Time Shifted Signal
 We’ll show that a Fourier transform of a signal which has a simple
time shift is:
F {x(t  t0 )}  e  jt0 X ( j )

 i.e. the original Fourier transform but shifted in phase by –wt0

 Proof
 Consider the Fourier transform
jt synthesis equation:

x(t )  2  X ( j )e d 
1


x(t  t0 )  1
2  
X ( j )e j ( t t0 ) d

  e 

 jt0
 2
1
X ( j ) e jt d


 but this is the synthesis equation for the Fourier transform

 e-jw0tX(jw)
 Example: Linearity & Time Shift
 Consider the signal (linear sum of two time
shifted rectangular pulses)
x(t )  0.5 x1 (t  2.5)  x2 (t  2.5) x1(t)
 where x1(t) is of width 1, x2(t) is of width 3,
centred on zero (see figures) t

 Using the FT of a rectangular pulse x2(t)

X 1 ( j )  2 sin( / 2)
 t

X 2 ( j )  2 sin( 3 / 2) x (t)

 Then using the linearity and time shift
Fourier transform properties t

X ( j )  e  j 5 / 2  sin( / 2)  2 sin( 3 / 2)  
 
Fourier Transform of a Derivative
By differentiating both sides of the Fourier
transform synthesis equation with respect to t:

dx(t )
dt
 1
2 

j X ( j )e jt d

Therefore noting that this is the synthesis equation

for the Fourier transform jwX(jw)
dx(t ) F
 j  X ( j )
dt

This is very important, because it replaces

differentiation in the time domain with
multiplication (by jw) in the frequency domain.
Convolution in the Frequency Domain
 We can easily solve ODEs in the frequency domain:
F
y (t )  h(t ) * x(t )  Y ( j )  H ( j ) X ( j )

 Therefore, to apply convolution in the time domain, we just have to

multiply the two Fourier Transforms.

 To solve for the differential/convolution equation using Fourier transforms:

1. Calculate Fourier transforms of x(t) and h(t): X(jw) by H(jw)
2. Multiply H(jw) by X(jw) to obtain Y(jw)
3. Calculate the inverse Fourier transform of Y(jw)

 H(jw) is the LTI system’s transfer function which is the Fourier

transform of the impulse response, h(t). Very important in the remainder
of the course (using Laplace transforms)
Example 1: Solving a First Order ODE
 Calculate the response of a CT LTI system with h(t)
h(t )  e bt u (t ) b0
 tothe input signal: x(t )  e  at u (t ) a0
 Taking Fourier transforms of both signals:
1 1
H ( j )  , X ( j ) 
b  j a  j
1
 The overall frequency response: Y ( j ) 
(b  j )( a  j )

 to convert this to the time domain, express as partial fractions:

1  1 1  assume
Y ( j )     ba
b  a  (a  j ) (b  j ) 
 Therefore, the CT system response is:

y (t )  1
ba e  at
u (t )  e  bt u (t ) 
Duality
Modulation