Signals and Systems: Basic Operations On 1

Signals

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Signals and Systems
LECTURE #5:
Useful signal functions
In this lecture you will learn about
1. Unit step functions
2. Unit ramp function
3. Unit impulse function

Prepared by: Irshad Ahmed Hashimzai, References: B.P. Lathi, “Signal Processing and
Linear Systems”, Berkeley Cambridge Press
Unit step function
Unit Ramp Function
• The unit ramp function is often used in signal processing to model the time-varying amplitude of a signal. For

example, if we have a signal that starts at zero and increases linearly over time, we can model it using the unit

ramp function.

• The ramp function is often used in combination with other functions to model more complex systems, such as in

signal processing.

• It is commonly used in engineering and physics to model systems that have a gradual increase or decrease over

time.

• In electrical engineering, the unit ramp function can be used to model the charging or discharging of a capacitor.
Unit Impulse function

• The unit impulse function, is a mathematical function that is zero everywhere except at t=0, where it is infinite.
• It is commonly used in signal processing and control systems to model the response of a system to a sudden input
or disturbance.

• The unit impulse function has the property that its integral over any interval that contains t=0 is equal to 1.
 Unit Impulse function

It is widely used signal in the analysis of signals and systems.