You are on page 1of 22

1

Singularity functions

1-2-1 The unit-step function

The continuous-time unit-step function

The continuous-time unit-step function is denoted as u ( t ) and is defined mathematically


by:

0, for t < 0


u (t ) = 
1, for t ≥ 0

which have the zero amplitude for all t < 0 and the amplitude of 1 for all t ≥ 0 , and its
plot is shown in Figure 1-10

u (t )

t
0
2 Fundamental of signal processing

Figure 1-10: The continuous-time unit step function

The discrete-time unit-step function

The discrete-time unit-step function is denoted as u [ n ] , and is defined mathematically


by:

0 for n = −1, −2, −3,"


u [ n] = 
 1 for n = 0,1, 2,3, 4,"

and its plot is shown in Figure 1-11.

u (n)

1
• • • • • n
−4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3

Figure 1-11: The discrete-time unit step function

The amplitude scaling

If A , is an arbitrary nonzero real number, than Au ( t ) is step function with amplitude


of A for all t ≥ 0 and zero for all t < 0 as

 0, for t < 0
Au ( t ) = 
 A, for t ≥ 0

and its plot is shown in Figure 1-12.


SIGNALS 3

Au ( t )
A

t
0

Figure 1-12: The continuous-time generic step function with amplitude of A .

The causality property of unit step function

The signal f ( t ) defined over time domain of −∞ ≤ t ≤ +∞ , starts at t = −∞ . If there is


a desire that the signal be in causal form (starts at t = 0 ), it can be described as f ( t ) u ( t ) .
The product f ( t ) u ( t ) of any signal f ( t ) is equal to f ( t ) for all t ≥ 0 and 0 for all
t < 0 is given by:

 0, for t < 0
f (t ) u (t ) = 
 f ( t ) , for t ≥ 0

Note that the signal f ( t ) exist over −∞ < t < ∞ and by multiplying the function f ( t )
by unit-step function u ( t ) , any nonzero value of f ( t ) in the time interval of
−∞ < t < 0 will be forced to zero, and the signal will be turned on at t = 0 . The plot of
f ( t ) u ( t ) is shown in Figure 1.13.
4 Fundamental of signal processing

f (t )

f ( t ) u (t )

t
SIGNALS 5

Figure 1-13:

The anti-causality property of unit step function

f (t )

0
t

f ( t ) u ( −t )

t
0
6 Fundamental of signal processing

The non-causal signal

The time-shifting operation

The time shift to the right with t0 of unit step function sets a signal to “turn on” at time t0
rather than t = 0 .

1, for t ≥ t0
u ( t − t0 ) = 
0, for t < t0

u ( t − t0 )

1
t
t0

Figure 1-14: The continuous-time unit step function time shifted to the right by t0

The time shift to the left with t0 of unit step function sets a signal to “turn on” earlier
than at time t = 0 at the time −t0 .

1, for t ≥ −t0


u ( t + t0 ) = 
0, for t < −t0
SIGNALS 7

u ( t + t0 )

t
−t0 0

Figure 1-15: The continuous-time unit step function time shifted to the left by t0

The time reversal

1, for t ≤ t0
u ( t0 − t ) = u ( −(t − t0 ) ) = 
0, for t > t0

u ( t0 + t )

t
t0

Figure 1-16: The continuous-time unit step function time shifted to the right by t0 and
time reflected

EXAMPLE 1:

Sketch the generic step function Au ( t − t0 ) .

SOLUTION:
8 Fundamental of signal processing

The unit step function u ( t ) is scaled by scalar factor of A and time shifted by t0 to the
right

 0 t < t0
Au ( t − t0 ) = 
 A t ≥ t0

u (t )
A

t
t0

Figure 1-17: The continuous-time generic step function.

The symmetrical unit rectangular pulse

The symmetrical unit rectangular pulse can be constructed by two unit step function
u ( t ) shifted 1 2 to the left and 1 2 to the right.

 1  1
∏ ( t ) = u  t + 2  − u  t − 2 

Also alternative presentation is

 1
1 t ≤
∏ (t ) =  2
0 otherwise

SIGNALS 9

∏ (t )

t
1 1

2 2

Figure 1-17: The continuous-time unit pulse function

Note that the symmetrical unit rectangular pulse is an even function.

EXAMPLE 2:
Write an analytical expression to describe the waveform shown in Figure 1.8.

f (t )

t
3 5

Figure 1-18: The continuous-time pulse function time shifted to the right

SOLUTION:
10 Fundamental of signal processing

2u ( t − 3 ) −2u ( t − 5 ) f (t )

2 2
5 5
t + t = t
3 3
−2 −2

f (t )

t
3 5

Figure 1-19: The continuous-time pulse function time shifted to the right

f ( t ) = 2 u ( t − 3) − u ( t − 5 ) 

The signum or sign function

1 t >0

sgn ( t ) =  0 t=0

−1 t<0

sgn ( t ) = u ( t ) − u ( −t )
SIGNALS 11

u (t )

−1

Figure 1-20: The continuous-time pulse function time shifted to the right

The unit ramp function

The continuous-time unit ramp function denoted as r ( t ) is the integral of the unit step
function
t
r ( t ) = ∫ u (τ ) dτ
−∞

and can be defined as:

0 t<0
r ( t ) = tu ( t ) = 
 t t≥0

Alternatively, note that the step function is the derivative of unit ramp function

∂ r (t )
u (t ) =
∂t
12 Fundamental of signal processing

r (t )

2
1
t
1 2

Figure 1-21: The continuous-time ramp function

The time –shifted to the right unit ramp function

r ( t − t0 )

t
t0

t0
Figure 1-22: The continuous-time ramp function time shifted to the right by

The time-shifted ramp function having slope of m is denoted by r ( mt − t0 ) , and


mathematically defined by:
SIGNALS 13

 t0
mt − t0 for t ≥
m
r ( mt − t0 ) = 
0 t
for t < 0
 m

and it is plotted in Figure 1-23.

r ( mt − t0 )

t0
t
m
−t0

Figure 1-23: Ramp function with slope of m and time-shifted by t0 .

y = mt − t0
t=0 y = −t 0
t0
y=0 t =
m
14 Fundamental of signal processing

S (t )

t
2

Figure 1-24: The continuous-time saw tooth function

The signal between the interval of 0 ≤ t ≤ 2 is a line between two points


P1 ( t1 = 0, s1 = 0 ) and P2 ( t2 = 2, s2 = 3) given by equation:

s2 − s1 3−0 3
S (t ) = ( t − t1 ) = (t − 0) = t for 0 ≤ t ≤ 2
t2 − t1 2−0 2

S ( t ) = 0 otherwise

3
S ( t ) = t u ( t ) − u ( t − 2 ) 
2

Λ (t )

t
−1 1
SIGNALS 15

Figure 1-25: The continuous-time unit triangle function

 1 − t for − 1 < t < 1


Λ (t ) = 
0 for t > 1

EXAMPLE:

f (t )
2 P2

P1 P3
t
−1 1

Figure 1-26:

P1 ( x1 = −1, y = 0 )

P2 ( x2 = 0, y2 = 2 )

y2 − y1
y − y1 = ( x − x1 )
x2 − x1
16 Fundamental of signal processing

2−0
y−0= ( x − (−1) )
0 − ( −1)

y = 2 ( x + 1)

f ( t ) = 2 ( t + 1)

2 ( t + 1) u ( t + 1) − 4tu ( t ) + 2 ( t − 1) u ( t − 1)

f (t )

t
5 7 9

Figure 1-27:

( t − 5) u ( t − 5) − 2   ( t − 7 ) u ( t − 7 ) + ( t − 9 ) u ( t − 9 )
6 6 6
2 2
  2
SIGNALS 17

The unit Impulse function (Dirac distribution or delta function)

The analytical expression for the unit impulse function is denoted as δ ( t ) . Where

1 t=0
δ (t ) = 
0 t≠0

 ∞ δ ( t ) dt
∫ t =0
δ ( t ) =  −∞
0 t≠0

 unbounded t =0
δ (t ) = 
0 t≠0

The impulse function is abstraction of the pulse with an infinitely large amplitude and
infinitesimally small pulse width. The unit impulse can be visualized as a pulse with
amplitude of 1 ε and width of ε , or as a triangle


∫ δ ( t ) dt = 1
−∞

The unit impulse function δ ( t ) is not bounded at t = 0

δ (t )
1 1
ε ε

ε →0 ε →0
t −ε ε t t
ε ε

2 2
18 Fundamental of signal processing

Figure 1.30: The unit impulse function

t 0, for t < 0


u ( t ) = ∫ δ (τ ) dτ = 
−∞
1, for t ≥ 0

∂u
δ (t ) =
∂t

Sampling or sifting properties of a function by an unit impulse function

∞ ∞
∫ x ( t ) δ ( t ) dt = x ( 0 ) ∫
−∞ −∞
δ ( t ) dt = x ( 0 )


∫ x ( t ) δ ( t − t ) dt = x ( t )
−∞
0 0

The unit sample sequence (unit impulse sequence)


The analytical expression for the unit impulse function is denoted as δ ( n ) . Where

1, n=0
δ (n) = 
0, n≠0
SIGNALS 19

δ ( n)

Figure 1.31: The unit impulse function

properties of the unit impulse function

The sampling (sifting) property

+∞
∫ f ( t ) δ ( t − t0 ) dt = f ( t0 )
−∞

+∞ t t
∫ f ( t ) δ ( t − t0 ) dt = ∫ 0 f ( t ) δ ( t − t0 ) dt = ∫ 0 f ( t0 ) δ ( t − t0 ) dt = f ( t0 )
+ +

−∞ t t
0− 0−

The time scaling property

1
δ ( mt ) = δ (t )
m

+∞ +∞ dτ 1 +∞
∫ δ ( mt ) dt = ∫ δ (τ ) δ (τ ) dτ
m m ∫−∞
=
−∞ −∞
20 Fundamental of signal processing

The real exponential function

The exponential signals are mathematically denoted

The sinusoidal signal

S ( t ) = A sin (ω t + ϕ ) −∞ < t < ∞

Where A is the amplitude or peak value, ω the angular frequency in radian per second
( rad sec ) , and ϕ , the phase in radian. The frequency f in Hertz ( cycle second ) is
f = ω 2π and f = 1 T . The sinusoid is periodic with period of 2π ω .

S ( t ) = A sin ( 2π ft + ϕ ) −∞ < t < ∞

 2π t 
S ( t ) = A sin  +ϕ  −∞ < t < ∞
 T 

sin A (ω t + ϕ )

A
t

Sometimes the amplitude is considered as peak-to-peak value that is twice of peak value.
The amplitude of a sine wave signal is given as of its root-mean-square (rms) value
which is peak value divided by 2 .
SIGNALS 21

V peak
Vrms =
2

For example peak value of home power supply in this country is 120 2 volts and rms
value of 120 volts.
Frequency f is given in per second 1
s ( ) or Hertz ( Hz ) and period T is given in second
(s) .
The phase ϕ is with respect to an arbitrary time reference.
Sinusoidal signal can be

Signals can be represented as the sum of sinusoids. For example square wave signal

f (t )

A
t

−A

4A  1 1 
f (t ) =  sin ω 0 t + sin 3ω 0 t + sin 5ω 0 t + ... 
π  3 5 

Where A is the amplitude of the square wave and ω 0 is called the fundamental frequency

ω0 = , where T is period of the square wave.
T
22 Fundamental of signal processing

f (t )

A
t

−A

You might also like