Signals & Systems

ece83 Articles
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Continuous Time Signals

Signals defined for all time, analog signals.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Discrete Time Signals

Signals defined at integer time indices, sequences.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Periodic Signals

Period T, fundamental frequency, conditions for periodicity.

10 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Even and Odd Signals

Symmetry properties, decomposition into even and odd parts.

9 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Energy Signals

Finite energy, zero average power, square integrability.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Power Signals

Finite average power, infinite energy, periodic signals.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Deterministic vs Random Signals

Predictable vs stochastic, mathematical description.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Unit Step Function

u(t) definition, properties, relation to other signals.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Ramp Signal

r(t) = t*u(t), relation to step function by integration.

9 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Exponential Signals

Real and complex exponentials, growth and decay.

9 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Sinusoidal Signals

Amplitude, frequency, phase, representation forms.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Rectangular Pulse

rect(t/T), gate function, spectral properties.

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Sinc Function

sinc(t) = sin(πt)/(πt), Fourier dual of rect.

6 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Time Shifting

x(t-t0) delay, x(t+t0) advance operations.

10 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Time Scaling

x(at) compression and expansion, effect on frequency.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Signal Addition and Multiplication

Sum and product of signals, modulation.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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System Classification

Memory, causality, stability, linearity, time invariance.

5 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Linearity Test

Superposition test, additivity and homogeneity.

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Time Invariance Test

Time shift input, compare output shift.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Impulse Response

h(t) complete characterization of LTI systems.

6 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Convolution Integral

y(t) = x(t)*h(t), flip and slide method.

6 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Convolution Properties

Commutative, associative, distributive properties.

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Convolution Sum

y[n] = x[n]*h[n], tabular method for DT.

6 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Step Response

s(t) = integral of h(t), relation to impulse response.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Causality from Impulse Response

h(t)=0 for t<0 condition for causal systems.

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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BIBO Stability

Bounded input bounded output, integral of |h(t)| is finite.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Cascade and Parallel Systems

Series h=h1*h2, parallel h=h1+h2 combinations.

9 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Trigonometric Fourier Series

a0, an, bn coefficients, DC and harmonic terms.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Exponential Fourier Series

Complex coefficients cn, compact notation.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Fourier Series Symmetry

Even function: bn=0, odd function: an=0, half wave.

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Fourier Series of Square Wave

Odd harmonics, 1/n decay, spectral analysis.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Fourier Series of Sawtooth Wave

All harmonics present, alternating sign coefficients.

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Fourier Series Properties

Linearity, time shift, frequency shift, Parseval.

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Gibbs Phenomenon

9% overshoot at discontinuities, non-uniform convergence.

5 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Power Spectrum of Periodic Signals

Line spectrum, power in harmonics, Parseval relation.

9 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Fourier Transform Definition

F(w) = integral x(t)e^(-jwt)dt, existence conditions.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Inverse Fourier Transform

x(t) = (1/2pi) integral F(w)e^(jwt)dw synthesis.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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FT of Rectangular Pulse

rect(t/T) <-> T*sinc(wT/2pi), spectral spreading.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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FT of Impulse Function

delta(t) <-> 1, flat spectrum.

9 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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FT of Exponential Signal

e^(-at)u(t) <-> 1/(a+jw), causal exponential.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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FT of Step Function

u(t) <-> pi*delta(w) + 1/jw.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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FT of Cosine and Sine

cos(w0t) <-> pi[delta(w-w0)+delta(w+w0)].

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Fourier Transform Properties

Linearity, duality, time shift, frequency shift.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Convolution Theorem FT

x*h in time <-> X*H multiplication in frequency.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Multiplication Property FT

x*y in time <-> (1/2pi)X*Y convolution in frequency.

9 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Parseval Theorem

Energy = (1/2pi) integral |F(w)|² dw, energy spectral density.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Laplace Transform Definition

F(s) = integral x(t)e^(-st)dt, bilateral and unilateral.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Region of Convergence

ROC rules, causal vs anti-causal, relationship to stability.

9 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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LT of Standard Signals

Step, ramp, exponential, sine, cosine transforms.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Real and Complex Signals

Complex exponential, Euler formula in signals.

6 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Laplace Transform Properties

Linearity, time shift, s-domain shift, differentiation.

5 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Initial Value Theorem

lim s->inf sF(s) = f(0+), application examples.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Final Value Theorem

lim s->0 sF(s) = f(inf), steady state value.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Inverse Laplace Transform

Partial fraction expansion, residue method.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Transfer Function

H(s) = Y(s)/X(s), poles and zeros, system characterization.

9 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Pole Zero Plot Laplace

s-plane representation, stability from pole locations.

10 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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System Analysis Using Laplace

Solving differential equations, circuit analysis.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Z-Transform Definition

X(z) = sum x[n]z^(-n), relation to Laplace via z=e^(sT).

6 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Z-Transform ROC

ROC shapes, causal and anti-causal, stability criteria.

10 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Z-Transform Properties

Linearity, time shift, convolution, initial/final value.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Inverse Z-Transform

Partial fractions, long division, contour integration.

5 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Transfer Function H(z)

Discrete system function, FIR vs IIR characterization.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Stability from Z-Transform

All poles inside unit circle for BIBO stability.

4 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Sampling Theorem

Nyquist rate fs >= 2fm, band-limited signals.

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Aliasing

Folding, frequency ambiguity when undersampled.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Ideal Reconstruction

Sinc interpolation, ideal low pass filter.

5 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Anti-Aliasing Filter

Pre-sampling LPF, guard band, practical design.

5 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Aperiodic Signals

Non-repeating signals, transient signals.

5 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Signum Function

sgn(t), relation to step function.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Triangular Pulse

tri(t), convolution of two rect functions.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Amplitude Scaling

a*x(t) amplification and attenuation.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Feedback Systems

Closed loop, transfer function H/(1+GH).

6 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Invertibility

Inverse system h_inv(t)*h(t) = delta(t).

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Fourier Series of Triangle Wave

Odd harmonics only, 1/n² decay.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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FT of Signum Function

sgn(t) <-> 2/jw, distribution sense.

5 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Time Scaling Property FT

x(at) <-> (1/|a|)F(w/a), bandwidth-duration tradeoff.

10 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Hilbert Transform

90 degree phase shift, analytic signal, envelope.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Inverse LT of Repeated Poles

Higher order poles, partial fractions with repeated roots.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Z-Transform of Standard Sequences

Unit step, exponential, sinusoidal z-transforms.

5 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Practical Reconstruction

Zero order hold, first order hold, practical filters.

12 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Sampling of Discrete Time Signals

Decimation, upsampling in discrete domain.

7 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Unit Impulse Function

Delta function, sifting property, area interpretation.

8 min read
Feb 19, 2026
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Time Reversal

x(-t) reflection about t=0.

11 min read
Feb 19, 2026