CLASSIFICATION OF SIGNALS
SIGNAL
CONTINUOUS TIME SIGNAL DISCRETE TIME SIGNAL
• Periodic & Non-periodic Signals
• Even & Odd Signals
• Energy & Power Signals
• Deterministic & Random Signals
Continuous-time & Discrete-time Signals
A signal 𝑥(𝑡) is said to be continuous-time if the signal is defined continuously with
respect to time 𝑡. Fig 1.4(a)
A signal 𝑥(𝑛) is said to be discrete-time if the signal is defined only at specific or
regular time instants. Fig 1.4(b)
𝑥(𝑡) 𝑥(𝑛)
0 𝑡 0 𝑛
(a) (b)
Figure 1.4: Continuous-time and Discrete-time Signal
Significance:
• Analog circuit process CT signals. Ex: op-amps, filters, amplifiers, etc.
• Digital circuit process DT signals. Ex: microprocessor, flip-flops, counters, etc.
Analog Signals and Digital Signals
Analog Signals and Digital Signals
• When amplitude of CT signal varies continuously, it is called Analog Signal.
Amplitude and time both are continuous for analog signals.
• When amplitude of DT signal takes only finite values, it is called Digital Signal.
Amplitude and time both are discrete for digital signals.
Periodic & Non-periodic Signals
• A signal is said to be periodic if it repeats at regular intervals. Non-periodic signals
do not repeat at regular intervals.
• Examples of CT and DT periodic/non-periodic signals is shown in figure 1.5
Figure 1.5: CT and DT periodic/non-periodic Signals
• Condition for periodicity of CT signal:
The CT signal repeat after certain period 𝑇 i.e.,
𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑥(𝑡 + 𝑇 )
• Condition for periodicity of DT signal:
Consider DT cosine wave, 𝑥(𝑛) = cos(2𝜋𝑓 𝑛)
𝑥(𝑛 + 𝑁) = cos[2𝜋𝑓 (𝑛 + 𝑁)] = cos(2𝜋𝑓 𝑛 + 2𝜋𝑓 𝑁)
For periodicity, 𝑥(𝑛) = 𝑥(𝑛 + 𝑁)
cos(2𝜋𝑓 𝑛) = cos(2𝜋𝑓 𝑛 + 2𝜋𝑓 𝑁)
The above equation is satisfied only if 2𝜋𝑓 𝑁 is integer multiple of 2𝜋. i.e.,
2𝜋𝑓 𝑁 = 2𝜋𝑘,
𝑓 = ⎯⎯
The above condition shows that DT signal is periodic only if its frequency is rational
(ratio of two integers)
Even and Odd Signals
A signal is said to be even signal if inversion of time axis does not change the
amplitude. i.e.,
𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑥(−𝑡)
𝑥(𝑛) = 𝑥(−𝑛)
Even signals are also called symmetric signals.
Ex: Cosine wave, 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = cos(−𝜃) (fig1.6 b)
A signal is said to be odd signal if inversion of time axis also inverts amplitude of
the signal. i.e.,
𝑥(𝑡) = −𝑥(−𝑡)
𝑥(𝑛) = −𝑥(−𝑛)
Odd signals are also called anti-symmetric signals.
Ex: Sine wave, sin(𝜃) = − sin(−𝜃) (fig 1.6 a)
(a) (b)
Figure 1.6: Examples of Even & Odd Signals
Significance of even and odd signals
• Even or Odd symmetry of the signals have specific harmonic or frequency content.
• Even or odd symmetry property is used in filter design
Representation of signal in even and odd parts
(i) Let the signal be represented into its even and odd parts as,
𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑥 (𝑡) + 𝑥 (𝑡) ---- (1)
Here 𝑥 (𝑡) is even part of 𝑥(𝑡) and 𝑥 (𝑡) is odd part of 𝑥(𝑡)
(ii) Substitute −𝑡 for 𝑡 in the above equation,
𝑥(−𝑡) = 𝑥 (−𝑡) + 𝑥 (−𝑡) ---- (2)
Now by the definition of even signal 𝑥 −𝑡 = 𝑥 (𝑡) and by the definition of
Now by the definition of even signal 𝑥 (−𝑡) = 𝑥 (𝑡) and by the definition of
odd signal 𝑥 (−𝑡) = −𝑥 (𝑡). Hence above equation will be,
𝑥(−𝑡) = 𝑥 (𝑡) − 𝑥 (𝑡) ---- (3)
(iii) Adding equation (1) and (3),
1
𝑥(𝑡) + 𝑥(−𝑡) = 2𝑥 (𝑡) ⇒ 𝑥 (𝑡) = ⎯⎯[𝑥(𝑡) + 𝑥(−𝑡)]
2
Subtracting equation (3) from (1),
1
𝑥(𝑡) − 𝑥(−𝑡) = 2𝑥 (𝑡) ⇒ 𝑥 (𝑡) = ⎯⎯[𝑥(𝑡) − 𝑥(−𝑡)]
2
Even part: 𝑥 (𝑡) = ⎯ [𝑥(𝑡) + 𝑥(−𝑡)]
Odd part: 𝑥 (𝑡) = ⎯ [𝑥(𝑡) − 𝑥(−𝑡)]
Original Signal: 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑥 (𝑡) + 𝑥 (𝑡)
Similarly for DT signals we can write,
Even part: 𝑥 (𝑛) = ⎯ [𝑥(𝑛) + 𝑥(−𝑛)]
Odd part: 𝑥 (𝑛) = ⎯[𝑥(𝑛) − 𝑥(−𝑛)]
Original Signal: 𝑥(𝑛) = 𝑥 (𝑛) + 𝑥 (𝑛)
