EECE 301
Signals & Systems
Prof. Mark Fowler
Note Set #4
System Modeling and Some Examples
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System Model View
Physical View:
Get output signal here as a
voltage (or a current)
Apply input signal
here as a voltage
(or a current)
Image from [Link]/tools/sonyrm/
Schematic View
Output signal
is the voltage
across here
Apply guitar
signal here as
a voltage
From Pedal Power Column by Robert Keeley, in Musicians Hotline Magazine
System View
Math Function
for Input
x(t)
Math Model
of System
y(t)
Math Function
for Output
Math Model quantitatively relates input signals math to the output signals
math Allows us to understand and predict how the system will work!
2/16
Math Models for Systems
Many physical systems are modeled w/ Differential Eqs
Because physics shows that electrical (& mechanical!) components often
have V-I Rules that depend on derivatives
d 2y (t )
dy (t )
dx (t )
a2
a
y
(
t
)
b
b0 x (t )
1
0
1
2
dt
dt
dt
Given: Input x(t)
Find: Ouput y(t)
This is what it means to solve a differential equation!!
However, engineers use Other Math Models to help solve and
analyze differential eqs
The concept of Frequency Response and the related concept of
Transfer Function are the most widely used such math models
> Fourier Transform is the math tool underlying Frequency Response
Another helpful math model is called Convolution
3/16
System Modeling
To do engineering design, we must be able to accurately predict the
quantitative behavior of a circuit or other system.
This requires math models:
Circuits
Device Rules
R: v(t)=Ri(t)
L: v(t)=L(di(t)/di)
C: dv(t)/dt=1/Ci(t)
Circuit Rules
-KVL
-KCL
-Voltage Divider
-etc.
Differential Equation
Mechanical
Device Rules
Mass: M(d2p(t)/dt2)
Spring: kxp(t)
Damping: kd(dp(t)/dt)
System Rules
-Sum of forces
-etc.
Differential Equation
Similar ideas hold for hydraulic, chemical, etc. systems
differential equations rule the world
4/16
Simple Circuit Example:
Sending info over a wire cable between two computers
Computer
Computer
#1
#2
Two conductors separated by an insulator
capacitance
Two practical examples of the cable
Twisted Pair of Insulated
coaxial cable
Wires
conductors separated by insulator
Typical values: 100 /km
50 nF/km
Recall: resistance increases with wire length
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Simple Model:
Drivers Thevenin
Equivalent Circuit
(Computer #1)
Cable Model
Zero Output
Resistance (Ideal)
Receivers Thevenin
Equivalent Circuit
(Computer #2)
Infinite Input
Resistance (Ideal)
Effective Operation:
x(t)
5v
t
0 0 1 1
x(t)
y(t)
0 1 0 1
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x(t)
5v
x(t)
t
0 0 1 1
y(t)
0 1 0 1
Use Loop Equation & Device Rules:
x(t ) vR (t ) y (t )
vR (t ) Ri (t )
dy (t )
i (t ) C
dt
dy (t ) 1
1
y (t )
x(t )
dt
RC
RC
This is the Differential Equation to be Solved:
Given: Input x(t)
Recall: A Solution of the D.E. means
The function that when put into the left
side causes it to reduce to the right side
Find: Solution y(t)
Differential Equation & System
the solution is the output
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Now because this is a linear system (it only has R, L, C components!) we
can analyze it by superposition.
5v
t
Decompose the input
x(t)
-5v
5v
t
0 0 1 1
0 1 0 1
5v
t
+
t
-5v
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Input Components
Output Components (Blue)
Standard Exponential Response
Learned in Circuits:
5v
5v
t
-5v
-5v
5v
5v
t
+
t
-5v
t
-5v
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Output Components
5v
t
Output is a smoothed version of
the input it is harder to
distinguish ones and zeros
it will be even harder if there is
noise added onto the signal!
-5v
Output
5v
5v
t
x(t)
Input
5v
t
t
0 0 1 1
0 1 0 1
-5v
10/16
Progression of Ideas an Engineer Might Use for this Problem
Physical System:
Schematic System:
Mathematical System:
Mathematical Solution:
Computer
#1
x(t)
Computer
#2
y(t)
dy (t ) 1
1
y (t )
x(t )
dt
RC
RC
5v
Output
t
11/16
Big picture for CT Systems:
Nature is filled with Derivative Rules
Capacitor and Inductor i-v Relationships
Force, Mass and Acceleration Relationships
Etc.
Thus C-T Systems are mathematically modeled by Differential Equations
There are a lot of practical C-T systems that can
be modeled by differential equations.
In particular, we will be interested in
Linear, Constant-Coefficient, Ordinary Diff Eqs!
12/16
D-T System Example
Recall: We are mostly interested in D-T systems that arise in
computer processing of signals collected by sensors.
We illustrate with a simple automotive example: A sensor provides a
measure of the instantaneous MPG for a car. Suppose the sensor
gives this every 10 seconds. We want to keep track of and display
the average MPG since time zero.
Let x[n], n = 1, 2, 3, be a sequence of MPG measurements
Input
D-T signal because you are not continuously measuring!
Let y[n] be the average MPG after the nth measurement.
Output
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Now, one way to do this is to store ALL the measurements and
each time you get a new one just average them
1
y[ n ]
x[0] x[1] x[n ]
n 1
But how much memory should we implement? Who knows
how long this will run???
So we need a better way. Write y[n] in terms of y[n-1]:
1 1
y[ n ]
n x[0] x[1] x[n 1] x[n ]
n 1
n
y
n
[
1]
n
1
y[ n ]
y[n 1]
x[n ]
n 1
n 1
This is a math
model for this
DT system
This kind of math model is called a Difference Equation
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This system can easily be computed in software
y[ n ]
1
n
y[n 1]
x[n ]
n 1
n 1
x[n]
y[n]
-1
35
y[0]=(0/1)y[-1] +(1/1)x[0] = 35
39
y[1]=(1/2)y[0] +(1/2)x[0] = (35+39)/2
43
y[2]=(2/3)y[1] +(1/3)x[1]
36
Etc.
Etc.
Initial
Condition
y[0] = 0
for n = 1 to ???
y(n) = (n/(n+1))*y(n-1) + (1/(n+1))*x(n)
end
All Components
are Clocked
Etc.
This system can also be computed in hardware
Current Input
Value
1/(n-1)
Memory
(Stores Most
Recent Output
Value)
Sum
n/(n-1)
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BIG PICTURE
-
Physical (nature!) systems are C-T systems modeled by
differential equations e.g., RLC Circuits, Electric Motors, etc.
- D-T systems are modeled by difference equations these are generally
implemented using computer HW/SW
- Both C-T & D-T systems (at least a large subset) have:
- Zero-Input part of response (due to Initial Conditions)
- e.g., Homogeneous solution of CT Diff Eq
- Zero-State part of Response (due to Input)
Our Focus will be mostly on
the Zero-State Response
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