Standard Time Signals - GATE Study

Material in PDF
In the previous article, we discussed Time Signals & Signal Transformation. In these free
GATE Notes, we will discuss some Important Standard Time Signals. These continuous
signals are used in problem solving and analysis. These study notes are important for
GATE EC and GATE EE as well as other exams like BARC, BSNL, DRDO, ISRO, IES etc.
These notes may also be downloaded in PDF so that your exam preparation is made easy
and you ace your exam.
You are strongly advised to go through previous articles before starting off with this
module.

Recommended Reading
Laplace Transforms
Limits, Continuity & Differentiability
Mean Value Theorems
Differentiation
Partial Differentiation
Maxima and Minima
Methods of Integration & Standard Integrals
Vector Calculus
Vector Integration
Time Signals & Signal Transformation

Standard Continuous Time Signals

Some of the standard continuous time signals covered here include:
1. DC Signal
2. Unit Step Signal
1|Page

3. Unit Impulse / Delta Signal

4. Ramp Signal
5. Signum Signal
6. Rectangular Pulse or Gate Function
7. Triangular Function
8. Sinusoidal Function
9. Sampling Function
10. Sinc Function
11. Exponential Function

DC Signal
It is given as for both continuous and discrete signals

x(t) = A ;

< t <

x[n] = A ;

< n <

Unit Step Signal

Continuous time unit step signal is defined as

2|Page

u(t) = {

1 ;
0 ;

t0
t>0

Similar concept is followed in discrete time unit step signal.

Unit Impulse / Delta Signal

It is defined as
1; t = 0
(t) = {
0; t 0

and (t) = 1

Similarly, you can derive for discrete time delta signal. Some properties of continuous
time delta signal are given as follows
1

() (at) = |a| (t)

() x(t)(t t 0 ) = x(t 0 )(t t 0 )

() x(t)(t t 0 )dt = x(t 0 )

3|Page

() (t) = dt (u(t))
t

() u(t) = (t)dt
() x(t) (t) = u(t) [Replication Property of Delta Signal]

The properties for discrete time impulse signal are a bit different for some. These are
(i) [an] = [n]
(ii) x[n] [n-k] = x[k] [n-k]
(iii) [n] = u[n] - u[n-1]
() u[n] = nk= [k] = nk=0 [n k]
The derivative and integral of singular or non-analytic functions are determined using
indirect method. Since impulse is a singular function. Therefore, to determine its
derivative, first we approximate it by a pulse of width a and height 1/a and as a tends
to zero we get the continuous delta function. So we can say that the unit impulse
function is sometimes approximated to a delta function. A delta function can be shown
as follows:

Area of a delta function is 1.

(t) = lim x(t)
a0

x(t) = a {u (t + 2) u (t 2)}
Doublet:

4|Page

The derivative of the impulse function is known as the Doublet.

(t) = lim x(t)
a0

d(t)
dt

= (t) = lim

= lim

dx(t)

a0 dt

1 d

a0 dt

a0

(t) = lim a (t + 2 ) lim a (t 2)

a0

a0

Combination of two impulses is known as doublet.

'(t) Doublet,

''(t) Quadraplet,

'''(t) Octaplet

The properties of doublet are as below

0;
t0
() (t) = {
} and (t)dt = 0
undefined; t = 0

() (at) =

1
a|a|

(t)

() (a(t t 0 )) =

1
a|a|

(t t 0 )

() (t) = (t)
() ((t t 0 )) = (t t 0 )

() x(t) (t)dt = x (0)

Ramp Signal
5|Page

[u (t + 2) u (t 2)] = lim (dt u (t + 2) dt u (t 2)) a

A continuous time ramp signal is defined as

r(t) = {

t;
0;

t0
t<0

Or r(t) = t u(t)
Its value increases linearly with time.
1. Subtraction of the ramp signal decreases the slope.
2. Addition of the ramp signal increases the slope.
Also, u(t) =

dr(t)
dt

or

r(t) = u(t)dt

Similarly, try to derive for discrete time ramp signal. We can see some transformed
signals from r(t).

6|Page

Signum Signal
Continuous time signum signal is defined as
1; t > 0
sgn(t) = { 1; t < 0
0;
t=0
It can also be written as
sgn(t) = u(t) - u(-t)
The phenomenon is similar in discrete time signum signal.

Rectangular Pulse or Gate Function

Continuous time rectangular pulse function is denoted by
tt0

A rect (

) /A gate (

tt0

Here A = Amplitude, t0 = Centre, = Width

If centre is at origin, then it is defined as

t

A rect () = {
7|Page

A;
0;

|t|

otherwise

Kindly note the difference between the continuous time and discrete time signals in this
case.
Discrete time rectangular gate function is defined as
nn0

A rect (

OR

nn0

A gate (

Where A = Amplitude, n0 = Centre of the pulse

N = Number of samples to the right ride from the centre or the number of samples to
the left side from the centre.

Triangular Function
tt0

Continuous time triangular function is denoted by A tri (

Where A = Height of the signal, t0 = centre, = Half width

8|Page

tt0

) or A (

Discrete triangular time signal is similar to the continuous triangular time signal.

Sinusoidal Function
The sinusoidal signals include sine and cosine signals.
Sine Signal = Asint = A sin(2ft)
} continuous time
Cosine Signal = A cos t = A cos(2ft)

Sampling Function
Sampling function is denoted let Sa (x) and is defined as follows
Sa (x) =

sinx
x

Some of its properties are given as below

(i) Sa(-x) = Sa (x) [i.e. sampling function is an even function]
() lim Sa (x) = 1
x0

9|Page

() lim Sa (x) = 0 ; n = +1, 2, 3,

xn

() lim Sa (x) = 0
n

It can be plotted as

Sinc Function
Sinc function is defined as
Sinc(x) =

sin(x)
x

Sinc(x) = Sa (x)
The curve for the sampling and sinc functions are the same.

Exponential Function
General form of exponential function is est; where s is complex.
x(t) = est

and

s = + j

x(t) = e(+j)t = et ejt

Case I - For s = 0, est = 1 is a DC signal.
Case II - For = 0, est = et
et is known as real exponential.
For > 0, the signal will grow exponentially.

10 | P a g e

For < 0, the signal will be decaying exponential.

Case III - For = 0 & 0, ejt will be a periodic complex exponential with period T0 =
2

For

0&0
x(t) = et ejt

For > 0
Re(x(t)) = et cost is a growing sinusoidal

For < 0
Re(x(t)) = et cost is a decaying sinusoidal

11 | P a g e

Similar phenomenon is followed in discrete time equivalent of exponential signals.

Let us try out some examples now -

Example 1:
Simplify (t2 3t + 2)

Solution:
x(t) = (t2 3t + 2)
f(t) = t2 3t + 2 = (t 2)(t 1)
f(t) has two roots at t = 1,2
f' (t) = 2t 3
f' (1) = 21 3 = 1
f' (2) = 22 3 = 1
So, (t 2 3t + 2) =

1
(t
|f (t1 )|

t1 ) +

1
(t
|f (t2 )|

Here,
t1 = 1 and f' (t1) = 1
t2 = 2

and

f' (t2) = 1

(t 2 3t + 2) =

1
(t
|1|

1) +

1
(t
|1|

(t 2 3t + 2) = (t 1) + (t 2)

Example 2:
12 | P a g e

2)

t2)

Simplify the following

(i) (4t)
(ii) (3t2)
(iii) (t) e3t

(iv) e4t (t)dt

Solution:
1

(i) (4t) = 4|4| (t) = 16 (t)

1

(ii) (3t 2) = (3(t + 23)) = 3|3| (t + 23) = 9 (t + 23)

(iii) (t). e3t
Since, x(t). (t) = x(0) (t) x (0)(t)
Therefore, e3t (t) = 1. (t) (3 1) (t) = (t) + 3(t)

(iv) e4t (t)dt = dt e4t |

t=0

=4

Example 3:
Sketch the derivative of x(t)

Solution:
x(t) = 3u(t + 2) 5u(t 3) + 2u(t 4)
x(t) = 3(t + 2) 5(t 3) + 2(t 4)

13 | P a g e

Thus, we listed some of the important standard signals important for competitive exam
point of view. After this, we will discuss the classification of signals based on their
properties.

Example 4:
Sketch the following
(i) r(-t)

(ii) - r(-t)

(iii) r(t-2)

(v) r(2t)

(vi) 3r(t)

(vii) r(2t-3) (viii) r(-2t-3)

(ix)

d
dt

(iv) r(-t+1)

r(t)

Solution:

14 | P a g e

Example 5:
Sketch the following signals
(i) r(t)+u(t)
(ii) r(t) - u(t)
(iii) r(t) + 2u(t-2)
(iv) r(t)- 2u(t-3)
15 | P a g e

Solution:
(i) r(t) +u(t)

r(t)+u(t) = tu(t) + u(t) = (t+1) u(t)

(ii) r(t) u(t)

r(t)+ u(t) = (t-1)u(t)

(iii) r(t)+2u(t-2)

(iv) r(t) 2r(t-3)

Example 6:
16 | P a g e

Write the expression of the following signals in the form of step and ramp signals?
(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Solution:
(i)

= 3 r(t) 3 r(t 3)

(ii)

= 2 r(t) 2 r(t 2) 3u(t 5)

(iii)

17 | P a g e

= T r(t) T r(t T) Au(t T)

Example 7:
Sketch the following signals
t1

(i) 5rect (

(ii) 2gate (2t + 5)

Solution:
t1

(i) 5rect (

Here, = 2 and t0 = 1
t

First plot 5 rect (2)

Now shift this to right by 1 unit

(ii) 2gate(2t+5) = 2gate(2(t+5/2))

here, = 12 and t 0 = 5/2
First plot 2gate (2t)

18 | P a g e

Now shift this to left by 52 unit

Example 8:
t+2

Sketch the signal x(t) = 2 tri (

Solution:
t+2

x(t) = 2 tri (

) , Height = 2, Centre = 2, Half width = 3

In the next article, we will deal with Classification of Time Signals.

Did you like this article on Standard Time Signals? Let us know in the comments. You
may also like

Signal Classification
Opportunities through GATE 2017
40+ PSUs Recruitment through GATE 2017

19 | P a g e