Signals and Systems For Dummies

Chapter 3

Continuous-Time Signals and Systems

In This Chapter

Defining signal types

Classifying specific signals

Modifying signals

Looking at linear and time-invariant systems

Checking out a real-world example system

In signals and systems, the distinction continuous time refers to the independent variable, time t, being continuous (see Chapter 1). In this chapter, I provide an inventory of signal types and classifications that relate to electrical engineering and cover the process of figuring out the proper description for a particular signal. Like their discrete-time counterparts described in Chapter 4, continuous-time signals may be classified as deterministic or random, periodic or aperiodic, power or energy, and even or odd. Signals hold multiple classifications.

Also in this chapter, I describe the process of moving signals around on the time axis. Modeling the placement of signals on the time axis affects system functionality and relates to the convolution operation that’s ...