Introduction To What Is Digital Signal Processing

DSP
INTRODUCTION To Digital Signal Processing

What is Digital Signal Processing?
To understand what is Digital Signal Processing (DSP) let's examine what does each of
its words mean.
Signal is any physical quantity that carries information. Processing is a series of steps
or operations to achieve a particular end. It is easy to see that Signal Processing is used
everywhere to extract information from signals or to convert information‐carrying
signals from one form to another. For example, our brain and ears take input speech
signals, and then process and convert them into meaningful words. Finally, the word
Digital in Digital Signal Processing means that the process is done by computers,
microprocessor, or logic circuits.
The field DSP has expanded significantly over that last few decades as a result of rapid
developments in computer technology and integrated‐circuit fabrication.
Consequently, DSP has played an increasingly important role in a wide range of
disciplines in science and technology. Research and development in DSP are driving
advancements in many high‐tech areas including telecommunications, multimedia,
medical and scientific imaging, and human‐computer interaction.
Concepts in Digital Signal Processing

The two main characters in DSP are signals and systems. A signal is defined as any
physical quantity that varies with one or more independent variables such as time
(one‐dimensional signal), or space (2‐D or 3‐D signal). Signals exist in several types. In
the real‐world, most of signals are continuous‐time (analog signals) those have values
continuously at every value of time. To be processed by a computer, a continuous‐time
signal has to be first sampled in time into a discrete‐time signal so that its values at a
discrete set of time instants can be stored in computer memory locations.
Furthermore, in order to be processed by logic circuits, these signal values have to be
quantized in to a set of discrete values, and the final coded result is called a digital
signal. The terms discrete‐time signal and digital signal can be used interchangeability
to define two different formats (Fig. 1).
In signal processing, a system is defined as a process coder whose input and output are
signals (Fig. 2).
Signals Represent Information

Whether analog or digital, information is represented by the fundamental quantity in
electrical engineering: the signal. Stated in mathematical terms, a signal is merely a
function. Analog signals are continuous‐valued; digital signals are discrete‐valued. The
independent variable of the signal could be time (speech), space (images), or the
integers (denoting the sequencing of letters and numbers in the football score).
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Sampling
Why sample? Sampling is the necessary fundament for all digital signal
processing and communication. Sampling can be defined as the process of
measuring an analog signal at distinct points.
The following notations will be used: Original analog signal x(t), Sampling frequency fs ,
Sampling interval Ts (Note that: fs = 1/Ts), Sampled signal xs(n). (Note that xs(n) = x(nTs),
Analogue angular frequency Ω , and Digital angular frequency ω (Note that: ω = Ω Ts).
DSP
The Sampling Theorem

[[When sampling an analog signal the sampling frequency must be greater than twice
the highest frequency component of the analog signal to be able to reconstruct the
original signal from the sampled version]].
The process of sampling

We start with an analog signal. This can for example be the sound coming from your
stereo at home or your friend talking. The signal is then sampled uniformly. Uniform
sampling implies that we sample every Ts seconds. In Fig. 3, we see an analog signal.
The analog signal has been sampled at times t = nTs.
Fig. 3
In signal processing it is often more convenient and easier to work in the frequency
domain. So let's look at the signal in frequency domain, Fig. 4 . For illustration purposes
we take the frequency content of the signal as a triangle. (If you Fourier transform the
signal in Fig. 3 you will not get such a nice triangle.)
Fig. 4
Sampling fast enough
Fig. 5
From Fig. 5, and according to the sample theorem, an aliasing‐free condition appears.
So, we are able to reconstruct the original signal exactly. How can we do this? will be
explored further down under reconstruction. But first we will take a look at what
happens when we sample too slowly.
Sampling too slowly
We will get overlap between the repeated spectra, see Fig. 6. The resulting spectra is
the sum of these. This overlap gives rise to the concept of aliasing.
Fig. 6
To avoid aliasing we have to sample fast enough. But if we can't sample fast enough
(possibly due to costs) we can include an Anti‐Aliasing filter. This will not able us to get
an exact reconstruction but can still be a good solution.
Note: Typically a low‐pass filter that is applied before sampling to ensure that no
components with frequencies greater than half the sample frequency remain.
Reconstruction
We want to recover the original signal, but the question is how?
The Answer: By using a simple reconstruction process. To achieve this we have to
remove all the extra components generated in the sampling process. To remove the
extra components we apply an ideal analog low‐pass filter as shown in Fig. 7. As we see
the ideal filter is rectangular in the frequency domain. A rectangle in the frequency
domain corresponds to a sinc function in time domain (and vice versa).
DSP
Fig. 7
1
Introduction
To Signals and
Systems
After completion this chapter, student
should be able to:
 Understand the definition of signals

and systems.
 Know the concept and theory of

Signals and Systems.
Introduction ToSignalsAndSystems
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTIONTO SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS
Definition of Signal
A function representing a physical quantity or variable, and typically it

contains information about the behavior or nature of the phenomenon.
Example of Signal
Human voice Electrical Current
Optical signal Radio wave signal Body Temperature signal

IntroductionToSignalsAndSystems
Definition of System
A respond to an input signal by producing an output signal.
Input Output
Signal
SYSTEM
Signal
Single input, single output
Input Output
Signals
SYSTEM
Signals
Multiple inputs, multiple outputs
Example of System
Radio transmitter and receiver
Remote Sensing System

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DSP

INTRODUCTION To Digital Signal Processing

Concepts in Digital Signal Processing

Signals Represent Information

The Sampling Theorem

The process of sampling

 Understand the definition of signals

 Know the concept and theory of

INTRODUCTIONTO SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS

A function representing a physical quantity or variable, and typically it

Human voice Electrical Current

Optical signal Radio wave signal Body Temperature signal

A respond to an input signal by producing an output signal.

Single input, single output

Multiple inputs, multiple outputs

Radio transmitter and receiver

Remote Sensing System

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