EngineeringinEEE303:SignalsandLinearSystems

TheFourierTransform
Let x(t ) beanonperiodicsignaloffiniteduration,i.e.,

x(t ) = 0

t > T1

Letusformaperiodicsignalbyextending x (t ) to xT0 (t ) as,

lim xT0 (t ) = x (t ) ,

ce

xT0 (t ) =
Then,

Or,

T0

1
ck =
T0

ck =

1
T0

k =

T0 / 2

T0 / 2

T0 / 2

T0 / 2

jk0t

0 =

xT0 (t )e

jk0t

ck =

2
T0

(01)

(02)

dt

x(t )e jk0t dt =

Letusnowdefine X ( ) as, X ( ) =
Thus,

[i.e.,theperiodisinfinity]

1
T0

x(t )e jk0t dt

x(t )e jt dt

1
X (k0 ) .
T0

Substitutingthisinequation(01)weget,

xT0 (t ) =

k =

X (k0 ) jk0t
1
e
=
2
T0

k =

X (k0 ) jk0t
e 0
T0

As T0 , 0 0 .Letusassume 0 = .
Thus,

1
0 2

lim xT0 (t ) = lim

T0

Or, x(t ) =

1
2

X ( k ) e

jk0t

= x(t )

k =

X ( )e jt d

x(t ) in equation (02) is called the Fourier Integral. Thus a finite duration signal is represented by Fourier integral
insteadofFourierseries.
Thefunction X ( ) iscalledtheFouriertransformof x(t ) .

Symbolicallythesetwopairsarerepresentedas,

X ( ) = F{x(t )} = x(t )e jt dt

And

x(t ) = F 1{ X ( )} =

Alternatively,

1
2

X ( )e jt d

F .T .
x(t )
X ( ) .

FourierSpectra
TheFouriertransform X ( ) is,ingeneral,complex,anditcanbeexpressedas,

X ( ) = X ( ) e j ( )

If x(t ) isreal, X ( ) =

x(t )e jt dt = X * ( )

X ( ) e j ( ) = X ( ) e j ( )

Thus,

Therefore,wecanconcludethatforrealsignal,theamplitudespectrum X ( ) isanevenfunctionandthephase
spectrum ( ) isanoddfunctionof .
TheconditionfortheconvergenceofFouriertransformisthesameastheFourierseries.
Example
1.FindtheFouriertransformof e at u (t )

a > 0.

X ( ) = e at u (t )e jt dt = e ( a + j ) t dt =

1
.
a + j

2.FindtheFouriertransformof (t ) .

F { (t )} = (t )e jt dt = 1

3.FindtheinverseFouriertransformof ( ) .

F 1{ ( )} =

1
2

( )e jt d =

1
.
2

1
F .T .
F .T .
2 ( ) .

( ) or, 1
2
4.FindtheinverseFouriertransformof ( 0 ) .
Thus,

F 1{ ( 0 )} =
e

Thus,

j0t

1
2

( 0 )e jt d =

1 j0t
e
2

2 ( 0 )

Weknow, cos 0t =

F .T .

1 j0t
F .T .
[ ( 0 ) + ( + 0 ) ]
e + e j0t ;Thus, cos 0t
2

5.FindtheFouriertransformoftherectangularpulse x(t ) showninFigure.

T

sin T

X ( ) = e jt dt = 2
T
= 2T sin c

= 2T

sin T

sin(T )

0,
>0

sin T

Themagnitudespectrumis, X ( ) = 2
,andthephasespectrumis, arg { X ( )} =
.
sin(

T
)

,
<0

6.FindtheinverseFouriertransformoftherectangularspectrumshownbelow.

x(t ) =

1
2

e jt d =

1
W
Wt
sin(Wt ) = sinc .TheplotisshowninFigureabove.
t

SomePropertiesofFourierTransform
1.Symmetryproperty:If f (t ) F ( ) then F (t ) 2 f ( ) .(dualityproperty)

Example:Applysymmetrypropertytoshowthat (t + t0 ) + (t t0 ) 2 cos t0 .
2.ScalingProperty:If f (t ) F ( )

then

3.TimeshiftingProperty:If f (t ) F ( )

f (at )

then

4.FrequencyshiftingProperty:If f (t ) F ( )

1
F ( / a ) .
a

f (t t0 ) e jt0 F ( ) .
then

f (t )e j0t F ( 0 ) .

Example:FindtheFouriertransformofthegatepulseshowninFigurebelow.

WegettheFouriertransformbyapplyingtimedelaypropertytotheF.T.ofrectangularpulse(symmetrical).

F ( ) = sinc
2

j / 2
.
e

Example:SketchtheFouriertransformof f (t ) cos10t usingfrequencyshiftingproperty.[property4]

1
1
1

f (t ) cos10t = f (t ) e j10t + e j10t .Therefore, f (t ) cos10t [ F ( 10) + F ( + 10)] .Thesketchis

2
2
2

2
showninFigurebelow.Here, f (t ) 4sin c
.

Thus,

1
5.TimeandFrequencyconvolution: f1 (t ) f 2 (t ) F1 ( ) F2 ( ) and f1 (t ) f 2 (t )
F1 ( ) F2 ( ) .
2

t
df (t )
F ( )
j F ( ); f ( )d
+ F (0) ( ) .

dt
j
1
df (t )
1
(a) f (t ) =
F ( )e jt d
= j
F ( )e jt d = j f (t )

2
2
dt
df (t )
df (t )
or,
j F ( ) .
Therefore, F
= j F { f (t )} ,
dt
dt

6.Timedifferentiationandtimeintegration:

(b) f (t ) u (t ) =

f ( )u (t ) d =

Usingconvolutionproperty, F

Therefore,

f ( )d

f ( ) d

+ ( )
f ( )d = F ( )
j

F ( )
+ F (0) ( ) .
j

Example:Usingthetimedifferentiationproperty,findtheF.T.ofthetriangleillustratedinfigurebelow.

d 2 f (t ) 2
= [ (t + / 2) + (t / 2) 2 (t ) ]
dt 2

(t ) 1 (t / 2) e j / 2
PerformingF.T.ofthefirstequation,

( j ) 2 F ( ) =

2 F ( ) =

4
cos
2

j / 2

F ( ) = 2 sin

4
8

+ e j / 2 2
8 2

1 = sin

= 2

sin 2
4
2

sin
4

= sinc 2
F ( ) =
2
2
4
4

Fouriertransformofperiodicsignal
Let,

f (t ) =

ce

k =

jk0t

(periodic).PerformingL.T.weget, F ( ) =

k =

2 ( k0 ) .

Therefore,theFouriertransformofaperiodicsignalisatrainofimpulsesoccurringatharmonicallyrelated
frequencieswheretheimpulsestrengthis, 2 ck .
Forexample,considertheFourierseriesandFouriertransformofthesignal cos 0t .

Energyofaperiodicsignal
2

(
)
x
t
dt = x(t ) x* (t )dt = X ( )e jt d x* (t )dt

1
1
Or, E =
X ( ) x* (t )e jt dt d =
X ( ) X *( )d

2
2
1
2
X ( ) d .ThisrelationiscalledtheParsivalsrelationforaperiodicsignal.
i.e., E =

Energyofaperiodicsignal, E =

Theterm X ( ) iscalledtheenergyspectraldensityofthesignal.Ifitisintegratedoverallthefrequenciesand
2

multipliedby 1/ 2 wegettheenergyoftheaperiodicsignal.

Example:ThesignalsshowninFigurebelowaremodulatedsignalwithcarrier cos10t .FindtheFouriertransformof

thesesignals.

(a)Hereatriangularpulseofwidth 2 ismodulatedwithacarrier cos10t .

NowtheFouriertransformoftriangularpulseis, F1 ( ) =

sinc2

2

= sinc2
= sinc 2 .
4
4
2

AndtheF.T.ofcarrier cos10t is, F2 ( ) = [ ( 10) + ( + 10) ]

1
1 2
10
2 + 10
F1 ( ) F2 ( ) =
sinc 2
+ sinc

2
2
2
2

10
2 + 10
Or, F ( ) = sinc 2
+ sinc
[ans]
2
2
2

Therefore, F ( ) =

(b)Thisisthetimeshiftedversionof(a).Herethetimeshiftis 2 .Timeshiftcorrespondstophaseshiftof e j 2 in

10
2 + 10 j 2
.
sinc 2
+ sinc
e
2
2
2
(c)Herecosinewaveismultipliedbyarectangularpulseofwidth 2 withatimeshiftof 2 .

HeretheF.T.ofrectangularpulseis(symmetricw.r.t.yaxis), F1 ( ) = sinc
= 2 sinc( ) . F2 ( ) isthe
2
frequencydomain. Theresultis, F ( ) =

sameasin(a).

1
1
2 2 [sinc( + 10)+sinc( + 10) ] = [sinc( + 10)+sinc( 10) ]
F1 ( ) F2 ( ) =
2
2
Hence, F ( ) = [sinc( + 10)+sinc( 10) ] e j 2 .[ans]

Thus, F3 ( ) =

SignaltransmissionthroughLTIsystem
Weknow, y (t ) = x(t ) h(t ) .Usingconvolutionproperty, Y ( ) = X ( ) H ( ) .

1
X ( ) H ( ) e jt d .

2
Rememberthat, H ( ) iscalledthefrequencyresponseofasystem.Inordertofindtheresponseofasystemusing
F.T.wehavetoget Y ( ) first.Thenwewillget y (t ) usinginverseFouriertransformof Y ( ) .
Therefore, y (t ) =

Example
Findtheresponseofasystemshownbelowwhenaninputofthesystemis Ae t u (t ) .

dy (t )
dy (t )
RC
+ y (t ) = x(t )
dt
dt
PerformingF.T.onbothside, RC jY ( ) + Y ( ) = X ( )
1
A
Y ( ) =

X ( ) .But, X ( ) =
+ j
1 + j RC
i(t ) R + y (t ) = x(t ); i (t ) = C

A
A
1
1
Y ( ) =
=

A
(1 + j RC )( + j ) RC 1 1/ RC + j

+ j
A
e t / RC e t u (t ) [ans]
PerforminginverseFouriertransform, y (t ) =
RC 1
If = 1/ RC ,thenthecharacteristicmodeofinputandoutputarethesameandresonancewilloccur.Ifweputthe
conditionin y (t ) ,itwillbecomeindeterminate.Wecanfind y (t ) usingLHospitalrule.
A
A t
e t / RC e t u (t ) =
Hence,
y (t ) = lim
te u (t ) .
1/ RC RC 1
RC
Systemresponsetoperiodicinput
Let, x (t ) =

ce

n =

jn0t

.PerformingF.T.weget, X ( ) =

Now, Y ( ) = X ( ) H ( ) =

2 c ( n ) .
n

n =

2 c H ( ) ( n ) = 2 c H (n ) ( n ) .

n =

PerforminginverseF.T.weget, y (t ) =

n =

2 c H (n ) 2 e

n =

jn0t

c H (n )e

n =

jn0t

Therefore,theoutputwillbealsoperiodic.Theamplitudeofthenthharmoniccomponentswillbe, cn H ( n0 ) .

SomeMoreExamples
t <
.
0 otherwise
1
t <
.
Thefunctionz(t)maybeexpressedas, z (t ) = e j10t x(t ) where, x(t ) =
0 otherwise
InFouriertransformeddomain, Z ( ) = X ( 10) .[frequencyshiftingproperty]
sin / 2 2
2
Now, X ( ) =
= sin / 2 .Here = 2 .Thus, X ( ) = sin .
/ 2

[Ans]
Hence, Z ( ) =
sin[( 10) ]
10
e j10t

1.DeterminetheFouriertransformofthecomplexsinusoidalpulse, z (t ) =

2.Showthatthedifferentiationinfrequencycorrespondstomultiplicationintimebyjt.

dX ( )
= { jtx(t )}e jt dt

d
dX ( )
F .T .

jtx (t )
d

X ( ) = x(t )e jt dt

Therefore,

Hencethestatement.
3.UsethefrequencydifferentiationpropertytofindtheF.T.of te at u (t ) .

a + j
d 1
F .T .

Therefore,
jte at u (t )

d a + j
1
1
1
F .T .
F .T .

[Ans]

j ;or, te at u (t )

Or, te at u (t )
2
j (a + j )
(a + j ) 2
4.Lettheinputtoasystemwithimpulseresponse h(t ) = 2e 2t u (t ) be x(t ) = 3e t u (t ) .Findtheoutputofthe
system y (t ) .
3
2
y (t ) = x(t ) h(t )
Y ( ) = X ( ) H ( ) .Now X ( ) =
and H ( ) =
.
1 + j
2 + j

Weknow,

F .T .
e at u (t )

3
2
6
6

.
1 + j 2 + j 1 + j 2 + j
PerforminginverseFouriertransform, y (t ) = 6e t u (t ) 6e 2t u (t )

Y ( ) =

[Ans]

Windowingoperation
Theprocessoftruncatingafunctioniscalledwindowing.Itisrepresentedmathematicallybymultiplyingthesignal,
x(t ) byawindowfunction, w(t ) .If y (t ) isthewindowedsignal, y (t ) = x(t ) w(t ) .
Infrequencydomainitcanbeviewedas, Y ( ) =

1
X ( ) W ( ) .Thewindowingoperationanditseffectin
2

frequencydomainisshowninfigurebelow.

Thegeneraleffectofwindowistosmoothdetailin X ( ) andintroduceoscillationneardiscontinuitiesin X ( ) .
Thesmoothingistheconsequenceofthemainlobeofwidth
duetotheoscillationsinthesidelobesof W ( ) .
FourierTransformof u (t ) and sgn(t )

1. F {u (t )} = F

Thus, F {u (t )} =

( )d ;Weknowthat, F

1
+ ( ) .
j
2. sgn(t ) = 2u (t ) 1

Therefore, F {sgn(t )} = 2 F {u (t )} F {1} =

2
(forrectangularwindow)whiletheoscillationsare
T

x(t )dt =

X ( )
+ X (0) ( ) and F { (t )} = 1
j

[Ans]

2
2
+ 2 ( ) 2 ( ) =

j
j

[Ans]

Example
Theoutputofasysteminresponsetoaninput x(t ) = e 2t u (t ) is y (t ) = e t u (t ) .Findthefrequencyresponseandthe
impulseresponseofthesystem.

1
2 + j
1
= X ( ) H ( ) . H ( ) =
= 1+

1 + j
1 + j
1 + j
PerforminginverseF.T.weget, h(t ) = (t ) + e t u (t ) .

[Ans]
X ( ) =

1
,
2 + j

Y ( ) =

Findthefrequencyresponseandtheimpulseresponseofthesystem y(t ) + 3 y(t ) + 2 y (t ) = 2 x(t ) + x(t ) .

Signaldistortionduringtransmission
FordistortionlesstransmissionthroughanLTIsystemwerequirethattheexactinputsignalshapebereproducedat
theoutputalthoughitsamplitudemaybedifferentanditmaybedelayedintime.Therefore,

y (t ) = K x(t td )
Y ( ) = Ke jtd X ( ) .
Thusfordistortionlesstransmissionthesystemmusthave, H ( ) = Ke

jtd

H ( ) = K and H ( ) = jtd .

i.e.,theamplitudeof H ( ) mustbeconstantovertheentirefrequencyrangeandthephaseof H ( ) mustbe

linearwithfrequency.
Asystemmayhaveflatamplituderesponse,butitwillbedistortedifsystem td isnotconstant.

ApplicationofFouriertransform
1.Modulationanddemodulation
o Toallowdifferentfrequencybandfordifferentchannel
o Foreffectiveradiationofsignalantennasizemustbeoftheorderofthewavelengthofthesignaltobe
radiated.Shiftingthesignaltothehigherfrequencybymodulationsolvestheproblem.
o
Figureleftshowstheprocessofamplitudemodulationwithasinusoidal
carrier.Wechoose c = 0 forconvenience.

1
y (t ) = x(t ) e jct + e jct
2
1
Y ( ) = [ X ( c ) + X ( + c )]
2

Theoriginalsignalcanberecoveredbymodulating
y (t ) withthesamesinusoidalcarrierandapplyinglow
passfiltertotheresult.

w(t ) = y (t ) cos c t = x(t ) cos 2 c t

1
x(t ) [1 + cos 2c t ]
2
X ( ) 1
+ [ X ( 2c ) + X ( + 2c )]
W ( ) =
2
4

Or, w(t ) =

Ifmodulatoranddemodulatorarenotsynchronized,

1
w(t ) = x(t ) cos(c t + c ) cos(c t + c ) = x(t ) [ cos( c c ) + cos(2c t + c + c ) ] .
2
Inthiscase, c c =

,theoutputwillbezero.Formaximumoutputsignaltheoscillatorsmustbeinphase.This

requirescarefulsynchronizationbetweenmodulatoranddemodulator.