Transfer Function

- relates the system output to its input

- allows separation of the input, system and output into 3 separate, distinct
parts

From a general nth –order, linear, time-invariant differential equation

d n c(t) d n−1 c( t) d m r (t ) d m−1 r (t)
an + a n−1 + …+ a 0 c ( t ) =b m +b m−1 + …+b 0 r ( t )
d tn d t n−1 d tm d t m−1

Taking the Laplace transform of both sides,

a n sn C ( s ) +a n−1 sn−1 C ( s ) +…+a o C ( s )+ ¿ Initialcondition terms involving c(t)
¿ b m sm R ( s ) +bm −1 s m−1 R ( s )+ …+b0 R ( s ) +¿initial condition terms involving r (t )

Assuming that all initial conditions are zero,

( an s n+ an−1 s n−1+ …+ao ) C ( s )=( b¿¿ m s m+ bm−1 s m−1 +…+b 0) R ( s ) ¿

Figure 1. Block diagram of a transfer function

C( s) (b ¿¿ m sm +b m−1 s m−1+ …+b0 )

=G ( s )= ¿
R( s) ( an s n +an −1 s n−1 +…+a o )
Properties of Transfer Function
1) It is the Laplace transform of the system’s impulse response when all initial
values are zero
2) It can be determined from the system differential equation by taking the
Laplace transform and ignoring all terms arising from initial values
3) The system differential equation can be obtained from the transfer function
d
by replacing the s variable with the differential operator D= dt
4) The stability of LTI systems can be determined from the characteristic
equation (denominator of system transfer function equated to zero)
5) The system transfer function can be specified to within a constant by
specifying the system poles and zeros

Example:
dc (t)
1. Find the transfer function represented by: + 2c ( t )=r (t)
dt
2. Use the result of the previous example to find the response c (t), to an input
r ( t )=u(t ), a unit step
C (s )
3. Find the transfer function, G ( s )= R ( s ) , corresponding to the differential
d3 c d2 c dc d2r dr
equation 3
+3 2
+7 + 5 c= 2
+ 4 +3 r
dt dt dt dt dt
4. Find the differential equation corresponding to the transfer function
2 s+1
G ( s )= 2
s + 6 s +2
Table 2.3 Voltage-current, voltage-charge, and impedance relationships for capacitors, resistors, and inductors

Find the transfer function relating the capacitor voltage, V c ( s), to the input voltage,
V (s), in the Figure below:

Solve for the transfer function via transformation method using:

a) nodal analysis
b) mesh analysis
c) voltage divider