Material Detail

The objective of this course is to show students the role that mathematical system theory can play in the development of computer applications and products such as multi-media systems. The style of the course is ``hands-on,'' with computers being used as an integral part of the classroom and laboratory environment. Traditional classroom lectures present the underlying theory of signals and systems, but our goal has been to supplement every lecture with a computer demonstration that relates the theory to real-world signals and applications. In addition, weekly laboratory assignments are given to explore the signals in greater depth.

The course outline given below is close to the final definition of the course, but continues to evolve as different instructors teach the material. Since Georgia Tech and Rose-Hulman are both on a quarter schedule, the topic list would need to be expanded for a semester-length course.

1. Definition of a signal and a system
2. Intro to MATLAB (assumes programming experience)
3. Review vector/matrix notation
4. Complex numbers: represent sinusoids with phasors
5. Sinusoidal signals: amplitude, phase and frequency
6. Synthesizing sounds with general classes of sinusoids
7. Frequency content: harmonics, AM and FM signals
8. Sampling, aliasing and reconstruction
9. Linear filtering: the concept of smoothing data
10. Block level description of systems
11. FIR filtering: a generalization of running average filters
12. Recursive filtering: difference equations with feedback
13. Frequency response of FIR and IIR filters
14. Simulation of dynamic time response; impulse response
15. Z-transform analysis: rational transfer functions; omits the inverse transform

For a fifteen-week semester course, the following topics might be appropriate:

1. Synthesizing sounds with narrowband recursive filters
2. Fourier Spectrum analysis: spectrograms and windowing
3. Inverse Z-transform

Disciplines:

• Education