Subject Name: Signal and Systems

Subject Code: EC-4002

Semester: 4th
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Unit-II : Response of Continuous Time–LTI System: Impulse response and convolution integral, properties of
convolution, signal responses to CT-LTI system.

Impulse response and convolution integral:

Convolution is a mathematical operation which is used to find the response of LTI system. In the LTI system
analysis it relates the impulse response of the system and input signal to the output. Any signal x(t) can be
represented as a continuous sum of impulse signals. The response y(t) can then be represented as sum of
responses of various impulse components.
The impulse response is denoted as h(t) = T[δ(t)]
Any arbitrary signal can be represented as
∞
x t = ∫ x τ δ t − τ dτ
−∞
The system output is given as y(t) = T[x(t)]

∞
∴ y t = T [∫ x τ δ t − τ dτ]
−∞
For a linear system
∞
∴ y t = ∫ x τ T[δ t − τ ]dτ
−∞
If the system response due to impulse signal is h(t), then the response of the system due to delayed impulse
signal is h(t, τ)
∞
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t, τ dτ
−∞
For a time invariant system, the output due to input delayed by τ sec is equal to the output delayed by τ sec.
that is
∞
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ = x t ∗ h t
−∞

Properties of Convolution:
(i) Commutative Property : The commutative property of convolution state that.
y(t) = x(t) * h(t) = h(t) * x(t)

(ii) Distributive Property : The distributive property of convolution state that.

x1(t) *[ x2(t)+ x3(t)]= x1(t) * x2(t)+ x1(t) * x3(t)

(iii) Associative Property : The associative property of convolution state that.

x1(t) *[ x2(t)* x3(t)]= [x1(t) * x2(t)] * x3(t)

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Example 1: For an LTI system with unit impulse response h t = e− t for t , find the system response
for the input signal x t = A for t . Sketch the output signal.

Solution : Given signals x(t) and h(t) can be written in terms of τ ,

x τ =A for τ
x(τ) − τ
and h τ = e for τ
A
Now h t − τ = e− t−τ
for t − τ
0 1 2 τ
h(τ) The signals x τ and h t − τ are shown in Fig. .
The output of the system is given by the linear convolution as,
∞
y t = ∫−∞ x τ h t − τ dτ
The integral is non Zero for overlap between
0 τ
Case – I : For 0 t
h(-τ) In this case, there will be partial overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig.

t
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
0 τ t t
∴ y t = ∫ A e− t−τ
dτ = Ae− t ∫ e τ dτ
h(t-τ)
0 t
= Ae− t [e τ ]t = Ae− t
e t−
A
∴y t = − e− t
0 t τ
Case – I : For t > 2
h(t-τ) In this case, there will be complete overlap from 0 to 2 as
t>2
shown in the Fig.
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ

0 1 2 t τ
= ∫ A e− t−τ
dτ = Ae− t ∫ e τ dτ

Fig. :Evaluation of Convolution Integral ∴ y t = Ae− t

[e τ ] = 6.8Ae− t

y(t)
for t <
A − t
0.49A Thus y t = { −e for t
6.8Ae− t
for t <
0 1 2 t

Fig. :Sketch of output Signal

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Example 2: Consider x t = for t

and h t = for t , find x(t) * h(t)

Solution : Given signals x(t) and h(t) can be written in terms of

τ ,
x τ = for τ
and h τ = for τ

The signals x τ and h t − τ are shown in Fig.2a.

The output of the system is given by the linear
convolution as,
∞
y t = ∫−∞ x τ h t − τ dτ
The integral is non Zero for overlap between x τ and
h t−τ

Case – I : For 0 t < 1

In this case, there is no overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig. ∴ y t =

Case – II : For 1 t 2
In this case, there is partial overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig. The limits of integration
are 1 to t
t
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
t t
∴y t = ∫ . . dτ = ∫ dτ = [τ]t = t

∴y t = t

Case – III : For 2 t 4

In this case, there is complete overlap between x τ
and h t − τ as shown in the Fig. The limits of
integration are 1 to 2
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ

∴y t = ∫ . . dτ = ∫ dτ = [τ] =

∴y t =

Case – IV : For 4 t 5
In this case, there is partial overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig. The limits of integration
are t-3 to 2
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
t−
t t
∴y t = ∫ . . dτ = ∫ dτ = [τ]t− = −t
t− t−

∴y t = − t)
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Case – V : For t > 5

In this case, there is no overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig. ∴ y t =

Example 3: Consider x t = u t +
and h t = u t − , find x(t) * h(t)

Solution : Given signals x(t) and h(t) can be written in terms of

τ ,
x τ = u τ+
and h τ = u τ −

The signals x τ and h t − τ are shown in Fig.3a.

The output of the system is given by the linear
convolution as,
∞
y t = ∫−∞ x τ h t − τ dτ
The integral is non Zero for overlap between x τ and
h t−τ

Case – I : For t < 1

In this case, there is no overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig. ∴ y t =

Case – II : For t 1
In this case, there is overlap between x τ and h t − τ
as shown in the Fig. The limits of integration are -2 to t-3
t−
∴y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
−
t− t
∴y t = ∫ . . dτ = ∫ dτ = [τ]t−
− = t− +
−

∴ y t = t−

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Example 4: Obtain the convolution of the following two signals

for − t for t
x t ={ and h t ={
else where else where
Solution : Given signals x(t) and h(t) can be written in terms of τ ,

The signals x τ and h t − τ are shown in Fig.4a.

The output of the system is given by the linear convolution
as,
∞
y t = ∫−∞ x τ h t − τ dτ
The integral is non Zero for overlap between x τ and
h t−τ
Case – I : For t < -3
In this case, there is no overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig. ∴ y t =
Case – II : For -3 t 0
In this case, there is overlap between x τ and h t − τ as
shown in the Fig. The limits of integration are -3 to t
t
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
−
t t
∴y t = ∫ . . dτ = ∫ dτ = [τ]t− = t+
− −

∴y t = t+

Case – III : For 0 t

In this case, there is overlap between x τ and h t − τ as
shown in the Fig. The limits of integration are t-3 to t
t
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
t−
t t
∴y t = ∫ . . dτ = ∫ dτ = [τ]tt− = t−t+
t− t−

∴y t = 6

Case – IV : For 3 t 6
In this case, there is overlap between x τ and h t − τ as
shown in the Fig. The limits of integration are t-3 to 3
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
t−

∴y t = ∫ . . dτ = ∫ dτ = [τ]t− = −t+
t− t−

∴y t = −t + 6

Case – V : For t >6

In this case, there is no overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig. ∴ y t =

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Example 5: Obtain the convolution of the following two signals shown in Fig.5a.

Solution : Given signals x(t) and h(t) can be written in terms of τ ,

The signals x τ and h t − τ are shown in Fig.5a.

The output of the system is given by the linear convolution
as,
∞
y t = ∫−∞ x τ h t − τ dτ
The integral is non Zero for overlap between x τ and
h t−τ
Case – I : For t < 0
In this case, there is no overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig. ∴ y t =
Case – II : For 0 t 2
In this case, there is overlap between x τ and h t − τ as
shown in the Fig. The limits of integration are 0 to t
t
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
t t t
τ
∴ y t = ∫ τ. . dτ = ∫ τdτ = [ ] = t

∴y t = t

Case – III : For 2 t 4

In this case, there is overlap between x τ and h t − τ as
shown in the Fig. The limits of integration are t-2 to t
t
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
t−
t
∴y t = ∫ τ. . dτ + ∫ − τ . . dτ
t−
t
τ −τ
∴y t = [ ] + [ ]
t−
∴y t = − t− + −t −
∴y t = − t
Case – IV : For 4 t 6
In this case, there is overlap between x τ and h t − τ as
shown in the Fig. The limits of integration are t-2 to 4
∴ y t = ∫ x τ h t − τ dτ
t−
−τ
∴y t = ∫ − τ . . dτ = [ ]
t− t−

∴ y t = − 6−t

Case – V : For t >6

In this case, there is no overlap between x τ and
h t − τ as shown in the Fig. ∴ y t =

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