Electrical Engineering (EE) Exam  >  Electrical Engineering (EE) Notes  >  Signals and Systems  >  Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction

Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE) PDF Download

Sampling

What is Sampling?
Sampling is a methodology of representing a signal with less than the signal itself.
We can do better than just describing a signal by specifying the value of the dependent variable for each possible value of the independent variable. The concept is explained with the following examples where 'x(t)' is the dependent variable and 't' is the independent variable.

Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

Here 'x(t)' is defined by a sinusoidal relation with a phase constant , amplitude and angular frequency. Now the knowledge of these three parameters suffices to describe 'x(t)' completely. Thus we are able to compute 'x(t)' without depending on the independent variable 't'.
Consider another example given below:

Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

Here x(t) is a polynomial in 't' of degree 'N' and can be computed completely if we know the coefficients  a0, a1, a2,........an.
Thus we observe that the apriori information we had that allowed us to represent these signals. In the first case we knew that 'x(t)' is a pure sinusoid and in the second case we knew that it was a polynomial of degree 'N'.
Thus, as a method of using Apriori information available to represent a signal economically is one way of defining sampling.

A Common Approach for Signal Representation:  The approach most often used to economically represent a signal is to look at the values of the dependent variable as a set of properly chosen values of the independent variable such that these 'tuples' and the 'apriori' information can be used to reconstruct the signal completely.
Lets say we know that some signal 'x(t)' is a pure sinusoid described by the three quantities amplitude (Ao ) , angular frequency (ω0 ),and phase constant (Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE) ). For 't1 , t2 & t3 ' values of 't' we get the following three independent equations. :

Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

From the observed values of the signal x(t1), x(t2) and x(t3) at t1, t2 and t3, the parameters of the signal Ao,ω0  and  Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE) can be determined.

Consider another example: Let x(t) be a polynomial of order 'N' which is represented mathematically as shown below. It is further represented in the form of a matrix where the LHS is the 'apriori' information.

Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

Thus we observe that, this system can be solved as the determinant of the square matrix on the LHS so long as . Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

 

Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

 

Thus given the 'apriori' information, the entire information about the signal is contained in its value at N + 1 distinct points. You have seen two examples, where 'apriori' information, and "samples" of a signal at certain values of the independent variable help us reconstruct the signal completely.
But If you have no Apriori information you can do no better than to represent the signal as it is.
Even knowing about the continuity of a signal is 'apriori' information. Further we can talk of the relative measure of the 'apriori' information. This can be done by observing the size of the set in which that signal occurs. The larger the set, the lesser the 'apriori' information we have. For example, knowing that the signal is sinusoidal is much larger an 'apriori' information than knowing that it is continuous as the set of sine functions is much smaller than the set of continuous functions.


The main challenge in sampling and reconstruction is to make the best use of 'apriori' information in order to represent a signal by its samples most economically.
In the next lecture, we focus on a special class of signals those that are Band-limited (this is the 'apriori' information we shall have) and see how such signals can be reconstructed from their samples.

 

Conclusion: 

From this lecture you have learnt :

  • Sampling is a method of using 'apriori' information about a signal to represent it economically.
  • The most common approach in sampling and reconstruction is to describe the signal by specifying its value at selected points on the time axis ('t') such that this and the 'apriori' information can be used to reconstruct the signal completely.
  • The main challenge in sampling & reconstruction is to make the best use of the apriori information available to represent a signal most economically.
The document Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE) is a part of the Electrical Engineering (EE) Course Signals and Systems.
All you need of Electrical Engineering (EE) at this link: Electrical Engineering (EE)
41 videos|52 docs|33 tests

Top Courses for Electrical Engineering (EE)

FAQs on Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction - Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

1. What is sampling and reconstruction?
Ans. Sampling is the process of converting a continuous signal into a discrete signal by taking samples at regular intervals. Reconstruction, on the other hand, refers to the process of converting the discrete signal back into a continuous signal.
2. Why is sampling important in signal processing?
Ans. Sampling plays a crucial role in signal processing as it allows us to convert continuous signals into a digital format that can be easily manipulated and processed using digital systems and algorithms. It enables us to apply various techniques such as filtering, compression, and analysis to the signal.
3. What is the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem?
Ans. The Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem states that in order to accurately reconstruct a continuous signal from its samples, the sampling frequency must be at least twice the maximum frequency present in the signal. This ensures that no information is lost during the sampling process.
4. What are the common techniques used for signal reconstruction?
Ans. There are several techniques used for signal reconstruction, including zero-order hold, first-order hold, and sinc interpolation. Zero-order hold simply holds the value of each sample until the next one is obtained, while first-order hold linearly interpolates between adjacent samples. Sinc interpolation uses the sinc function to accurately reconstruct the continuous signal.
5. Can sampling and reconstruction introduce errors in the signal?
Ans. Yes, sampling and reconstruction can introduce errors in the signal. Sampling at a frequency lower than the Nyquist rate can lead to aliasing, where high-frequency components of the signal are incorrectly represented as lower frequencies. Reconstruction techniques can also introduce errors due to interpolation or quantization. Careful consideration of the sampling rate and suitable reconstruction techniques can minimize these errors.
41 videos|52 docs|33 tests
Download as PDF
Explore Courses for Electrical Engineering (EE) exam

Top Courses for Electrical Engineering (EE)

Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Related Searches

Previous Year Questions with Solutions

,

practice quizzes

,

Semester Notes

,

mock tests for examination

,

Sample Paper

,

Exam

,

Summary

,

shortcuts and tricks

,

Extra Questions

,

Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

,

Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

,

Viva Questions

,

Sampling - Sampling & Reconstruction | Signals and Systems - Electrical Engineering (EE)

,

Free

,

past year papers

,

video lectures

,

study material

,

ppt

,

Important questions

,

Objective type Questions

,

pdf

,

MCQs

;