What is the definition of 'small signal bandwidth' and 'large signal bandwidth'? If I google them, I only encounter them in an electrical context (transistors etc.). However, I am looking for a general definition (for any time signal).
1
-
1$\begingroup$ Check this up: Small signal bandwidth explanation by Maxim Integrated $\endgroup$– Emanuel DriCommented Sep 11, 2017 at 18:00
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
2
In communications, whether a signal is narrowband (has a small bandwidth) or wideband (has a large bandwidth) is relative to the channel's impulse response.
If the channel behaves as a flat filter (constant gain) over the signal's bandwidth, then the signal is narrowband. If the channel introduces significant distortion (that is, if different signal frequencies see different gain) then it is said that the signal is wideband.
-
$\begingroup$ I thought that small signal bandwidth and large signal bandwidth were specific characteristics of a given signal (as in signal 1 has a small signal bandwidth = ... and a large signal bandwidth = ...). But if I understand you correctly, there exists only a signal bandwidth (which I know), that can be small/large (relative terms). $\endgroup$– KarloCommented May 2, 2016 at 13:19
-
1$\begingroup$ @Karlo That is my point exactly. Note that what I said is true in communications; I don't know if there are other definitions in different fields (I'm not aware of any). $\endgroup$– MBazCommented May 2, 2016 at 13:21
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
Do you perhaps mean small signal model? That is often used in the context of analysing the performance of transistor circuits. The transistors themselves are nonlinear devices, but they can be analysed as linear devices if you choose their operating regime appropriately.
Conversely, the large signal model is when the operating regime is such that the nonlinear effects must be taken into account.
