1
$\begingroup$

Suppose I have an LTI system $$H(z)=\frac{z}{(z-2)(z-\frac{1}{2})}$$ and I want to know its response to the step function $u[n]$.

The LTI system $H(z)$ has three possible ROCs: $$|z|<\frac{1}{2}$$ $$\frac{1}{2}<|z|<2$$ $$|z|>2$$

The response to the step function can be expressed as $$S(z)=H(z)U(z)=\frac{z^{2}}{(z-2)(z-\frac{1}{2})(z-1)}$$

with the ROC of $U(z)$ being $$|z|>1$$

Now, my question is: what is the response to the step function in each case (i.e. for every different ROC of $H(z)$)? Is the ROC of $S(z)$ the intersection of the other two? And what happens when the intersection is empty (when the ROC of $H(z)$ is $|z|<\frac{1}{2}$)?

Thank you for your time

$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Note there should be a $z^2$ in the numerator of $S(z)$ because $U(z)=z/(z-1)$. $\endgroup$
    – Matt L.
    Jan 26, 2016 at 8:48

1 Answer 1

2
$\begingroup$

Note that for any impulse response $h[n]$, the step response is given by the cumulative sum of $h[n]$:

$$a[n]=\sum_{k=-\infty}^nh[k]\tag{1}$$

Its $\mathcal{Z}$-transform is then

$$A(z)=\sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty}a[n]z^{-n}=\sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty}z^{-n}\sum_{k=-\infty}^nh[k]\tag{2}$$

The region of convergence (ROC) of $(2)$ is the range of values of $|z|$ for which the sum in $(2)$ converges.

For your example, you have three different impulse responses with the same expression for their $\mathcal{Z}$-transform, each with a different ROC. You are right that the ROC of $A(z)$ is the intersection of the ROC of $h[n]$ and the ROC of the unit step $u[n]$.

For the ROC $|z|<\frac12$ you get an empty intersection. This simply means that the sum $(2)$ converges nowhere in the $z$-plane, i.e. the $\mathcal{Z}$-transform of the step response $a[n]$ doesn't exist in this case. The reason is that the corresponding impulse response is anti-causal and exponentially increasing towards negative values of $n$, so from $(1)$, $a[n]$ is infinite for any value of $n$.

For the ROC $\frac12<|z|<2$ you have the intersection $1<|z|<2$, i.e., the step response $a[n]$ is a two-sided sequence with a $\mathcal{Z}$-transform $A(z)$ that converges in that range of values of $|z|$.

For the ROC $|z|>2$ the intersection is $|z|>2$, and, consequently, the step response $a[n]$ is an exponentially increasing right-sided sequence with a $\mathcal{Z}$-transform $A(z)$ that converges for $|z|>2$.

$\endgroup$
0

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.