Trigonometric Fourier Series

• Outline
– Introduction
– Visualization
– Theoretical Concepts
– Qualitative Analysis
– Example
– Class Exercise
 Introduction
• What is Fourier Series?
– Representation of a periodic function with a weighted, infinite sum
of sinusoids.
• Why Fourier Series?
– Any arbitrary periodic signal, can be approximated by using some
of the computed weights
– These weights are generally easier to manipulate and analyze than
the original signal
 Periodic Function
• What is a periodic Function?
– A function which remains unchanged when time-shifted by one
period
• f(t) = f(t + To) for all values of t
To To

• What is To
Properties of a periodic function 1
• A periodic function must be everlasting
– From –∞ to ∞
• Why?

• Periodic or Aperiodic?
 Properties of a periodic function
• You only need one period of the signal to generate the
entire signal
– Why?
• A periodic signal cam be expressed as a sum of sinusoids
of frequency F0 = 1/T0 and all its harmonics
 Visualization
Can you represent this simple function
using sinusoids?
Single sinusoid
representation
 Visualization
New amplitude
amplitude 2nd Harmonic
Fundamental
th
amplitude 4 Harmonic
frequency
cos( 3
cos(5
aaa351cos( 00t0
t))t )

To obtain the exact signal, an infinite number

of sinusoids are required
Theoretical Concepts (
6
)

 
f (t )  a0   an cos( n0t )   bn sin( n0t )
n 1 n 1

2
0  Period
T0
Cosine terms
t1 T0
2
an 
T0  f (t ) cos(n t )dt....n  1,2,3,...
t1
0

t1 T0
Sine terms
2
bn 
T0  f (t ) sin( n t )dt....n  1,2,3,...
t1
0
Theoretical Concepts (
6
)


f (t )  c0   cn cos( n0t   n )
n 1

c0  a0
cn  an  bn
2 2

  bn 
 n  tan 
1

 an 
 DC Offset
What is the difference between these two functions?

A Average
Value = 0

-2 -1 0 1 2

-A
Average
A Value ?

-2 -1 0 1 2
 DC Offset
If the function has a DC value:
 
1
f (t )  a0   an cos( n0t )   bn sin( n0t )
2 n 1 n 1
t1 T0
1
a0 
T0  f (t )dt
t1
 Qualitative Analysis
• Is it possible to have an idea of what your solution should
be before actually computing it?

For Sure
 Properties – DC Value
• If the function has no DC value, then a0 = ?
-A
DC?

-1 1 2

A
DC?

-2 -1 0 1 2
 Properties – Symmetry
• Even function A f(-t) = f(t)

0 π/2 π 3π/2

-A

• Odd function
A
f(-t) = -f(t)

0 π/2 π 3π/2

A
 Properties – Symmetry
• Note that the integral over a period of an odd function is?

If f(t) is even:

Even
X Odd = Odd
t1 T0
2
bn 
T0  f (t ) sin( n0t )dt....n  1,2,3,...
t1 Even
X Even = Even
t1 T0
2
an 
T0  f (t ) cos(n0t )dt....n  1,2,3,...
t1
 Properties – Symmetry
• Note that the integral over a period of an odd function is zero.

If f(t) is odd:

Odd
X Even = Odd
t1 T0
2
an 
T0  f (t ) cos(n0t )dt....n  1,2,3,...
t1 Odd
X Odd = Even
t1 T0
2
bn 
T0  f (t ) sin( n0t )dt....n  1,2,3,...
t1
 Properties – Symmetry
• If the function has:
– even symmetry: only the cosine and associated
coefficients exist
– odd symmetry: only the sine and associated
coefficients exist
– even and odd: both terms exist
 Properties – Symmetry
• If the function is half-wave symmetric, then only odd
harmonics exist
Half wave symmetry: f(t-T0/2) = -f(t)

-A

-1 1 2

A
 Properties – Discontinuities
• If the function has
– Discontinuities: the coefficients will be proportional to 1/n
– No discontinuities: the coefficients will be proportional to 1/n2
• Rationale:
Which function has Which is closer
discontinuities? to a sinusoid?
-A

-1 1 2
A

-2 -1 0 1 2
 Example
• Without any calculations, predict the general form of the
Fourier series of:
-A

-1 1 2

DC? No, a0 = 0; Half wave Yes, only odd

symmetry? harmonics

Symmetry? Even, bn = 0; Discontinuities? No, falls of as

1/n2
Prediction an  1/n2
for n = 1, 3, 5, …;
 Example
• Now perform the calculation

T0  2; 0  2  
2
t1 T0 T0 / 2
2 4
an 
T0  f (t ) cos( n0t )dt 
T0  f (t ) cos(n0t )dt
t1 0
zero for
1
an  2 2 At cos( nt )dt 
4A
1  cos(n ) n even
0 n 2 2

8A
an  ...n  1,3,5...
n 2 2
 Example
• Now compare your calculated answer with your predicted
form

DC? No, a0 = 0; Half wave Yes, only odd

symmetry? harmonics

Symmetry? Even, bn = 0; Discontinuities? No, falls of as

1/n2
 Class exercise
• Discuss the general form of the solution of the function
below and write it down
• Compute the Fourier series representation of the function
• With your partners, compare your calculations with your
predictions and comment on your solution
A

-2 -1 0 1 2