The convolution of two signals in the time domain is equivalent to the multiplication of their representation in frequency domain. Mathematically, we can write the convolution of two signals as
$$y(t) = x_{1}(t)*x_{2}(t)$$ $$= \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}x_{1}(p).x_{2}(t-p)dp$$Let us do the convolution of a step signal u(t) with its own kind.
$y(t) = u(t)*u(t)$
$= \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}[u(p).u[-(p-t)]dp$
Now this t can be greater than or less than zero, which are shown in below figures
So, with the above case, the result arises with following possibilities
$y(t) = \begin{cases}0, & if\quad t<0\\\int_{0}^{t}1dt, & for\quad t>0\end{cases}$
$= \begin{cases}0, & if\quad t<0\\t, & t>0\end{cases} = r(t)$
It states that order of convolution does not matter, which can be shown mathematically as
$$x_{1}(t)*x_{2}(t) = x_{2}(t)*x_{1}(t)$$It states that order of convolution involving three signals, can be anything. Mathematically, it can be shown as;
$$x_{1}(t)*[x_{2}(t)*x_{3}(t)] = [x_{1}(t)*x_{2}(t)]*x_{3}(t)$$Two signals can be added first, and then their convolution can be made to the third signal. This is equivalent to convolution of two signals individually with the third signal and added finally. Mathematically, this can be written as;
$$x_{1}(t)*[x_{2}(t)+x_{3}(t)] = [x_{1}(t)*x_{2}(t)+x_{1}(t)*x_{3}(t)]$$If a signal is the result of convolution of two signals then the area of the signal is the multiplication of those individual signals. Mathematically this can be written
If $y(t) = x_{1}*x_{2}(t)$
Then, Area of y(t) = Area of x1(t) X Area of x2(t)
If two signals are scaled to some unknown constant “a” and convolution is done then resultant signal will also be convoluted to same constant “a” and will be divided by that quantity as shown below.
If, $x_{1}(t)*x_{2}(t) = y(t)$
Then, $x_{1}(at)*x_{2}(at) = \frac{y(at)}{a}, a \ne 0$
Suppose a signal y(t) is a result from the convolution of two signals x1(t) and x2(t). If the two signals are delayed by time t1 and t2 respectively, then the resultant signal y(t) will be delayed by (t1+t2). Mathematically, it can be written as −
If, $x_{1}(t)*x_{2}(t) = y(t)$
Then, $x_{1}(t-t_{1})*x_{2}(t-t_{2}) = y[t-(t_{1}+t_{2})]$
Example 1 − Find the convolution of the signals u(t-1) and u(t-2).
Solution − Given signals are u(t-1) and u(t-2). Their convolution can be done as shown below −
$y(t) = u(t-1)*u(t-2)$
$y(t) = \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty}[u(t-1).u(t-2)]dt$
$= r(t-1)+r(t-2)$
$= r(t-3)$
Example 2 − Find the convolution of two signals given by
$x_{1}(n) = \lbrace 3,-2, 2\rbrace $
$x_{2}(n) = \begin{cases}2, & 0\leq n\leq 4\\0, & x > elsewhere\end{cases}$
Solution −
x2(n) can be decoded as $x_{2}(n) = \lbrace 2,2,2,2,2\rbrace Originalfirst$
x1(n) is previously given $= \lbrace 3,-2,3\rbrace = 3-2Z^{-1}+2Z^{-2}$
Similarly, $x_{2}(z) = 2+2Z^{-1}+2Z^{-2}+2Z^{-3}+2Z^{-4}$
Resultant signal,
$X(Z) = X_{1}(Z)X_{2}(z)$
$= \lbrace 3-2Z^{-1}+2Z^{-2}\rbrace \times \lbrace 2+2Z^{-1}+2Z^{-2}+2Z^{-3}+2Z^{-4}\rbrace$
$= 6+2Z^{-1}+6Z^{-2}+6Z^{-3}+6Z^{-4}+6Z^{-5}$
Taking inverse Z-transformation of the above, we will get the resultant signal as
$x(n) = \lbrace 6,2,6,6,6,0,4\rbrace$ Origin at the first
Example 3 − Determine the convolution of following 2 signals −
$x(n) = \lbrace 2,1,0,1\rbrace$
$h(n) = \lbrace 1,2,3,1\rbrace$
Solution −
Taking the Z-transformation of the signals, we get,
$x(z) = 2+2Z^{-1}+2Z^{-3}$
And $h(n) = 1+2Z^{-1}+3Z^{-2}+Z^{-3}$
Now convolution of two signal means multiplication of their Z-transformations
That is $Y(Z) = X(Z) \times h(Z)$
$= \lbrace 2+2Z^{-1}+2Z^{-3}\rbrace \times \lbrace 1+2Z^{-1}+3Z^{-2}+Z^{-3}\rbrace$
$= \lbrace 2+5Z^{-1}+8Z^{-2}+6Z^{-3}+3Z^{-4}+3Z^{-5}+Z^{-6}\rbrace$
Taking the inverse Z-transformation, the resultant signal can be written as;
$y(n) = \lbrace 2,5,8,6,6,1 \rbrace Originalfirst$