when to use different type of test signals?

[fp82]

most common test signals that are used as inputs to physical systems under test, or to simulated systems. The following signals are offered:

-Pulse
-Step
-Ramp
-Sinus

When do you use the different testsignals??

 

[Skogsgurra]

That differs a lot. In my world (drives, control, general electric engineering) it is like this:

Pulse: In TDR applications to look for discontinuities in cables.

http://www.gke.org/pub/files/Cable Radar Electronic Design.pdf

Step: Always to check step response and stability margin in systems. Advantage is that a step signal is extremely easy to generate and that there are standardized evaluation methods.

Ramp: Not so often. Sometimes used to check that all drives in a drive system (paper machine for instance) follow with same delay so that draw between sections remains constant.

Sinus (sine for UK/US): General use when checking frequency response (gain and phase angle). Bode plot.

The unit pulse (Dirac pulse) is often used by acoustic engineers to check room properties.

Noise (white): Very useful when doing quick checks to see if a transmission component is free from resonance and has adequate band-width. I use that to check broadband transformers and such components.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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