The Vector – Signal Analogy
A vector can be thought of as a sum of its
components, i
and j
for example. This is equivalent in the
sense of signals. Just as in physics
when the dot product is used to breakdown vectors, the dot product can be used
on signals. The dot product of a signal is represented as
. When the dot product of two vectors or
signals is zero the result is orthogonality.
For example, the i and j components of a vector are
orthogonal. They have nothing in common,
which suits them for being combined to create a vector. A basis signal g(t), a signal function found
to be orthogonal, can be used to make up a signal.
Where c is the amount of the
signal g(t) needed to represent f(t).
This topic is well depicted in the beginning of Discovery Project 2 from EE 2311. The project is definitely worth a look.
![[WPI]](http://www.wpi.edu/Buttons/seal.gif){kind=small}
***