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Transfer Function Analysis

This chapter discusses filter transfer functions and associated analysis. The transfer function provides an algebraic representation of a linear, time-invariant (LTI) filter in the frequency domain:

$\textstyle \parbox{0.8\textwidth}{The \emph{transfer function}\index{transfer function\vert textbf} of a linear time-invariant discrete-time filter is defined as $Y(z)/X(z)$, where $Y(z)$\ denotes the {\it z} transform of the filter output signal $y(n)$, and $X(z)$\ denotes the {\it z} transform of the filter input signal $x(n)$.}$

The transfer function is also called the system function [60].

Let $ h(n)$ denote the impulse response of the filter. It turns out (as we will show) that the transfer function is equal to the z transform of the impulse response $ h(n)$ :

$\displaystyle \zbox {H(z) = \frac{Y(z)}{X(z)}} $

Since multiplying the input transform $ X(z)$ by the transfer function $ H(z)$ gives the output transform $ Y(z)$ , we see that $ H(z)$ embodies the transfer characteristics of the filter--hence the name.

It remains to define ``z transform'', and to prove that the z transform of the impulse response always gives the transfer function, which we will do by proving the convolution theorem for z transforms.


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``Introduction to Digital Filters with Audio Applications'', by Julius O. Smith III, (September 2007 Edition)
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Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA),   Stanford University
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