Signaalen

Signaalen are signals, i.e., functions used to convey information about a phenomenon. In engineering and science, a signaal is typically modeled as a function s(t) that maps time to a real or complex value, representing a quantity such as voltage, pressure, or brightness. The set of signaalen is broad and includes signals defined over time, space, or both, and can be deterministic or random.

There are two broad categories: continuous-time (analog) signals and discrete-time (digital) signals. Signals can also be classified as periodic or aperiodic, and as deterministic or stochastic (random processes). In practice, signals are analyzed in both the time domain and the frequency domain; applied tools include Fourier analysis, filters, and spectrum measurements. Sampling and quantization convert analog signals into digital representations.

Signaalen are processed to extract information, improve quality, or transmit it. Common operations include filtering (to remove noise), modulation (to transfer signals over a channel), coding and decoding, and detection. Key concepts associated with signaalen are bandwidth, amplitude, phase, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Applications span many fields: telecommunications and data communications rely on signaalen for transmitting data; control systems use signals to monitor and control processes; audio and video processing handle audio and image signaalen; sensor networks and neuroscience study biological and neuronal signaalen.