Signaalivoo

Signaalivoo, literally "signal flow" in Estonian, refers to the progression and transformation of signals as they pass through a system or network. It is a fundamental concept in electrical engineering, control theory, audio processing, and communications. The term is used to describe how input signals are routed, modified, and combined to produce an output.

Signaalivoo is commonly represented with block diagrams that show the interconnections of components and the paths signals take. Mathematically, it can be described using transfer functions, state-space models, or differential and difference equations. In linear time-invariant systems, the superposition principle and convolution describe how inputs map to outputs along the flow.

Typical elements in a signaalivoo include amplifiers, filters, digital and analogue converters, modulators, and nonlinear devices. Feedback paths can alter the flow, affecting stability and performance. An everyday example is an audio chain: a microphone signal passes through a preamplifier, equalizer, compressor, and output stage, with possible feedback from output to input in certain configurations.

Understanding signaalivoo helps engineers analyze and design systems for gain, bandwidth, noise, distortion, latency, and stability. It provides a common abstraction for discussing how signals behave across diverse technologies, from consumer electronics to complex control and communications networks.