outputamplitudes

Output amplitudes refer to the magnitudes of signals that appear at the output of a system in response to an input signal. In engineering contexts, the term is used to describe various measures of amplitude, such as peak amplitude, peak-to-peak amplitude, and root-mean-square (RMS) amplitude, depending on the nature of the signal and the requirements of the analysis. Output amplitudes are fundamental in assessing how a system reproduces or transforms input information.

In linear systems, the output amplitude at a given frequency is the product of the input amplitude and the system’s transfer function magnitude at that frequency. If the input is a sinusoid of frequency ω with amplitude X, the output will be a sinusoid with amplitude |H(jω)| X. In time-domain analysis, the amplitude envelope of the output is determined by the system’s impulse response. The concept of output amplitudes is also central to evaluating frequency response, gain, and phase shift.

Output amplitudes are bounded by a system’s dynamic range and power supply limits. Nonlinearities, saturation, or clipping can cap or distort output amplitudes, potentially introducing harmonics and intermodulation products. Accurate measurement of output amplitudes requires appropriate instrumentation with sufficient bandwidth and resolution.

Common domains for discussing output amplitudes include audio electronics, telecommunications, control systems, and general signal processing. Specifications often state the maximum output amplitude or the amplitude response across a frequency range, sometimes expressed in decibels (e.g., dBV, dBu, or dBFS in digital systems).