3/20/2014 Analog Mixed Signal Group Wiki | SignalsAndSystems / Mason's Gain Rule

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From Analog Mixed Signal Group Wiki

SignalsAndSystems: Mason's Gain Rule

Masons gain formula allows us to visually determine the transfer function of a system given its block diagram:

Mi i
i
H=

H = Transfer Function
i = Index of a forward path from input to output
Mi = Gain of forward path i
= 1 (all loop gains)
+ (non-touching loop gains multiplied 2 at a time)
(non-touching loop gains multiplied 3 at a time)
+ (non-touching loop gains multiplied 4 at a time)
i= calculated after excluding all feedback loops that intersect with forward path i

is called the system determinant.

Forward Paths
A forward path is a path from input to output that does not cross the same point more than once.

Mi is the gain of forward path i

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M1 = A B
M2 = A C

Feedback Loops
A loop is a closed path that can be traced without crossing the same point more than once.

Ln is the gain of loop n

L1 = A X
L2 = B Y
L3 = A B Z

Non-touching Feedback Loops

Loops are non-touching if signals in one loop do not appear in the other loop, and conversely.

Loops n = 1 and n = 2 are non-touching.

System Determinant
Consider a system with 3 non-touching loops:

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The system determinant is calculated as follows:

=1 (all loop gains)

+ (non-touching loop gains multiplied 2 at a time)
(non-touching loop gains multiplied 3 at a time)

We stop at the 3rd sum because there are only 3 loops.

= 1 (L1 + L2 + L3 )
+(L1 L2 + L2 L3 + L3 L1 )
(L1 L2 L3 )

= 1 (AX + BY + CZ)
+(AXBY + BYCZ + CZAX)
(AXBYCZ)

Modified System Determinant i

i is the system determinant calculated after excluding forward path i.

1 is calculated using only loops n = 3 and n = 4.

n = 1 and n = 2 have been excluded because they touch forward path i = 1.

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3/20/2014 Analog Mixed Signal Group Wiki | SignalsAndSystems / Mason's Gain Rule

1 = 1 (L3 + L4 ) + (L3 L4 )
1 (CY + DZ) + (CYDZ)

PowerPoint Version with Examples

Examplex of using Mason's Gain Rule to visually determine the transfer function of a system are given in this PowerPoint
presentation:
Masons_Gain_Rule.ppt

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Page last modified on December 06, 2009, at 01:27 AM

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