ABSTRACT

Digital filtering is concerned with the manipulation of discrete data sequences to remove noise, extract information, change the sample rate, and perform other functions. Although an infinite number of numerical manipulations can be applied to discrete data (e.g., finding the mean value, forming a histogram), the objective of digital filtering is to form a discrete output sequence y(n) from a discrete input sequence x(n). In some manner or another, each output sample is computed from the input sequence—not just from any one sample, but from many, in fact, possibly from all of the input samples. Those filters that compute their output from the present input and a finite number of past inputs are termed finite impulse response (FIR), whereas those that use all past inputs are infinite impulse response (IIR). This chapter will consider the design and realization of both FIR and IIR digital filters and will examine the effect of finite wordlength arithmetic on implementing these filters.