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Sine Wave

Generate sine wave, using simulation time as time source

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  • Sine Wave block

Libraries:
Simulink / Sources

Description

The Sine Wave block outputs a sinusoidal waveform. The block can operate in time-based or sample-based mode.

Note

This block is the same as the Sine Wave Function block that appears in the Math Operations library. If you select Use external signal for the Time parameter in the block dialog box, you get the Sine Wave Function block.

Time-Based Mode

The block calculates the output waveform.

y=amplitude×sin(frequency×time+phase)+bias.

In time-based mode, the value of the Sample time parameter determines whether the block operates in continuous mode or discrete mode.

  • 0 (the default) causes the block to operate in continuous mode.

  • >0 causes the block to operate in discrete mode.

For more information, see Specify Sample Time.

Block Behavior in Continuous Mode

When operating in continuous mode, the Sine Wave block can become inaccurate due to loss of precision as time becomes very large.

Block Behavior in Discrete Mode

A Sample time parameter value greater than zero causes the block to behave as if it were driving a Zero-Order Hold block whose sample time is set to that value.

This way, you can build models with sine wave sources that are purely discrete, rather than models that are hybrid continuous/discrete systems. Hybrid systems are inherently more complex and as a result take more time to simulate.

In discrete mode, this block uses a differential incremental algorithm instead of one based on absolute time. As a result, the block can be useful in models intended to run for an indefinite length of time, such as in vibration or fatigue testing.

The differential incremental algorithm computes the sine based on the value computed at the previous sample time. This method uses the following trigonometric identities:

sin(t+Δt)=sin(t)cos(Δt)+sin(Δt)cos(t)cos(t+Δt)=cos(t)cos(Δt)−sin(t)sin(Δt)

In matrix form, these identities are:

[sin(t+Δt)cos(t+Δt)]=[cos(Δt)sin(Δt)−sin(Δt)cos(Δt)][sin(t)cos(t)]

Because Δt is constant, the following expression is a constant:

[cos(Δt)sin(Δt)−sin(Δt)cos(Δt)]

Therefore, the problem becomes one of a matrix multiplication of the value of sin(t) by a constant matrix to obtain sin(t+Δt).

Discrete mode reduces but does not eliminate the accumulation of round-off errors. This accumulation can happen because computation of the block output at each time step depends on the value of the output at the previous time step.

Methods to Handle Round-Off Errors in Discrete Mode

To handle round-off errors when the Sine Wave block operates in time-based discrete mode, use one of these methods.

MethodRationale

Insert a Saturation block directly downstream of the Sine Wave block.

By setting saturation limits on the Sine Wave block output, you can remove overshoot due to accumulation of round-off errors.

Set up the Sine Wave block to use the sin() math library function to calculate block output.

  1. On the Sine Wave block dialog box, set Time to Use external signal so that an input port appears on the block icon.

  2. Connect a clock signal to this input port using a Digital Clock block.

  3. Set the sample time of the clock signal to the sample time of the Sine Wave block.

The sin() math library function computes block output at each time step independently of output values from other time steps, preventing the accumulation of round-off errors.

Sample-Based Mode

Sample-based mode uses this formula to compute the output of the Sine Wave block.

y=Asin(2π(k+o)/p)+b

  • A is the amplitude of the sine wave.

  • p is the number of time samples per sine wave period.

  • k is a repeating integer value that ranges from 0 to p–1.

  • o is the offset (phase shift) of the signal.

  • b is the signal bias.

In this mode, Simulink® sets k equal to 0 at the first time step and computes the block output, using the formula. At the next time step, Simulink increments k and recomputes the output of the block. When k reaches p, Simulink resets k to 0 before computing the block output. This process continues until the end of the simulation.

The sample-based method of computing block output at a given time step does not depend on the output of the previous time steps. Therefore, this mode avoids the accumulation of round-off errors. Sample-based mode supports reset semantics in subsystems that offer it. For example, if a Sine Wave block is in a resettable subsystem that receives a reset trigger, the repeating integer k resets and the block output resets to its initial condition.

Examples

Thermal Model of a House

Thermal Model of a House

Use Simulink® to create the thermal model of a house. This system models the outdoor environment, the thermal characteristics of the house, and the house heating system.

Open Model
Simulating Systems with Variable Transport Delay Phenomena

Simulating Systems with Variable Transport Delay Phenomena

Two cases where you can use Simulink® to model variable transport delay phenomena.

Open Model
Accurate Zero-Crossing Detection

Accurate Zero-Crossing Detection

How zero crossings work in Simulink®. In this model, three shifted sine waves are fed into an absolute value block and saturation block. At exactly t = 5, the output of the switch block changes from the absolute value to the saturation block. Zero crossings in Simulink will automatically detect exactly when the switch block changes its output, and the solver will step to the exact time that the event happens. This can be seen by examining the output in the scope.

Open Model

Ports

Output

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Output sine wave signal created based on the block parameter values.

Data Types: double

Parameters

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Specify the type of sine wave that this block generates. Some parameters in the dialog box appear depending on whether you select time-based or sample-based.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: SineType
Type: character vector
Values: 'Time based' | 'Sample based'
Default: 'Time based'

Specify whether to use simulation time as the source of values for the time variable, or an external source. If you specify an external time source, the block creates an input port for the time source. When you select an external time source, the block is the same as the Sine Wave Function block.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: TimeSource
Type: character vector
Values: 'Use simulation time' | 'Use external signal'
Default: 'Use simulation time'

Specify the amplitude of the output sine wave signal.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Amplitude
Type: character vector
Value: scalar
Default: '1'

Specify the constant value added to the sine to produce the output.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Bias
Type: character vector
Value: scalar
Default: '0'

Specify the frequency, in rad/sec.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Sine type to Time based.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Frequency
Type: character vector
Value: scalar
Default: '1'

Specify the phase shift of the sine wave.

You cannot configure this parameter to appear in the generated code as a tunable global variable if you set Time (t) to Use simulation time. For example, if you set Default parameter behavior to Tunable or apply a storage class to a Simulink.Parameter object, the Phase parameter does not appear in the generated code as a tunable global variable.

To generate code so that you can tune the phase during execution, set Time (t) to Use external signal. You can provide your own time input signal or use a Digital Clock block to generate the time signal. For an example, see Tune Phase Parameter of Sine Wave Block During Code Execution (Simulink Coder).

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Sine type to Time based.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Phase
Type: character vector
Value: scalar
Default: '0'

Specify the number of samples per period.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Sine type to Sample based.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Samples
Type: character vector
Value: scalar
Default: '10'

Specify the offset (discrete phase shift) in number of sample times.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Sine type to Sample based.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Offset
Type: character vector
Value: scalar
Default: '0'

Specify the sample period in seconds. The default is 0. If the sine type is sample-based, the sample time must be greater than 0. See Specify Sample Time.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: SampleTime
Type: character vector
Value: scalar
Default: '0'

Specify the output dimensions to be a 1-D vector signal when other parameters are one-row and one-column matrices. If you do not select this box, the block outputs a signal of the same dimensionality as the numeric parameters. See Determine the Output Dimensions of Source Blocks. This parameter is not available when an external signal specifies time. In this case, if numeric parameters are column or row matrix values, the output is a 1-D vector.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: VectorParams1D
Type: character vector
Values: 'off' | 'on'
Default: 'on'

Block Characteristics

Data Types

double

Direct Feedthrough

yes

Multidimensional Signals

no

Variable-Size Signals

no

Zero-Crossing Detection

no

Extended Capabilities

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

See Also

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