DSA, often referred to
Dynamic Signal Analysis or
Dynamic Signal Analyzer depending on the context, is an application area of digital signal processing technology. Compared to general data acquisition and time domain analysis, DSA instruments and math tools focus more on the dynamic aspect of the signals such as frequency response, dynamic range, total harmonic distortion, phase match, amplitude flatness etc.. In recent years, time domain data acquisition devices and DSA instruments have gradually converged together. More and more time domain instruments, such as oscilloscopes, can do frequency analysis while more and more dynamic signal analyzers can do long time data recording.
DSA uses various different technology of digital signal processing. Among them, the most fundamental and popular technology is based on the so called the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The FFT transforms the time domain signals into the frequency domain. To perform FFT-based measurements, however, you need to understand the fundamental issues and computations involved. This Chapter describes some of the basic signal analysis computations, discusses anti-aliasing and acquisition front end for FFT-based signal analysis, explains how to use windowing functions correctly, explains some spectrum computations, and shows you how to use FFT-based functions for some typical measurements.
