Gaussian filter

Shape of the impulse response of a typical Gaussian filter

In electronics and signal processing, mainly in digital signal processing, a Gaussian filter is a filter whose impulse response is a Gaussian function (or an approximation to it, since a true Gaussian response would have infinite impulse response). Gaussian filters have the properties of having no overshoot to a step function input while minimizing the rise and fall time. This behavior is closely connected to the fact that the Gaussian filter has the minimum possible group delay. A Gaussian filter will have the best combination of suppression of high frequencies while also minimizing spatial spread, being the critical point of the uncertainty principle. These properties are important in areas such as oscilloscopes[1] and digital telecommunication systems.[2]

Mathematically, a Gaussian filter modifies the input signal by convolution with a Gaussian function; this transformation is also known as the Weierstrass transform.

  1. ^ Orwiler, Bob (1969). Oscilloscope Vertical Amplifiers (PDF) (1 ed.). Beaverton, Oregon: Tektronix Circuit Concepts. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  2. ^ Andrews, James R (1999). "Low-Pass Risetime Filters for Time Domain Applications" (PDF). kh6htv.com. Picosecond Pulse Labs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2022.