# Using Fourier transform to compute Fourier series.

I have found an exercise on a signal processing book that asks to compute the Fourier series of a function by using its Fourier Transform, let:

$$x(t) = \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \Lambda \left( \dfrac{t-nT}{T/2} \right)$$

I did compute the FT of this function, I used that a trianglePulse can be decomposed into two convoluted rectangularPulse. It led to:

$$x(t) = \Pi \left( \dfrac{t}{T/2} \right) \star \Pi \left( \dfrac{t}{T/2} \right) \star \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \delta (t-nT)$$

Thus, the Fourier transform is:

$$X(\omega)= \dfrac{4}{\omega^2} sin^2 \left( \dfrac{\omega T}{4} \right)\cdot \dfrac{2\pi}{T} \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \delta \left( \omega - n\dfrac{2\pi}{T} \right)$$

Where: $$FT\left[\sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \delta (t-nT) \right] = \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} e^{-jnT\omega} = \dfrac{2\pi}{T} \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \delta \left( \omega - n\dfrac{2\pi}{T} \right)$$

I know that FT is a generalization of the Fourier Series. But I don't know how to continue in order to find the Fourier series. What should I try to do to solve the exercise? (I just need to know how to continue, it's not necessary that you do it for me).

• There should be some complex exponential terms in $X(\omega)$ coming from the fourier transform. Real and imaginary parts combine to give cosine and sine terms. – Paul May 6 '15 at 15:32
• Please, check my edit. I obtained a complex exponential. Should I decompose it into $\sin$ and $\cos$ ? Thank you – Airman01 May 6 '15 at 15:40
• This seems correct :) – krvolok May 6 '15 at 15:43

Once you have obtained the Fourier Transform:

$$\mathcal{F} \big\{ x(t)\big\} = X(\omega) = \dfrac{4}{\omega^2} \sin^2 \left( \dfrac{\omega T}{4} \right)\cdot \dfrac{2\pi}{T} \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \delta \left( \omega - n\dfrac{2\pi}{T} \right)$$

You can take into consideration that for any function $b(\omega)$ and a certain pulse delay $\omega_0$ you have:

$$b(\omega) · \delta(\omega-\omega_0) = b(\omega_0)\delta(\omega-\omega_0) \tag{1}$$

Substituting $\omega_n = n\dfrac{2\pi}{T}$ we can rewrite you Fourier transform as following:

$$X(\omega) = \dfrac{4}{\omega^2} \sin^2 \left( \dfrac{\omega T}{4} \right)\cdot \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \dfrac{\omega_n}{n} · \delta \left( \omega - \omega_n \right)$$

Now considering (1):

$$X(\omega) = \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \dfrac{4}{\omega_n^2} ·\sin^2\Big(\dfrac{\omega_nT}{4}\Big)·\dfrac{\omega_n}{n}·\delta \left( \omega - \omega_n \right)$$

Working it out we finally obtain:

$$X(\omega) = \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \dfrac{2T}{n^2\pi} ·\sin^2\Big(\dfrac{n\pi}{2}\Big)·\delta \left( \omega - n\dfrac{2\pi}{T} \right) = \sum_{n=-\infty}^{\infty} \alpha_n·\delta \left( \omega - n\dfrac{2\pi}{T} \right)$$

Where $\alpha_n = \dfrac{2T}{n^2\pi} ·\sin^2\Big(\dfrac{n\pi}{2}\Big)$ denotes the amplitude for each sample $n$.

• Thanks @luikn! It was helpful and now I could check that the exercise result was correct. I would vote your answer, but I can't yet. Thanks – Airman01 May 6 '15 at 18:59
• Don't worry, we are here to help each other :) @Airman01 – lucasrodesg May 6 '15 at 21:25

If you have a $T$-periodic function $x(t)$, its Fourier series is given by

$$x(t)=\sum_{k=-\infty}^{\infty}c_ke^{j2\pi kt/T}\tag{1}$$

where $c_k$ are the complex Fourier coefficients. Taking the Fourier transform of (1) gives

$$X(j\omega)=2\pi \sum_{k=-\infty}^{\infty}c_k\delta\left(\omega-\frac{2\pi k}{T}\right)\tag{2}$$

So, given the Fourier transform (2), you can directly read off the Fourier coefficients $c_k$.

• Wow alright. So does the problem reduces to saying: $c_k = \dfrac{4}{T\omega^2} \sin^{2} \left( \dfrac{\omega T}{4} \right)$ ? (Being that the coefficient in the Fourier Series) – Airman01 May 6 '15 at 16:22
• @Airman01: Yes, with $\omega=2\pi k/T$ because $f(\omega)\delta(\omega-\omega_0)=f(\omega_0)\delta(\omega-\omega_0)$. – Matt L. May 6 '15 at 20:18