Distortion – Definition and Pronunciation
What is Distortion?
Distortion is any departure of the output signal waveform from what would be theoretically expected from input signal waveform’s being operated on by the system’s ideal function. Distortion may result from nonlinearities in the transfer function of an active device, such as a vacuum tube or transistor amplifier; it may also be caused by a passive component such as a coaxial cable or optical fiber, or by inhomogeneities, reflections, etc., in the propagation path.
Examples of Distortion
The distortion of the earth’s gravitational field due to the non-sphericity of the Earth causes either a steady increase or decrease in the semi-major axis, according to the stationary longitude of the satellite.
From “Satellite Technology Advances: Electric Propulsion and Launch Platforms”.
ECD and Skywave. Pulse shape distortions may affect the probability of acquisition and the correct cycle identification required by Loran-C receivers to resolve ten microsecond arrival-time ambiguities.
From “Understanding GIS Loran-C Coverage: Predictions, Analysis, and Case Studies”.
A typical direct conversion transmitter uses the low-pass filters (LPFs) to eliminate out-of-band signal components from the baseband signal, but these components may re-appear along the way as a result of intermodulation distortion generated within the transmitter, for example, in the downstream power amplifier (PA), such as the satellite transponder.
From “DVB-S2 Modulation Extensions and Other Advances”.
Pronunciation of Distortion
