[sdiy] Accepted name for Symmetrical, Non-rectangular waveforms?

[Tom Wiltshire]

On 5 Aug 2011, at 22:58, Magnus Danielson wrote:

> On 05/08/11 14:50, Justin Owen wrote:
>> Is there one?
>> 
>> i.e. Sine, Triangle&  Sawtooth or derivations thereof?
> 
> Cosine and triangle functions can have f(-t) = f(t) where as sawtooth doesn't. Sine doesn't, unless phase-shifter into the cosine function or inverse sign variant.
> 
> Symmetrical waveform vs. assymetrical waveform could be used.
> 
> In mathematics the terms even and odd functions is also being used, which relates to this.
> 
> I'd say that even and odd waveforms is about as close as you get.
> 
> Cheers,
> Magnus

Aaah! I think I get what you're asking now!

In which case, yeah, Magnus is right - odd and even functions. You're talking about odd functions, which have rotational symmetry. Even functions have mirror symmetry. Many waveforms have neither, which indicates both odd and even components.

There's a load of stuff about this is you look up 'waveshaping', since the harmonic result depends on the odd or eveness of the waveshaping function.

T.