Compare two Fourier series to depict the signal smoothness

Hello

I have several signals, that I am trying to find a metric to compare the signal smoothness. By signal smoothness I mean, the signal that the distance between the peak to trough become smaller (getting close to becoming flat) is smoother, and if this peak-tough distance increases it becomes wavier.

I can fit a Fourier series with eight terms to all of them. it means that I do have a Fourier series equation with eight terms for all of them.

My question is that how I can compare the Fourier series coefficient to each other, in order to evaluate the signal smoothness?

since for a single term Fourier series (i.e f(x)=a0+a1cos(xw)+b1sin (xw)) I can use the "sqrt ((a1^2)+(b1^2))" as an indicator of surface smoothness. but I do not know what I should do when it has eight terms? Thank you

Answer 1

[Swetha Polemoni]

Hi

You can use findpeaks to find local maxima i.e., all the peaks in the signal. Now invert the siganl and use "findpeaks" to find local minima of the signal. The following answer might help you to understand more about how to use "findpeaks".

Finding local minimums/maximums for a set of data

Now you can use mean absolute error or mean square error between local maxima and local minima of the siganl to get its smoothness.

[SM]

Hello

Thanks for your response.

That is the alternative approach that I am currently using. However, I was hoping to find a way to compare the Fourier series coefficient since that is a more accurate representor or of the data.

Thanks