Signals

Configure and display signal properties

Signals transmit data between two blocks in a simulation. The data could be the calculated output of a block, or simply a message. The value of signals are calculated at all points during the simulation time. You can display the signal data and properties during and after simulation, see the real-time values on a block diagram, or you can log the values as variables in the workspace. Also, you can export the signals to a file or to a workspace to investigate further.

You can control the mathematical behavior of a model by specifying signal characteristics such as numeric data type, initial value, and value range. For more information, see Signal Basics.

Blocks

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Signal Properties

Signal Specification	Specify desired dimensions, sample time, data type, numeric type, and other attributes of signal
IC	Set initial value of signal
Probe	Output signal attributes, including width, dimensionality, sample time, and complex signal flag
Rate Transition	Handle transfer of data between blocks operating at different rates
Signal Editor	Display, create, edit, and switch interchangeable scenarios
Weighted Sample Time	Support calculations involving sample time
Width	Output width of input vector

Signal Conversion

Bus to Vector	Convert virtual bus to vector
Signal Conversion	Convert signal to new type without altering signal values

Functions

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Signal Properties

`disableimplicitsignalresolution`	Convert model to use only explicit signal resolution
`signalBuilderToSignalEditor`	Import signal data and properties from Signal Builder block to Signal Editor block
`signalEditor`	Start Signal Editor
`Simulink.Signal`	Specify instance-specific properties of signal or discrete state
`Simulink.ValueType`	Specify properties of signals based on application-specific value types

Signal Tracing

`sltrace`	Trace signals in a model
`highlight`	Highlight tracing results
`removehighlight`	Remove highlighted tracing results

Objects

sltrace.Graph Provide tracing information as graph for structure analysis

Tools

Signal Properties	View and edit signal properties
Instrumentation Properties	View and edit logging and visualization properties for logged signal
Property Inspector	Edit parameters and properties for any Simulink model element
Model Data Editor	Inspect and edit data items (signals, parameters, and states) in a table that you can sort, group, and filter

Topics

Get Started with Signals

Signal Basics
Create, configure, identify, and test signals.
Signal Types
Learn about different types of signals, such as control signals and composite signals.
Signal Groups
Test or debug models by creating interchangeable groups of signal data.

Signal Properties

Investigate Signal Values
Initialize, access, and view the values that signals have during a simulation run.
Specify Signal Ranges
Specify the minimum and maximum value that a signal can attain during simulation. Fully specify your design and optimize data types and the generated code by specifying the minimum and maximum value that a signal can attain during simulation.
Determine Signal Dimensions
Inspect and control signal dimensionality.
Initialize Signals and Discrete States
Some systems contain signals and states whose initial values you must specify, for example, the starting position and velocity of a bouncing ball.
Configure Signals as Test Points
Use test points to exclude signal lines from optimizations which enables you to access the simulation data.
Specify Application-Specific Signal Properties
Specify attributes for application-specific value types, such as wind velocity.

Display Signal Properties

Highlight Signal Sources and Destinations
Trace a signal to its source or destination while debugging or exploring a model.
Display Port Values for Debugging
Display the values of block outputs on the block diagram during simulation.
Display Signal Attributes
Improve model readability by displaying signal attributes, such as data types and dimensions, in the block diagram.
Signal Label Propagation
Name a signal to identify and access it more easily. Take advantage of signal label propagation to reduce the effort of naming a signal that crosses system boundaries.
Trace Connections Using Interface Display
Display interfaces to trace signals through the nested levels, annotate signal characteristics, and view units associated with signals.

Variable-Size Signals

Variable-Size Signal Basics
Create a variable-size signal whose size and values can change during a simulation.
Inspect Variable-Size Signals on Simulink Models
Inspect example models that show how to use variable-size signals.

Related Information

Featured Examples

Matrix Signals

Use matrix and frame signals in Simulink® diagrams. Through this example, you can access models that relate to the following practical applications.

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Find Shortest Control Path in Simulink Model

How to find the shortest control path for a hybrid electrical vehicle using Signal Tracing Command-line API.

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Variable-Size Signal Basic Operations

How variable-size signals can be generated. It also illustrates some of the operations that can be applied to them. The purpose of this example is to introduce the basic operations associated with variable-size signals.

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Variable-Size Signal Length Adaptation

Model showing how to change the length of a signal over time.

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Multimode Variable-Size Signal

How to use different operation modes to correspond to different signal sizes.

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Merging Signals

Use conditionally executed subsystems and the Merge block to combine two inputs into a single output.

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