Signals in Simulink

Signal Basics

Create, configure, and identify signal lines.

Signal Types

Models can contain different kinds of signal line including composite signals, virtual signals, and control signals.

Virtual Signals

Virtual signals can make a model easier to maintain and understand without affecting the functionality of the model.

Signal Values

Initialize, access, and understand the values that signals have during a simulation run.

Highlight Signal Sources and Destinations

While debugging or exploring a model, trace a signal to its source or destination.

Signal Groups

To test or debug a model, provide simulation input stimulus by creating interchangeable groups of signal data.

Display Port Values for Debugging

Display the values of block outputs on the block diagram during simulation.

Signal Properties

Configure Data Properties by Using the Model Data Editor

Inspect and edit data items (signals, parameters, and states) in a list that you can sort, group, and filter.

Signal Label Propagation

You can name a signal so that you can identify and access it more easily. Take advantage of signal label propagation to reduce the effort of naming a signal that crosses system boundaries.

Signal Ranges

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 Output Signal Dimensions

Inspect and control signal dimensionality. Take advantage of the interaction between signal and parameter dimensionality.

Signal Dimensions

Model systems of equations and concurrent systems by using nonscalar signals.

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.

Test Points

Use test points to exclude signal lines from optimizations, enabling you to access the simulation data.

Display Signal Attributes

Improve model readability by displaying signal attributes, such as data types and dimensions, in the block diagram.

Signal Properties Dialog Box Overview

Overview of the Signal Properties Dialog Box

Variable-Size Signals

Variable-Size Signal Basics

A variable-size signal is a signal whose size (the number of elements in a dimension) can change during a simulation.

Simulink Models Using Variable-Size Signals

Inspect example models that show how to use variable-size signals.

S-Functions Using Variable-Size Signals

Inspect example S-functions that show how to use variable-size signals.

Simulink Block Support for Variable-Size Signals

You can view a list of blocks that support variable-size signals.

Variable-Size Signal Limitations

Some features and products do not support variable-size signals.