# How I can set up a transfer function of y = mx+c?

I have a system governed by the following relationship:

$V_{OUT} = m * I_{IN} + 5$

I need to write a transfer function for the equation. Would anyone please give me some suggestion of how to handle the constant term?

• pre-calclated lookup table for current_input >> voltage_out? – kenny Apr 10 '12 at 19:26
• @Kellenkb I think it's assumed that he wants a transfer function in terms of Vout/Iin. As Jeff E mentions below it can't be (easily) done, as his transfer function doesn't describe an LTI system. If the 5V offset is the only DC offset in an otherwise linear system one could always remove it and then add it back in later. – Bitrex Apr 10 '12 at 20:14
• Don't transfer functions apply to the systems? A system means a function with state. I see that you just scale input value and add 5 to it. I do not see any feedbacks for this to be a valid system. I do not see that homogentity is a ptoblem. – Val Jul 24 '14 at 17:46

You can't. Your system is not a linear map. In general, a transfer function can only be derived from a system that's linear and time-invariant (LTI). The constant term violates this linearity.

Specifically, the requirements for a linear map are:

1) $y(x_1 + x_2)=y(x_1)+y(x_2)$ (additive)

2) $y(a x)=a y(x)$ (homogeneous)

If you plug-n-chug into both equations, the violation should be clear:

$y(x)=mx+5$

1)

$y(x_1)=mx_1+5$, $y(x_2)=mx_2+5$, $y(x_1)+y(x_2)=mx_1+mx_2+10$

$y(x_1+x_2)=m(x_1+x_2)+5=mx_1+mx_2+5 \neq y(x_1)+y(x_2)$

2)

$y(ax)=max+5$

$ay(x)=a(mx+5)=max+5a\neq y(ax)$

• The system is linear, but V is not equal to 0 when I is 0. – Superhero Apr 10 '12 at 19:49
• You can only have a transfer function of a linear time-invariant system. It's not linear, as it isn't additive nor homogenous: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_map – Jeff Apr 10 '12 at 19:56
• @JeffE Boo to whoever downvoted your answer - y = mx + b is a linear function, but it's not a linear map. Apparently it's possible to derive a nonlinear transfer function of a time domain equation with constant terms, but you'll have to pay \$36 to see how to do it: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0888327085700416 – Bitrex Apr 10 '12 at 20:06
• I didn't downvote, but I'm not going to upvote this answer in its present form either. While what you say is correct, it is unlikely to be very illuminating to the OP. Then there is "linear" and "linear". You obviously mean it in the linear systems sense where that term has a very specific definition, and the constant term violates that definition. However, in the wider english language it's meaning can be more relaxed, like "any mapping that could be plotted as a line", for example, which does work for this function. – Olin Lathrop Apr 10 '12 at 21:15
• It is linear in the multivariate sense: Vout is a linear combination of Iin and 1 (or any other constant voltage). Thevenin equivalents are linear in this sense. – Jason S Apr 11 '12 at 0:14