Integrator (Using Simulink)

Integrate a signal.

Library

Continuous

Description

The Integrator block integrates its input. The output of the integrator is simply its state, the integral. The Integrator block allows you to:

Define initial conditions on the block dialog box or as input to the block.
Output the block state.
Define upper and lower limits on the integral.
Reset the state depending on an additional reset input.

Use the Discrete-Time Integrator block (see Discrete-Time Integrator), when constructing a purely discrete system.

Defining Initial Conditions

You can define the initial conditions as a parameter on the block dialog box or input them from an external signal:

To define the initial conditions as a block parameter, specify the Initial condition source parameter as internal and enter the value in the Initial condition parameter field.
To provide the initial conditions from an external source, specify the Initial condition source parameter as external. An additional input port appears under the block input, as shown in this figure.

Using the State Port

In two known situations, you must use the state port instead of the output port:

When the output of the block is fed back into the block through the reset port or the initial condition port, causing an algebraic loop. For an example of this situation, see the bounce model.
When you want to pass the state from one conditionally executed subsystem to another, which may cause timing problems. For an example of this situation, see the clutch model.

You can correct these problems by passing the state through the state port rather than the output port. Although the values are the same, Simulink generates them at slightly different times, which protects your model from these problems.You output the block state by selecting the Show state port check box. By default, the state port appears on the top of the block, as shown in this figure.

Limiting the Integral

To prevent the output from exceeding specifiable levels, select the Limit output check box and enter the limits in the appropriate parameter fields. Doing so causes the block to function as a limited integrator. When the output is outside the limits, the integral action is turned off to prevent integral wind up. During a simulation, you can change the limits but you cannot change whether the output is limited. The output is determined as follows:

When the integral is less than the Lower saturation limit and the input is negative, the output is held at the Lower saturation limit.
When the integral is between the Lower saturation limit and the Upper saturation limit, the output is the integral.
When the integral is greater than the Upper saturation limit and the input is positive, the output is held at the Upper saturation limit.

To generate a signal that indicates when the state is being limited, select the Show saturation port check box. A saturation port appears below the block output port, as shown on this figure.

The signal has one of three values:

1 indicates that the upper limit is being applied.
0 indicates that the integral is not limited.
-1 indicates that the lower limit is being applied.

When this option is selected, the block has three zero crossings: one to detect when it enters the upper saturation limit, one to detect when it enters the lower saturation limit, and one to detect when it leaves saturation.

Resetting the State

The block can reset its state to the specified initial condition based on an external signal. To cause the block to reset its state, select one of the External reset choices. A trigger port appears below the block's input port and indicates the trigger type, as shown in this figure.

Select rising to trigger the state reset when the reset signal has a rising edge. Select falling to trigger the state reset when the reset signal has a falling edge. Select either to trigger the reset when either a rising or falling signal occurs.

The reset port has direct feedthrough. If the block output is fed back into this port, either directly or through a series of blocks with direct feedthrough, an algebraic loop results. To resolve this loop, feed the block state into the reset port instead. To access the block's state, select the Show state port check box.

Specifying the Absolute Tolerance for the Block State

When your model contains states having vastly different magnitudes, defining the absolute tolerance for the model might not provide sufficient error control. To define the absolute tolerance for an Integrator block's state, provide a value for the Absolute tolerance parameter. If the block has more than one state, the same value is applied to all states.

For more information about error control, see "Error Tolerances".

Choosing All Options

When all options are selected, the icon looks like this.

Data Type Support

An Integrator block accepts and outputs signals of type double on its data ports. Its external reset port accepts signals of type double or boolean.

Parameters and Dialog Box

External reset

Resets the states to their initial conditions when a trigger event (rising, falling, or either) occurs in the reset signal.

Initial condition source

Gets the states' initial conditions from the Initial condition parameter (if set to internal) or from an external block (if set to external).

Initial condition

The states' initial conditions. Set the Initial condition source parameter value to internal.

Limit output

If checked, limits the states to a value between the Lower saturation limit and Upper saturation limit parameters.

Upper saturation limit

The upper limit for the integral. The default is inf.

Lower saturation limit

The lower limit for the integral. The default is -inf.

Show saturation port

If checked, adds a saturation output port to the block.

Show state port

If checked, adds an output port to the block for the block's state.

Absolute tolerance

Absolute tolerance for the block's states.

Characteristics


Direct Feedthrough	Yes, of the reset and external initial condition source ports
Sample Time	Continuous
Scalar Expansion	Of parameters
States	Inherited from driving block or parameter
Vectorized	Yes
Zero Crossing	If the Limit output option is selected, one for detecting reset; one each to detect upper and lower saturation limits, one when leaving saturation

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