The time-domain response of minimum phase networks

It is shown that the pulse response of any minimum-phase network can be viewed as comprising a main pulse followed, but not preceded, by a series of echoes. The trailing echo performance gives insight into several, hitherto unexplained, empirical observations concerning the time domain response of minimum-phase networks. These include the absence of precursor ringing in the impulse and step responses and the presence of more distortion following, rather than preceding, the main lobe peak. In addition, for pulses with equally spaced precursor zero crossings, it is shown that minimum-phase networks approximately preserve this behavior. The result confirms the suitability of decision feedback equalizers for digital subscriber access to an integrated services digital network via existing copper pair cable.