z-Transform Analysis of Sampled-Data Control Systems without Reference to Impulse Functions

The z-transform method of analysis of sampled-data control systems is developed without the usual references to impulse functions. It is felt that this development is desirable for an introductory course in sampled-data control systems, since the student is not given the impression that z-transform analysis is dependent on an assumption of the existence of impulse functions. Further, this development is more rigorous, since the mathematical difficulties associated with the impulse functions are avoided.