Sources

Step Block

Generates a step function signal that transitions from initial value to final value at specified time

# Step Block

Description

The Step block generates a step function signal that transitions from an initial value to a final value at a specified time. This block is commonly used to create step inputs for testing system responses, simulating sudden changes in reference signals, or modeling discrete events in control systems.

The Step block has no input ports and produces a single output signal that changes abruptly from the initial value to the final value at the specified step time.

Mathematical Model

The Step block implements a simple discontinuous function:

y(t) = initialValue    for t < stepTime
y(t) = finalValue      for t ≥ stepTime

Where:

t is the current simulation time
initialValue is the output value before the step
finalValue is the output value after the step
stepTime is the time at which the step occurs

Parameters

stepTime

The simulation time (in seconds) at which the step occurs.

initialValue

The output value before the step occurs.

finalValue

The output value after the step occurs.

Examples

Unit Step Input

Apply a unit step at t = 0 to test a system:

Step (stepTime: 0, finalValue: 1) → System → Scope

Signal Jump

Simulate a sudden increase in demand:

Demand → Sum
SignalGenerator → Step (finalValue: 5, stepTime: 2) → Sum

Remarks

Discontinuous Value: The output changes instantly at the exact step time.
WASM Implementation: Runs natively in the WASM engine for perfect timing sync.
Time dependent: Pure function of time with no internal state.