Unit 4.

Pulse Modulation Techniques

Previous Lecture’s Review Questions
1. Uniform Quantizers with an even number of quantization levels is known as
a. Mid trade quantizer
b. Mid rise quantizer
c. PCM
d. DM
2. Consider Quantization step size of ∆ and uniformly distributed quantization
error. The power of the resulting quantization noise is
a. ∆2
b. ∆2
4
c. ∆2
3
d. ∆2
12

3. Quantization is used to map

a. A Continuous time signal to discrete time signal
b. A Continuous time aperiodic signal to a power signal
c. A random continuous time signal to a deterministic discrete time signal
d. Samples of a continuous time signal to discrete set of values
Previous Lecture’s Review Questions - Answers
1. Uniform Quantizers with an even number of quantization levels is known as
a. Mid trade quantizer
b. Mid rise quantizer
c. PCM
d. DM
2. Consider Quantization step size of ∆ and uniformly distributed quantization
error. The power of the resulting quantization noise is
a. ∆2
b. ∆2
4
c. ∆2
3
d. ∆2
12

3. Quantization is used to map

a. A Continuous time signal to discrete time signal
b. A Continuous time aperiodic signal to a power signal
c. A random continuous time signal to a deterministic discrete time signal
d. Samples of a continuous time signal to discrete set of values
 Syllabus
• Pulse Code Modulation system-
• Generation
• Reconstruction
Analog to Digital Conversion
Pulse Code Modulation
• PCM is used to convert analog signal into digital data.
• Steps in PCM-
1. Sampling - Converts continuous time signal to discrete time signal
2. Quantization - Converts Samples of a continuous time signal to discrete set
of values
3. Encoding
Pulse Code Modulation
Pulse Code Modulation
Pulse Code Modulation- Electrical representation
of binary digits
Pulse Code Modulation system:
Generation & Reconstruction
Pulse Code Modulation system:
Advantages:
1. It reduces noise interference.

Disadvantages:
1. Systems are complex compared to analog pulse modulation.
2. Channel B.W. is increased because of digital coding of analog pulses.
 Differential Pulse code modulation
• PCM is not really efficient because it generates so many bits taking up a
lot of bandwidth.
• Then we can express the difference between two adjacent samples as d[k]
= m[k] – m[k-1]
• At the receiver knowing d[k] and the previous value of m[k-1] allows us
to construct the value of m[k].
DPCM Transmitter
The signals at each point are named as −
• x(nTs)is the sampled input
• xˆ(nTs) is the predicted sample
• e(nTs)) is the difference of sampled input
and predicted output, often called as
prediction error
• v(nTs) is the quantized output
• u(nTs) is the predictor input which is
actually the summer output of the
predictor output and the quantizer output
 DPCM Transmitter
The predictor produces the assumed samples from the previous outputs of
the transmitter circuit. The input to this predictor is the quantized versions of
the input signal x(nTs).
Quantizer Output is represented as −
v(nTs)=Q[e(nTs)]=e(nTs)+q(nTs)
• Where q (nTs) is the quantization error

• Predictor input is the sum of quantizer output and predictor output,

u(nTs)=xˆ(nTs)+v(nTs)
u(nTs)=xˆ(nTs)+e(nTs)+q(nTs)
u(nTs)=x(nTs)+q(nTs)
DPCM Receiver
• The block diagram of DPCM
Receiver consists of a decoder, a
predictor, and a summer circuit.
• The predictor assumes a value, based
on the previous outputs. The input
given to the decoder is processed and
that output is summed up with the
output of the predictor, to obtain a
better output.
 Delta Modulation
• The sampling rate of a signal should be higher than the Nyquist rate, to
achieve better sampling.
• In PCM the signaling rate and transmission channel bandwidth are quite large
since it transmits all the bits which are used to code a sample. To overcome
this problem, Delta modulation is used.
• Delta modulation transmits only one bit per sample. Here, the present sample
value is compared with the previous sample value and this result whether the
amplitude is increased or decreased is transmitted.
• Input signal x(t) is approximated to step signal by the delta modulator. This
step size is kept fixed.
• The difference between the input signal x(t) and staircase approximated signal
is confined to two levels, i.e., +Δ and -Δ.
 Delta Modulation
• Now, if the difference is positive, then approximated signal is increased by one
step, i.e., ‘Δ’. If the difference is negative, then approximated signal is reduced
by ‘Δ’ .
• When the step is reduced, ‘0’ is transmitted and if the step is increased, ‘1’ is
transmitted.
• Hence, for each sample, only one binary bit is transmitted.
Delta Modulation
 Delta Modulation (DM)

Let mn m(nTs ) , n  0,1,2,….

where Ts is the sampling period and m(nTs ) is a sample of m(t). The error signal is
en mn mq n 1
eq n sgn(en)
mq n mq n 1 eq n

where mq nis the quantizer output , eq n is the quantized version of en, and  is the step size
 Delta Modulation: Transmitter

en mn mq n 1

eq n sgn(en)

mq n mq n 1 eq n

where mq nis the quantizer output , eq n is the quantized version of en, and  is the step size
 Delta Modulation: Receiver

• Receiver or delta demodulator, it comprises of a low pass filter(LPF), a summer, and

a delay circuit.
• The accumulator generates the staircase approximated signal output and is delayed by
one sampling period Ts.
• It is then added to the input signal.
• If the input is binary ‘1’ then it adds +Δ step to the previous output (which is
delayed).
• If the input is binary ‘0’ then one step ‘Δ’ is subtracted from the delayed signal.
 Delta Modulation
• Advantages of DM
• 1-bit quantizer
• Very easy design of the modulator and the demodulator

• However, there exists some noise in DM.

• Slope Over load distortion (when Δ is small)
• Granular noise (when Δ is large)
Delta Modulation
 Adaptive Delta Modulation
• In digital modulation, we have come across certain problem of
determining the step-size, which influences the quality of the output
wave.
• A larger step-size is needed in the steep slope of modulating signal and a
smaller step size is needed where the message has a small slope.
• The minute details get missed in the process. So, it would be better if we
can control the adjustment of step-size, according to our requirement in
order to obtain the sampling in a desired fashion.
 Adaptive Delta Modulation
• In order to overcome the quantization errors due to slope
overload and granular noise, the step size (Δ) is made adaptive to
variations in the input signal x(t).
• Particularly in the steep segment of the signal x(t), the step size is
increased. And the step is decreased when the input is varying slowly.
• This method is known as Adaptive Delta Modulation (ADM).
Adaptive Delta Modulation
Adaptive Delta Modulation: Transmitter
• The transmitter circuit consists of a summer,
quantizer, Delay circuit, and a logic circuit for step
size control.
• The baseband signal X(nTs) is given as input to the
circuit. The feedback circuit present in the transmitter
is an Integrator.
• The integrator generates the staircase approximation
of the previous sample.
• At the summer circuit, the difference between the
present sample and staircase approximation of
previous sample e(nTs) is calculated.
• This error signal is passed to the quantizer, where a
quantized value is generated.
• The step size control block controls the step size of
the next approximation based on either the quantized
value is high or low.
 Adaptive Delta Modulation: Receiver

• At the receiver end Demodulation takes place. The receiver has two parts. First part is the
step size control. Here the received signal is passed through a logic step size control
block, where the step size is produced from each incoming bit.
• Step size is decided based on present and previous input. In the second part of the
receiver, the accumulator circuit recreates the staircase signal. This waveform is then
applied to a low pass filter which smoothens the waveform and recreates the original
signal.
 Adaptive Delta Modulation
• Advantages
• During demodulation, it uses a low pass filter which removes the quantized
noise.
• The slope overload error and granular error present in delta modulation are
solved using this modulation. Because of this, the signal to noise ratio of this
modulation is better than delta modulation.
• In the presence of bit errors, this modulation provides robust performance.
This reduces the need for error detection and correction circuits in radio
design.
• The dynamic range of Adaptive delta modulation is large as the variable step
size covers large range of values.
 Difference Between
PCM, DM, ADM and DPCM
BASIS OF
PCM DM ADM DPCM
COMPARISON
It can use 4,8 or 16 bits It uses one bit for one It uses only one bit for one Bits can be more than one
Number of Bits per sample. sample. sample. but are less than PCM.

Levels And Step The number of levels Step size is kept fixed and Step size varies according Number of levels is fixed.
depends on number of cannot be varied. to the signal variation.
Size bits. Level size is fixed.
Quantization Quantization error Quantization noise is Slope overload distortion
Slope-overload
depends on the number of is present. distortion present but no other and quantization noise is
Error &
Distortion levels. errors. present.
Highest bandwidth is
Bandwidth required since the number Lowest bandwidth is
required.
Lowest bandwidth is
required.
Bandwidth required is less
than PCM.
of bits is high.
There is no feedback in Feedback exists in the Feedback exists in the Feedback exists in the
Feedback transmitter or receiver. transmitter. transmitter. transmitter.
Complex system to Simple to implement Simple to implement. Simple to implement.
Complexity implement.
Thank You
Questions
1. How PCM is Different from PAM?
2. What is PCM Coding Efficiency?
3. What are benefits of using regenerative repeater in PCM
communication link?
4. What is transmission bandwidth of PCM?
5. Explain algorithm of ADM.
Questions
1. An audio signal is required to be digitally transmitted with a sampling
rate of 40 kHz and 14 bits per sample using linear PCM system.
Calculate the minimum transmission data rate needed in the
communications channel.
2. A composite video signal with a baseband frequency range from zero
to 4 MHz is transmitted by linear PCM, using 8 bits per sample and a
sampling rate of 10 MHz.
(a) Determine the number of quantization levels.
(b) Calculate the transmission bit rate.
(c) Compute the maximum signal-to-noise ratio in dB.
(d) What is the type of noise introduced in this process?
Questions
1. A PCM system is used for an analog signal with maximum frequency
of 4 kHz. If the minimum dynamic range of quantizer used is 46 dB,
and the maximum decoded voltage at the receiver is ± 2.55 V,
determine
(a) the minimum sampling rate
(b) the minimum number of bits used in the PCM code
(c) the resolution
(d) the maximum quantization error
(e) the coding efficiency
Questions
1. Consider a PCM system with a m-law compressor having m = 255. Let the
maximum input voltage be 4 V. Compute the amount of compression in dB
(input dynamic range minus output dynamic range) for the relative values of
input voltage excursion ranging from 0.25 Vmax to Vmax.
2. Consider an analog input signal to PCM whose bandwidth is limited to 4
kHz and varies in amplitude from – 3.8 V to + 3.8 V, with an average power
of 30 mW. The required signal-to-quantization error ratio is given to be 20
dB. Assuming uniform quantization, determine the number of bits required
per sample.
3. What is PCM Transmission Speed?
4. What are basic functions performed by a regenerative repeater?
Questions
1. The bandwidth of TV signal is 4.5 MHz. If this signal is converted into
PCM signal with sampling rate 20% above the Nyquist rate, and using 1024
quantization levels, determine the number of bits per sample, sampling
frequency, and the required bit rate of the PCM signal.
2. A delta modulator system is designed to operate at five times the Nyquist
rate for an analog information signal band-limited to 3 kHz. The quantizing
step size is 40 mV. Determine the maximum allowable amplitude of input
analog signal for which the delta modulator does not experience
slopeoverload distortion.
3. Explain a need of a Predictor in DPCM.
4. How is DM different from PCM and PAM?
Questions
1. Compare the features of DPCM and PCM.
2. What are transmission bandwidth requirement of DM?
3. Define Slope Over load distortion.
4. Define Granular noise.
5. What should be done to reduce slope overload distortion?
6. What should be done to reduce granular noise?
7. How is slope overload and granular noise reduced in ADM?
Questions
1. A television signal having a bandwidth of 4.2 MHz is transmitted
having binary PCM system. Given that the number of quantization
levels is 512, determine code word length, transmission bandwidth, and
final bit rate.
2. A PCM system uses a uniform quantizer followed by a 7 bit binary
encoder. The data rate of the system is 56 Mbps. What is the
maximum bandwidth of the information signal for which the system
operates satisfactorily?
3. Explain algorithm of DM.