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Non-Uniform Quantization in Communication

This document summarizes key points from Lecture 16 on quantization in Communication Theory. It discusses issues with uniform quantization for non-uniformly distributed signals like speech and music. The solution is non-uniform quantization with smaller quantization intervals near zero to better represent small amplitudes. This can be achieved by first compressing the signal and then using uniform quantization. The document outlines μ-law and A-law compression standards used to equalize SNR over a wide dynamic range. A compandor combines a compressor and expander to compress signals before quantization and restore them at the receiver.

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7 views6 pages

Non-Uniform Quantization in Communication

This document summarizes key points from Lecture 16 on quantization in Communication Theory. It discusses issues with uniform quantization for non-uniformly distributed signals like speech and music. The solution is non-uniform quantization with smaller quantization intervals near zero to better represent small amplitudes. This can be achieved by first compressing the signal and then using uniform quantization. The document outlines μ-law and A-law compression standards used to equalize SNR over a wide dynamic range. A compandor combines a compressor and expander to compress signals before quantization and restore them at the receiver.

Uploaded by

Md.Arifur Rahman
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

EEE 309

Communication Theory
Instructor: Tishna Sabrina
Summer 2016
Lecture 16
Quantization

Issues in Quantization

Recall that, .

SNR is an indication of the quality of the received signal.


Problems with uniform quantization:
1.
Only optimal for uniformly distributed signal.
2.
Many signals such as speech have a non uniform distribution.
3.
Real audio signals (speech and music) are more concentrated
near zeros.
4.
Human ear is more sensitive to quantization errors at small
values
Solution using non uniform quantization quantization interval is
smaller near zero.

8/3/2016

Communication Theory: Lecture 16

Non Uniform Quantization

The quantization noise


is directly proportional to the square
of the step size.
So the solution uses smaller steps for smaller amplitudes (non uniform
quantization).
The same result is obtained by first compressing the signal sample and then
using a uniform quantization.

8/3/2016

Communication Theory: Lecture 16

Signal Compression for Equalizing SNR

The horizontal axis is the normalized input signal (


).
The vertical axis is the output signal y.
The compressor maps input signal increment
into larger increments
for for small input signals and vice versa for large input signals.
Hence, a given interval
contains a larger number of steps or smaller
step size when m is small.
The quantization noise is lower for smaller input signal power.
Among several choices, 2 compression
laws have been accepted by the ITU-T:
1.
The -law: used in NA & Japan
2.
The A-law: used in Europe & rest
Both the curves have odd symmetry
about the vertical axis.
This approach of equalizing SNR appears
similar to the use of progressive income tax to equalize incomes.

8/3/2016

Communication Theory: Lecture 16

Compression Laws

The -law for positive amplitudes,

The A-law for positive amplitudes,

The compression parameter or A determines the


degree of compression.
To obtain a nearly constant SNR over a dynamic range
of 40dB input power, should be greater than 100.
For all NA 8-bit digital terminals, an optimum value
=255 has been used.
For the A-law, A=87.6 gives comparable results and
has been standardized by ITU-T.

8/3/2016

Communication Theory: Lecture 16

Compandor

The compressed samples must be restored to their original values at the


receiver by using an expander with a characteristic complementary to
that of the compressor.
The compressor and the expander together are called Compandor.
Generally time compression of a signal increases its BW.
But in PCM, we are compressing not the signal m(t) in time but its
sample values.
As neither the time scale nor the number
of samples changes, the problem of BW
increase does not arise here.
When a -law compandor is used, the
output SNR is,

8/3/2016

Communication Theory: Lecture 16

Common questions

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Non-uniform quantization interval adjustments significantly impact human auditory perception by enhancing sound quality where the human ear is most sensitive. By reducing step sizes at smaller amplitudes, audio signals maintain higher fidelity and reduce perceptual quantization noise. This is crucial for speech and music, where slight errors at low amplitudes can be more noticeable and detrimental to perceived sound quality .

Non-uniform quantization is preferred for signals like speech because these signals have non-uniform distributions and are more concentrated near zero. Humans are also more sensitive to quantization errors at small values. Non-uniform quantization uses smaller quantization intervals for smaller amplitude values, which reduces quantization noise by employing smaller steps where the signal amplitudes are low .

A compandor, which includes both a compressor and an expander, is crucial in signal processing to restore compressed signal samples to their original values at the receiver. This restoration is necessary for maintaining the integrity of the received signals, especially after applying non-uniform quantization techniques like μ-law and A-law for dynamic signal range compression .

Signal compression achieves equalizing SNR by mapping input signal increments into larger increments for small input signals and smaller increments for large input signals, thus making the SNR nearly constant over a wide dynamic range. This results in fewer quantization errors for low-power signals. The analogy used to explain this approach is the progressive income tax system, which aims to equalize incomes; similarly, compression seeks to equalize the SNR by adjusting signal increments based on their amplitude .

Under non-uniform quantization laws, input signal compression maps smaller input signal increments into relatively larger output increments for small signals, and vice versa for large signals, resulting in varied quantization step sizes. Mathematically, this is reflected in the compression functions—such as μ-law and A-law—applied prior to uniform quantization, allowing quantization noise to be minimized across varying signal power levels. Thus, smaller intervals and steps lead to more precise quantization at lower amplitudes .

μ-values greater than 100 in μ-law compression are significant for achieving a nearly constant SNR over a broad dynamic range, roughly 40dB of input power. This constancy is essential for maintaining sound quality across different signal magnitudes. The choice of an optimal μ-value, such as 255 used in North America for 8-bit digital terminals, exemplifies this practical application, ensuring high-quality audio transmission in telecommunications .

In non-uniform quantization, the quantization noise is directly proportional to the square of the step size. By using smaller steps for smaller amplitudes, non-uniform quantization reduces quantization noise, particularly for low-power signal regions where reducing errors is critical for maintaining sound quality .

The μ-law and A-law compression laws are effective for specific regions due to their adaptation to local standards and communication infrastructure. The μ-law, used in North America and Japan, achieves a nearly constant SNR over a dynamic range with a high μ value, typically 255, which suits the digital terminals used there. In contrast, the A-law, standardized with A=87.6, is used in Europe and other regions, aligning with the regional telecommunication standards set by ITU-T .

Time compression is generally connected with increased bandwidth because compressing signal time intervals often involves transmitting more information in shorter periods, raising bandwidth requirements. However, in Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), only the sample values are compressed, not the entire signal time scale or the number of samples. This method avoids bandwidth increase by ensuring the compression does not alter the signal's total or sampling count .

The compressor and expander in a compandor are designed with complementary characteristics to ensure accurate signal reconstruction at the receiver. The compressor first compresses the dynamic range of the input signal, reducing its amplitude variations, while the expander at the receiver applies the reverse process to restore the original signal dynamics. This complementary operation is crucial for ensuring that compressed signals maintain their original quality when decompressed .

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