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DIGITAL PULSE MODULATION

Modulation is the process of varying one or more parameters of a carrier signal in accordance
with the instantaneous values of the message signal.

1. PULSE CODE MODULATION(PCM)

The message signal is the signal which is being transmitted for communication and the carrier
signal is a high frequency signal which has no data, but is used for long distance transmission.
There are many modulation techniques, which are classified according to the type of modulation
employed. Of them all, the digital modulation technique used is Pulse Code Modulation
(PCM).
A signal is pulse code modulated to convert its analog information into a binary sequence, i.e., 1s
and 0s. The output of a PCM will resemble a binary sequence. The following figure shows an
example of PCM output with respect to instantaneous values of a given sine wave.

Instead of a pulse train, PCM produces a series of numbers or digits, and hence this process is
called as digital. Each one of these digits, though in binary code, represent the approximate
amplitude of the signal sample at that instant.
In Pulse Code Modulation, the message signal is represented by a sequence of coded pulses. This
message signal is achieved by representing the signal in discrete form in both time and
amplitude.

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Basic Elements of PCM

The transmitter section of a Pulse Code Modulator circuit consists of Sampling,

Quantizing and Encoding, which are performed in the analog-to-digital converter section. The
low pass filter prior to sampling prevents aliasing of the message signal.
The basic operations in the receiver section are regeneration of impaired signals,
decoding, and reconstruction of the quantized pulse train. Following is the block diagram of
PCM which represents the basic elements of both the transmitter and the receiver sections.

 Low Pass Filter

This filter eliminates the high frequency components present in the input analog signal which
is greater than the highest frequency of the message signal, to avoid aliasing of the message
signal.
 Sampler
This is the technique which helps to collect the sample data at instantaneous values of message
signal, so as to reconstruct the original signal. The sampling rate must be greater than twice the
highest frequency component W of the message signal, in accordance with the sampling
theorem.
 Quantizer
Quantizing is a process of reducing the excessive bits and confining the data. The
sampled output when given to Quantizer reduces the redundant bits and compresses the

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value.

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  Encoder

Encoder assigns code words to quantized sampled values. This coding techniques uses bits 0 and
1. If number of quantized levels are 16 then each sample is assigned with 4 bit code word.

 Regenerative repeater:

The PCM has an ability to control the distortion and noise caused by the transmission of bits along
the channel. This ability is accomplished by several regenerative repeaters located at sufficient
placing along channel.

Regenerative repeaters have three functions.

1. Equalizing
2. Timing circuits
3. Decision making device

Equalizer shapes the received pulse so as to compensate amplitude and phase distortion caused by the
channel.

Timing circuits provides periodic pulse trains.

 Decision making device compares amplitude of equalized pulse plus noise to the pre-defined
threshold levels to make decisions whether the pulse is present or not.
 If the pulse is present (i.e. decision is yes), clean new pulse is generated and transmitted
through channel to next regenerative pulse. If the pulse is not present (i.e. the decision is no),
it generates clean base line to next regenerative repeater, provided the noise too large caused
bit error by taking the wrong decision

 Decoder

Decoder reboots all the received bits to make more words then it decodes as quantized PAM signals.

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  Reconstruction Filter:
All coded words are passed through low pass filter so that analog signal can be reconstructed from
quantized PAM signal.The cut off frequency of low pass filter is f m Hz which is equal to band width
of message signal.

 Destination
It receives the signal from the reconstructive filter output is analog signal.

Fig.PCM waveform

Bit rate and bandwidth requirements of PCM :

 The bit rate of a PCM signal can be calculated form the number of bits per sample ×
the sampling rate. Bit rate =𝑛𝑏×𝑓𝑠 The bandwidth required to transmit this signal
depends on the type of line encoding used.
 A digitized signal will always need more bandwidth than the original analog signal.
Price we pay for robustness and other features of digital transmission.

Important Relations
 Quantization Noise (𝑁𝑞)=Δ2/2
 Signal to Noise ratio
(𝑆𝑄𝑁𝑅)=32.22𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑄𝑁𝑅 𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝐵=1.76+6.02𝑛≅(1.8+6𝑛)𝑑𝐵
 𝐵𝑖𝑡 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒=𝑁𝑜.𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒×𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒=𝑛𝑓𝑠
 Bandwidth for PCM signal
=n.fm Where,
n – No. of bits in PCM code
Fm – signal bandwidth
fs – sampling rate

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  Advantages of digital pulse modulation
Digital Pulse Modulation (DPM) is a broad term that encompasses various modulation techniques used in

digital communication systems. Some common advantages of digital pulse modulation techniques

include:

1. Improved Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): Digital pulse modulation techniques typically provide better

SNR compared to analog modulation methods. This is because digital signals are less susceptible to noise

and interference, resulting in clearer and more reliable communication.

2. Robustness to Channel Distortion: Digital pulse modulation techniques are often more robust to

channel distortion, such as attenuation, dispersion, and distortion, compared to analog modulation. This

makes them suitable for transmission over long distances and through challenging environments.

3. Efficient Bandwidth Utilization: Digital pulse modulation techniques can often achieve higher spectral

efficiency and better bandwidth utilization compared to analog modulation. This allows for more efficient

use of available communication channels and increased data transmission rates.

4. Flexibility and Versatility: Digital pulse modulation techniques offer greater flexibility and versatility in

signal processing and modulation schemes. This enables the implementation of various modulation

formats, coding schemes, and error correction techniques to optimize performance for specific

communication requirements.

5. Ease of Integration with Digital Systems: Digital pulse modulation techniques can be easily integrated

with digital signal processing (DSP) systems, enabling advanced signal processing functionalities such as

filtering, equalization, and modulation/demodulation operations. This facilitates seamless integration

into modern digital communication networks and systems.

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6. Security: Digital pulse modulation techniques can incorporate encryption and other security measures to

protect transmitted data from unauthorized access and interception. This is particularly important for

secure communication applications such as military, government, and financial systems.

7. Adaptability to Multi-Channel Systems: Digital pulse modulation techniques can be efficiently

multiplexed to transmit multiple signals over the same communication channel. This enables the

implementation of multi-channel communication systems with increased capacity and scalability.

8. Ease of Implementation: With advancements in digital signal processing technology, implementing

digital pulse modulation techniques has become more accessible and cost-effective. This allows for the

development of sophisticated communication systems with improved performance and reliability.

Overall, digital pulse modulation techniques offer several advantages over analog modulation methods,

including improved SNR, robustness to channel distortion, efficient bandwidth utilization, flexibility,

security, and ease of integration with digital systems. These advantages make them widely used in

modern digital communication systems across various applications and industries.

 Disadvantages of digital pulse modulation

While digital pulse modulation techniques offer numerous advantages, they also come with some

disadvantages:

1. Complexity: Digital pulse modulation techniques often require more complex hardware and signal

processing algorithms compared to analog modulation methods. This complexity can increase the cost

and power consumption of communication systems, especially for high-speed and high-precision

applications.

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2. Quantization Error: Digital pulse modulation involves quantizing analog signals into discrete digital

values. Quantization introduces quantization error, which can degrade signal quality, particularly at low

bit depths or in applications requiring high precision.

3. Sampling Rate Requirements: Digital pulse modulation techniques require adequate sampling rates to

accurately represent the analog signal. Insufficient sampling rates can lead to aliasing and distortion,

impacting the fidelity of the transmitted signal.

4. Signal Bandwidth Limitations: Digital pulse modulation techniques are subject to signal bandwidth

limitations imposed by the Nyquist theorem. This limits the maximum frequency range that can be

accurately represented by the digital signal, potentially leading to signal distortion or loss of information.

5. Non-linear Distortion: In certain cases, nonlinear distortion can occur due to signal processing

operations such as modulation, filtering, and quantization. Nonlinear distortion can introduce unwanted

harmonics and intermodulation products, affecting signal quality.

6. Latency: Digital pulse modulation techniques may introduce processing delays and latency, especially in

systems with complex signal processing algorithms or high data throughput requirements. This latency

can impact real-time applications such as audio and video streaming or telecommunication.

7. Vulnerability to Digital Errors: Digital pulse modulation techniques are susceptible to digital errors,

such as quantization errors, transmission errors, and synchronization issues. These errors can degrade

signal quality and reliability, necessitating error correction and detection mechanisms.

8. High Data Rates: Some digital pulse modulation techniques, particularly those with high data rates or

complex modulation schemes, may require significant bandwidth and computational resources for

transmission and processing. This can pose challenges in terms of infrastructure and system scalability.

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  Application of digital pulse modulation

Digital pulse modulation (DPM) finds applications in various fields due to its advantages in signal
processing, robustness, and efficiency. Here are some common applications:

1. Digital Communication Systems: DPM is widely used in digital communication systems, including
wireless communication, satellite communication, and optical communication. Techniques such as Pulse
Amplitude Modulation (PAM), Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), and Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) are
employed for transmitting digital data over communication channels.
2. Digital Audio: In digital audio systems, DPM techniques are used for encoding, transmitting, and storing
audio signals in digital form. Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) is a common DPM technique used in digital
audio applications such as CDs, DVDs, digital audio broadcasting, and digital audio players.
3. Digital Television: DPM techniques are utilized in digital television broadcasting standards such as ATSC
(Advanced Television Systems Committee) and DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting). These standards
employ various forms of digital modulation, including Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), to
transmit video, audio, and data signals over terrestrial, cable, and satellite networks.
4. Digital Control Systems: DPM techniques are employed in digital control systems for controlling and
regulating various processes and systems. Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is commonly used for
controlling the speed of electric motors, regulating power converters, and implementing digital control
loops in industrial automation and robotics.
5. Digital Instrumentation: DPM techniques are used in digital instrumentation systems for measuring,
analyzing, and processing signals in scientific, medical, and industrial applications. Techniques such as
Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) and Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) are employed for digitizing and
transmitting analog signals from sensors, transducers, and instruments.

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