Introduction to PCM

Siemens

Introduction to PCM

Contents
1 2 Introduction Advantages of Digital Transmission 3 9

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Introduction to PCM

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Introduction

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Introduction to PCM

When telephone communication began individual connecting paths were used, i.e. a separate pair of wires was used for every telephone connection. This was known as space-division multiplex (SDM) on account of the fact that a multitude of lines were arranged physically next to each other. Since a particularly large proportion of capital is invested in the line plant, efforts were made at an early stage to make multiple use of at least those lines used for long-range communications. This led to the introduction of frequency-division multiplex (FDM). FDM is used in analog systems. It is not the only way of making multiple use of lines however. Another possibility is offered by time-division multiplex (TDM). Here the transmitted telephone signals are separated in time. Fig. 1 shows a period containing 32 time slots. This subdivision is repeated every 125 s in consecutive periods. One time slot in each of the consecutive periods is allocated to each telephone signal.

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29 30 31 32 t

125 s

Period, subdivided into 32 time slots, each approx. 3.9 s

Fig. 1 Time-division multiplex

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Introduction to PCM

Sampling Theorem The principle of time-division multiplex is based on the theory that a complete waveform is not required in order to transmit signals such as those encountered in telephony. It is sufficient to sample the waveform at regular intervals and to only transmit these samples. When a waveform is sampled, a train of short pulses is produced. The amplitude of each pulse represents the amplitude of the waveform at the specific sampling instants. This conversion is known as pulse amplitude modulation (PAM). The envelope of the PAM signal reflects the original form of the curve. Relatively large intervals occur between each sample. These intervals can be used for transmitting other PAM signals, i.e. the samples of several different telephone signals can be transmitted one after the other in repeated cycles.

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a V

Fig. 2 Periodic sampling of the analog telephone signal a

Fig. 3 PAM signal consisting of the samples of analog telephone signal a

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Pulse Code Modulation If the waveform samples, i.e. the pulses with differing amplitudes, are converted to binary character signals, the term pulse code modulation (PCM) is used. During this process the pulse-like samples are quantized and coded - 8 bits are normally used here. When the PCM signals of several telephone signals are interleaved they produce a PCM time-division multiplex signal. PCM time-division multiplex signals permit the multiple use of lines and electronic circuits. Moreover, owing to the digital nature of the information, PCM signals are much less sensitive to interference than are analog signals (e.g. PAM signals). Progress in recent years in semiconductor technology has made pulse code modulation economically attractive for telephone switching equipment. It has thus become possible to replace the "analog" switching equipment used up to now with fully electronic "digital" telephone systems.

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Advantages of Digital Transmission

Digital telephone systems offer the following advantages over analog systems: digital technology used throughout the system (high noise immunity) multiple use of lines and exchange equipment by means of time-division multiplex each speech direction has a separate channel (corresponding to the 4-wire circuits used for analog systems) low space requirements switching network with high traffic capacity, and negligible internal blocking several services can be integrated within a single network: telephony, all types of data transmission and high-speed telecopying e.g.

Advantages of Digital Telephones

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Separate digital channel for each speech direction right up to the subscriber. This creates more favorable conditions for facilities such as those required for handsfree operation A signaling channel is always available in both directions between the telephone and the public exchange. Features such as calling subscriber number display, letter box function, mixed communication, etc., will thus be possible in the alldigital networks of the future.

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