ELG3175

Differential Pulse Code Modulation

and Delta Modulation

Differential PCM
In PCM, the data rate is Nfs, where fs = sampling rate and N =
number of bits per sample.
Consecutive samples are encoded independently.
L = 2N is the number of quantization levels and depends on the
dynamic range, -mp < m(nTs) < mp.
When we sample at the Nyquist rate or higher, consecutive
samples are correlated, which means the dynamic range of
m(nTs)-mQ((n-1)Ts), is much smaller than the dynamic range of
m(nTs).
In differential pulse code modulation (DPCM), it is the difference
between the current sample and the previous quantized sample
that is encoded.

DPCM structure

m(nTs)
+

c(nTs)
+
mQ(nTs)

cQ(nTs) = c(nTs)+eQ(nTs)
Q
T=1

To encoder
+

DPCM Receiver

cQ(nTs)
+

mQ(nTs)
T=1

Advantages and disadvantages

Dynamic range of quantizer is smaller
Same N (compared to PCM)
Lower quantization noise
Same quantization noise
Lower N = Lower bit rate
Error propagation
If an error detecting mQ(nTs), this error is added into all
future samples as current detected sample depends on
previous ones.

Delta Modulation (DM)

Extreme version of DPCM.
Difference between current sample and previous quantized
sample is encoded by one bit.
If m(nTs)-mQ((n-1)Ts)>0, transmitted bit = 1
If m(nTs)-mQ((n-1)Ts)<0, transmitted bit = 0.
At receiver, if received bit = 1, receiver adds to previous
quantized sample value to estimate current sample value
If received bit = 0, receiver subtracts from previous quantized
value to obtain current value.

Granular noise and slope overload in

DM
Granular noise occurs when there are relative flat sections in
m(t) and the encoder produces 1010101 output (effect of having
a large ).
Slope overload occurs when m(t) increases of decreases too
rapidly for the receiver to keep up
Results in the transmission of many 1s or many 0s in
succession
Solution: Adaptive DM (ADM).