TE2201 Communication Systems

Lecture Note -3
Differential Pules Code Modulation, Delta Modulation and Line Coding

Differential Pulse Code Modulation (DPCM)

Why DPCM???
Naturally occurring signals such as voice and video signals have high correlation, i.e., follow
the same pattern or have similar amplitudes or repetitiveness. That causes high redundancy.
(Same information is passed again and again, and which is not needed)
So the bit rate can be significantly reduced by reducing the redundancy of the signals.
DPCM reduces the redundancy by predicting the signal and quantizing (and encoding) the
difference between the actual and predicted samples.

DPCM Transmitter

where x[n] is the sampled input, xp [n] is the predicted sample, e[n] is the difference of
sampled input and predicted output, often called as prediction error, eq [n] is the quantized
output and xq [n] is the predictor input which is actually the summery of actual input.
Predictor
Predictor produce an educated guess of x[n] from the previous quantized outputs. The
predictor can have complex optimal prediction algorithms based on the number of previous
quantized outputs and can be represented as function as follows

xp [n] = f {xq [n − 1], xq [n − 2], xq [n − 3], . . . , xq [n − L]}

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DPCM Receiver

The DPCM receiver uses the same predictor in the DPCM transmitter.
In the absence of noise, the receiver input will be the same as the transmitter quantized
output.
As mentioned before, the predictor assumes a value, based on the previous outputs. The
input given is summed up with the output of the predictor, to obtain a better output.

Delta Modulation

Delta Modulation is a simplified form of DPCM technique, also viewed as 1-bit DPCM
scheme.
In this modulation the sampling rate is much higher and the stepsize after quantization is
of a smaller value ∆, thus it is termed as delta modulation.
Characteristics of Delta Modulation

• An over-sampled input is taken to make full use of the signal correlation

• The quantization design is simple

• The input sequence is much higher than the Nyquist rate

• The quality is moderate

• The design of the modulator and the demodulator is simple

• The stair-case approximation of output waveform

• The step-size is very small, i.e., ∆ (delta)

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 • The bit rate can be decided by the user

• This involves simpler implementation

Delta Modulator

The Delta Modulator comprises of a 1-bit quantizer and a delay circuit along with two sum-
mer circuits. The predictor circuit in DPCM is replaced by a simple delay circuit in delta
modulation. A Stair-case approximated waveform will be the output of the delta modulator
with the step-size as delta (∆). The output quality of the waveform is moderate. Also the
initial value of the predictor is set to be zero.

Ideal Delta Modulator Wave Form

What happen if we have different slopes?

Then the modulator stair-case waveform cannot able to follow the actual waveform and
generate two types of quantization noises. They are Slope-overload distortion and Granular
noise.

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 • Slope-overload distortion

– The approximation signal (stair-case signal) falls behind the original signal and
take too long to track
– Occurs when the step size is too small

• Granular noise

– The approximation signal (stair-case) hunts around a flat segment and fails to
track original value
– Occurs when the step size is too large

Quantization Noises in Delta Modulator Wave Form

Delta Demodulator

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The delta demodulator comprises of a low pass filter, a summer, and a delay circuit. The
predictor circuit is simply a delay circuit here.

Comparison of PCM, DPCM and DM

Line Codes

A line code is the code used for the transmission of digital data using a digital signal
over a transmission line. This process of coding is chosen so as to avoid overlap and distor-
tion of signal such as inter-symbol interference.

Where the line coding is categorized?

• Analog data to Analog signals : The modulation techniques such as Amplitude

Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation(FM) and Phase Modulation of analog sig-
nals, fall under this category
• Analog data to Digital signals : This process can be termed as digitization, which
is done by Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)
• Digital data to Analog signals : The modulation techniques such as Amplitude

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 Shift Keying (ASK), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) , Phase Shift Keying (PSK), etc.,
fall under this category
• Digital data to Digital signals : Line codes are come under in this section

Properties of line codes

• As the coding is done to make more bits transmit on a single signal, the bandwidth
used is much reduced.

• For a given bandwidth, the power is efficiently used.

• The probability of error is much reduced.

• Error detection is done and the bipolar too has a correction capability.

• Power density is much favorable.

• The timing content is adequate.

• Long strings of 1s and 0s is avoided to maintain transparency.

Types of Line Codes

There are 3 types of Line Coding
Unipolar
Polar
Bi-polar
Unipolar Signaling
Unipolar signaling is also called as On-Off Keying or simply OOK. The presence of pulse
represents a 1 and the absence of pulse represents a 0. There are two variations in Unipolar
signaling
Non Return to Zero (NRZ)
Return to Zero (RZ)
Unipolar Non-Return to Zero (NRZ)
In this type of unipolar signaling, a High in data is represented by a positive pulse called as
Mark, which has a duration equal to the symbol bit duration. A Low in data input has no
pulse.
Advantages
+ It is simple
+ A lesser bandwidth is required
Disadvantages
− No error correction done
− Presence of low frequency components may cause the signal droop
− Loss of synchronization is likely to occur (especially for long strings of 1s and 0s)

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Unipolar Non-Return to Zero

Unipolar Return to Zero (RZ)

In this type of unipolar signaling, a High in data, though represented by a Mark pulse, its
duration less than the symbol bit duration. Half of the bit duration remains high but it
immediately returns to zero and shows the absence of pulse during the remaining half of the
bit duration.
Unipolar Return to Zero

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Advantages
+ It is simple
+ The spectral line present at the symbol rate can be used as a clock
Disadvantages
− No error correction done
− Occupies twice the bandwidth as unipolar NRZ.
− Loss of synchronization is likely to occur (especially for long strings of 1s and 0s)
Polar Signaling
Polar signaling is done with having +v and −v voltage levels to represent 1s and 0s re-
spectively rather than +v and 0 in unipolar signaling. There are two variations in polar
signaling
Polar Non Return to Zero (Polar NRZ)
Polar Return to Zero (Polar RZ)
Polar Non-Return to Zero (Polar NRZ)
In this type of Polar signaling, a High in data is represented by a positive pulse, while a Low
in data is represented by a negative pulse.

Polar Non-Return to Zero

Advantages
+ It is simple
+ No low-frequency components are present
Disadvantages
− No error correction done
− No clock present

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 − Loss of synchronization is likely to occur (especially for long strings of 1s and 0s)
Polar Return to Zero (RZ)
In this type of Polar signaling, a High in data, though represented by a Mark pulse, its
duration is less than the symbol bit duration. Half of the bit duration remains high but it
immediately returns to zero and shows the absence of pulse during the remaining half of the
bit duration. However, for a Low input, a negative pulse represents the data, and the zero
level remains same for the other half of the bit duration.
Polar Return to Zero

Advantages
+ It is simple
+ The spectral line present at the symbol rate can be used as a clock
Disadvantages
− No error correction done
− Occupies twice the bandwidth as polar NRZ

Bipolar Signaling
Bipolar signaling is done with having +v, −v and 0 voltage levels, where +v and −v voltages
is used to represent the alternative bit 1 and 0 voltage is used to represent the bit 0. There
are two variations in bipolar signaling
Bipolar Non Return to Zero (Bipolar NRZ)
Bipolar Return to Zero (Bipolar RZ)

Advantages
+ It is simple

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Bipolar Return to Zero and Bipolar Non-Return to Zero

+ No low-frequency components are present

+ Occupies low bandwidth than unipolar and polar NRZ schemes
+ This technique is suitable for transmission over AC coupled lines, as signal drooping
doesnt occur here
+ A single error detection capability is present in this
Disadvantages
− No clock is present.
− Long strings of data causes loss of synchronization

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More Categorizes of Polar Coding

Manchester

Differential Manchester

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