Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET)

Course No.: EE 3206
Exp No. 3: Analog Signal Transmission Using Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)
Objectives
After completion of this experiment, the students will be able to-
1. Demonstrate analog to digital conversion system using pulse code modulation (PCM).
2. Explain multichannel analog communication by PCM employing time division MUX and
DEMUX.
3. Investigate the sampling frequency dependent performance of PCM for analog communications.
Introduction
In modern communication technology, the PAM signals are digitized before transmission. The digital
signal may then be encoded into any equivalent form desired. Systems embodying the transmission of
digitized and coded signals are commonly called PCM system.
Pulse-code modulation (PCM) is a method used to digitally represent sampled analog signals. It is the
standard form of digital audio in computers, compact discs, digital telephony and other digital audio
applications. In a PCM stream, the amplitude of the analog signal is sampled regularly at uniform
intervals, and each sample is quantized to the nearest value within a range of digital steps.
A PCM stream has two basic properties that determine the stream's fidelity to the original analog signal:
the sampling rate, which is the number of times per second that samples are taken; and the bit depth,
which determines the number of possible digital values that can be used to represent each sample.
A PCM encoder has three processes.
1. Analog signal is sampled.
2. The sampled signal is quantized.
3. The quantized values are encoded as streams of bit.

Fig. 1 Pulse code modulation technique

Advantages of PCM System
a) The signal can be regularly regenerated or reshaped during transmission
b) All-digital circuitry can be used throughout the system
c) Signals can be digitally processed as desired
d) Noise and interference can be minimized by appropriate coding of the signals
The main disadvantage is much wider bandwidth is needed in PCM than analog signal transmission.
Block Diagram of PCM System
x(t) LPF Sampler Quantizer Encoder P/S PCM
Antialiasing S/H Converter

Fig. 2 Schematic block diagram of PCM transmitter.

PCM Regenerator S/P Decoder Sampler LPF x(t)

Noise Converter S/H

Fig. 3 Schematic block diagram of PCM receiver.

Procedure
1. Display and record the wave shape observe at TP7, TP8, TP9 and TP10 using a dual-trace
oscilloscope. Always keep TP7 at channel 1 of the oscilloscope and others (TP8, TP9, TP10) at
channel 2 of the oscilloscope accordingly. Observe their sequence.
2. Now observe and record the wave shape of FR-SYN and CH-SYNC signals at channel 2 of the
oscilloscope keeping TP7 at channel 1 of the oscilloscope. Are they same or not?
3. Observe and record the signal at F1, F2, F3 and F4. Determine their frequency and magnitude.
4. Set the clock frequency at lower position. Now make connection between F1 and CH1. Connect
oscilloscope to F1 and to TX PCM. Record the PCM signal for the individual channel.
5. Keeping sampling frequency low, connect four channels with the corresponding port and then
observe and record the multiplexed PCM signal at TX PCM.
6. To understand TDM format of PCM signal show time multiplexed PCM signal from theoritical
viewpoint in your lab report. To identify PCM signal from a particular channel, each channel
must indicate by a specific color.
7. Connect TX PCM to RX PCM observe signal at TP13 for CH1 and TP14 for CH2 and others by
this way. Observe and record the signal from each channel. Count the no. of samples observed at
TP13/TP14 and then calculate the minimum sampling frequency.
8. Compare and draw each channel input and output signal together and record the waveshapes and
magnitudes and then determine the phase difference between them.
9. Set the sampling frequency to maximum and repeat the step 7 and 8. Compare the results
obtained at minimum and maximum sampling frequencies.
10. Verify Nyquist sampling theorem by comparing input and output obtained at minimum sampling
frequency from channel-4. Do you observe aliasing? If so determine the sampling frequency for
which aliasing effect can be overcome from the output signal of channel-4.
Experimental Data
Wave Shape Recording:
 Record signal from four input channels (magnitude, waveshape, frequency).
 Record the sampling signals observed at TP7, TP8, TP9 and TP10 using a dual-trace
oscilloscope. Show their phase relationship alongwith FR-SYN and CH-SYNC signals.
 Record typical PCM signal from a channel.
 Record TDM form of PCM obtained experimentally.
 Draw typical TDM form of PCM theoretically (use color to indentify each channel).
 After demultiplexer, decoder and integrator record signal at TP13 to TP16.
 After low-pass filter, compare input along with corresponding output and also measure
(magnitude, frequency, and phase difference) of the signals.
 Do the same for four channels.
 Verify Nyquist sampling theorem from the channel-4 following the procedure discussed in
procedure 10.
Sampling Frequency Calculation:
 Calculate for the number of samples, Ns in a period for channel-1 and channel-2;
 Calculate period of the input signal from frequency, T = 1/f;
 T
 Calculate sampling time, Ts = N , and then calculate sampling frequency, fs = 1/Ts.
S

Phase shift calculation:

 Compare input and output signals for channel and then measure, t (ms) from peak values of
signals;
 Calculate phase shift by Δ = 360o∗Δt∗f .
Results and Discussion
 Write down the results and discussion with figure number and table no. Each figure and table
must have caption.
Conclusion
 Report must end with conclusion. Write conclusion with main experimental finding.
Answer the following question:
1. What is quantization noise? Show that the quantization noise depends on the bandwidth
requirements in PCM transmission.
2. Calculate signal to quantization noise ratio in Decibel for 256-level quantizer.
3. If four channels are time multiplexed in PCM format using a 128-level encoder, calculate
the number bits allocated in a PCM frame. If the sampling frequency is 8KHz. Calculate
the time for frame synchronization and bit synchronization signals.
4. Why phase difference between input and output signals changes with sampling frequency?
5. Comments on the issue of PCM transmission at minimum sampling rate and higher
sampling rate.

REFERENCE: Lab manual.