Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)

EEE 310: Communication Laboratory

EXPERIMENT NO: 5
DELTA MODULATION FAMILIARIZATION.

Performance Objective:

Familiarization with Delta Modulation signal generation and detection.

Equipment and materials

1) Power source +15V dc.

2) Power source -15V dc.
3) Dual trace oscilloscope.
4) AF generator.
5) Frequency Counter.
6) Delta Modulation trainer board.
7) Patch Chords and Swiss connectors.

Basic concepts:

1) Delta modulation is an encoding process where the logic levels of the transmitted
pulses indicate whether the decoded output should rise or fall at each pulse.
2) Delta Modulation is a true digital encoding process when compared to pulse
amplitude, pulse-width and pulse-position modulation.
3) Delta modulation uses simple coding, decoding and quantization procedures to
transmit data.
4) Delta modulation system cannot react to rapid amplitude changes between samples.
5) Delta modulation systems are used primarily in voice communication.

Additional Information:

In digital modulation system the intelligence signal is sampled and digitally coded. This
code represents sampled amplitude of the intelligence signal. The digital signal is send to
the receiver in signal form. At the receiver the digital signal is decoded and filtered into
the reconstructed intelligence signal. A sufficient number of samples are required to
allow the intelligence signal to be reconstructed accurately.

There are different methods of digital modulation. Each method is named for the way
samples are changed to represent the intelligence signal. One type of digital modulation is
delta modulation. In delta modulation only one bit is sent per sample. This bit indicates
whether the signal is larger or smaller then the previous sample.

1
The delta modulation encoding process samples, quantizes and encodes the intelligence
signal in to a digital signal. The encoding process consists of a digital sampler and an
integrator. The instantaneous voltage of an intelligence signal is compared to the feed
back signal. The result of the comparison is quantized and encoded. A logic 1 is produced
if the sampled intelligence voltage is greater then the feedback signal, and a logic 0 if it is
smaller. At the command of a clock signal, the digital sampler outputs the logic level and
begins a new comparison.

The delta modulation decoding process consists of an integrator and a low-pass filter. The
integrator converts each digital signal pulse into a integrated analog signal that is an
approximation of the original intelligence. The integrated signal is input to a low-pass
filter, where it filtered and converted to the reconstructed intelligence signal. No clock
signals are required for detection.

Exercise procedure:

Objective A: Familiarization with Delta Modulation signal generation and detection.

a) Connect the circuit shown in figure 4.1 keep the AF generator turned off. Connect a
+15Vdc and a –15Vdc voltage source to the trainer, as shown in the power supply
connection diagram.

b) Set the TIME CONST ADJ switch on the INTEGRATOR 1 circuit to HI. Turn the
TIME ADJ control on the XMT CLOCK GENERATOR circuit fully clock- wise.
Attach the channel 1 probe to J17. Adjust OFFSET ADJ on INTEGRATOR 1 to
produce alternating logic levels of equal width at J17.

c) Attach channel 1 probe to J15. Turn on the AF generator and adjust for 0.2V p-p. 300
Hz sign wave at J15. What does the signal at J15 represent?

d) Trigger the scope on channel 1. Attach the channel 2 probe to J17. If necessary, adjust
the INTEGRATOR 1 OFSET ADJ until the signal at J23 resembles the signal at J15.
What does the signal at J17 represent?

e) Move the channel 2 probe to J23. Observe the signal at J15 and J23. Adjust the
OFFSET ADJ control on the INTEGRATOR 1 circuit until the signal at J23
resembles the signal at J15. What does the signal at J23 represent?

f) Move the channel 2 probe and frequency counter to J27. Observe the signals at J15
and J27. What does the signal at J27 represent?

g) Disconnect the AF generator. Turn off the power supply.

2
Report:

1) All your observations including the sketch of the waveforms at various stages.
2) Compare and contrast delta modulation with pulse code modulation. (PCM)
3) Describe slope overload, idling noise and quantization noise in correction with
delta modulation.

To scope To frequency
CH-1 Counter
XMT Clock
Generator
To scope
J1 CH-2

AF out J19
J15
J17
AF Generator Digital Sampler

J16
GND

J20
Integrator Integrator J23
1 2
J21 J22

J24 J25
Low –pass filter
combination
J26 J27

Fig. 5.1: Delta Modulation Decoding and Encoding