DIGITAL
TRANSMISSION
(wired)
Block Diagram of a Digital Communications System
Analog Digital Add bits PSK, ASK,
signal pulses Error QAM, . . .
Baseband detection
Source Channel
Analog Modulator
Encoder Encoder
Signal
Add bits c
Error noise
detection h
a Free space
noise
Twisted pair n Vacuum
Coaxial cable n
Fiber optic e
l
Baseband
Source Channel
Analog Demodulator
Decoder Decoder
Signal Recovered Remove PSK, ASK,
signal added bits QAM, . . .
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Why Digital Transmission?
❑ Noise immunity (regeneration)
❑ Easier to process (Digital Signal Processing)
❑ Easier to combine (multiplexing)
❑ Easier to store bits
❑ Adaptable transmission
❑ Can be transmitted to longer distances (regenerators vs
analog amplifiers)
❑ Easier to measure and evaluate errors
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Disadvantage of Digital Transmission
❑ Encoded signals require higher bandwidth for
transmission
❑ Bandwidth is costly and limited
❑ More complex decoding and coding circuits
❑ Precise clocking for synchronization
❑ Incompatibility to older analog systems
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Pulse Modulation
Sampling:
Continuous-time, analog information signal is sampled
by measuring its amplitude at periodic time intervals
using a series of pulses (carrier).
Modulation:
Samples are converted into discrete pulses by either
PWM, PPM, PAM and PCM
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
SAMPLING METHODS
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Ideal Sampling
samples are impulses whose amplitude is equal to the
instantaneous value of the amplitude of the analog
information signal during sampling.
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Natural Sampling
samples are pulses with finite pulse-width whose top
preserves the shape of the analog information signal during
sampling.
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Natural Sampling
Circuit for Natural Sampling
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Flat-Top Sampling
top remains constant and is equal to the instantaneous value
of the amplitude of the analog information signal during
sampling.
Sample-and-Hold (S/H)
circuits are used.
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Flat-Top Sampling
Simple Sample-and-Hold Circuit
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Flat-Top Sampling
Aperture Effect
❑ effect due to LPF response of the shunt capacitance
❑ High-frequency components are more attenuated
❑ Wider sampling pulse → bigger aperture effect
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Flat-Top Sampling
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
MODULATION TECHNIQUES
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Pulse Width Modulation
❑ Width of the carrier (on
time) is varied
proportional to the
amplitude of the analog
signal at sampling
❑ Higher amplitude → wider pulse
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Pulse Position Modulation
❑ Position of the carrier is
varied according to the
amplitude of the sampled
analog signal
❑ Higher amplitude → farther
to the right
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
Pulse Amplitude Modulation
❑ amplitude of the carrier is
varied according to the
amplitude of the sampled
analog signal
❑ Amplitude of the carrier
corresponds to amplitude of
the sampled analog signal
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
thought question: PWM, PPM, PAM, fully digital?, or is
there an analog component to it?
ECE106 Modulation and Coding Techniques SE Maestre, ECE, MSEE
