POLITECNICA SALESIANA UNIVERSITY

Group:
Mauricio Álvarez
Mercedes Cevallos
Byron Contreras
Hernán Duy
Fernando Guerrero
Mishell Torres
Valeria Urgilés
Topic:
Quantization Noise
INTRODUCTION
An ADC converter has a sampling circuit and a timer inside.
The sampling circuit is the one in charge of discretizing in time while the quantifier discretizes in
amplitude.
The quantizer is a circuit that converts an input voltage into a digital output value.
 QUANTIZING NOISE
The difference between the input and output of a quantizer is called the quantizing error. In figure, we
demostrate the process of mapping the input sequence 𝑥 𝑡 to the quantized output sequence 𝑥ො 𝑡 .
MODEL OF QUIANTIZING NOISE
The quantized output sequence 𝑥ො 𝑡 forming by adding to each 𝑥 𝑡 an error sequence 𝑒 𝑡 .
This error sequence is modeled in the Figure and forms the equation:
𝑥ො 𝑡 = 𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑒 𝑡
Or,
𝑒 𝑡 = 𝑥ො 𝑡 − 𝑥 𝑡
• The green curve is a scaled version of Vin without any quantization.
• The red curve is the ADC output.
• ∆ is the step size of the converter.
• The quantization error is zero at the points
where the output signal intersects with the
input signal.
• There is an error because the output signal is
greater than the input.
• The quantization error takes the form of a
sawtooth, that is, by subtracting the output
signal with the input signal, the sawtooth signal
is obtained.
NUMBER OF LEVELS IN THE QUANTIZATION

The number of levels 𝑁 is tipically a power of 2 of the form:

𝑁 = 2𝑏

Where 𝑏 is the number of bits used in the conversion process

SIZE OF A QUANTIZATION STEP
In an uniform quantizer, the step sizes are equal and equally spaced. Normally, this range is
defined as ±𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 such as ±1𝑉 or ±5𝑉. Thus, the size of a quantization step is:
2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑞=
2𝑏
For example, for a 10-bit converter operating over the ±1𝑉, the quantization step is:
2 1𝑉
𝑞 = 10
2

𝑞 = 1,9531 𝑚𝑉
QUANTIZATION RESULTS

• In most cases, quantization results in nothing

more than the addition of a specific amount of
random noise to the signal.

• Quantization error is uniformly distributed, so,

the quantization error is similary to a probability
distribution function (pdf).
QUANTIZER NOISE
The quantizer variance (which represents the quantizer noise or error power) for the zero-mean error is:
𝑞
2
𝜎 2 = න 𝑒 2 𝑝 𝑒 𝑑𝑒
𝑞
−2

1
Where 𝑝 𝑒 = 𝑞 is the probability density function (pdf) of the quantization error 𝑒.
𝑞/2
1
𝜎2 =න 𝑒2 ∙ 𝑑𝑒
−
𝑞 𝑞
2
𝑞
1 2
𝜎2 = න 𝑒 2 𝑑𝑒
𝑞 −𝑞
2
𝑞2
𝜎2 =
12
𝑞
𝜎=
12
NOISE-TO-SIGNAL POWER RATIO (NSR)
NSR is the relation between the quantizer noise or error power and the input signal power.
𝜎𝑞2
𝑁𝑆𝑅 = 2
𝜎𝑥
Where, 𝜎𝑞2 is the quantizer noise or error power and is equal to:
1
𝜎𝑞2 = ∙ 𝑞2
12
2
1 2𝐸 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝜎𝑞2 = ∙
12 2𝑏
1 2
𝜎𝑞2 = ∙ 2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∙ 2−𝑏
12

1
𝜎𝑞2 = ∙ 2−2𝑏 ∙ 2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 2
12
And, the input signal power is found:
∞
𝜎𝑥2 = න 𝑥 2 𝑝 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
−∞
1
For an uniform probability density function, 𝑝 𝑥 = 2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥
1
𝜎𝑥2 =න 𝑥2 ∙ 𝑑𝑥
−𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥
1
𝜎𝑥2 = න 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 −𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥
1
𝜎𝑥2 = 2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 2
12
 1
∙ 2−2𝑏 ∙ 2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 2
𝑁𝑆𝑅 = 12
1
2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥 2
12
−2𝑏
𝑁𝑆𝑅 = 2
Now, converting the NSR to decibels, we have:
𝑁𝑆𝑅𝑑𝐵 = 10 log 2−2𝑏
𝑁𝑆𝑅𝑑𝐵 = 10 −2𝑏 log 2
𝑁𝑆𝑅𝑑𝐵 = −20𝑏 ∙ log 2
𝑁𝑆𝑅𝑑𝐵 = −6,0206𝑏
Where 𝑏 represents the number of bits.
The NSR for any uniform quantizer not operating in saturation is of the form:
𝑁𝑆𝑅𝑑𝐵 = −6,02𝑏 + 𝐶
Where the term 𝐶 depends on the signal probability density function (pdf).
Example 1

Consider a 16-bit, 1MHz ADC with ±1𝑉 range.

Calculate:
• The size of a quantization step.
• Power noise.
• NSR in dB
Example 1
• The size of a quantization step.

2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑞=
2𝑏

2(1𝑉)
𝑞=
216

𝑞 = 30,5175 𝜇𝑉
Example 1

• Quantization noise.
𝑞
𝜎=
12

30,5175𝑥10−6
𝜎=
12

𝜎 = 8,8096 𝜇𝑉
Example 1

• NSR in dB
𝑁𝑆𝑅𝑑𝐵 = −6,0206𝑏
𝑁𝑆𝑅𝑑𝐵 = −6,0206 16
𝑁𝑆𝑅𝑑𝐵 = −96,3296 𝑑𝐵
A 16-bit linear analog-to-digital converter operates over an input range of ±5.0𝑉

a) Determine the size of a quantile

b) Determine the rms quantizing noise voltaje
c) Determine the average SNR (due to quantizing) for a full-scale sinusoidal input signal.
d) Consider that the distance traveed on a 100-mile automobile trip is measured to the same accuracy as that of the 16-
bit converter. What is rms error in feet?

a. Determine the size of a quantile

2𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑞=
2𝑏

We replace the data to find the quantization step

2(5𝑉) −4 𝑉
𝑞= = 1,5258𝑥10
216

𝑞 = 152,58𝜇𝑉
b. Determine the rms quantizing noise voltaje

𝑞
𝜎=
12
We replace the data

152,58
𝜎𝑞 = = 44,046𝜇𝑉
12

c. Determine the average SNR (due to quantizing) for a full-scale sinusoidal input signal.

1
𝜎𝑠 = = 0,707
12

𝜎𝑠 0,707
𝑆𝑁𝑅 = = −6
= 16,0514𝑥103 𝑉
𝜎𝑞 44,046𝑥10

𝑆𝑁𝑅𝑑𝑏 = 20log10 (16,0514𝑥103 )

𝑆𝑁𝑅𝑑𝑏 = 84,109db
d. Consider that the distance traveled on a 100-mile automobile trip is measured to the same accuracy as that of
the 16-bit converter. What is rms error in feet?

𝐸𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝜎𝑑 =
2𝑏 12

100𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑥5280𝑝𝑖𝑒𝑠/𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑠
𝜎𝑑 =
216 12

𝜎𝑑 = 2,3257𝑝𝑖𝑒𝑠
Example 3
Imagine an analog signal with a maximum amplitude of 5.0 volt and random noise of 2.0 millivolt rms.
Digitalizer this signal to 8, 10 and 12 bits. How much noise is already present in the analog signal?
• Digitalizing with 8 bits.
𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 2𝑏 − 1
𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 28 − 1
𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 255 𝐿𝑆𝐵
5𝑉 255𝐿𝑆𝐵
2𝑚𝑉 𝑋
2𝑥10−3 𝑉 ∙ 255𝐿𝑆𝐵
𝑋=
5𝑉
𝑋 = 0,102 𝐿𝑆𝐵
Total noise calculation

𝜎𝑇 = 𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 2 + 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒

2
1
𝜎𝑇 = 0,1022 +
12
𝜎𝑇 = 0,3062𝐿𝑆𝐵
2𝑚𝑉 0,102𝐿𝑆𝐵
x 0,3062𝐿𝑆𝐵
−3
2𝑥10 𝑉 ∙ 0,3062𝐿𝑆𝐵
𝑥=
0,102𝐿𝑆𝐵
𝑥 = 6,0039 𝑚𝑉

Percent of noise present on the signal

% 𝑇 = 6,0039𝑚𝑉 − 2𝑚𝑉 ∗ 100%
% 𝑇 = 400%
• Digitalizing with 10 bits.
𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 2𝑏 − 1
𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 210 − 1
𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 1023 𝐿𝑆𝐵
5𝑉 1023𝐿𝑆𝐵
2𝑚𝑉 𝑋
2𝑥10−3 𝑉 ∙ 1023𝐿𝑆𝐵
𝑋=
5𝑉
𝑋 = 0,4092 𝐿𝑆𝐵
Total noise calculation

𝜎𝑇 = 𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 2 + 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒

2
1
𝜎𝑇 = 0,40922 +
12
𝜎𝑇 = 0,5007𝐿𝑆𝐵
2𝑚𝑉 0,4092𝐿𝑆𝐵
x 0,5007𝐿𝑆𝐵
−3
2𝑥10 𝑉 ∙ 0,5007𝐿𝑆𝐵
𝑥=
0,4092𝐿𝑆𝐵
𝑥 = 2,4472 𝑚𝑉

Percent of noise present on the signal

% 𝑇 = 2,4472𝑚𝑉 − 2𝑚𝑉 ∗ 100%
% 𝑇 = 44,72%
• Digitalizing with 12 bits.
𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 2𝑏 − 1
𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 212 − 1
𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 4095 𝐿𝑆𝐵
5𝑉 4095𝐿𝑆𝐵
2𝑚𝑉 𝑋
2𝑥10−3 𝑉 ∙ 4095𝐿𝑆𝐵
𝑋=
5𝑉
𝑋 = 1,638 𝐿𝑆𝐵
Total noise calculation

𝜎𝑇 = 𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒 2 + 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑧𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑒

2
1
𝜎𝑇 = 1,6382 +
12
𝜎𝑇 = 1,6632𝐿𝑆𝐵
2𝑚𝑉 1,638𝐿𝑆𝐵
x 1,6638𝐿𝑆𝐵
−3
2𝑥10 𝑉 ∙ 1,6638𝐿𝑆𝐵
𝑥=
1,638𝐿𝑆𝐵
𝑥 = 2 𝑚𝑉

Percent of noise present on the signal

% 𝑇 = 2𝑚𝑉 − 2𝑚𝑉 ∗ 100%
% 𝑇 = 0%
CONCLUSIONS

• The process of quantizer is assign a digital number to the sample holding.

• More bits, more levels of quantization. This has effect in the resolution or presicion of the conversor.
• The quantization noise has a form of the pdf (probability density function).
• The error of quantization has a form of sawtooth signal.
1
• The sum of random process is equal to .
12

• Increase the number of bits reduce the noise present in the signal procesing.
REFERENCES

[1] Bernard Sklar. Digital Communications. Fundamental and Applications. Second Edition. Prentice Hall.

[2] Steven W. Smith. The Scietist and Engineer’s Guide to Digital Signal Processing. California Technical
Publishing.