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MODULATION AND
CODING TECHNIQUES
A Modular Approach
 MODULE 6

DIGITAL TRANSMISSION- Companding

OBJECTIVES:

 Familiarize the key terminologies and concepts used in companding

 Analyze and solve problems involving companding
 Identify the types of vocoders

COMPANDING
 It is the process of compressing and expanding the PCM codes from transmitter to
receiver.
 The higher amplitude signals are compressed (amplified less than the lower amplitude
signals) prior to transmission and then expanded (amplified more than the lower
amplitude signals ) in the receiver.
 It is for the purpose of improving the dynamic range of the communication system.
Types of Companding:
1.Analog Companding – this was implemented using specially designed diodes inserted in
the analog path in the PCM transmitter prior to the sample and hold circuit.

Classes of Analog Companding

µ-LAW COMPANDING – It is used in the USA and in Japan.

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources especially
to the book “Advanced Electronic Communication Systems” by Wayne Tomasi
1
Sample Problem

A-LAW COMPANDING
 It is used in Europe. It has flatter SQR than µ-law and is inferior in terms of
small signal quality

2. Digital Companding – it involves compression at the transmit end after the input sample
has been converted to a linear PCM code and expansion at the receive end prior to PCM
decoding.

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources especially
to the book “Advanced Electronic Communication Systems” by Wayne Tomasi
2
Companding Table

Sample Problems
1.

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources especially
to the book “Advanced Electronic Communication Systems” by Wayne Tomasi
3
 2. For a 12-bit linear PCM code with a resolution of 0.02V, determine the voltage range
that would be converted to the following PCM codes.
a. 010000000000

Sol’n:

V= -(1024* 0.02 )= -20.48V

Vrange = -20.46 V to -20.5V

b. 100100000001

Sol’n:
V= + (256*0.02)+1*0.02
V= +5.14V
Vrange = +5.12 V to +5.16V

PCM LINE SPEED

 It is the data rate at which serial PCM bits are clocked out of the PCM encoder
onto the transmission line.
Line Speed = *

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources especially
to the book “Advanced Electronic Communication Systems” by Wayne Tomasi
4
Sample Problem

For a single channel PCM system with a sample rate of 6000 samples/sec and a
seven bit compressed PCM code, determine the line speed.

Sol’n:
Line Speed = *

Line Speed= 42,0000 bps

VOCODERS

 These are special voice encoders/decoders when digitizing speech signals

only.
 Vocoders cannot be used in applications where analog signals other than voice
are present.

Types of VOCODERS:

1. Channel Vocoder- It uses bandpass filters to separate the speech waveform into
narrower sub bands.

2. Formant Vocoder –determines the location of the formants and transmits only the
information with the most significant short term components.

3. Linear Predictive Coder- It extracts the most significant portions of speech information
directly from the time waveform rather than the frequency spectrum as with the
channel and format vocoders.

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources especially
to the book “Advanced Electronic Communication Systems” by Wayne Tomasi
5
 EXERCISE NO. 6

DIGITAL TRANSMISSION- Companding

Name: ___________ Date: _______
Course & Year: ___________ Professor: ____

Answer the following questions:

Assignment:
 Problems 25-26 of PDF page 326
Required Readings
 Read PDF pages 301-314.

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources especially
to the book “Advanced Electronic Communication Systems” by Wayne Tomasi
6
Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources especially
to the book “Advanced Electronic Communication Systems” by Wayne Tomasi
7