Communication System
Module-3
Pulse Modulation
➢ The Pulse modulation techniques, deals with discrete signals.
Sampling
➢ The process of converting continuous time signals into equivalent
discrete time signals, can be termed as Sampling.
➢ A certain instant of data is continually sampled in the sampling
process.
➢ The following figure indicates a continuous-time signal x(t) and a
sampled signal xs(t). When x(t) is multiplied by a periodic impulse train,
the sampled signal xs(t) is obtained.
Types of Pulse Modulation
Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM)
Introduction
➢ The Pulse Amplitude Modulation is referred to as a very simple model
of signal modulation technique. These are the signals that are further
transmitted and are inspected at a very particular interval.
➢ The modulating signal is proportional directly to the amplitude of the
signal.
What is meant by Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM)?
➢ The Pulse amplitude modulation or PAM is denoted as the transmission of
data that takes place by changing the amplitudes.
➢ This modulation uses an analog to digital signal conversion process; in
this case, the information is encoded in the amplitude of signal pulses in
a series.
➢ In short, Pulse Amplitude Modulation or PAM is used for the conversion of
the signal, from analog to a digital version. These signals can be natural
and flat top.
Types of PAM
PAM sampling techniques
There are two kinds of sampling techniques that also come in use for the transmission
of signals. They are:
➢ Natural PAM- The amplitude is proportional to modulating signal amplitude during
pulse occurrence.
➢ Flat top PAM- Amplitude of every pulse is proportional to modulating signal
amplitude during pulse occurrence.
Natural PAM is illustrated in the figure below:
➢ From the figure, it is clear that the pulse amplitude modulated
signal follows the amplitude of the message signal.
Flat Top PAM is illustrated in the figure below:
PAM: Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
➢ The circuit of PAM is very easy to make and the relative operation is quite easy as well
➢ In PAM the transmission is quite easy and fast. The amplitude signal reception
experiences zero interference from any external factors
➢ The Pulse Amplitude Modulation is capable of functioning with two distinct purposes,
as this modulation technique can carry various transmitted messages. PAM is also able
to produce pulse signals and transmit signals at the same time
➢ In PAM, the modulation and demodulation happens automatically and it does not
demand any sort of manual activity for its functionality
Disadvantages
➢ Pulse Amplitude Modulation calls for higher bandwidth for the transmission of a
signal
➢ It creates extra noises remnants that cause various disturbances.
➢ In certain cases, it has been observed that PAM requires a huge volume of power for
its functionality
Application of Pulse Amplitude Modulation
➢ The Pulse Amplitude Modulation is used in various sections.
➢ It is used in Broadband interface communication for connectivity of the Ethernet.
➢ It is used in controlling signals of the micro-controllers.
➢ Pulse Amplitude Modulation is also used in the graphics cards and the associated high-
speed networking and it is also useful in the reduction of the noise to signal ratio.
➢ PAM is also used in photobiology for the usage of spectrofluorimetric measurements
during photosynthesis.
➢ It is also used in LED drivers for efficiency in the energy of the lighting.
➢ Pulse Amplitude Modulation is also used to obtain clear pictures and proper signal
clarity in digital televisions.
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
➢ Pulse width modulation is also known as pulse duration modulation
(PDM). Here, as the name suggests, the width of the pulse is varied in
proportion to the amplitude of the signal. Since the width is changing,
the power loss can be reduced when compared to PAM signals.
Pulse Position Modulation (PPM)
➢ In this type of modulation, both the amplitude and width of the pulse are kept
constant, but we change the position of each pulse with reference to a
particular pulse.
➢ PPM can be obtained from PWM. This is done by getting rid of the leading
edge and bodies of PWM pulses. The main advantage of pulse position
modulation is that it requires constant transmitter power output, while the
major disadvantage is that it depends upon transmitter-receiver
synchronisation.
The waveforms of PPM are given below:
