DIGITAL NETWORKS WEEK 2 DN/02/02/04

NUWAN BALASURIYA PAGE 1 OF 5 BATCH 02

Detection and Synchronization in PCM Systems

Detection
We have extensively discussed the detection of PCM encoded signals, under digital to analog
conversion.
This process involves decoding of the codewords which results in a discrete sample series. We
then hold these sample values for one sampling period each, filter out the high frequency
components and then obtain the reconstructed signal.

However before all these processes, the digital bit stream needs to be identified. Remember the
digital bits are usually modulated in to a high frequency carrier and in the channel there are many
impairment.
There can be noise added to the signal. On the other hand in a wireless channel fading can distort
the signals. However in a wired or in a wireless channel, the signal need to be treated properly to
recover the original bit stream. Otherwise, after demodulation even with all error corrections the
resultant bit pattern can be different from the original.
However the error can be minimized, if we read the values in the demodulated bit stream at the
center of the pulse. Further to keep the reading at a constant rate the knowledge of the pulse
duration is very important.
Of course if we have a varying bit sequence, the receiver can extract this synchronization
information from the incoming signal itself. However if a series of binary ones or zeros occurs in
consecutive positions, receiver only sees a constant dc level. This hides the synchronization
information from the receiver.

Synchronization with line coding
As a solution to this problem line coding schemes have been introduced, where deliberate
variations are introduced to the bit stream.
One other benefit of this line coding is that it helps to reduce or eliminate the dc component of
the signal. Many communication systems are designed to carry only ac signals. Therefore most
of the dc components get blocked and a lot of power is lost. Therefore reducing the dc
component, hence the loss is highly appreciated.
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There are many line coding schemes.
1. Alternative mark inversion (AMI)
2. Manchester encoding
3. High density bi-polar-3 (HDB-3)

Alternative mark inversion
AMI coding is a bipolar encoding scheme where alternative ones are coded with opposite
polarity. This results in a zero dc average and solves the synchronization problem when a series
of consecutive ones occurs. But it still suffers from the problem when a series of zeros occurs.


Fig 1: AMI example

Manchester encoding
Manchester encoding is a return to zero scheme where the bit value is embedded in a pulse edge.
In other words bit zero is line coded as a rising edge and bit one is line coded as a falling edge.
(There is another Manchester scheme where bit zero is encoded as a falling edge and so on)
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Fig 3: HDB-3 example 1


Fig 4: HDB-3 example 2
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Fig 5: HDB-3 example 3