DTMF Decoder Discussion

DUAL-TONE MULTI-FREQUENCY TONE DECODER
DTMF stands for Dual Tone – Multi Frequency and it is the basis for

your telephone system. DTMF is actually the generic term for Touch-Tone).
Your touch-tone phone is technically a DTMF generator that produces DTMF
tones as you press the buttons. When you press the buttons on the keypad, a
connection is made that generates two tones at the same time. A “Row” tone
and a “Column” tone. These two tones identify the key you pressed to any
equipment you are controlling. If the keypad is on your phone, the telephone
company’s “Central Office” equipment knows what numbers you are dialing by
these tones, and will switch your call accordingly. If you are using a DTMF
keypad to remotely control equipment, the tones can identify what unit you
want to control, as well as which unique function you want it to perform.
When you press the digit 1 on the keypad, you generate the tones 1209
Hz and 697 Hz. Pressing the digit 2 will generate the tones 1336 Hz and 697
Hz. Sure, the tone 697 is the same for both digits, but it takes two tones to
make a digit and the decoding equipment knows the difference between the
1209 Hz that would complete the digit 1, and a 1336 Hz that completes a digit
2.
A DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) Decoder is an Integrated Circuit
(IC) which can decode the incoming DTMF signal and show the corresponding
key as a four-bit data output which is also known as a nibble or half byte.
This DTMF decoder circuit recognizes the phone tone from the phone line
and then decodes the pressed key on the keypad of the telephone. This circuit
can be built with a decoder IC 8870 for the recognition of DTMF indications.
The decoder IC decodes the DTMF input to five digital outputs. This IC uses a
technique of digital counting for deciding the tones frequencies, as well as to
confirm that they communicate to normal frequencies of DTMF. The tone of
the DTMF is a type of one-way communication among the user and the
telephone exchange switch room. The entire communication includes the
touch tone inventor as well as a tone decoder. The bits which are decoded can
be associated with a microprocessor or a computer for future application.
DTMF was originally decoded by tuned filter banks. By the end of the
20th century, digital signal processing became the predominant technology for
decoding. DTMF decoding algorithms typically use the Goertzel algorithm. As
DTMF signaling is often transmitted in-band with voice or other audio signals
present simultaneously, the DTMF signal definition includes strict limits for
timing (minimum duration and interdigit spacing), frequency deviations,
harmonics, and amplitude relation of the two components with respect to each
other (twist).
The operation of Dual Tone Multi-Frequency is when a caller produces a
call tone that includes two frequencies. It is conveyed through the
communication media or telephone line. The telephone exchange switch room
uses a DTMF decoder to decode the frequencies of the caller into digital code.
The digital codes are the address of the subscriber at the destination. Finally,
it will be examined and progressed with a computer which changes caller to
the subscriber at the end.
Most DTMF decoders can process at least 10 tones per second under the
worst of conditions, so DTMF can easily convey 40 (10 x 4) bits or 5 bytes of
data per second which is nowhere near to the performance of a good
communication modem, which can operate nearly 600 times faster (28,800
bits per second). But DTMF signaling is lot more robust under noisy line
conditions.
It should be noted that the numbers and symbols on the keypad do not
always match the binary values of DTMF decoders. Most notably, the ‘0’ on
the keypad is represented in DTMF by a decimal value of 10 or binary value of
1010.
Some advantages of using DTMF are that by using this we can get a
quick response. It is not expensive to construct and also high reliability and
fast efficient. By using a single key, we can control six devices. By using this
one can control the home appliances wirelessly. The power consumption will
be reduced and power efficiency will be increased.
The applications of DTMF keypads almost include in mobile phones and
landlines. Therefore, this keypad is used for recognizing the dialed number by
the caller in the telephone exchange rooms. The DTMF decoder differentiates
the tones of DTMF & generates the binary series equal to a key pushed in a
keypad of DTMF. The above circuit can be built with a DTMF decoder IC
namely 8870 to decode the keypad tone of a cell phone. The signals from the
DTMF can be tapped straight using microphone pin in the cell phone.
DTMF can be transmitted over telephone lines as well as over the
internet. The tones are decoded on the receiving end and used for practical
applications such as interacting with computer systems and answering
machines. The interaction with a computer system is achieved using an IVR
system.
Just as you dial your telephone to reach another person, you can use
transmit DTMF signals over a radio, and turn things on and off, flash lights,
control motors, cameras, activate warning systems, turn on irrigation
systems, open gates, and in general control the world. You may have heard
some tones at the start of some National News Broadcasts. These are DTMF
tones that CBS or others like them send out at the start of the broadcast to
transfer (or alert to transfer) their audio onto the local affiliates airwaves.
Basically, it turns on a master switch. Used over two-way radios, you can
transmit a DTMF “phone number”. You have the same “phone number”
programmed in a decoder hooked up to a radio receiver at a remote location.
When the decoder sees its “phone number” come in over the radio, it wakes up
and gets to work controlling the things you have hooked it up to. With the
better decoders you are able to take phone numbers a step further.
You can use Wildcard characters in the phone number. A wildcard allows
you to actually embed information in the phone number. This information is
usually used to control multiple locations with one DTMF signal.
If, for instance, you use DTMF codes to open the overhead doors on your
fire stations in the City. When you have a small fire, you send the DTMF code
that opens only the door on fire station #1. But when you have a BIG fire, you
don’t want to waste radio air-time to transmit 15 DTMF codes to open all 15
overhead doors. So you program your decoders so that, of course, each one
can be controlled individually, but using a correctly placed wildcard, they will
all respond to a master “Open” signal.
They can also be set up to respond to another signal for a medium size
fire that opens only the doors on fire stations #1, #5 and #7.
This group, sub-group, sub-sub-group relationship is just a fraction of
power and flexibility when using DTMF to remotely control equipment. Radios
are a particular animal. They are mostly analog and they are optimized for
voice signals. DTMF was designed by the engineers to be in the normal human
voice range.
What this means is that DTMF passes transparently over normal two-
way radio channels, narrow-band or wide-band. It doesn’t require special
channel widths, or expensive equipment. In most instances you can simply
attach a cable to the speaker output of your two-way radio to a decoder, and it
will be ready to go. Its straightforward, fast, easy to understand, works on
most any type of radio, and gives the most flexible features for the lowest cost.

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DUAL-TONE MULTI-FREQUENCY TONE DECODER

DTMF stands for Dual Tone – Multi Frequency and it is the basis for

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