GREATER KOLKATA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

AND MANAGEMENT, BARUIPUR

Report on
( Delta Modulation Over PCM )

Subject : Digital Communication and Stochastic

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Abstract
Delta modulation DM. DM is a simple modulation scheme used to transmit one bit per sampling
frequency In DM the analog information signal is oversampled purposely to increase the
correlation between adjacent samples. It is done t o permit the use of simple quantization strategy
for the construction of encoded signal. In this report we’ll discuss types of Delta Modulation, its
advantages and disadvantages.

Introduction
For achieving better sampling, the sampling rate of a signal must be higher than the Nyquist rate.
The sample-to-sample amplitude difference will be small if the sampling interval in DPCM is
reduced. If the difference is 1-bit quantization, then the step-size will be minimal i.e., Δ (delta).
Delta modulation is a system of encoding and decoding that transmits communications. This is
all while consuming minimal bandwidth and generating minimal interference to surrounding
codes or signals.
This type of modulation has many benefits. They are the ability to encode and decode analog
signals. All happens without distortion and utilizing very little bandwidth. It is also more
immune to interference than other modulation techniques.
This technique is also known as dual-time domain modulation. This technique is helpful in
digital satellite transmission. It has also been used for high-speed video transmission. This is on
satellite, cable television, over IP-based networks. It also provides a data signal for direct
broadcast TV.
The basic idea is that it can be in any analog waveform. This is if its spectrum has at least one
discernible peak or valley—the ideal waveform would then have a single characteristic shape or
‘skew’.

Description
In this type of modulation, the sampling rate is higher than usual rate and the step size after the
quantization is very small Δ, this kind of modulation is known as delta modulation. It consists of
a quantizer which is 1-bit and a delay circuit with two summer circuits.
Below is the block representation of a delta modulator.

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Simple delay circuit in DM is placed
instead of the predictor circuit in
DPCM.
Looking at the above diagram, we have
the notations as −

 = over sampled input

= summer output and quantizer input

= quantizer output =

= output of delay circuit

= input of delay circuit

Even more,

Where,

= the previous value of the delay circuit

= quantizer output =
Hence,

---equation 4
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which conveys,
The input for the delay unit
= (The previous output of the delay unit) + (the present quantizer output)
Considering the situation for zero condition of Accumulation,

Now, note that

The Delay unit output is the output of an Accumulator lagging by one sample. Equations 5 & 6
gives us the possible structure for the demodulator.
Delta modulator produces the stair-case waveform output with step-size as delta (Δ) with
moderate output quality of the waveform.
Delta Demodulator
It contains a LPF, a Summer and a Delay circuit. As the predictor circuit is removed, hence there
will be no assumed input given to the demodulator.
Below is the picture for delta demodulator.

Looking at the above diagram, we have

is the input sample

is the summer output

is the delayed output

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LPF is mainly used for eliminating noise for out-of-band signals. Granular noise is the step size
error that might occur at the transmitter is also eliminated here. If there is no noise then the
output is equal to the demodulator input.
Advantages of DM Over DPCM
 1-bit quantizer
 Design of the modulator and the demodulator is simple.
The delta modulation has two major drawbacks as under :
1. Slope overload distortion
2. Granular or idle noise
Now, we will discuss these two drawbacks in detail.
1. Slope Overload Distortion
This distortion arises because of large dynamic range of the input signal.
We can observe from the figure , the
rate of rise of input signal x(t) is so
high that the staircase signal can not
approximate it, the step size ‘Δ’
becomes too small for staircase signal
u(t) to follow the step segment of x(t).
Hence, there is a large error between the staircase approximated signal and the original input
signal x(t).
This error or noise is known as slope overload distortion. To reduce this error, the step size must
be increased when slope of signal x(t) is high.
 2. Granular or Idle Noise
Granular or Idle noise occurs when the step size is too large compared to small variation in the
input signal. This means that for very small variations in the input signal, the staircase signal is
changed by large amount (Δ) because of large step size. Above figure shows that when the input
signal is almost flat , the staircase signal u(t) keeps on oscillating by ±Δ around the signal. The
error between the input and approximated signal is called granular noise.
The solution to this problem is to make the step size small .

Conclusion

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In delta modulation there is a restriction on the amplitude of the input signal, because if the
transmitted signal has a large derivative (abrupt changes) then the modulated signal can not
follow the input signal and slope overload occurs. In this technical report we have successfully
derived the output of Delta Modulation. And also found the advantages and disadvantages of
Delta Modulation.

References
1) Digital Communications, S. Haykin, Wiley India.
2) Principles of Communication Systems, H. Taub and D.L.Schilling, TMH
Publishing Co.
3) Wireless Communication and Networks : 3G and Beyond, I. SahaMisra, TMH
Education.
4) S.M. Ross,Stochastic Processes, 2nd Edition, Wiley, 1996 (WSE Edition).
5) Digital Communications, J.G.Proakis, TMH Publishing co.