KATHMANDU UNIVERSITY

School Of Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Case Study Report on

Pulse Modulation Techniques (PM)

ETEG 320: Communication System Engineering

Submitted By:
Sakchhyam Sharama
Saujan Prakash Niroula
Sugam Raj Baral

Group: Communication

Submitted To:
Mr. Bijaya Shrestha
Associate Professor

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering

Nepal Engineering College

Date: 2025/06/05
Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Digital Communication Techniques ................................................................................................................. 3
Types of Pulse Modulation .............................................................................................................................. 5
Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) ................................................................................................................ 6
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)...................................................................................................................... 8
Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) .......................................................................................................................11
Delta Modulation (DM) ..................................................................................................................................12
Sampling ........................................................................................................................................................14
Sampling Rate ................................................................................................................................................14
Sampling Theorem .........................................................................................................................................14
Conclusion .....................................................................................................................................................15
References ......................................................................................................................................................16

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List of Figures
Figure 1:Block Diagram of Digital Communication ........................................................................................ 4
Figure 2:Pulse Amplitude Modulation ............................................................................................................. 7
Figure 3:Pulse Width Modulation .................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 4:Pulse Position Modulation .................................................................................................................10
Figure 5:Pulse Code Modulation .....................................................................................................................12
Figure 6:Delta Modulation ...............................................................................................................................13
Figure 7 : Sampled Signal ................................................................................................................................14

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Introduction
In today’s world, most communication systems use digital signals. Even when the original signals are
analog, they are often converted into digital form before transmission. This shift towards digital
communication has many advantages. It helps reduce distortion, improves the signal-to-noise ratio, and
makes the system more reliable and secure. As a result, digital transmission has become the standard in
many areas, including telecommunication, data networks, and multimedia systems.

One important part of digital communication is pulse modulation. This technique allows analog signals to
be represented using pulses. The idea is to vary certain properties of the pulses like their amplitude, width,
position, or code based on the signal being transmitted. These variations carry the information through the
communication channel.

This case study focuses on understanding different types of pulse modulation, such as pulse amplitude
modulation, pulse width modulation, pulse position modulation, and pulse code modulation. It also looks
into the key concepts behind these methods, like sampling and quantization, which are necessary steps in
converting analog signals to digital form.

By studying these topics, we get a clearer picture of how digital communication works and why it has
become so important in modern technology.

Digital Communication Techniques

Digital communication plays a vital role in how we transmit information in the modern world. Unlike
analog communication, where signals are sent in their original continuous form, digital communication
works by converting these signals into binary form using 0s and 1s which can be transmitted more
reliably over long distances.

Pulse modulation is one of the key techniques used in digital communication. It allows analog signals,
like speech or music, to be sampled at regular intervals and then converted into pulses that can be
transmitted digitally. This process helps reduce noise, improve clarity, and make the overall system
more efficient.
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In a typical digital communication system that uses pulse modulation, the process starts with a message
signal that needs to be transmitted. This signal is first passed through a sampler, which picks out certain
points from the original analog waveform at regular time intervals. These samples are then modified in
different ways depending on the modulation technique being used. For example, in Pulse Amplitude
Modulation (PAM), the height of each pulse is adjusted to match the signal. In Pulse Code Modulation
(PCM), each sampled value is converted into a binary code.

Once the signal is modulated into pulses, it goes through a channel encoder to add redundancy for error
detection and correction. Then, a digital modulator prepares the signal for transmission over the channel.
This could be a wired line, optical fiber, or a wireless link. At the receiving end, the process is reversed:
the signal is demodulated, decoded, and reconstructed back into its original form.

This structure makes pulse modulation an essential building block in digital communication. It allows
accurate, secure, and noise-resistant transmission, making it widely used in telecommunication systems,
audio/video broadcasting, and data communication technologies.

Figure 1:Block Diagram of Digital Communication

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Types of Pulse Modulation

Pulse modulation is a technique used to represent analog signals using a series of pulses. These pulses
are generated at regular time intervals, and some property of the pulses is varied in relation to the
message signal. Pulse modulation can be broadly classified into two main types: Analog Pulse
Modulation and Digital Pulse Modulation.

Analog Pulse Modulation

In this type, the analog message signal is represented by varying certain characteristics of the pulse, such
as its amplitude, width, or position. It includes the following three methods:

 Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM): The amplitude of each pulse varies according to the
instantaneous value of the message signal.

 Pulse Width Modulation (PWM): Also known as Pulse Duration Modulation, the width
(duration) of each pulse is varied while keeping the amplitude constant.

 Pulse Position Modulation (PPM): The position of each pulse is varied based on the amplitude
of the message signal, while the width and amplitude remain constant.

Digital Pulse Modulation

In digital pulse modulation, the sampled signal is converted into a binary format. Each value taken by
each sample are restricted to specific levels (quantized) and then encoded in digital form. The main
techniques in this category are:

 Pulse Code Modulation (PCM): Each sample of the analog signal is quantified and then
represented by a binary code. PCM is widely used in telephone and audio recording systems.

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  Delta Modulation (DM): A simplified form of PCM, where only the change (delta) in the signal
from the previous sample is transmitted, using one bit per sample.

These different pulse modulation techniques are chosen based on the requirements of the application,
such as bandwidth efficiency, noise resistance, and system complexity. Each method has its own
advantages and trade-offs, making them suitable for various communication systems.

Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM)

Pulse Amplitude Modulation, commonly known as PAM, is one of the simplest types of analog pulse
modulation. In PAM, the amplitude of regularly spaced pulses is varied in proportion to the instantaneous
value of the message signal. This means that each pulse’s height represents the signal's strength at that
specific sampling moment.

To generate PAM, the analog signal is first sampled at regular intervals. Each sample is then used to adjust
the amplitude of a pulse. The time spacing between the pulses is constant, but their heights (amplitudes)
vary to match the signal. These pulses can then be transmitted over a communication channel. At the
receiving end, the original signal can be reconstructed from these varying pulse amplitudes.

There are two main types of PAM:

 Flat-top PAM – In this method, each pulse has a flat, constant top, making it easier to process and
filter noise at the receiver. However, it may introduce distortion due to the sudden hold of values.
 Natural PAM – Here, the pulse shape follows the natural curve of the message signal during the
pulse duration. It is more accurate but harder to handle in practice.
 Depending on polarity, PAM can also be:
 Single polarity – Pulses only have positive amplitudes.
 Double polarity – Pulses can be both positive and negative, offering a more faithful representation
of the original signal.

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Advantages of PAM:
 Simple to generate and demodulate.
 It serves as a base for more complex digital modulation techniques like PCM and DM.
 Requires less complex hardware for implementation.

Disadvantages of PAM:
 It is highly sensitive to noise because noise can easily affect the pulse amplitudes.
 Requires a larger bandwidth.
 Power consumption is higher due to amplitude variations.

Applications of PAM:
 Used in Ethernet communication systems.
 In microcontrollers for controlling LEDs or other devices.
 Used in photo-biology research.
 Serves as a foundation for further digital conversion processes.

Although PAM is not commonly used on its own in modern systems due to its limitations, it remains an
important step in the development of digital communication, especially as a precursor to more robust
techniques like Pulse Code Modulation (PCM).

Figure 2:Pulse Amplitude Modulation

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Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)

Pulse Width Modulation, or PWM, is a type of analog pulse modulation where the width (duration) of
each pulse is varied according to the instantaneous amplitude of the message signal, while the amplitude
and position of the pulses remain constant. In simpler terms, the stronger the signal, the wider the pulse,
and the weaker the signal, the narrower the pulse.

In a PWM system, the analog signal is first sampled at regular intervals. Then, instead of varying the
amplitude like in PAM, the system adjusts the time duration of each pulse based on the sampled value.
These pulses are transmitted through a communication channel, and the width of each pulse carries the
information about the original signal.

PWM is widely used in systems where power control is important, such as in motor speed control, light
dimming, and audio amplifiers. For example, in controlling the speed of a DC motor, a wider pulse means
more power is delivered, while a narrower pulse means less power.

Advantages of PWM:
 It has better noise immunity compared to PAM, because noise typically affects amplitude, not
width.
 It is more power-efficient, especially in electronic systems like power supplies or motor
controllers.
 It allows for accurate control of analog values using digital means.
Disadvantages of PWM:
 The system requires precise timing circuits to generate and detect pulse widths accurately.
 Bandwidth requirements are higher compared to PAM because of the variations in pulse durations.
 Demodulation is slightly more complex than PAM.
Applications of PWM:
 Used in speed control of DC motors (e.g., fans, electric vehicles).
 Common in LED dimming circuits for brightness control.
 Found in audio signal processing and power inverters.
 Used in digital-to-analog conversion in many embedded systems.

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PWM is especially popular in modern electronics because it efficiently represents analog signals using
digital circuits. It is a key technique in systems that need energy efficiency, precise control.

Figure 3:Pulse Width Modulation

Pulse Position Modulation (PPM)

Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) is a type of analog pulse modulation where the position (timing) of
each pulse is varied based on the instantaneous amplitude of the message signal, while the pulse
amplitude and width remain constant. In simple terms, instead of changing the height or width of the
pulse, PPM shifts the pulse slightly in time to carry information.

To generate a PPM signal, the message signal is first sampled at regular intervals. Each sample
determines how far the pulse is shifted from its original position in time. A stronger signal might push
the pulse slightly forward, while a weaker signal might cause a smaller shift. The shift directly
represents the value of the analog signal at that moment.

One of the key features of PPM is that it keeps the pulses uniform in shape and size, making it more
resistant to noise, especially noise that affects amplitude or width. This makes PPM a useful technique in
systems where signal integrity is important, such as optical communication and wireless systems.

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Advantages of PPM:
 Better noise immunity compared to PAM and PWM, since amplitude and width remain constant.
 Low power consumption, especially in optical and wireless systems.
 Easier to combine with time-division multiplexing (TDM).

Disadvantages of PPM:
 Requires precise timing synchronization between transmitter and receiver.
 More complex demodulation process compared to PAM or PWM.
 Signal reconstruction is more challenging because the information is stored in the timing of the
pulses.

Applications for PPM:

 Widely used in optical communication systems, such as infrared remote controls.
 Used in satellite communication where bandwidth is limited.
 Found in wireless sensor networks and low-power embedded systems.
 Applied in ultrasonic and radar systems for precise range measurements.

PPM is especially useful in applications where low power usage and noise resistance are important.
Although it requires accurate timing control, its advantages make it a preferred choice in many modern
communication systems.

Figure 4:Pulse Position Modulation

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Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)

Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) is one of the most used methods of converting analog signals into digital
form. It is a type of digital pulse modulation where an analog message signal is sampled, quantified, and
then encoded into a binary format for transmission. This allows the analog information to be sent and
processed using digital communication systems.
The process of PCM involves three main steps:
1. Sampling: The continuous analog signal is sampled at regular intervals to measure its amplitude.
According to the Nyquist Theorem, the sampling rate must be at least twice the highest frequency
in the signal to accurately reconstruct it later.
2. Quantization: Each sampled value is then approximated to the nearest value from a set of discrete
levels. This step introduces a small error called quantization error, but it makes the signal suitable
for digital representation.
3. Encoding: The quantized values are then converted into binary codes (0s and 1s). Each binary code
represents a sample and can be transmitted over digital communication channels.

PCM is widely used in telephone systems, audio recording, and computer-based communication because
it provides high quality and reliable signal transmission, even over long distances. Repeaters can be used
along the channel to regenerate the signal and remove noise.
Advantages of PCM:
 High noise immunity
 Good signal quality
 Easy to store, process, and encrypt digital data
 Suitable for long-distance communication
Disadvantages of PCM:
 Requires a higher bandwidth compared to analog systems
 Slight quantization errors may occur
 More complex circuitry for encoding and decoding

Despite its limitations, PCM is a foundation of modern digital communication and serves as the basis for
more advanced techniques like Differential PCM and Adaptive PCM.

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 Figure 5:Pulse Code Modulation

Delta Modulation (DM)

Delta Modulation (DM) is a simple and efficient method of converting analog signals into digital form. It
is a type of digital modulation technique where the difference between successive samples of the analog
signal is encoded, rather than the absolute amplitude values. This makes DM an alternative to Pulse Code
Modulation (PCM), particularly useful in low-bandwidth applications.
The process of DM involves the following key steps:
Sampling: The analog signal is sampled at regular intervals, typically at a rate much higher than the
Nyquist rate. This helps ensure that even small changes in the signal are captured accurately.
Delta Encoding: Instead of encoding the actual sampled amplitude, DM tracks the change (delta) between
the current and the previous sample. If the signal has increased, a binary '1' is transmitted; if it has
decreased, a binary '0' is transmitted.
Reconstruction: At the receiver end, the binary data is used to reconstruct the signal by adding or
subtracting a fixed step size from the previous value, depending on whether a '1' or '0' was received.
DM is known for its simplicity and is commonly used in systems where bandwidth is limited or where
lower complexity is desired.
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 Figure 6:Delta Modulation

Advantages of DM:
 Simpler encoder and decoder compared to PCM
 Requires lower bandwidth
 Easier implementation with less complex hardware
 Suitable for real-time applications

Disadvantages of DM:
 Slope overload distortion can occur if the signal changes too rapidly
 Granular noise appears when the step size is too large for small changes
 Less accurate than PCM for complex signals
 Fixed step size may not adapt well to varying signal dynamics
Despite these drawbacks, Delta Modulation remains useful in applications like speech coding and low-
complexity audio transmission. Variants like Adaptive Delta Modulation (ADM) have been developed to
address its limitations and improve performance.

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Sampling
Definition: Sampling is defined as ―The process of measuring the instantaneous values
of continuous-time signal in a discrete form.
Sample is a piece of data taken from the whole data which is continuous in the time domain.
When a source generates an analog signal and if that has to be digitized, having 1s and 0s
i.e., High or Low, the signal must be discretized in time. This discretization of analog signal
is called Sampling.
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.

Figure 7 : Sampled Signal

Sampling Rate
To discretize the signals, the gap between the samples should be fixed. That gap can be
termed as a sampling period 𝑻𝒔 .
𝟏
Sampling Frequency 𝑭𝒔 = 𝑻
𝒔

Ts is the sampling time fs is the sampling frequency or the sampling rate

Sampling frequency is the reciprocal of the sampling period. This sampling frequency can be
simply called a Sampling rate. The sampling rate denotes the number of samples taken per
second, or for a finite set of values.

Sampling Theorem
The sampling theorem, which is also called Nyquist theorem, delivers the theory of sufficient
sample rate in terms of bandwidth for the class of functions that are band limited.
The sampling theorem states that a signal can be exactly reproduced if it is sampled at the rate 𝑓𝑠 is greater

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than twice the maximum frequency W.
To understand this sampling theorem, let us consider a band-limited signal, i.e., a signal
whose value is non-zero between some –W and W Hertz.
Such a signal is represented as x(f)=0 for |f|>W.
For the continuous-time signal x (t), the band-limited signal in frequency domain, can be represented as
shown in the following figure

Conclusion

The study of pulse modulation techniques-PAM, PWM, PPM, PCM, and DM—highlights the
fundamental role of sampling in modern communication systems. Sampling acts as the bridge between
the continuous analog world and the discrete digital domain, enabling the conversion of real-world
signals into forms suitable for digital processing and transmission.
Each modulation technique utilizes sampling as its first and most crucial step. In Pulse Amplitude
Modulation (PAM), sampling captures the analog signal's amplitude at regular intervals, directly
influencing the height of each pulse. In Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and Pulse Position Modulation
(PPM), sampling allows the analog signal to dictate the width and position of pulses, respectively, while
maintaining constant amplitude. These analog pulse modulation techniques are foundational and often
serve as preliminary stages in more advanced digital systems.

In digital pulse modulation, particularly Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) and Delta Modulation (DM),
sampling becomes even more significant. PCM relies on precise sampling followed by quantization and
binary encoding, ensuring accurate digital representation of the original signal. DM simplifies this
process by encoding only the changes between samples. In both cases, adherence to the Nyquist
Theorem is critical to prevent aliasing and ensure that the original analog signal can be perfectly
reconstructed.
Overall, this case study demonstrates that sampling is not just a preliminary step but a core component
of all pulse modulation techniques. Its correct application ensures signal fidelity, efficient transmission,
and compatibility with digital communication infrastructures. Understanding sampling and its
application across various modulation methods equips engineers with the tools to design reliable and
effective communication systems, making it an essential topic in the field of communication
engineering.

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References
[1] B. P. Lathi and Z. Ding, *Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems*, 4th ed. Oxford University
Press, 2010.
[2] S. Haykin, *Communication Systems*, 5th ed. Wiley, 2013.
[3] A. Bruce Carlson and P. B. Crilly, *Communication Systems: An Introduction to Signals and Noise in
Electrical Communication*, 5th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2010.
[4] R. E. Ziemer and W. H. Tranter, *Principles of Communications: Systems, Modulation, and Noise*, 6th ed.
Wiley, 2002.
[5] J. G. Proakis and M. Salehi, *Fundamentals of Communication Systems*, 2nd ed. Pearson, 2013.

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