Test: Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) - Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) MCQ

• Analog modulation is a process in which analog low-frequency baseband signals (like an audio or TV signal) are transmitted over a larger distance without getting faded away, by superimposing over a higher frequency carrier signal such as a radio frequency band.
• Different modulation techniques are explained with the help of the following block diagram:
  
• If the amplitude of a pulse or duration of a pulse is varied according to the instantaneous values of the baseband modulating signal, then such a technique is called as Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM).

A PAM signal is demodulated using an integrator. Signals having same width but different amplitudes produce different values at the output of an integrator.

PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulation):

• It is a technique in which the amplitude of each pulse is controlled by the instantaneous amplitude of the modulation signal.
•  It is a modulation system in which the signal is sampled at regular intervals and each sample is made proportional to the amplitude of the signal at the instant of sampling.
  
• The demodulation of the PAM signals is done by using a Low-pass filter as shown:
  

Concept:

Where,
Rb = nf_s
n = no. of bits
M = no. of levels of PAM
Calculation:
fm = 10 kHz
Nyquist sampling rate = 2f­_m = 20 kHz.
The signal is sampled at 20% above Nyquist rate:
∴ fs = (1.2 × 20) = 24 kHz.
No. of Quantization levels
= 1024
No. of bits required = log₂ (1024)
= log₂ 2¹⁰ = 10 bits.



= 80 kHz.

PFM does not exist in practice

Additional Information
PWM
The amplitude and position of pulses are constant in modulated signal (PWM), but the width (or duration) of pulses varies proportionally with the amplitude of an analog useful signal.
The carrier signal is produced by a clock.

 

PPM
The amplitude and width of pulses are constant in a modulated signal (PPM), but the direction of pulses varies proportionally with the amplitude of analogical useful signal.

PAM
The width and location of pulses in a modulated signal (PAM) are constant, while the amplitude of pulses varies proportionally with the amplitude of an analogical useful signal.

PFM does not exist in practice

Additional Information
PWM
The amplitude and position of pulses are constant in modulated signal (PWM), but the width (or duration) of pulses varies proportionally with the amplitude of an analog useful signal.
The carrier signal is produced by a clock.

 

PPM
The amplitude and width of pulses are constant in a modulated signal (PPM), but the direction of pulses varies proportionally with the amplitude of analogical useful signal.

PAM
The width and location of pulses in a modulated signal (PAM) are constant, while the amplitude of pulses varies proportionally with the amplitude of an analogical useful signal.

Hence from the above option (d) is correct

Concept:
For discrete random variable x:
Mean = E[x] = ∑I xi p (xi)
Mean square value (MSQ) = E[x²] = ∑_I x_i² p (x_i)
Variance (σ²) = E[x²] – {E(x)}²
Standard deviation (σ) = 
Calculation:
Given data: for the given PAM source

Mean = E[x] = ∑i xi p (xi)
= (-3)(0.2) + (-1)(0.3) + (1)(0.3) + (3)(0.2)
= 0
MSQ = E[x²] = ∑I x_i² p (x_i)
= (-3)²(0.2) + (-1)²(0.3) + (1)²(0.3) + (3)²(0.2) V
= 4.2 V
Variance = E[x²] – {E[x]}²
= 4.2 – 0
= 4.2 V

Concept:
Consider the block diagram as shown below to represent the noise which is treated as error:

The received signal is:
r(t) = S_i(t) + n(t)
The output of the filter is:
z(t) = ai(t) + n0(t)
ai(t): Signal component
n0(t): Noise component
The probability of error is represented in terms of the Q function:

Pe = Q[x]
When the pdf's are not having an equal width then the probability of error will not be the same for both symbols. In this case, the Bit error rate is calculated.
BER = P(1) × Pe₁ + P(0) × Pe₀ 
P(1): Probability when 1 is transmitted
P(0): Probability when 0 transmitted
Pe0: Probability of error when 0 transmitted
Pe1: Probability of error when 1 transmitted.
Calculation:
The system is defined as shown:

The given mean is 0 and variance is 2/α² 
V[X] = E[X²] - (E[X])² 
2/α² = E[X²]
The area under the curve is:

E[X²] = 10^-20 × 2 × 10⁶ 
2/α² = 10^-14 × 2
α² = 10¹⁴ 
α = 10⁷ 
Given Y_t, represent the random variable y(t₁)
Y_t = N_s if transmitted bit b_k = 0
Y_K = a + N_k if transmitted bit b_k = 1 and threshold z is set to a/2 = 10^-6 V
P(0) = P(1) = 1/2
P_e = P(1) × Pe₁ + P(0) × Pe₀ 
Pe₁ calculation
We know that when the output signal is less than the threshold it is considered as 0 and there is an error when 1 is transmitted.
Y_k < z ⇒ error
a + N_k < 10^-6 
N_k < -10^-6 


Pe₀ calculation
We know that when the output signal is more than the threshold it is considered as 1 and there is an error when 0 is transmitted.
Y_k > z ⇒ error
N_s > 10^-6 
N_s > -10^-6 

The probability of error is:

Concept:
The statistical averages Mean and Variance are called as 'first order moment' and 'second-order moment' respectively.
Variance represents the total power of the random signal.


Total power can be determined as the area of the curve.
When the input is passed through a system the output is shown by:

S_N(f): Input noise PSD
S_N0(f): Output noise PSD
H(f): system response
Calculation:
The system is defined as shown:

The given mean is 0 and variance is 2/α² 
V[X] = E[X²] - (E[X])² 
2/α² = E[X²]
The area under the curve is:
E[X²] = 10^-20 × 2 × 10⁶ 
2/α² = 10^-14 × 2
α² = 10¹⁴ 
α = 10⁷ 

Concept:
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM):
As mentioned PWM is short form of Pulse Width Modulation in which width of pulse is proportional to amplitude of the modulating signal.

Following are the benefits or advantages of PWM:

• Noise interference is less or minimum.
• The system is moderate in complexity to implement.
• It has moderate power efficiency among all three types.
• It supports higher power handling capability.
• It has high accuracy due to the fact that it can be self-calibrated.
• It has high S/N ratio.
• It has the ability to simultaneously record information from a large number of channels.
   

Following are the disadvantages of PWM:

• Instantaneous power of transmitter varies.
• The system requires semiconductor devices with low turn-ON and turn-OFF times. Hence they are very expensive.
• High switching losses due to higher PWM frequency.
   

From the given statements, 'It has a less complex electronic circuitry and therefore the reliability of such system is high' is NOT an advantage of Pulse Duration Modulation (PDM) recording.