Patent GB-947430-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to pulse-code modulation transmission systems
IPC: G06F1/02
Filed: 1961-10-27
Abstract: 947,430. Pulse code modulation systems. A. E. PINET, and G. BATTAIL. Oct. 27, 1961 [Nov. 30, 1960], No. 38534/61. Heading H4L. In a pulse code modulation system of the type in which signal samples are first converted into duration modulated pulses and pulses from a pulse generator are counted for the duration of each modulated pulse, the resulting count being translated into binary form for transmission, the frequency of the pulse generator is varied in steps by arranging for it to be halved at predetermined amplitudes of the modulating signal to provide amplitude compression. Decoding arrangements in which the converse occurs are also described. As shown in Fig. 3, signal samples are supplied via terminals 101 to a sign detector 102 controlling a flip-flop 56. The signal from 101 is also supplied via a gate 104 to a pulse duration modulator 106 or via an inverter 103 and gate 105 to the modulator 106, the gates 104, 105 being controlled by the flip-flop 56. A pulse generator 3 via a frequency control circuit 9 supplies pulses to an AND gate 4 which passes pulses to a binary counter 5 for the duration of the pulse from 106. The counter 5 comprises flip-flops 50 to 55 which at the completion of a count are set to represent the corresponding binary number, a pulse from a timing pulse generator 7 transferring corresponding code pulses via gates 60 to 65 to a tapped delay line 8 and thence in serial form to the output line 2. A further pulse from flipflop 56 via gate 66 represents the sign of the input signal. The circuit 9 consists of a binary chain 911, 912, 913 controlled by the counter 5 through AND gates 930 to 933 which can only be opened one at a time to produce amplitude compression as shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement is such that the pulse repetition frequency from generator 3 is divided by eight when the generator is connected to terminal 923, by four when it is connected to terminal 922, and by two when it is connected to terminal 921, no frequency division taking place when it is connected to terminal 920. AND gate 930 is arranged to be open up to the value 16 as indicated by the counter 5, AND gate 931 is then open up to the value 32, AND gate 932 up to the value 48 and AND gate 933 up to the value 63. In a modification, Fig. 8 (not shown), the frequency division of the pulse output of oscillator 3 is controlled by a matrix arrangement of gating circuits selectively responsive to the particular binary combinations (the transition codes) at which transition from one frequency to another takes place. In a decoder, Fig. 10, for use with the encoder shown in Fig. 1, the incoming pulse code modulation signal is supplied via line 2 to a tapped delay line 18, a timing pulse from generator 17 periodically transferring the resulting parallel signals via gates 160 to 165 to control flip-flops 150 to 155 in a reverse counter 15, and also via gate 166 to operate a sign-detecting flip-flop 156. The timing pulse also changes flip-flop 10 to its " 1 " state and inhibits the gate 12. When the code elements have been stored in counter 15, pulses from a generator 13, which is synchronized with pulse generator 17 are supplied via a frequency control circuit 19 and gate 14 to return the counter 15 step-by-step to zero. The flip-flop 10 thus remains in the " 1 " position for a time equal to the duration of the duration modulated pulse at the encoder and then is returned to the " 0 " state. The output of the flip-flop 10 is supplied to a circuit 1106 for demodulating the resulting duration modulated pulses and the demodulated output is supplied via gate 1104 to the output circuit 1101 or via gate 1105 and inverter 1103 to the output circuit, the gates 1104, 1105 being controlled by the sign-detector 156. The amplitude modulated pulses at the output 1101 may be demodulated conventionally by a low-pass filter. The circuit 19 comprises a binary chain 1911, 1912, 1913, controlled by the counter 15 through gating circuits 1930 to 1933 which can only be opened one at a time to divide the pulse repetition frequency from 13 by eight, four, two and zero respectively, at the required transition code values to compensate for the amplitude compression at the coder. The accuracy of the system with various timing relationships at the encoder and decoder and with different transition values is discussed, and variations on the above circuits, as by introducing pulse delay circuits, to ensure optimum accuracy under different conditions are described. Specification 924,753 is referred to.