Patent GB-672184-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to pulse code modulation communication systems
Inventor: BAILEY CHRISTOPHER EDMUND GERV
IPC: H03M1/00
Filed: 1950-09-01
Abstract: 672,184. Pulse code modulation circuits; valve circuits. PHILIPS ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES, Ltd. Sept. 1, 1950, No. 21616/50. Classes 40 (v) and 40 (vi). In a pulse code modulation system, a circuit is used in coding or decoding in which the output signal or its envelope is an increasing exponential function of time, the initial level being a function of the input signal or the envelope thereof. The circuit comprises either the combination of a negative conductance and a reactive conductance or a super-regenerative amplifier. In one embodiment the reactive conductance is a condenser C, Fig. 2, shunted by the negative conductance appearing between the suppressor and screen grids of a transitronconnected pentode V2. The input signal is applied to the circuit from terminal A1 through an amplifier V1 and the output signal may be taken across condenser C or from the anode A2 of valve V2. Initial conditions are established and re-established by pulses applied, from terminals A3 through transformers T1, T2 to the grids of triode clamping tubes V3, V4 which are thereby rendered conductive to restore the suppressor and screen grids of valve V2 to their initial values. In a second embodiment, the reactive conductance C, Fig. 3, is associated with the grid circuit of a valve V6, which is one of a pair of valves V5, V6 connected to form a trigger pair with two stable states. The input signal is applied to the condenser C through amplifier VI from terminal A1 and the output signal taken from the cathode A2 of valve V6. The clamping valves V3, V4 establish and reestablish initial conditions, by connecting the grid of valve V5 to a point of predetermined potential on the current-carrying resistance R16, when rendered conducting by pulses from terminals A3 applied to transformers T1, T2. In a third embodiment the input signal is a modulated carrier which is applied to a superregenerative amplifier, Fig. 4 (not shown), the natural frequency of which is equal to or near the input carrier frequency. Initial conditions are periodically established by a quenching pulse applied to the amplifier anode circuit. Decoding circuit.-In one example of decoding circuit, using the super-regenerative amplifier and a binary on-off four-unit pulse code in which successive digits have decreasing values; the operation for the pulse group 1101=13 is shown in Fig. 6. The carrier frequency pulse envelopes (a) upon application to the amplifier produce the changes in output level shown at (b). The effect of each leading and trailing pulse edge is to add or subtract respectively a term 1+#2 to level, and the exponential increase in level is by a factor of #2 for each equal mark and space time of the possible code pulses. Thus the levels p11 ... p19, p110, p111, are 1+#2, 2+#2, 1, #2, 1+2#2, 4+#2, 3, 6#2, 1+7#2, 14+#2 and 13, respectively. The amplifier is quenched at the end of the code group, the rectified envelope being derived from the grid resistance. The circuits of Figs. 2, 3 are used in a similar way to decode D.C. pulses, Coding circuit.-For coding, the signal potential amplitude is allowed to rise exponentially across the condenser C of Fig. 2 or Fig. 3 and compared periodically with a constant potential. If at any comparison it exceeds the latter a pulse is produced and a constant level subtracted therefrom. If it is less than the comparison level it is allowed to continue to rise and no pulse is produced. For a four-unit code in which the maximum signal level is 16, the comparison level is 8#2, the constant level for subtraction is 16, and the signal doubles itself in each pulse interval. A coding circuit connected to the terminals A3, Fig. 9, of the condenser C across which the signal potential rises exponentially, comprises a grid-controlled gas-filled tube V8 and a triode V9 connected in series. The 300v. line is connected through resistances R19, R18 respectively to the anodes of tubes V8, V9, so that normally, when V9 is cut-off, the anode and cathode of V8 are at the same potential, the latter also therefore being non- conducting. A pulse applied to the grid of V9 to render it conducting, causes the cathode potential of V8 to fall until it is clamped by diode V10 at a value Vc such that the critical discharge grid-voltage of V8 is equal to the required comparison voltage. If the voltage across condenser C is less than the comparison voltage V8 does not conduct. If it is greater, V8 conducts and a negative-going pulse appears across resistance R19. After a delay in line DL, this pulse is fed through condenser C6 and diode V<SP>1</SP> 1 to condenser C, to reduce the voltage thereacross by the predetermined amount. At the conclusion of each pulse, the positive charge which would remain on condenser C6 is discharged through diode V12 to the cathode of a cathode-follower triode V13, the grid of which is connected to the condenser C. Thus condenser C6 is discharged to the potential of condenser C without affecting the charge on the latter. The resulting code pulses are taken from the anode of valve V8 at terminal A4. Specification 652,846 is referred to. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specifccation 678,726.