Quantization Distortion in Pulse-Count Modulation with Nonuniform Spacing of Levels

Abstract

It is shown that the distortion introduced in a pulse-count-modulation system due to quantization can be minimized by nonuniform spacing of levels. Equations are derived for an arrangement of nonuniform level spacing that produces minimum distortion. It is also shown that minimum distortion is significantly less than distortion resulting from uniform quantization when the crest factor of the signal is greater than four.