Chapter 1: Digital Data Representation
1. Systems: Digital and Analog
Electronic circuits can be divided into two broad categories, analog
and digital.
Analog Electronics
o Continuous valued quantities (Analog quantities)
Digital Electronics
o Discrete valued quantities (Digital quantities)
• Digital quantity: Quantity having discrete set of values.
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Analog quantities:
Quantities having continuous values.
Most measurable quantities occur in nature in analog form.
Examples: Temperature, Time, pressure, distance, sound
Consider an analog signal which varies continuously in time
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If we sample the signal at discrete times (τ, 2τ, 3τ, . . .) we will obtain the values
indicated by the solid circles on Figure (b). However, the signal itself is not a digital
representation of analog quantity.
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Furthermore, if we consider the quantization of the signal at these discrete sampling
times we obtain the signal indicated on Figure (c) which is a digital signal.
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A complete Digital representation of analog quantity is shown
below
Analog
Digital
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Analog vs Digital
Digital system is said to be always better than the analog system.
An analog electronic system
Public address system
Microphone, linear amplifier & speaker
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System Using Analog and Digital method
CD player
CD drive, Digital to analog converter (DAC), linear amplifier and speaker.
CD drive
10110011101 Digital-to-analog Linear amplifier
Digital data converter Analog
reproduction
of music audio Speaker
signal
Sound
waves
➔ Both digital and analog circuits
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Advantages of digital circuits over analog
▪ Easier to design.
▪ Information storage is easier and larger.
▪ Accuracy and precision are easier to maintain.
▪ Operation can be programmed.
▪ Less affected by noise.
▪ More digital circuitry can be fabricated on IC chips.
▪ Speed
▪ Economy
▪ Steadily advancing technology
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Easier to Design
There are only two different voltage levels to be considered in the
digital system.
The design is logical.
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Information Storage is Easy
Can be kept as long as necessary in digital memory.
Can be stored more compactly.
en060309-3-1
CD ~ 700 Mb Memory Card ~ 4 Gb Pen Drive ~ 1 Gb
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Accuracy and Precision
Accuracy and precision are easier to maintain.
The digital information does not deteriorate once it is stored.
The analog information maybe distorted by the effect of
temperature, humidity etc.
Operation can be Programmed
It is easy to program the operation of the digital system.
The operations in the analog system are complex and difficult to
program.
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Less affected by Noise
The exact voltage is not important in the digital system.
VH(max)
HIGH
VH(min)
Unallowed
VL(max)
LOW
VL(min)
Logic level
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Compactness
Analog components cannot be economically
integrated.
High-value capacitors, precision resistors,
inductors and transformers.
Digital circuits possible !
Processor.
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Speed
Today’s digital devices are very fast. Individual transistors in the fastest integrated
circuits can switch in less than 10 picoseconds.
Economy
Digital circuits can provide a lot of functionality in a small space.
Steadily advancing technology
In a digital system, there will be a faster, cheaper, or otherwise better technology
for it with in a few years.
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Limitations of Digital System
The real world is analog.
Processing digitized signals
takes time.
01011010
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2. Data Representation Mechanisms
Digital electronics involves circuits and systems in which there are
only two possible states.
➔ Two different voltage levels: HIGH and LOW
Code: Combination of the two states
- Represent numbers, symbols, alphabetic character
and other type of information.
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Binary number system: two-state number system
- The two digits (bits) are 0 and 1
In positive logic: [used throughout the course]
-The bit 1 is represented by a higher voltage
level and 0 is represented by lower voltage level.
HIGH=1 LOW=0
In negative logic:
- The bit 1 is represented by LOW and 0 is
represented by HIGH.
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Ideally, one voltage level represents HIGH and another
voltage levels represents LOW.
However, in practice, HIGH and LOW can be ranges of
voltages.
The voltage values between VL(max) and VH(min) are unacceptable for
proper operation.
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Topic References
Thomas L. Floyd, Digital Fundamentals.
John F. Wakerly, Digital Design Principles & Practices.
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