Telecommunications Lab.

O 1 BEng 2
],
The Hong Kong 'Polytechnic University

Department of Electrical Engineering

Telecommunication Laboratory

Time Division Multiplexing

AIM To gain practical experience in Time Division Multiplexing.

APPARATUS: MODICOM 2 board

comprising of Power Supply Inputs, Transmitter Timing
Logic, Function Generator, Transmitter, Phase Locked
Timing Circuit, Receiving Timing Circuit and Receiver.
Power Supply
Oscilloscopes

1. INTRODUCTION

Multiplexing is where more than one signal is made to share a common

channel. Two commonly used methods of multiplexing are Frequency Division
Multiplexing (FDM) 'and Time Division Multiplexing (TDM). In this
experiment, we consider time division multiplexing.

Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) is often used in digital

communication systems. In this experiment, we are concerning how to
multiplex several information signals along a common channel. The main
apparatus which we are going to use is the MODICOM2 Board.

2. THE MODICOM 2 Board

Fig. 4 shows the layout diagram of the MODICOM 2 board. Can be

considered as comprising of 7 separate units: function generator, transmitter
timing logic, transmitter, receiver, receiver timing logi~, phase locked timing
circuit and power supply inputs.

Information signals are simulated by the output waveforms from the

Function Generator, while the Transmitter Timing Logic and the Transmitter
circuits from the modulation and multiplexing equipment required at the
sending side.

The right hand side of the board (including Receiver, Receiver Timing
Logic and Phase Locked Timing Circuit) carries out the demultiplexing and the
demodulation processes required in a TDM system.

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Telecommunications Lab.O 1 2 BEng2

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3. PROCEDURE:

3.1 Simulation of information signals

This exercise allows you to familiarize yourself with the way in which
information signal may be simulated by signal analog test frequencies which
are within the bandwidth of the information signal. The MODICOM 2 board
(Fig. 4) will use single audio range frequencies to simulate information signals.
These are provided by the Function Generator.

. Connect the power supply to the MODICOM 2 board in accordance with

Table 1 and Fig. 5

I.C. Power 60 Supply Terminal MODICOM 2 SOCKET

+5V.IA RED Terminal +5V
Telecommunications Lab.OI 3 BEng 2

-v BLACK Terminal OV
+12V RED Terminal +12V
OV BLACK Terminal OV
-12 V BLUE Terminal -12 V

Table 1 Power Supply Connections

IC POWER 60
+12

. Connect the ground of the oscilloscope to 0 V on the MODICOM 2 board.

. Switch on the Power Supply.
. Turn each variable resistor control (Fig. 6) in the Function Generator, fully
clockwise.

@
variable resistor

. Use the oscilloscope to observe the waveform at the following outputs on

the Function Generator:

250 Hz.
500Hz.
1 kHz.
2kHz.
These frequencies will be used to simulate information signals during
the practical exercises to be carried out on this board.

. Now turn each variable resistor in the Function Generator counter-

clockwise and notice the effect on the signal waveform. It should reduce in
amplitude.

. In your Workbook [lote the maximum and minimum signal levels achieved
(To an accuracy of+/- 0.2 Votls)
Telecommunications Lab.O! 4 BEng 2

3.2 Study of the Transmitter Tir;ningLogic unit.

The Transmitter Timing Logic unit on the MODICOM 2 board controls the
sample of the input information channel.s. In this exercise, you will observe
and sketch the control signals which operate the sample switches.

. Connect the power supply to the MODICOM 2 board in accordance with

Table 1 aridFig. 5. .

. Connect the ground ofthe oscilloscope to 0 V on the MODICOM 2 board.

. Switch on the power supply

. Set the Duty Cycle Control to "5" (Fig. 7)

DUTY
6d CYCLE
CONTROL

. Using the oscilloscope, observe the Duty Cycle Control waveform at Test
Point (tp) 4,
. In your workbook note the frequency of this rectangular waveform.

. Now adjust the Duty Cycle Control switch from 0 to 9 and in your
workbook explain how the Duty Cycle Wavefrom changes. One Period of
this waveform is called a Timeslot and is the period during which One

. Channels is sampled.
Return the Duty Cycle Control switch to position "5".

Now, as stated above, one information channel is sampled during one

cycle of the Duty Cycle Control waveform. The sampling occurs when the
control signal goes "low" and closes the switch, allowing the information
signal to pass during the sample duration.

If only one channel can be sampled at a time, and the four information
channels are sampled one after another (Channel 0 to Channel 3) cyclically,
then in your Workbook:

. Using the Duty Cycle Control frequyncy as seen at tp-4, estimate how often
an individual information channel is sampled.

. Leave one oscilloscope probe connected to tp4.

. Use the other oscilloscope probe to observe the sampling switching control
waveform at tp7, th~n tp8, tp9 and tplO.
Telecommunications Lab.OJ 5 BEng 2

. In your Workbook sketchlhese waveforms on the graph paper provided.

relative to that at tp4 (Fig. 8 ) and record their Pulse Repetition Frequency
(PRF).

voltage (V)

5 Waveform at tp4

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3.3 Observation of the TDM waveform

Here we can see the test points tp 7. 8. 9 and 10 where you observed the
sampling switch control waveforms. By reference to your Workbook sketches"
Telecommunications Lab.OJ 6 BEng 2

of those waveforms you should be above to see that each channel is switched
through to a common transmitter one after the other as switches at test points
12, 14, 16 and 18 close sequentially.

TRANSMITTER

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0
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ooy

Now that you have a better understanding of the operation of the TDM process
on this board you are in a position to observe the TOM waveform.
. Connect the power supply to the MODICOM 2 board in accordance with
Table 1 and Fig. 5.
. Connect the ground of the oscilloscope to 0 V on the MODICOM 2 board.

. Switch on the power supply.

. Set the Duty Cycle Control switch t 0"1" to obtain a short duration pulse.

. Connect the 2 kHz signal output of the Function Generator to the Channel 3
input ofthe transmitter.
. Trigger the oscilloscope externally by setting the oscilloscope to external
trigger, and connecting the external trigger input to the CH.Otest point as
tpll.

. Use one oscilloscope probe to observe the channel 3 input signal at tp 17.

. Adjust the variable resistor associated with the 2kHz signal on the Function
Generator to obtain a peak information signal voltage of2 V.

. \Vith the second oscilloscope probe observe the sampled signal at tp20.

You can now observe the sampled signal of channel 3 at the transmitter output.
Telecommunications Lab.OJ 7 BEng 2

. Increase the Duty Cycle Control, observe and record in your workbook the
effect at tp20.

You can now add the other three input channel signals and observe the
complete multiplexed signal waveform. To help you differentiate between
input information signals, different channels have been allocated different
signalamplitudes. .

. Connect the Function Generator outputs to the transmitter input channels as

shown in Table 2 and Fig. 10.

Function Generator Sinewave Transmitter

Frequency Peak Voltage Input Channel
250 Hz 5V CH.O
500 Hz 4V CH.l
1 kHz 3V CH.2
2 kHz 2V CH.3

Table 2

1RA N S MTITER

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. Leave the osciJIoscope externally triggered by the CH.O signal and the
second probe connected to tp20.

. Set the Duty Cycle Control to "5".

. Set the TimelDivision setting on the oscilloscope to 0.2 mslDiv.

 \
Telecommunications Lab.OI 8 BEng 2 ,
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You can now observe the Time Division Multiplexed PAM samples. Careful
examination of the oscilloscope display will reveal all four sampled
information signals. To verify the PAMrrDM process carry out the following
procedure.
. Leaving the second oscilloscope probe connected to tp20 , connect the
other probe to tpl8 to display the 2 kHz information signal at Channel 3.

Ensure the both oscilloscope amplifiers are set at 2 V/Div.

. You should now observe the 2 kHz analog information signal

superimposed upon the TDM waveform. By carefully adjusting the Y
Position control for the first oscilloscope probe you should be above to
match the analog signal to its sampled waveform.
. Repeat this procedure for information signals at Ch.2, Ch.l and Ch.O by
connecting the first oscilloscope probe to test points 16,14 and 12
respectively.
. In your Workbook sketch the TOM waveform at tp20 over approximately
200 JlS, clearly indicating which sample is associated with each input
channel.

HINT:

If you are experiencing difficulty in determining which sampled waveform belongs to

which channel:

Set the oscilloscope Time Base to 20 JlS/Div., leaving all other controls and inputs as set.

Leave channel 0 connected at all times and then remove and replace the connection from
the Function Generator to each input channel in tern.

By doing this, the sampled waveform associated with each channel will disappear from
the oscilloscope display as the appropriate link is removed, making identification easier.

4. SUMMARY

The process of Time Division Multiplexing process has been studied.

The net result of this process is a Time Division Multiplexed output signal
where several information signals shar the same transmission medium without
mutually interfering with each other. In effect, the information signals are
separated from each other in time. This TDM signal can be transmitted
through a single communication channel and each individual information
signal can be separated for the others at the receiving end by a process called
. demultiplexing.