1

Line Coding
DIGITAL TRANSMISSION

Line Code/Line Coding

acodechosen
for
use
within
acommunications
systemfortransmittingadigital signaldown a line. Line coding is often used
for digital data transport. Some line codes aredigital baseband
modulationordigital
baseband
transmissionmethods, and these
arebasebandline codes that are used when the line can carry DC components.

Line coding consists of representing thedigital signalto be transported,

by awaveformthat is optimally tuned for the specific properties of the
physical channel (and of the receiving equipment). The pattern of voltage,
current or photons used to represent the digital data on a transmission link is
calledline
encoding.
The
common
types
of
line
encoding
areunipolar,polar,bipolar, andManchester encoding.

01011101

Line Coding

Unipolar Encoding
A positive voltage represents abinary1, and zero volts indicates a binary 0. It is
the simplest line code, directly encoding the bitstream, and is analogous toon-off
keyingin modulation.

Polar Encoding
represents bits by using two levels of polarity or amplitude: positive and negative.
The most common type is polar encoding isNon Return to Zero (NRZ).

Bipolar Encoding
a type ofreturn-to-zero(RZ)line code, where two nonzero values are used, so that
the three values are +, , and zero. Such a signal is called aduobinary signal.
Standard bipolar encodings are designed to beDC-balanced, spending equal amounts
of time in the + and states.

Manchester encoding
asynchronousclock encoding technique used by thephysical layerto encode the
clock and data of a synchronous bit stream. In this technique, the actual binary data to
be transmitted over the cable are not sent as a sequence of logic 1's and 0's (known
technically asNon Return to Zero (NRZ)).

After line coding, the signal is put through a "physicalchannel", either a

"transmission medium" or "data storage medium". Sometimes the characteristics
of two very different-seeming channels are similar enough that the same line code
is used for them. The most common physical channels are:

the line-coded signal can directly be put on atransmission line, in the form of variations
of the voltage or current (often using differential signaling).

the line-coded signal (the "basebandsignal") undergoes furtherpulse shaping(to reduce

its frequency bandwidth) and then modulated(to shift its frequency) to create an "RF
signal" that can be sent through free space.

the line-coded signal can be used to turn on and off a light source infree-space optical
communication, most commonly used in an infraredremote control.

the line-coded signal can be printed on paper to create abar code.

the line-coded signal can be converted to magnetized spots on ahard driveortape

drive.

the line-coded signal can be converted to pits on anoptical disc.

Some of the more common or binary line codes include:

SIGNAL
NRZL

COMMENTS
Non return to zero level. This is the standard positive
logic signal format used in digital circuits.
1 forces a high level
0 forces a low level

NRZM

Non return to zero mark

1 forces a transition
0 does nothing

NRZS

Non return to zero space

1 does nothing
0 forces a transition

RZ

Return to zero
1 goes high for half the bit period
0 does nothing

Some of the more common or binary line codes include:

SIGNAL
BiphaseL

COMMENTS
Manchester. Two consecutive bits of the same type
force a transition at the beginning of a bit period.
1 forces a negative transition in the middle of the bit
0 forces a positive transition in the middle of the bit

BiphaseM

There is always a transition at the beginning of a bit

period.
1 forces a transition in the middle of the bit
0 does nothing

BiphaseS

There is always a transition at the beginning of a bit

period.
1 does nothing
0 forces a transition in the middle of the bit

Differential Manchester

There is always a transition in the middle of a bit

period.
1 does nothing
0 forces a transition at the beginning of the bit

Bipolar

The positive and negative pulses alternate.

1 forces a positive or negative pulse for half the bit
period
0 does nothing

Each line code has advantages

and disadvantages. The particular
line code used is chosen to meet
one or more of the following
criteria:

Minimize transmission hardware

Facilitate synchronization

Ease error detection and

correction

Minimize spectral content

Eliminate a dc component

Reported by:
Krizia Marie Adriano
Subject:
Data Communication-501G
Professor:
Engr. Anthony Cortez