Quantization of Discrete Time Signals

Abstract

Signals are usually classified into four categories. A continuous time signal x(t) has the field of real numbers R as its domain in that t can assume any real value. If the range of x(t) (values that x(t) can assume) is also R, then x(t) is said to be a continuous time, continuous amplitude signal. If the range of x(t) is the set of integers Z, then x(t) is said to be a continuous time, discrete amplitude signal. In contrast, a discrete time signal x(n) has Z as its domain. A discrete time, continuous amplitude signal has R as its range. A discrete time, discrete amplitude signal has Z as its range. Here, the focus is on discrete time signals. Quantization is the process of approximating any discrete time, continuous amplitude signal into one of a finite set of discrete time, continuous amplitude signals based on a particular distortion or distance measure. This approximation is merely signal compression in that an infinite set of possible signals is converted into a finite set. The next step of encoding maps the finite set of discrete time, continuous amplitude signals into a finite set of discrete time, discrete amplitude signals.