Posted by: Margaret RouseWhatIs.com

Contributor(s): David Brancato, Mark Denni, and Vincent MartinezDigital signal processing (DSP) refers to several techniques for improving the accuracy and reliability of electronic communications. The theory behind DSP is quite elaborate. Essentially, DSP functions by clarifying, or standardizing, the levels or states of a electronic sign. ADSP circuit is able to differentiate between human-made signals,which are orderly, and noise, which is inherently chaotic.

All communications circuits contain some noise.This is true whether or not the indicators are analog or digital,and regardless with the type of data conveyed. Noise may be the eternal bane of communications engineers, who are always striving to find new ways to strengthen the signal-to-noise ratioin communications systems. Traditional strategies of optimizing S/N ratio include increasing the transmitted signal power and increasing the receiver sensitivity. (In wireless programs,specialized antenna programs can also help.) Digital sign processing dramatically improves the sensitivity of the receiving unit. The effect is most obvious when noise competes having a desired signal. A good DSP circuit can sometimes seem like an electronic miracle worker. But there are limits to what it can do. If the noise is so strong that all traces of the sign are obliterated, a DSP circuit cannot find any get during the chaos,and no sign will likely be received.

If an incoming sign is analog, for example a standard television broadcast station, the signal is first converted to electronic form by an analog-to-digital converter(ADC). The resulting electronic signal has two or more levels. Ideally, these levels are always predictable, exact voltages or currents. Nevertheless, because the incoming signal is made up of noise, the levels are not always at the standard values. The DSP circuit adjusts the levels so they are at the correct values. This practically eliminates the noise. The digital sign is then converted back to analog from via a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

If a received signal is electronic, such as computer facts, then the ADC and DAC are not necessary. The DSP acts directly within the incoming sign, eliminating irregularities caused by noise, and thereby minimizing the variety of errors per unit time.

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