Device for encoding n-bit source words into corresponding m-bit channel words and decoding m-bit channel words into corresponding n-bit source words

[0002] Device for encoding n-bit source words into corresponding m-bit channel words and decoding m-bit channel words into corresponding n-bit source words.

[0003] 1. Field of the Invention

[0004] The invention relates to a device for encoding a stream of databits of a binary source signal into a stream of databits of a binary channel signal, wherein the stream of databits of the source signal is divided into n-bit source words, which device comprises converting means conceived to convert said n-bit source words into corresponding m-bit channel words in accordance with a conversion of the parity preserve type, where m and n are integers, with m>n.

[0005] The invention also relates to a method of encoding a stream of databits of a binary source signal into a stream of databits of a binary channel signal, wherein the stream of databits of the source signal is divided into n-bit source words, said source words being converted into corresponding m-bit channel words in accordance with a conversion of the parity preserve type, where m and n are integers, with m>n.

[0006] The invention further relates to a binary channel signal comprising a stream of databits, converted from a binary source signal comprising a stream of databits, wherein the stream of databits of the source signal comprises n-bit source words, the channel signal comprising m-bit channel words, each one of said m-bit channel words corresponding to one of said n-bit source words in accordance with a conversion of the parity preserve type, where m and n are integers, with m>n.

[0007] The invention further relates to a record carrier comprising a binary channel signal comprising a stream of databits, converted from a binary source signal comprising a stream of databits, wherein the stream of databits of the source signal comprises n-bit source words, the channel signal comprising m-bit channel words, each one of said m-bit channel words corresponding to one of said n-bit source words in accordance with a conversion of the parity preserve type, where m and n are integers, with m>n.

[0008] The invention further relates to a device for decoding a stream of databits of a binary channel signal into a stream of databits of a binary source signal, wherein the stream of databits of the channel signal is divided into m-bit channel words, which device comprises deconverting means conceived to deconvert said m-bit channel words into corresponding n-bit source words in accordance with a deconversion of the parity preserve type, where m and n are integers, with m>n.

[0009] 2. Description of the Relate Art

[0010] An encoding device and a decoding device mentioned in the foregoing are known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,222 (PHN 14448). The document discloses a device for encoding a stream of databits of a binary source signal into a stream of databits of a binary channel signal, satisfying a (1,7) runlength constraint. This means that, in a serial datastream of the channel signal, minimally one ‘zero’ and maximally seven ‘zeroes’ are present between two consecutive ‘ones’ in the channel signal. The device further realizes a minimization of the repeated minimum transition runlength.

[0011] In this respect it should be noted that, normally, an additional precoding step, such as a 1T precoding, is applied to the (1,7) constrained sequence, resulting in a runlength-limited sequence with a minimum runlength of 2 and a maximum runlength of 8.

[0012] The known conversion is parity preserving (PP). ‘Parity preserving’ means that the parity of the n-bit source words to be converted equals the parity, after modulo-2-addition, of the corresponding m-bit channel words in which they are converted. As a result, the encoding device as claimed does not influence the polarity of the signal.

[0013] As the conversion is parity preserving, DC-control can be applied by inserting DC-control bits in the datastream of the source words, which is more efficient than the insertion of extra bits in the channel bitstream, the so-called merging bits. DC-control implies the reduction of the power of the channel bit stream near zero frequency. The spectral notch at DC allows retrieval of the threshold level from the detected waveform, which is essential for detection and timing-recovery with the PLL.

[0014] In this PP channel code, no additional DC-control is present in order to further reduce the power of the channel bit stream near zero frequency, or to reduce the overhead for DC-control by reduction of the number of parity preserve DC-control bits.

[0015] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device for encoding n-bit source words into corresponding m-bit channel words, in which extra DC-control is possible.

[0016] The device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the device further comprises control means for carrying out DC-control on said binary channel signal by introducing a freedom of choice in the source-to-channel conversion.

[0017] The invention is based on the recognition that DC-control will be made possible by introducing an appropriate freedom of choice in the source-to-channel mapping. Therefore, two options in the choice for some particular source-to-channel conversions are created. Both options are different in one extra ‘1’ in the channel bitstream in NRZI-notation, i.e. the difference is one extra transition in the channel bitstream. Due to this extra transition, the so-called running-digital sum (RDS) value can be kept within certain bounds. This kind of DC-control will be referred to as stochastic DC-control.

[0018] In the parity preserve channel code, already mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,222, DC-control is also performed by limiting the RDS within certain bounds. The main difference with the known parity preserve channel code is that this code needs extra bits, the so-called parity preserve bits, before the channel encoding operation in order to control the RDS value. In this invention, the RDS value can also be controlled be introducing a freedom of choice in the source-to-channel mapping with double options. In order to maintain the same amount of DC-control, fewer extra bits can be used, allowing a higher capacity of the record carrier with signals encoded in accordance with the presented code stored on it.

[0019] The device in accordance with the invention is also characterized in that the device further comprises control means conceived to minimize the repeated minimum transition runlength on said binary channel signal by introducing a freedom of choice in the source-to-channel conversion.

[0020] The invention is based on the recognition that in encoding in accordance with the known encoding device, relatively long sequences comprising only the minimum transition runlength may occur, leading to a deterioration of the bit detection in a receiver, followed by transmission and subsequent decoding of the channel signal in the receiver. In a channel signal satisfying a specific runlength constraint, such as (1,7) or (1,8), this means that relatively long sequences ‘ . . . 0101010101. . .’ occur, resulting in relatively long sequences ‘ . . . 001100110011. . . .’ in the sequence after 1T preceding. The devices in accordance with the invention restrict the lengths of these sequences, so that an improved bit-detection in a receiver can be realized. Such a restriction is known as R epeated Minimum Runlength Limitation (RML).

[0021] The method in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the method further carries out DC-control on the binary channel signal by introducing a freedom of choice in the source-to-channel conversion.

[0022] The signal in accordance with the invention is characterized in that in said binary channel signal, a pair of blocks of p consecutive m-bit channel words, being converted from the same block of p consecutive n-bit source words, is present, the blocks of the pair differing from each other in the bit value at one bit position only in said blocks, p being an integer which is larger than 1.

[0023] The record carrier in accordance with the invention is characterized in that, in said binary channel signal, a pair of blocks of p consecutive m-bit channel words, being converted from the same block of p consecutive n-bit source words, is present, the blocks of the pair differing from each other in the bit value at one bit position only in said blocks, p being an integer which is larger than 1.

[0024] The decoding device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that said deconverting means are also conceived to deconvert a channel sequence comprising pairs of blocks of p consecutive m-bit channel words into the same blocks of p consecutive n-bit source words, the pairs of blocks of p consecutive m-bit channel words differing from each other in the bit value at one bit position only in said blocks, p being an integer which is larger than 1.

[0025] With this device, the binary data signal comprising a stream of databits, characterized in that, in said binary channel signal, a pair of blocks of p consecutive m-bit channel words, being converted from the same block of p consecutive n-bit source words, is present, the blocks of the pair differing from each other in the bit value at one bit position only in said blocks, p being an integer which is larger than 1, can be deconverted into a binary source signal comprising a stream of databits.

[0026] The invention will be further described in the following Figure description in which

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the encoding device,

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the encoding device,

[0029] FIG. 3 shows an arrangement for precoding the serial channel signal and recording the precoded signal on a record carrier,

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the decoding device, and

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the decoding device.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an encoding device that is capable of converting 2-bit source words into 3-bit channel words. The device has an input terminal 1 for receiving a stream of databits of a binary source signal S. The terminal 1 is coupled to an input of a shift register 2 having eight cells X₁to X₈, in the present example, so as to receive eight consecutive source bits of the source signal S. The shift register 2 functions as a serial-parallel converter. The outputs of the cells are coupled to corresponding inputs i₁to i₈, respectively, of a logic circuit LC, for supplying the logic values (x₁, . . . ,x₈) of the source bits present in the cells. The logic circuit LC forms part of the converting means CM.

[0033] The device further includes a second shift register 4 having twelve cells Y₁to Y₁₂. The logic circuit LC has twelve outputs o₁to o₁₂. These outputs of the logic circuit LC are coupled to corresponding inputs of the twelve cells Y₁to Y₁₂, respectively, of the shift register 4. An output 6 of the shift register 4 is coupled to an output terminal 8. The shift register 4 functions as a parallel-serial converter, so as to obtain the binary channel signal C.

[0034] Furthermore, a detector unit 10 is available for detecting specific sequences in the serial datastream of the source signal S. To this end, the outputs of the eight cells X₁to X₈of the shift register 2 are coupled to corresponding inputs, denoted 12, of the detector unit 10. In the present embodiment, the detector unit 10 has three outputs, denoted O₁, O₂and O₃, for generating a first, a second and a third control signal, respectively. These outputs are coupled to corresponding control signal inputs c₁, c₂and c₃, respectively, of the logic circuit LC.

[0035] The logic circuit LC functions as follows in response to the control signals applied to its inputs c₁, c₂and c₃. The logic circuit LC is capable of converting 2-bit source words SW into 3-bit channel words. As an example, the converting means LC is adapted to convert the 2-bit source words SW into 3-bit channel words CW in accordance with the following Table 1.

[0036] It can be seen that converting the source words in accordance with this table results in the preserving of the parity, because the parity of the n-bit source words to be converted equals the parity, after modulo-2 addition, of the corresponding m-bit channel words into which they are converted.

[0037] It should be noted here that the first bit in the source word is applied first to the shift register 2 and that the first bit in the channel word is supplied first from the output 6 of the shift register 4.

[0038] It should be further noted here that the logic circuit LC converts 2-bit source words stored in the cells X₁,X₂into 3-bit channel words and stores these channel words in the cells Y₁,Y₂,Y₃of the shift register 4, in response to an absence of any control signal at the control signal inputs c₁,c₂and c₃. Each conversion in this way is followed by a shift over two positions to the left in the shift register 2, and a shift over three positions to the left in the shift register 4. The shift over two positions in the shift register 2 is required to prepare the shift register 2, and thus the converter, for a subsequent conversion. The shift over three positions in the shift register 4 is required to output the generated 3-bit channel word.

[0039] The device of FIG. 1 can be used to generate a channel signal C in the form of a (d,k) sequence satisfying the d=1 constraint. This means that at least one ‘zero’ is present between two subsequent ‘ones’ in the serial datastream of the channel signal. That is, a concatenation of two or more ‘ones’ in the channel signal is prohibited.

[0040] The unmodified conversion, such as by means of the device of FIG. 1, of combinations of two subsequent 2-bit source words might violate the d=1 constraint. These combinations are the combinations ‘00 00’, which, by unmodified conversion, would lead to the two 3-bit channel words ‘101 101’; ‘00 01’, which, by unmodified conversion, would lead to the two 3-bit channel words ‘101 100’; ‘10 00’, which, by unmodified conversion, would lead to the two 3-bit channel words ‘001 101’ and ‘10 01’, which, by unmodified conversion, would lead to the two 3-bit channel words ‘001 100’.

[0041] The occurrence of such combinations should be detected so that a modified encoding of blocks of two 2-bit source words into blocks of two 3-bit channel words can take place. Therefore, in addition to the ‘normal’ encoding of 2-bit source words into 3-bit channel words. the device of FIG. 1 is capable of detecting the above identified combinations and of realizing a modified encoding, such that the d=1 constraint in the channel signal is still satisfied.

[0042] Since the outputs of the cells X₁to X₄of the shift register 2 are coupled to corresponding inputs of the detector unit 10, this detector unit 10 is capable of detecting the position in the serial bitstream of the source signal where unmodified encoding of single 2-bit source words in the bitstream into corresponding single 3-bit channel words would lead to a violation of the d=1 constraint in the channel signal C, and is adapted to supply a control signal at its output O₁in response to such a detection.

[0043] More specifically, the detector unit 10 detects whether the cells X₁to X₄comprise one of the 4-bit sequences that are given in Table 2, and generates a first control signal at its output O₁. As soon as the detector unit 10 detects a combination of two 2-bit source words present in the four cell positions x1,x₂,x₃,x₄, which combination equals one of the combinations given in the left-hand column of Table 2, the logic circuit LC converts the combination in accordance with the modified coding given in Table 2.

[0044] As can be seen from the Table, unmodified conversion of the single two 2-bit source words leads to a violation of the d=1 constraint, as two ‘ones’ occur at the boundary between the two channel words obtained. The logic circuit LC is therefore adapted to convert, in a modified coding mode, the blocks of two 2-bit source words given in the left column of the above Table into the blocks of two 3-bit channel words given in the right column in Table 2. As can be seen, no violation of the d=l constraint occurs anymore. Furthermore, one of the two 3-bit channel words is unequal to one of the four channel words of Table 1, namely the code word 010. The reason for this is that, on the receiver side, a detection of this 3-bit channel word not belonging to the set of four 3-bit channel words of Table 1 is possible, so that a corresponding decoding, which is the inverse of the encoding as defined with reference to Table 2, can be realized.

[0045] The block of two 3-bit channel words, obtained by means of the encoding in conformity with Table 2, is supplied by the logic circuit LC to its outputs o₁to o₆, which channel words are supplied to the six cells Y₁, to Y₆of the shift register 4.

[0046] It will further be clear that a conversion of two 2-bit source words into two 3-bit channel words by the converter unit LC is followed by a shift over four positions to the left in the shift register 2 and a shift over six positions to the left in the shift register 4. The shift over four positions in the shift register 2 is required to prepare the shift register 2, and thus the converter, for a subsequent conversion. The shift over six positions in the shift register 4 is required to output the two generated 3-bit channel words.

[0047] As mentioned hereinbefore, the detector unit 10 is available for detecting specific sequences in the serial datastream of the source signal S. In order to make DC-control possible, the running-digital sum (RDS) value must be held within certain bounds. Therefore, the detector unit 10 detects whether the cells X₁to X₆comprise one of the 6-bit sequences that are given in Table 3, and generates a second control signal at its output O₂.

[0048] As soon as the detector unit 10 detects a combination of three 2-bit source words present in the six cell positions x₁,x₂,x₃,x₄,x₅,x₆, which combination equals one of the combinations given in the left-hand column of Table 3, the logic circuit LC converts the combination in accordance with the coding given in Table 3, where the bit marked ‘x’ indicates that a choice can be made between the values ‘0’ and ‘12 , depending on the RDS value of the signal at that moment.

[0049] It should be noted that the bitstream of the channel words is in NRZI (non-return to zero-inverse) notation, which means that a ‘one’ results in a transition in the write current for recording the channel signal on a magnetic record carrier.

[0050] Moreover, it can be shown that one entry in Table 2 can be omitted (e.g. the 4^thentry), so that it becomes possible to perform stochastic DC-control by creating a freedom of choice in the source-to-channel conversion (e.g. 10 11 being converted into 001 0×0) and by dealing with the d=1 violations due to the omission of one entry in Table 2 by means of the entries of Table 3. In this way, stochastic DC-control can also be performed when a block of 2 consecutive n-bit source words is converted into a block of 2 consecutive m-bit channel words.

[0051] More specifically, the detector unit 10 detects whether the cells X₁to X₈comprise one of the 8-bit sequences that are given in Table 4, and generates a third control signal at its output O₃.

[0052] As soon as the detector unit 10 detects a combination of four 2-bit source words present in the eight cell positions x₁,x₂,x₃,x4,x₅,x₆,x₇,x₈, which combination equals one of the combinations given in the left-hand column of Table 4, the logic circuit LC converts the combination in accordance with the coding given in Table 4 into a 12-bit bit sequence as given in the right column of this Table 4.

[0053] Use of this Table 4 guarantees a k-constraint of k=11. The conversion as per Table 4 is again parity preserving.

[0054] In the foregoing, the situations where a modified encoding is required are detected by the detector unit 10 from the source words. It should, however, be noted that detection could also be carried out on the generated channel words.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a second encoding device that is capable of converting 2-bit source words into 3-bit channel words. For the general functioning of this device, reference is made to the description of the device in FIG. 1. The encoding device shown in FIG. 2 will be capable of generating a channel code with a constraint k=10 and RML=6, as will be explained hereinafter.

[0056] A further requirement for encoding the source signal is that the repeated minimum transition runlength in the channel signal should be limited. The repeated minimum transition runlength is defined as the length of the sequence of subsequent transitions between ‘0’ and ‘12 , or: a sequence ‘ . . . 01010101010. . .’, in the case where the d-constraint equals 1. As an example, the bit sequence ‘00 01 00 01’ results, after modified conversion using Table 2, in the bit sequence ‘101 010 101 010’. Similarly, the bit sequence ‘10 01 00 01’ results, after modified conversion using Table 2, in the bit sequence ‘001 010 101 010’. Such sequences when concatenated with subsequent patterns of the type 1010. . .—deteriorate the bit detection in a receiver. Restriction of the length of 01-sequences is thus favorable.

[0057] Since the outputs of the cells X₁to X₁₀of the shift register 26 are coupled to corresponding inputs of the detector unit 28, this detector unit 28 is capable of detecting the position in the serial bitstream of the source signal, where unmodified encoding would lead to a violation of the requirement that repeated minimum transition runlength is limited, and is adapted to supply a control signal at its output O₃in response to such a detection.

[0058] Besides the outputs O₁, O₂and O₃, the detector unit 28 comprises output O₄, coupled to a corresponding control signal input c₄of the logic circuit LC.

[0059] More specifically, the detector unit 28 detects whether the cells X₁to X₈comprise the 8-bit sequences given in Table 5, and generates a third control signal at its output O₃.

[0060] As soon as the detector unit 28 detects this combination of four 2-bit source words present in the eight cell positions x₁,x₂,x₃,x₄,x₅,x₆,x₇,x₈, the logic circuit LC converts the combination in accordance with the coding given in Table 5 into a 12-bit bit sequence as given in the right column of this Table 5.

[0061] where the bit marked x may be either ‘0’ or ‘1’ under the influence of said control means.

[0062] Use of Table 5 restricts the repeated minimum transition runlength in the channel signal (RML) to RML=6.

[0063] In order to be able to use Table 5 correctly, it is obvious that in Table 4 the third and fourth entries must be deleted so that Table 4 must be modified into Table 4′.

[0064] More specifically, the detector unit 28 detects whether the cells X₁to X₁₀comprise one of the 10-bit sequences given in Table 6, and generates a fourth control signal at its output O₄.

[0065] As soon as the detector unit 28 detects a combination of five 2-bit source words present in the ten cell positions x₁,x₂,x₃,x₄,x₅,x₆,x₇,x₈,x₉,x₁₀, which combination equal combinations given in the left-hand column of Table 6, the logic circuit LC converts the combination in accordance with the coding given in Table 6 into a 15-bit bit sequence as given in the right column of this Table 6.

[0066] where the bit marked x may be either ‘0’ or ‘1’ under the influence of said control means, except when this would lead to a violation of the k=10 or RML=6 constraints. Use of this Table 6 restricts the k-constraint to k=10.

[0067] If the detector unit 28 detects these two combinations of five 2-bit source words, the logic circuit LC converts the combination, dependent on the RDS value of the present signal, by choosing a value ‘0’ or ‘1’ for the bit marked x.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows an arrangement for precoding the serial channel signal and recording the precoded signal on a record carrier. The channel bitstream 38 is applied to a precoder 40. The output signal of the precoder 40 is supplied to a write unit 42 for writing the signal in a track on a record carrier 44. The record carrier 44 may be a magnetic record carrier in a longitudinal or disk form. The record carrier may be alternatively an optical record carrier, such as an optical disk 44′. The write unit 42 comprises a write head 46, which is a magnetic write head, when recording the signal on a magnetic record carrier, or an optical write head, when recording the signal on an optical record carrier.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a decoding device for decoding the serial datastream obtained by the encoding device of FIG. 1, so as to obtain a binary source signal. The decoding device has an input terminal 72 for receiving the channel signal, which input terminal 72 is coupled to an input 74 of a shift register 76, comprising twelve cells Y₁to Y₁₂. The shift register 76 functions as a serial-parallel converter so that blocks of four 3-bit channel words are applied to inputs i₁to i₁₂of a logic circuit 78. The logic circuit 78 comprises the three Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. Outputs o₁to o₈of the logic circuit 78 are coupled to inputs of cells X₁to X₈of a shift register 80, which has an output 82 coupled to an output terminal 84. A detector unit 86 is present, having inputs i₁to i₁₂, schematically indicated by the reference numeral 88, coupled to outputs of cells Y₁, to Y₁₂respectively, of the shift register 76, and outputs O₁, O₂and O₃coupled to control inputs c₁, c₂and c₃, respectively, of the logic circuit 78.

[0070] In the absence of the control signals, the logic circuit 78 converts the 3-bit channel word stored in the cells Y₁, Y₂and Y₃into its corresponding 2-bit source word, as per the conversion Table 1, and supplies the 2-bit source word to the cells X₁and X₂. In the presence of the control signal at the input c₁, the logic circuit 78 converts the block of two 3-bit channel words stored in the cells Y₁, to Y₆into a block of two 2-bit source words, as per the conversion Table 2, and supplies the two 2-bit source words to the cells X₁to X₄. In the presence of the control signal at the input c₂, the logic circuit 78 converts the block of three 3-bit channel words stored in the cells Y₁, to Y₉into a block of three 2-bit source words, as per the conversion Table 3, and supplies the three 2-bit source words to the cells X₁to X₆.

[0071] In the presence of the control signal at the input c₃, the logic circuit 78 converts the block of four 3-bit channel words stored in the cells Y₁, to Y₁₂into a block of four 2-bit source words, as per the conversion Table 4, and supplies the four 2-bit source words to the cells X₁to X₈.

[0072] In this way, the serial datastream of the channel signal is converted into the serial datastream of the source signal.

[0073] The encoded information supplied to the input 72 could have been obtained from reproducing the information from a record carrier, such as a magnetic record carrier 90 or an optical record carrier 90′. To this end, reading the information from a track on the record carrier, where the unit 92 comprises a read head for reading the information from said track.

[0074] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a decoding device for decoding the serial datastream obtained by the encoding device of FIG. 2, so as to obtain a binary source signal. The decoding device has an input terminal 106 for receiving the channel signal, which input terminal 106 is coupled to an input 108 of a shift register 110, comprising fifteen cells Y₁, to Y₁₅. The shift register 10 functions as a serial-parallel converter so that blocks of five 3-bit channel words are applied to inputs i₁to i₁₅of a logic circuit 94. The logic circuit 94 comprises the four Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Outputs o₁to o₁₀of the logic circuit 94 are coupled to inputs of cells X₁to X₁₀of a shift register 96, which has an output 98 coupled to an output terminal 100. A detector unit 102 is present, having inputs i₁to i₁₅, schematically indicated by the reference numeral 112, coupled to outputs of cells Y₁, to Y₁₅, respectively, of the shift register 110, and outputs O₁, O₂, O₃and O₄coupled to control inputs c₁, C₂, c₃and c₄, respectively, of the logic circuit 94.

[0075] For the detector using Table 1, 2, 3 and 4, reference is made to FIG. 4, reference is made to FIG. 4 and the description of this Figure. The detector uses Table 5 in a similar way as Table 4 to convert four 3-bit channel words into four 2-bit source words.

[0076] In the presence of the control signal at the input c₄, the logic circuit 94 converts the block of five 3-bit channel words stored in the cells Y₁, to Y₁₅into a block of five 2-bit source words, as per the conversion Table 6, and supplies the five 2-bit source words to the cells X₁to X₁₀.

[0077] In this way, the serial datastream of the channel signal is converted into the serial datastream of the source signal.

[0078] The encoded information supplied to the input 106 could have been obtained from reproducing the information from a record carrier, such as a magnetic record carrier 114 or an optical record carrier 114′. To this end, the device in FIG. 7 comprises a read unit 104 for reading the information from a track on the record carrier, where the unit 104 comprises a read head for reading the information from said track.

[0079] Whilst the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is to be noted that these are non-limitative examples. Thus, various modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

[0080] The invention also lies in each and every novel feature or combination of features.