ECE 21118: Communication Systems Theory

Study Notes

Historical Background of Communication Systems Theory

Communication involves the exchange of information, facing barriers like language and distance.
Late 19th century marked breakthroughs in electronic communication due to the exploration of electricity.
Innovations such as the telephone, radio, television, and the Internet enhanced information sharing capabilities.

Significant Historical Events in Electronics Communications

1830: Joseph Henry transmitted the first practical electrical signal.
1837: Samuel Morse invented the telegraph; patented in 1844.
1843: Alexander Bain invented the facsimile.
1847: James Clerk Maxwell explained Electromagnetic Radiation Theory.
1860: Johann Philipp Reis created an early telephone capable of transmitting musical tones.
1864: Maxwell established the Theory of Radio, confirming rapid electromagnetic wave propagation at light speed.
1875:
- Thomas Edison developed the quadruplex telegraph, improving line quality.
- J.M. Emile Baudot introduced the first practical multiplex telegraph.
- A.C. Cowper invented a facsimile machine using a stylus.
1876: Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson invented a functional telephone for voice signal transmission.
1877: Thomas Edison invented the phonograph.
1878: Francis Blake created the microphone transmitter using platinum and carbon.
1882: Nikola Tesla outlined basic principles of radio transmission and reception.
1887: Heinrich Hertz detected electromagnetic waves, proving the existence of radio waves.
1889: Hertz measured the propagation of electromagnetic waves, linking them to light and heat phenomena.
1890: Almon Strowger introduced the electric dial-switching system for telephone numbers.
1895: Guglielmo Marconi discovered ground-wave radio signals.
1898: Marconi achieved the first radio link between England and France.
1901:
- Reginald Fessenden transmitted the first radio broadcast using continuous waves.
- Marconi completed the first successful transatlantic radio transmission.
1904: John Ambrose Fleming invented the vacuum tube diode.
1906:
- Reginald Fessenden developed amplitude modulation (AM).
- Lee De Forest added a grid to diodes, creating the triode.
- Ernst F.W. Alexanderson invented the Tuned Radio Frequency Receiver enhancing voice broadcasting.
1907: Fessenden developed the heterodyne receiver.
1918: Edwin H. Armstrong invented the superheterodyne receiver.
1923: J.L. Baird and C.F. Jenkins successfully demonstrated motion silhouette transmission; breakthroughs in television camera development by Vladimir Zworykin and Philo Farnsworth occurred.

Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of Communication Systems Theory in this quiz covering historical background, modulation techniques, and challenges faced in the field. Gain insight into electronic communication systems and the importance of bandwidth and information capacity. Perfect for students looking to deepen their understanding of communication technologies.