With 8-PSK, three bits are

encoded, forming tribits

and producing eight
different output phases.
With 8-PSK, n=3,M=8, and
there are eight possible
output phases. To encode
eight different phases, the
incoming bits are encoded
in groups of three, called
tribits (2^3 = 8).

I Channel
fb/3

Input
data fb

Q I

fb/3
Q Channel

Product
modulator

2-to-4-level
converter
C

Sin ct

Reference
oscillator

fb/3

C
2-to-4-level
converter

+90
PAM

Cos ct

Product
modulator

Bandpass
filter
Linear
summer

Bandpass
filter

8-PSK
output

Bandpass
filter

Fig. 23 : 8-PSK modulator

I
0
0
1
1

C
0
1
0
1

Output
-0.541
-1.307
+0.541
+1.307

(a)

I C
0 0
0 1
1 0
1 1

Output
-1.307
-0.541
+1.307
+0.541

(b)

+1.307 V
+0.514 V
- 0.514 V

0V

-1.307 V
(c)

I- and Q-channel 2-to-4-level converters: (a) I-channel truth table; (b) Q-channel truth table (c) PAM levels

For a tribit input of Q 0, I= 0, and C 0 (000), determine the output phase for the 8PSK modulator shown in Figure 23

Q
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1

Binary Input

8-PSK output phase

I
0

C
0

1
0

1
0

-22.5
+112.5

+22.5

0
1
0
1
1

1
0
1
0

8-PSK modulator:

-112.5
-157.5
-67.5

+157.5
+67.5
truth table

-0.541 sin ct + 1.307 cos ct

Cos ct

+1.3071 sin ct + 0.541 cos ct

-1.3071 sin ct + 0.541 cos ct

-1.3071 sin ct - 0.541 cos ct

- Sin ct

Sin ct
+1.3071 sin ct - 0.541 cos ct

-0.541 sin ct - 1.307 cos ct

Phasor Diagram

+0.541 sin ct + 1.307 cos ct

+0.541 sin ct - 1.307 cos ct

- Cos ct

Cos ct

Constellation Diagram
100

110

101

111

- Sin ct

Sin ct

001

011
000

010
- Cos ct

It should also be noted that the tribit code between any two adjacent
phases changes by only one bit. This type of code is called the Gray
code or, sometimes, the maximum distance code. This code is used to
reduce the number of transmission errors. If a signal were to undergo a
phase shift during transmission, it would most likely be shifted to an
adjacent phasor. Using the Gray code results in only a single bit being
received in error.