Digital compandor having nonlinear companding characteristics

A digital compandor for converting linear code signal into a nonlinear code signal, said linear code having a polarity bit which is representative of the polarity of each sample value of the original analog signal and a plurality of absolute value bits which are representative of the absolute value of the sample, said nonlinear code having said polarity bit, a plurality of segment bits which identify one of a predetermined number of segments to which said sample value of the original signal belongs and mantissa bits which are indicative of the position of said sample value in said segment, said compandor comprising:

• a plurality of input terminal means for receiving said linear code signal;
• a first read-only memory means addressable by a first bit group including a predetermined plurality of bits among said absolute value bits for memorizing a first segment bit decision rule and a first mantissa bit decision rule by which said plurality of segment bits and said plurality of mantissa bits are respectively determined responsive to said first bit group;
• a second read-only memory means addressable by a second bit group including another plurality of bits among said absolute bits and having some bits in common with said first bit group for memorizing a second segment bit decision rule and a second mantissa bit decision rule by which said plurality of segment bits and said plurality of mantissa bits are respectively determined responsive to said second bit group;
• and means for selecting said first or second read-only memory means responsive to selected bits of said first bit group.