Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O.

Korhonen
1
September 2007
Lectured by Assoc Prof. Thuong Le-Tien
Slides with references from HUT Finland; Mc. Graw Hill Co.,
and A.B. Carlsons Communication Systems Book; Simon
Haykin - Communication Systems Book.
Continuous wave modulation
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
2
Linear continuous wave (CW) modulation
Bandpass systems and signals
Lowpass (LP) equivalents
Amplitude modulation (AM)
Double-sideband modulation (DSB)
Modulator techniques
Suppressed-sideband amplitude
modulation (LSB, USB)
Detection techniques of linear modulation
Coherent detection
Noncoherent detection
AM
DSB
LSB
USB
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
3
Baseband and CW communications
Baseband communications is used in
PSTN local loop
PCM communications for instance between exchanges
(fiber-) optical communication
Using carrier to shape and shift the frequency spectrum (eg CW
techniques) enable modulation by which several advantages are
obtained
different radio bands can be used for communications
wireless communications
multiplexing techniques become applicable
exchanging transmission bandwidth to received SNR
CW baseband
carrier
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
4
Defining bandpass
signals
The bandpass signal is band limited
We assume also that (why?)
In telecommunications bandpass signals are used to convey
messages over medium
In practice, transmitted messages are never
strictly band limited due to
their nature in frequency domain (Fourier series coefficients
may extend over very large span of frequencies)
non-ideal filtering
( ) 0,
( ) 0,otherwise
= < . > +
=
bp c c
bp
V f f f W f f W
V f
W f
C
<<
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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Example of a bandpass system
Consider a simple bandpass system: a resonant (tank) circuit
z
j L j C
j L j C
p
=
+
e e
e e
/
/ 1
z R z
i p
= + V H V
in out
( ) ( ) ( ) e e e =
( ) ( ) / ( ) /
out in p i
H V V z z e e e = =
0 0
( ) 1/[1 ( / / )] H jQ f f f f e = + +
1
0
/
(2 )
Q R C L
f LC t

p
z
Tank circuit
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The bandwidth is inversely proportional to Q-factor:
System design is easier (next slide) if the fractional bandwidth
1/Q=B/f
0
is kept relatively small:
Some practical examples:
Bandwidth and Q-factor
B f Q
dB 3 0
= /
0 01 0 1
0
. / . < < B f
( : / ) Q R C L = for the tank circuit
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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Why system design is easier for smaller
fractional bandwidths (FB)?
Antenna and bandpass amplifier design is difficult for large FB:s:
one will have difficult to realize components or
parameters in circuits as
too high Q
too small or large values for capacitors and inductors
These structures have a bandpass nature because one of their
important elements is the resonant circuit. Making them
broadband means decreasing resistive losses that can be
difficult
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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I-Q (in-phase-quadrature) description for
bandpass signals
In I-Q presentation bandpass signal carrier and modulation parts
are separated into different terms
( ) ( ) cos[ ( )]
bp C
v t A t t t e | = +
( ) ( ) ( ) cos( ) sin( )
C bp i q C
v t v t t t t v e e =
( ) ( ) cos ( ), ( ) ( )sin ( )
i q
v t A t t v t A t t | | = =
cos( ) cos( ) cos( )
sin( ) sin( )
o | o |
o |
+ =

Bandpass signal
in frequency
domain
Bandpass signal
in time
domain
dashed line
denotes envelope
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
9
The phasor description of bandpass signal
Bandpass signal is conveniently represented by a phasor
rotating at the angular carrier rate :
A t v t v t
i q
( ) ( ) ( ) = +
2 2
( ) ( ) cos( ) ( )sin( )
bp i C q C
v t v t t v t t e e =
( ) ( ) cos ( ), ( ) ( )sin ( )
i q
v t A t t v t A t t | | = =
( ) 0, arctan( ( ) / ( ))
( )
( ) 0, arctan( ( ) / ( ))
i q i
i q i
v t v t v t
t
v t v t v t
|
t
>

=

< +

e |
C
t t + ( )
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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Lowpass (LP) signal
Lowpass signal is defined by
yielding in time domain
Taking rectangular-polar conversion yields then
1
2
( ) ( ) ( )
lp i q
V f V f jV f ( +

( ) ( ) cos( ) ( )sin( )
( ) ( ) cos ( )
( ) ( )sin ( )
bp i c q c
i
q
v t v t t v t t
v t A t t
v t A t t
e e
|
|
= +

1
1
2
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
lp lp i q
v t V f v t jv t

( ( = = +

F
| |
( ) ( ) cos ( ) sin ( ) / 2
( ) ( ) / 2, arg ( ) ( )
lp
lp lp
v t A t t j t
v t A t v t t
| |
|
= +
= =

1
2
( ) ( ) exp ( )
lp
v t A t j t | =
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
11
Transforming lowpass signals
and bandpass signals
Physically this means that the lowpass signal is modulated to
the carrier frequency e when it is transformed to bandpass
signal. Bandpass signal can be transformed into lowpass signal
by (tutorials). What is the physical meaning of this?
{ }
Re ( ) exp[ ( )]
bp c
v A t j t t e | = +
( ) ( ) cos[ ( )]
bp c
v t A t t t e | = +
( )
( )
2Re exp[ ( )]exp[ ]
2
lp
bp c
v t
A t
v j t j t | e


=
`

)

{ }
2Re ( ) exp[ ]
bp lp c
v v t j t e =
( ) ( ) ( )
lp bp C C
V f V f u f f f + = +
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
12
Amplitude modulation (AM)
We discuss three linear mod. methods: (1) AM (amplitude
modulation), (2) DSB (double sideband modulation), (3) SSB
(single sideband modulation)
AM signal:
|(t) is an arbitrary constant. Hence we note that no information
is transmitted via the phase. Assume for instance that |(t)=0,
then the LP components are
Also, the carrier component contains no information-> Waste of
power to transmit the unmodulated carrier, but can still be useful
(how?)
Carrier Information carrying part
( ) [1 ( )]cos( ( ))
cos( ( )) ( ) cos( ( ))
C c m c
c c c m c
x t A x t t t
A t t A x t t t
e |
e | e |
= + +
= + + +

( ) ( ) cos( ( )) ( ) [1 ( )]
( ) ( )sin( ( )) 0
i c m
q
v t A t t A t A x t
v t A t t
|
|
= = = +
= =
0 1
( ) 1
m
x t
s s

Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen

13
AM: waveforms and bandwidth
AM in frequency domain:
AM bandwidth is twice the message bandwidth W:
( ) [1 ( )]cos( )
cos( ) ( ) cos( )
c c m c
c c m c
x t A x t t
A t x t t
e
e e
= +
= +

Carrier Information carrying part
( ) ( ) / 2 ( ) / 2
c c c c m c
X f A f f A X f f o = +

Carrier Information carrying part
f > 0( ) for brief notations
| |
1
2
( ) cos( ) ( )exp ( )exp
c c c
v t t V f f j V f f j e | | | + + +
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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AM waveforms
(a): modulation
(b): modulated carrier
with <1
(c): modulated carrier
with >1
Envelope distortion!
( : ( ) [1 ( )]cos( ))
c c m c
x t A x t t e = + AMsignal
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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AM power efficiency
AM wave total power consists of the idle carrier part and the
useful signal part:
Assume A
C
=1, S
X
=1, then for =1 (the max value) the total
power is
Therefore at least half of the total power is wasted on carrier
Detection of AM is simple by enveloped detector that is a reason
why AM is still used. Also, sometimes AM makes
system design easier, as in fiber optic
communications

X
2 2 2
Carrier
2 2 2 2
Power: S
2 2 2
2
( ) cos ( )
( ) cos ( )
/ 2 / 2
C
SB
c c c
c m c
c c X
P
P
x t A t
A x t t
A A S
e
e

< >= < >

+ < >
= +

P
T max
/ / = + 1 2 1 2
Carrier power Modulation power
3 3
( : ( )
[1 ( )]cos( ))
c
c m c
x t
A x t t e
=
+
AMsignal
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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In DSB the wasteful carrier is suppressed:
The spectra is otherwise identical to AM and the transmission
BW equals again double the message BW
In time domain each modulation signal zero crossing produces
phase reversals of the carrier. For DSB, the total power S
T
and
the power/sideband P
SB
have the relationship
Therefore AM transmitter requires twice the power of DSB
transmitter to produce the same coverage assuming S
X
=1.
However, in practice S
X
is usually smaller than 1/2, under which
condition at least four times the DSB power is required for the
AM transmitter for the same coverage
DSB signals and spectra
( ) ( ) cos( )
c c m c
x t A x t t e =
( ) ( ) / 2, 0
c c m c
X f A X f f f = >
2
/ 2 2
T c X SB
S A S P = =
2
/ 4( )
SB c X
P A S DSB =
AM: ( ) [1 ( )]cos( )
c c m c
x t A x t t e = +
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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DSB and AM spectra
AM in frequency domain with
In summary, difference of AM and DSB at frequency domain is
the missing carrier component. Other differences relate to power
efficiency and detection techniques.
x t A t
m m m
( ) cos( ) = e
Carrier Informationcarrying part
( ) ( ) / 2 ( ) / 2, 0 (general expression)
c c c c m c
X f A f f A X f f f o = + >

( ) ( ) / 2 ( ) / 2 (tone modulation)
c c c c m c m
X f A f f A A f f o o = +
(a) DSB spectra, (b) AM spectra
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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DSB Modulator
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AM phasor analysis,tone modulation
AM and DSB can be inspected also by trigonometric expansion
yielding for instance for AM
This has a nice phasor interpretation;
take for instance =2/3, A
m
=1:
x t A A t t A t
A A
t
A A
t
A t
C C m m C C C
C m
C m
C m
C m
C C
( ) cos( ) cos( ) cos( )
cos( ) cos( )
cos( )
= +
= + +
+
e e e

e e

e e
e
2 2
( )
: ( ) [1 ( )]cos( )
c c m c
A t
x t A x t t e = +

AMsignal
2
3
m
A =
2
( ) 1 cos
3
c c
A t A t e
| |
= +
|
\ .
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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Linear modulators
Note that AM and DSB systems generate new frequency
components that were not present at the carrier or at the
message.
Hence modulator must be a nonlinear system
Both AM and DSB can be generated by
analog or digital multipliers
special nonlinear circuits
based on semiconductor junctions (as diodes, FETs etc.)
based on analog or digital nonlinear amplifiers as
log-antilog amplifiers:
p v v
v v
p
= +
=
log log
1 2
1 2
10
Log
Log
10
p
1
v
2
v
1 2
v v
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(a) Product modulator
(b) respective schematic
diagram
=multiplier+adder
( : ( ) [1 ( )]cos( ))
c c m c
x t A x t t e = + AMsignal
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Square-law modulator (for AM)
Square-law modulators are based on nonlinear elements:
(a) functional block diagram, (b) circuit realization
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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Balanced modulator (for DSB)
By using balanced configuration non-idealities on square-law
characteristics can be compensated resulting a high degree of
carrier suppression:
Note that if the modulating signal has a DC-component, it is not
cancelled out and will appear at the carrier frequency of the
modulator output
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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Synchronous detection
All linear modulations can be detected by synchronous
detector
Regenerated, in-phase carrier replica required for signal
regeneration that is used to multiple the received signal
Consider an universal*, linearly modulated signal:
The multiplied signal y(t) is:
( ) [ ( )]cos( ) ( )sin( )
c c c q c
x t K K x t t K x t t

e e = + +
( ) cos( ) [ ( )][1 cos(2 )
2
LO
c LO c c c
A
x t A t K K x t t

e e = + + ] ( )sin(2 )
q c
K x t t

e
{ }
[ ( )]
2
LO
c
A
K K x t

= +
Synchronous
detector
*What are the parameters
for example for AM or DSB?
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
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The envelope detector
Important motivation for using AM is the possibility to use the
envelope detector that
has a simple structure (also cheap)
needs no synchronization
(e.g. no auxiliary, unmodulated
carrier input in receiver)
no threshold effect (
SNR can be very small and
receiver still works)
Helsinki University of Technology, Communications Laboratory, Timo O. Korhonen
26
Envelope detector analyzed
Assume diode half-wave rectifier used to rectify AM-signal.
Therefore after the diode AM modulation is in effect multiplied
with the half-wave rectified sinusoidal signal w(t)
The diode detector is then followed by a lowpass circuit to
remove the higher order terms
The resulting DC-term may also be blocked by a capacitor
Note the close resembles of this principle to the synchronous-
detector (why?)
| |
( )
1 2 1
( ) cos cos cos3 ...
2 3
R C C C
w t
v A m t t t t e e e
t
( | |
= + + +
|
(
\ .

| |
1
( )
R
v A m t
t
= +
+ other higher order terms
| |
2
1
cos ( ) 1 cos(2 )
2
x x = +
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COHERENT DETECTION FOR DSB SIGNALS
Pass the signal through a filter we get the output with
cos| is a contact phase error
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COSTAS RECEIVER FOR DSB SIGNALS
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Weavers SSB modulator
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Quadrature carrier multiplexing or quadrature amplitude modulation QAM
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VESTIGIAL SIDEBAND MODULATION
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32
TV Signal using VSB modulation
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FREQUENCY TRANSLATION - Mixer
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FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLEXING
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Example of FDM