AMPLITUDE

MODULATION
MODULATION PRINCIPLES
The process of having the information to be
transmitted alter a high-frequency signal for
the purpose of transmitting the information
somewhere in the electromagnetic spectrum
via radio, wire, or fiber optic.
Information signal (modulating signal): voice,
video, binary data
Carrier: - higher frequency signal
- Sine wave
AMPLITUDE MODULATION with SINE
WAVES
Amplitude Modulation is the simplest and
earliest form of transmitters. (535 1605 kHz)
AM applications include broadcasting in
medium- and high-frequency applications, CB
radio, and aircraft communications.


during the modulation process: carrier
frequency remain constant but its amplitude
varies accordance with the modulating signal.
Envelope showing it is same as the
modulating signal.
Time domain signal variation of voltage over
time.
Peak value of the modulating signal be less
than the peak value of the carrier.
AMPLITUDE MODULATION with SIGN
WAVES (Cont.)
Sine wave carrier can be expressed as below:


AMPLITUDE MODULATION with SIGN
WAVES (Cont.)
t f V v c c c t 2 sin =
Where
v
c
= instantaneous value of the sine voltage
V
c
= the peak value of the sine wave as
measured between zero and the
max.amplitude.
f
c
= frequency of the carrier sine wave.
t = some particular points in time during the ac
cycle.
*for modulating signal, signal can be expressed with similar
expression


Complete modulated wave can be expressed
as:


carrier modulation
t f t f V
carrier
t f V v
t f v v
envelope v V v
c m m c c
c
m c

+ =
=
= = +
) 2 (sin 2 sin 2 sin
2 sin
) ( ?
2
1 2
1
t t t
t
modulat
or
v
m
v
2

V
c

AMPLITUDE MODULATION with SIGN
WAVES (Cont.)
AMPLITUDE MODULATION WITH
DIGITAL SIGNAL
Binary 1= produce maximum carrier amplitude
Binary 0= produce a lower-value carrier.
Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK):
The carrier is switched between two
different carrier levels.
On-Off Keying (OOK):
The binary 1 turns the carrier on and the
binary 0 level turns the carrier off.
MODULATION INDEX
Modulation Index - The ratio between the
amplitudes between the amplitudes of the
modulating signal and carrier, expressed by
the equation:


Should be between 0 and 1.
Ideal condition: m=1
If more than 1: severe distortion of the
modulated waveform or overmodulation.
?????
c
m
V
V
m =
Modulation index can be computed from Vmax
and Vmin.
It can be expressed as:



The amount or depth of AM is normally
expressed as percent modulation rather than
as a fractional.
Percent of modulation is 100 x m.

MODULATION INDEX
min max
min max
=
V V
V V
m
+

OVERMODULATION
The waveform is flattened near the zero line.
A sine wave whose negative peaks have
been clipped off.
SIDEBANDS AND THE FREQ.
DOMAIN
Sidebands is a modulating signal that contains
multiple frequencies such as voice, video or
digital signal.
Time domain information can be obtained using
an oscilloscope.
Frequency domain information can be
calculated using Fourier methods, but
trigonometric methods are simpler and valid.
Sidebands are calculated using the formulas
at below:


From the equation for an AM signal v
2
:

From trigonometric identity:
sin A sin B= [cos (A-B)/2 ] [cos (A+B)/2]
SIDEBANDS
m c LSB
m c USB
f f f
f f f
=
+ =
) 2 (sin 2 sin 2 sin 2 t f t f V t f V v c m m c c t t t + =
By substituting the identity into the expression,
the instantaneous amplitude of the signals
becomes:


This means, an AM wave contains carrier and
sidebands frequencies.
When modulation occurs, sidebands are
produced.

SIDEBANDS


USB
m c
m
LSB
m c
m
carrier
c c f f t
V
f f t
V
t f V e ) ( 2 cos
2
) ( 2 cos
2
2 sin 2 + + = t t t
FREQUENCY DOMAIN
Plot the carrier and sideband amplitudes with
respect to frequency.

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BANDWIDTH
Signal bandwidth is an important characteristic of
any modulation scheme.
The difference between the upper and lower
sidebands freq.
In general, a narrow bandwidth is desirable.
Bandwidth is calculated by:
B=2f
m

Example:
If the carrier frequency is 2.8MHz and the maximum
modulating frequency for voice signals is 3kHz.
Calculate the upper, lower sidebands and also the
bandwidth.
(ans: f
USB
= 2803kHz, f
LSB
=2797kHz and BW= 6kHz)
COMMON AM APPLICATION
AM radio broadcasting
TV picture (video)
Two- way radio (aircraft, amateur radio (SSB),
military)
Digital data transmissions
Computer modems
AM POWER DISTRIBUTION
Power in a transmitter is important, but the
most important power measurement is that of
the portion that transmits the information.
AM carrier power remain unchanged. So, it is
wasted matter.
Power in an AM transmitter is calculated
according to the formula at the right:
P
T
= P
C
+ P
LSB
+ P
USB
or
P
T
= P
C
(1+m
2
/2)

SIDEBANDS POWERS
Depends upon the value of the modulation
index:
The greater the percentage of mod, the higher the
sideband power.
The power in each sideband Ps is expressed
by:


The power in each sideband is 25% of the
carrier power if 100% modulation.


4
) (
2
m P
P P P
C
USB LSB S = = =
POWER CALCULATIONS
Total antenna current is given by:
( ) 2 / 1
2
m I I
C T
+ =
The total AM power the is:
R I P
T T
2
=
Modulation percentage then is given by:
| | 1 / 2
2
=
C T
I I m
SINGLE SIDEBANDS
The two sidebands of an AM signal are mirror
images of one another
As a result, one of the sidebands is redundant
Using single-sideband suppressed-carrier
transmission results in reduced bandwidth
and therefore twice as many signals may be
transmitted in the same frequency range.
Typically, a 3dB improvement in signal-to-
noise ratio is achieved as a result of SSBSC.
Sidebands generated only during modulation
process (ex: when someone speaks into mic).
BENEFITS OF SINGLE
SIDEBANDS
The spectrum space occupied by the SSB
signal is only half that of AM and DSB signals.
All the power previously devoted to the carrier
and other sideband can be channeled into the
signal sideband.
Less noise on the signal because the SSB
signal has less BW than an AM or a DSB
signal.
Less fading than an AM signal. The signal
alternately increases and decreases in
strength as it is picked up by the receiver.
TRANSMITTED SIGNAL OF AM
AND SSB
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20.htm
The power advantage of SSB over AM is 3:1.
Peak Envelope Power (PEP) is expressed by:
PEP=V
2
/R
where V= root mean square (rms) output voltage
R= load resistance
OR
PEP=V
s
I
max

where V
s
= the amplifier supply voltage
I
max
= the current peak
SSB POWER
SSB
Two-way radio used in the military, CB radio
and radio amateurs.

DSB
FM and TV broadcasting to transmit two-
channel stereo signals.
Used in some types of phase-shift keying to
transmit binary data.
DSB AND SSB APPLICATIONS
AM CIRCUITS
Two basic ways to produce amplitude
modulation:
1- Multiply the carrier by a gain or attenuation
factor that varies with the modulating signal.
2- Linearly mix or algebraically add the carrier
and modulating signals and then apply the
composite signals to a nonlinear device or
circuit.

LOW LEVEL MODULATION
SYSTEM
Low-level modulation systems use linear power
amplifiers
LOW-LEVEL AMPLITUDE
MODULATOR
Differential Amplifier Modulator
DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER
MOD
The differential amplifier makes an excellent
amplitude modulator.
Has high gain
Good linearity
Can be modulated 100%
Better frequency than this circuit is PIN Diode
Modulator.

HIGH-LEVEL AMPLITUDE
MODULATION
High-level means the signals are generated
are relatively high voltage and power
amplitudes.
The modulator varies the voltage and power in
the final RF amplifier stage of the transmitter.
One of the HLAM is the collector modulator.
Collector
modulator
HIGH-LEVEL AMPLITUDE
MODULATION
AMPLITUDE DEMODULATOR
A circuit that accepts a modulated signal and
recovers the origin modulating information.
Available in any radio receivers.
The simplest and most widely used amplitude
demodulator is the diode detector.
BALANCED MODULATOR
Generates a DSB signal.
The inputs are the carrier and a modulating
signal and the output are the upper and lower
sidebands.
The output can be further processed by filters
or phase-shifting circuitry to eliminate one of
the sidebands to get SSB.
Examples of balanced modulator:
1- Diode ring or lattice modulator
2- IC balanced modulator (1496/1596)
AN SSB TRANSMITTER
Two primary method of generating SSB
signals:
1- Filter 2- Phasing
An SSB transmitter using the filter
method
FILTER METHOD
A crystal oscillator provides the carrier signal
to be applied to the balanced modulator.
The DSB signal is passed to the band-pass
filter to selects either the upper or the lower
sideband.
The filter are usually designed with a
bandwidth of approximately 2.5 to 3kHz.
The phasing method of SSB signal
generation
AN SSB TRANSMITTER