Overmodulation

Overmodulation produces severe distortion, which causes a considerable increase in

the BW of the AM signal. This distortion produces new modulating frequencies,
which modulated the carrier and further increase the BW of the transmitted signal
Fig. 2-14 shows a modulating signal of 150 vp-p used to modulate a carrier signal of
100 vp-p. Notice that during much of the negative half cycle of the modulating
signal, the amplitude of the modulated wave is zero. We can say that the negative
half cycle of the modulating signal has been clipped. Clipping causes harmonics of
the modulating signal to be generated during the modulating process. These
harmonics appear as unwanted frequencies in the transmitted spectrum. As with
over modulation the BW of the transmitted signal is broadened.
The total power radiated by modulated AM carrier wave is equal to the sum of the
power contained in the individual components of the modulated wave, i.e ., the
carrier and its two sidebands.
Fig 2.14
In Fig. 2-15, it can be seen how to compute the total power transmitted by a 100%
modulated carrier wave when applied to a load. Fig 2-15(a) shows the peak voltage
contained in the carrier and each sideband. The resistance of the load is 100 0hms.
From power calculations, the formula computing power is determined from :
Formula1
Using the voltage given for the carrier in this figure, the carrier power is calculated
from :
Formula2
The peak carrier power, also shown in fig 2-15(b), is equal to 100 W while the total
power is 150W.
Using the same formula, the peak side band power can also be determined. the
peak amplitude of one sideband is determined by:
Formula3
The peak amplitude of the other sideband is also found to be 25W. Total peak
sideband power, therefore, is equal to the amplitude of the USB and the LSB, or 50
W. total peak transmitted power can be found by adding the peak sideband power
to the peak carrier power. In fig 2-15, the total transmitted power is found to equal
100W+50W, or 150W.
Fig 2.15

Undermodulation Power Output

Undermodulation, as shown in fig 2-16, reduces the total power output since the
power in the sidebands is reduced.
Fig 2-16
The resistance of the load is 100 ohms.
In fig 2-16 the power distribution of an AM waveform modulated at 50% is
determined. Using the power formula with the voltage given for the carrier in fig 215(b). the power is computed from
Formula4
The power in the carrier is still 100W. the power foe each sideband, however, is
computed to be 6.25 W, when using the values given in fig 2-16. The total power
for the modulated waveform can then be found by adding the carrier power to the
sideband power. The total power is 112.5W.
From the preceding analysis of power distribution, it is found that for 100%
modulation the following conditions exist :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Total sideband power is one half the carrier power.

The carrier contains two-thirds of the total power.
The sidebands contain one-third of the total power.
Sideband power is equally distributed between two sidebands.
Each sideband contains one-sixth of the total power.

Reducing modulation to less than 100% (undermodulation) results in:

1. No change in carrier power.
2. Less power in the sidebands.
3. Less total radiated power.
Amplitude modulation of RF signals
Fig 2-17 shows method of modulating an RF amplifier stage with an audio
modulating signal applied to the collector circuit. In this circuit, the emitter-base is
held constant, but the voltage between the emitter and the collector is varied at the
modulating rate.
Fig 2.17
Assume that a carrier signal is applied through T1 to the base circuit of Q1 and that
no audio signal has yet been applied to T3. Because the stage is biased class B,
transistor Q1 will conduct only on the positive alternation of the carrier input signal.
Amplified output carrier pulses at the collector of Q1 will then case tank circuit C2

and the primary of T2, to oscillate at the carrier frequency. This unmodulated carrier
signal is shown as the t1 to t2 portion of the output waveform.
When an audio modulating signal is applied to the collector circuit through T3, the
modulating voltage across secondary transformer T3 is in series with the collector
battery voltage Vcc. The positive half cycle of the audio-signal voltage series
supplements the battery voltage Vcc, increasing the emitter-to-coller voltage the
negative half cycle of the audio-voltage series opposes the battery voltage Vcc,
decreasing the emitter-to-collector voltage. When the emitter-to-collector voltage
increases, the output of the RF amplifier increases, when the emitter-to-collector
voltage decreases, the output decreases. Glancing at the partion of the waveform
that extends from t2 to t3, we see that the output of the amplifier increases on the
positive half cycle of the modulating signal and decreases on the negative half
cycle. We also observe that amplitude variations caused by the output of the
amplifier increase and decrease as well.
The amplifier in fig 2-17 is undergoing 100% modulation. Decreasing the amplitude
of the audio modulating signal would cause undermodulation. Increasing the
amplitude of the modulating signal would cause overmodulation. The outputmodulated waveform of t2 contains the carrier frequency, the USB, and the LSB.
Frequency multipliers
Some radio transmitters may be required to operate in the 30 to 200 MHz range.
Since oscillator crystals cannot perform at such high frequencies, a series of
frequency doublers or triplers can be used to increase the frequency of the
oscillator. For example, a 3.7 MHz crystal can be used in a transmitter whose output
frequency is 22.2 MHz . in this system the RF amplifier which follows the oscillator is
used as a doubler with its output tuned to 7.4 MHz, and the next stage serves as a
tripler. Usually, the final stage operates as a straight RF power amplifier for
supplying current to antenna.
Modulation can be accomplished either at the power amplifier, where it is called
high-level modulation, or at an earlier stage, where it is known as low-level
modulation. With low-level modulation, the RF amplifier is used to increase both the
RF and audio waves.
Balanced Modulation Using an IC
Recently a linear integrated circuit that can provide either AM or DSBSC modulation
was designed. This IC operates as a balanced modulator, which receives both carrier
and audio frequencies. The output is low level signal either AM modulated or DSBSC
modulated, depending on the balance control setting. In the laboratory experiment,
a balanced modulator, which consists of and IC 1496, will be used to produce audio
modulated RF carrier waves.

Depending on the manner in which the circuitry is fed, the balanced modulator can
serve as an RF multiplier , an AM modulator, a DSBSC modulator or an AM detector.
Table 2-1 shows three forms of modulation. The internal circuitry of the IC consists
of two balanced amplifiers into which a carrier wave is inserted. The current in these
amplifiers is controlled by a second set of amplifiers, in which the current is made to
very by an audio modulating signals is controlled by a third set of amplifiers.
Table 2-1
In the wiring arrangement, shown in fig 2-18, the carrier and the audio signal inputs
are single ended. The carrier signal is fed to the pin 10 input, and the audio signal is
fed to the pin 1 input. The balance controlof the modulating signal is used to obtain
the desired pattern and the percentage of modulation.
As previously indicated, the percentage modulation is determined from :
Formula5
Two RF outputs are available and the output can be taken from either terminal 6 or
12. When potentiometer P1 is set to either end, AM modulation is produced, but
when P1 is balanced near the center of the control, the carrier is called out, and the
resultant output contains only the upper and lower sidebands.
Fig 2-18
The following briefly describes the IC modulators internal circuitry, which is shown
in fig 2-19.
The basic internal wiring of the balanced modulator contains transistors Q5 and Q6
connected as a differential pair and used for driving the dual differential amplifiers,
consisting of Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4. The current flow of the dual amplifiers is also
controlled by Q5 and Q6. Transistors Q7 and Q8 form constant-current generators
for Q5 and Q6 . A resistance placed between terminals 2 and 3 provides gain
control.
Fig 2-19
Fig 2-20 shows a model of the IC 1496 arranged for current-flow analysis. The
output currents from the upper dual amplifiers are proportional to the product of the
input voltages at Vx and Vy. The output voltage, taken from either output, results
from Ia or Ib multiplied by RL. The unit can be operated as a single-ended or a
differential output amplifier.
Fig 2-20
The output voltage, Vout, is expressed by :
Formula6

Where K is a scaling factor, which is adjustable by external components, but is not

used in detector circuits . The differential voltage gain, as a function of a high-level
input to the four upper transistors, is expressed as:
Formula7