Amplitude shift-keying

By

Supervisor by
: Dr. Ashwaq
2020/2019
 Amplitude-shift keying (ASK)
Chapter1
 Introduction

In the wireless digital communication, it is not easy to transmit the digital

data directly. This is because it needs to pass through the modulator and
modulate the carrier signal in order to send the signal effectively. One of
the easiest ways is to use the different data stream to change the
amplitude of carrier, this kind of modulation is called amplitude
modulation, and we call it as amplitude shift keying ( ASK) modulation in
digital communication.
Amplitude-shift keying (ASK) is a form of amplitude modulation that
represents digital data as variations in the amplitude of a carrier
wave. In an ASK system, the binary symbol 1 is represented by
transmitting a fixed-amplitude carrier wave and fixed frequency for a
bit duration of T seconds. If the signal value is 1 then the carrier
signal will be transmitted; otherwise, a signal value of 0 will be
transmitted and Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) is the digital
modulation technique. In amplitude shift keying, the amplitude of
the carrier signal is varied to create signal elements. Both frequency
and phase remain constant while the amplitude changes. In ASK,
the amplitude of the carrier assumes one of the two amplitudes
dependent on the logic states of the input bit stream. In the
modulation process, the baseband signals constitute the modulating
signal and the high-frequency carrier signal is a sinusiodal waveform.
There are three basic ways of modulating a sine wave carrier. For
binary digital modulation, they are called binary amplitude-shift
keying (BASK), binary frequency-shift keying (BFSK) and binary
phaseshift keying (BPSK). Modulation also leads to the possibility of
frequency multiplexing. In a frequency-multiplexed system,
individual signals are transmitted over adjacent, nonoverlapping
frequency bands. They are therefore transmitted in parallel and
simultaneously in time. If we operate at higher carrier frequencies,
more bandwidth is available for frequency-multiplexing more signals.

The transmission of digital signals is increasing at a rapid rate. Low-

frequency analog signals are often converted to digital format (PAM)
before transmission. The source signals are generally referred to as
baseband signals. We can send analog and digital signals directly over
a medium. From electro-magnetic theory, for efficient radiation of
electrical energy from an antenna it must be at least in the order of
magnitude of a wavelength in size; c = fλ, where c is the velocity of
light, f is the signal frequency and λ is the wavelength. For a 1kHz
audio signal, the wavelength is 300 km. An antenna of this size is not
practical for efficient transmission. The low-frequency signal is often
frequency-translated to a higher frequency range for efficient
transmission. The process is called modulation. The use of a higher
frequency range reduces antenna size. Amplitude shift keying - ASK -
in the context of digital communications is a modulation process,
which imparts to a sinusoid two or more discrete amplitude levels.
These are related to the number of levels adopted by the digital
message. For a binary message sequence there are two levels, one of
which is typically zero. Thus the modulated waveform consists of
bursts of a sinusoid. A binary ASK (BASK) wave is obtained by
multiplying the message signal with the carrier. The B-ASK signal has
two levels ‗1‘ and ‗0‘ representing the presence and absence of the
sinusoid respectively. This can be shown in the waveform below. The
message signal must be represented in NZR uni polar format only.
Binary ASK system has the largest probability of bit error when
compared to FSK and PSK systems. There are sharp discontinuities
shown at the transition points. These result in the signal having an
unnecessarily wide bandwidth. Band limiting is generally introduced
before transmission, in which case these discontinuities would be
‗rounded off‘. The band limiting may be applied to the digital
message, or the modulated signal itself. One of the disadvantages of
ASK, compared with FSK and PSK, for example, is that it has not got a
constant envelope. This makes its processing (e.g., power
The amplitude shift keying (ASK) or on/off keying (OOK) is the simplest digital
modulation used in wireless telemetry bio-devices and biomedical implanted devices
[25]. In these types of modulation, no carrier is used during the transmission which
minimizes the power consumption of the modulator [26]. The principle of ASK
transmission is explained in [27] as shown in Figure 4 and as follows:
SASK (t) = b(t) × c(t)
(1)

b(t)={Eb−−√ … … … … . . binary 10 … … … . . binary 0

(2)

c(t)=2EbTb−−−−√ cos(ωc t)

(3)
where b(t) is the binary message, c(t) is the carrier signal, Eb is the bit energy and Tb is the
bit duration.

Figure 4.
Principle of ASK modulation.
In general ASK modulation is used in the implanted part for its simplicity and low power
consumption. However, it has a number of limitations for high-bandwidth data
transmission, high order filters with sharp cut off frequencies and large capacitors cannot
be easily integrated for low-frequency RF applications [28]. There are two methods of
ASK demodulation: coherent and non-coherent detection, however, most designers have
used the non-coherent method due its simplicity and low power consumption [29]. The
coherent method uses carrier phase information for detection. This method uses a product
detector and a phase-locked beat frequency oscillator for detection. In non-coherent
methods no carrier phase is used for detection based on filtering signal energy within
allocated spectra and envelope detectors. The performance degradation of the non-
coherent method is about 1–3 dB when compared to coherent detection, depending
on Eb/N0.
amplification) more difficult, since linearity becomes an important
factor. However, it does make for ease of demodulation with an
envelope detector.

Any modulated signal has a high frequency carrier. The binary signal
when ASK modulated, gives a zero value for Low input while it gives
the carrier output for High input.

Fig(1) ask block diagram

An Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) modulating circuit includes an
oscillation circuit generating a pulse oscillation having a given
frequency. A frequency divider is provided having a binary counter
unit and having at least an input terminal, an output terminal and a
reset terminal. The frequency divider is active and inactive when the
reset terminal thereof is applied with low and high levels of a
transmission Signal wave, respectively, and divides the pulse
oscillation while the frequency divider is active. The trans mission
signal wave is modulated together with a carrier frequency which is
identical to the divided frequency
 Note: As ASK is an amplitude modulation scheme, the
modulated wave and the message signal has the same bandwidth.

 Applications
1. used mainly for radio frequencies
2. Digital data through an optical fiber is transmitted using ASK
techniques
3. The technique was widely used in traditional telephone
modems.
4. Optical fibers
5. Used for radio frequencies
6. broadcast transmissions
7. air band radio
8. single sideband
9. Low-frequency RF applications
10. Home automation devices
11.Industrial networks devices
12.Wireless base stations
13.Tire pressuring monitoring systems
14.
Thus we can conclude that by using ASK technique, digital data can be
transmitted and by varying only the amplitude factor the carrier wave.

 Advantages
1. Modulation and demodulation logic circuit is simple. A simple circuit
reduces the overall cost of the modulator and de-modulator. Since
the cost is less, is used in many varieties of digital equipment.
2. High efficiency
3. Low noise interference
 Disadvantages
1. This modulation uses the amplidute of the carrier signal to vary.
Noice often introduced in the amplitude and causes signal bits to
detect incorrectly in the de-modulator. Thus this modulation is prone
to noice and often produces errors in output. A relicable media such
as light, infrared, less distance RF signal is used as carrier.
2. This produces one bit per one modulation of the signal. Thus bitrate
is less. An alternative to binary ASK is to move to Quadrature ASK
where 2 bits of the signal can be modulated and demodulated and
hencd a greater bitrate can be achieved
3. High bandwidth
4. High power consumption
5. Not suitable for wireless communication
6. One of the disadvantages of ASK, compared with FSK and PSK, for
example, is that it has not got a constant envelope. This makes its
processing (eg, power amplification) more difficult, since linearity
becomes an important factor. However, it does make for ease of
demodulation with an envelope detector

 Equipment
1. Resistor (10k,82k,39k)
2. Ic741
3. Bread board&wires
4. Transistor BC107
5. DC Power supply
6. Digital oscilloscope
7. Function generator
 Procedure

1. connect the circuit as in fig(A)

2. apply a sinusoidal carrier of frequency 6 ans square wave of 500HZ
and amplitude of 10v(p-p)
3. sketch the waveforms of ask signal
4. Set the frequency of the AUDIO OSCILLATOR close to kHz
5. Adjust the carrier frequency of ---- KHz and --- Volt p-p, give this
input to the ASK modulator inputs
6. Observe the data input on one channel on a CRO and ASK output on
the second channel.
7. To get modulated signal, connect the ASK modulator output to CRO
8. Adjust the two knobs simultaneously to get the original digital
message at the demodulator output on a CRO

Fig(2)multiplier circuit for ask generation

The most important and interesting concept in communication is
Modulation. It has different types. Modulation is defined as the
improving the signal characteristics amplitude, frequency or phase
with reference of the carrier signal. If the input signal is analog
form then such modulation is called as analog modulation. And if
the inputs signal in the form of digital, such modulation is called
Digital modulation. Analog forms of signals are suffered from
distortion, noise and interference effects. Due to these three
defects, digital signals are preferred than analog. And in digital
modulation, the input signal is in the form of digital-only. It has
only two voltage levels either high or low. But in the analog signal,
its voltage is continued and affected by some type of noise. If the
input signal in the form of digital and if you try to increase its
amplitude characteristics concerning the carrier signal, this process
of modulation is called as Amplitude Shift Keying. It is also known
as ASK. This article discusses what is ASK, and its importance.

Amplitude Shift Keying T

This type of modulation comes under Digital Modulation schemes.
Here, the word keying has some importance, i.e. Keying is
indicating the transmission of digital signal over the channel. By
the amplitude shift keying theory, we can understand the process
of ASK technique.

Fig(3) analog-and-digital-signals

In ASK, it requires two input signals, First input is binary sequence

signal and the second input is carrier signal. Here the most
important point we need to always consider the second input
which is the carrier signal has the more amplitude/voltage range
than the input binary sequence signal.

Reason for Choosing the High Characteristics Carrier Signal

For example, if you want to go to someplace you can choose the
bus for transportation purpose. Once you reached your destination
you come out from the bus. Here when you reached your
destination you are not considering the bus which you helped to
reach your destination. You are using the bus as just for a medium.
So, here also to complete the modulation process, the input binary
sequence signal using the carrier signals to reach its destination
point.

One more important point is to consider here, the carrier signal

amplitude is should be greater than the input binary signal
amplitude. Within carrier amplitude range we are going to
modulate the binary input signal amplitude. If the carrier signal
amplitude is less than the input binary signal voltage, then such a
combination modulation process leads to over modulation and
under modulation effects. So to achieve perfect modulation carrier
single should have more amplitude range than input binary signal.

ask-block-diagram
In amplitude shift keying theory, input binary signal amplitude
varies according to the carrier signal voltage. In ASK, the input
binary signal is multiplied with the carrier signal along with its time
intervals. Between the first time interval of input binary signal
multiplied with the first time interval of carrier signal voltage and
the same process continues for all time intervals. If the input
binary signal is logic HIGH for certain time interval, then the same
should be delivered at the output ports with increment in voltage
level. So the main aim of the amplitude shift keying modulation is
to changing or improving the voltage characteristics of the input
binary signal concerning the carrier signal. The below diagram
indicating the Amplitude shift keying block diagram.

At Mixer Circuit Level

When the switch is closed – for all the logic HIGH time intervals i.e.
when the input signal having logic 1 during those intervals the
switch is closed and it is multiplied with the carrier signal which is
generating from the function generator for the same duration.

When the switch is opened – when the input signal having logic 0,
the switch is opened and there is no output signal will be
generated. Because the input binary signal logic 0 having no
voltage, so during these intervals when the carrier signal multiples
with it, zero output will come. The output is zero for all logic 0
intervals of the input binary signal. Mixer circuit having the pulse
shaping filters and band-limited filters for shaping the ASK output
signal.
Fig(4) ask-modulation-waveforms
Refrence
1- 25. Cho J.-H., Min K.-W., Kim S. An ASK Modulator and Antenna Driver for 13.56
MHz RFID Readers and NFC Devices. IEICE Trans. Commun. 2006;89:598–600
2- 26. Xiong F. M-Ary Amplitude Shift Keying OFDM System. IEEE Trans.
Commun. 2003;51:1638–1642
3- 27. Taub H., Schilling D.L. Principle of Communication System. McGraw-Hill
Companies; New York, NY, USA: 1999.
4- 28. Wang C.-C., Hsueh Y.-H., Chio U.F., Hsiao Y.-T. A C-Less ASK Demodulator
Implantable Neural Interfacing. Proceedings of the IEEE International
Conference on Circuits and Systems; Vancouver, BC, Canada. 23–26 May 2004;
pp. 57–60.
5- 29. Li H., Li W. A High-Performance ASK Demodulator for Wireless Recovery
System. Proceedings of the International Conference on Wireless
Communications; Shanghai, China. 21–25 September 2007; pp. 1204–1207
 Chapter2
Experimental ask system
 Introduction

In this chapter we will discusses how connected the

circuit of (ask) Fig(2)