EELE 3370

Communications I

Amplitude Modulations
and Demodulations

Islamic University of Gaza

Electrical Engineering Department
Dr. Talal Skaik 2016
1
 Introduction
Modulation is a process that moves the message signal into
a specific frequency band that is dictated by the physical
channel.
We will study classic analog modulations:
Amplitude modulation and Angle modulation
Communication systems that does not use modulation –
baseband communications
Communication systems that use modulation –
carrier communications

2
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
Baseband vs Carrier Communications
Baseband Communications

The baseband is the frequency band of the original signal.

Example: Telephones: 300–3700 Hz

Baseband signals such as audio and video contain

significant low-frequency content.
They cannot be effectively be transmitted over radio
(wireless) link.
Baseband communication usually requires wire (single,
twisted pair, coax).
3
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Baseband vs Carrier Communications
Carrier Communications
oCarrier communication uses modulation to shift spectrum of signal.
oWireless communication requires frequencies higher than
baseband.
oIn carrier communication, the signal modulates a sinusoidal carrier.
oThe signal modifies the amplitude, frequency, or phase of carrier.

s(t) = A(t) cos(ωct +φ (t))

◮ Amplitude modulation: A(t) is proportional to m(t)
◮ Frequency modulation: frequency is proportional to m(t)
◮ Phase modulation: φ(t) is proportional to m(t)
Frequency and phase modulation are called angle modulation.
4
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Double Sided Amplitude Modulation
The carrier amplitude is changed in proportional to the message
signal.
At the same time, angular frequency ω c and the phase θc remains
constant ( assume phase θc = 0).
If carrier amplitude A is made directly proportional to the
modulating signal m(t), then modulated signal is:
m(t) cos ω ct (shifts spectrum of m(t) to carrier frequency
If
m( t )  M ( f )
then
1
m( t ) cos( 2 f ct )   M ( f  f c )  M ( f  f c ) 
2
5
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
Double Sided Amplitude Modulation

6
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Double Sided Amplitude Modulation
• If the bandwidth of m(t) is B Hz, then the modulated signal has a
bandwidth of 2B Hz.
• The modulated signal spectrum centered at ±fc (or ωc rad/s)
consists of two parts:
 a portion that lies outside ±fc and is know as upper sideband (USB)
 A portion that lies inside ±fc is known as Lower Sideband (LSB)
• The modulated signal does not contain a discrete component of the
carrier frequency fc.
• This modulation process does not introduce sinusoid at fc and as a
result, it is called Double-sideband, suppressed-carrier (DSB-SC
modulation).

7
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Double Sided Amplitude Modulation
• The relationship of B to fc is of interest:
• From fig c, if fc ≥ B, thus avoiding overlap of modulated spectra
centered at ±fc .
• If fc < B, the two copies of message spectra overlap and the
information of m(t) is distorted during modulation. This will make
it impossible to recover m(t) from m(t)cos ω ct.
Examples:
◮ AM radio: B = 5 KHz,
550 ≤ fc ≤ 1600 KHz
◮ FM: B = 200 KHz,
87.7 ≤ fc ≤ 108.0 MHz
◮ US television: B = 6 MHz,
54 ≤ fc ≤ 862 MHz 8
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 DSB-SC Demodulation
• DSB-SC modulation shifts spectrum to right and left by fc.
• To recover original signal m(t) from the modulated signal, it is
necessary to retranslate the spectrum to its original position
(Demodulation)
• If modulated signal spectrum in fig c (previous figure) is shifted to
the left and to the right by fc and multiplied by half, we obtain:

• The figure contains the desired baseband spectrum plus and

unwanted spectrum at ±2fc.
• The unwanted spectrum can be suppressed by a low-pass filter. 9
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 DSB-SC Demodulation
• Demodulation consists of multiplication of the incoming
modulated signal m(t)cos ωct by a carrier cosωct followed by a low
pass filter.

• This can be verified in the time domain by observing e(t):

1
e( t )  m( t ) cos ct   m( t )  m( t ) cos 2ct 
2

2
1 1
E ( f )  M ( f )   M ( f  2f c )  M ( f  2f c ) 
2 4 10
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
Demodulation E( f ) 
1 1
M ( f )   M ( f  2f c )  M ( f  2f c ) 
2 4

• The spectrum of the second component in E(f), being a signal with

carrier frequency 2fc, is centered at ±2fc.
• This component is suppressed by low-pass filter.
• On the other hand, the desired component (1/2)M(f), being a low-pass
spectrum (centered at f = 0) passes through the filter unharmed, resulting
in (½)m(t).
• You can get rid of the inconvenient fraction ½ in the output by using a
carrier 2cosωct instead of cosωct
• This method of recovering the baseband signal is called synchronous
detection or coherent detection where we use a carrier of exactly the
11
same frequency(same phase) as the carrier used for modulation.
 Example
For a baseband signal: m(t) = cos ωmt = cos 2πfmt
Find the DSB-SC signal, and sketch its spectrum. Identify the upper
and lower sidebands (USB and LSB). Verify that the DSB-SC
modulated signal can be demodulated by the demodulator shown
previously (synchronous detection or coherent detection)
[This case is called tone modulation because the modulating signal is a
pure sinusoid or tone, cos ωmt ]

Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016 12

Example

13
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
Example

14
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 15
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Modulators
Multiplier Modulators
• Modulation is achieved directly by using an analog multiplier
whose output is proportional to the product of two signals m(t)
and cos ωct.
• Typically, the multiplier is obtained from a variable-gain
amplifier in which the gain parameter is controlled by one of
the signals e.g m(t).
• When cos ωct is applied to the input of the amplifier, the output
is proportional to m(t)cos ωct.

16
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Modulators
Non-Linear Modulator
Modulation is achieved through nonlinear devices such as a
semiconductor diode or a transistor.
• Let the input-output characteristics of either of the nonlinear
elements be approximated by a power series:
y(t) = a x(t) + b x2(t)
• where x(t) and y(t) are the input and output of the nonlinear element.

17
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
Modulators

18
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Modulators
Non-Linear Modulator
• Passing z(t) through a bandpass filter tuned to ω c, the signal
am(t) is suppressed and the desired modulated signal
4bm(t)cosω ct can pass through the system without distortion
• Because the cos ω ct does not appear at the z(t), this setup is
called balanced circuit.
• The nonlinear modulator is an example of a class of modulators
known as balanced modulator.
• Because m(t) appears in z(t), it is called single balance
modulator, however, m(t) is removed through bandpass filter.

19
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Modulators
Switching Modulators
• multiplication operation for modulation is replaced by a simple
switching operation.
• Multiplication of the signal by a sinusoid can be replaced by
multiplication the signal by any periodic signal w(t) with
fundamental radian frequency ωc.
• The periodic signal can be expressed as:

w ( t )  C n cos( nct   n )
n 0
• Hence 
m( t ) w ( t )  C n m(t) cos( n ct   n )
n 0

20
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Switching Modulators

m( t ) w ( t )  C n m(t) cos( n ct   n )
n 0

• This shows that the spectrum of the product m(t)w(t) is the spectrum
M(f) shifted to ±fc, ±2fc, ……… ±nfc….
• Passing the signal through bandpass filter of bandwidth 2B Hz and
tuned to fc will result c1m(t) cos(ωct+θ1).
• For a square wave centered at t = 0. Then
1 2 1 1 
w ( t )    cos c t  cos 3ct  cos 5ct  
2  3 5 
• Then m(t) w(t) is given by
1 2 1 1 
m(t)w ( t )  m( t )   m( t ) cos ct  m( t ) cos 3ct  m( t ) cos 5ct  
2  3 5 21 
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Switching Modulators
1 2 1 1 
m(t)w ( t )  m( t )   m( t ) cos ct  m( t ) cos 3ct  m( t ) cos 5ct  
2  3 5 
• The signal m(t)w(t) consists of m(t) and an infinite number of
modulated signals with angular frequency ωc, 3ωc, 5ωc…..
• Spectrum of m(t)w(t) consists of m(t) shifted by ±fc, ±3fc ….. (with
decreasing relative weight).
• We are only interested in m(t)cosωct, hence the signal m(t)w(t) is
passed through a bandpass filter of bandwidth 2B Hz centered at ±fc
• This will suppress all spectra components not centered at ±fc to yield
the desired modulated signal (2/π)m(t)cos ωct as shown in fig (d).

22
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
Switching Modulators

23
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
Switching Modulators

24
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Switching Modulators
• The advantage of this scheme is that multiplication of a signal by a
square pulse train is in reality a switching operation.
• It involves switching the signal m(t) on and off periodically and can
be implemented using simple switching element.
• Example is the diode bridge modulator driven by a sinusoid
Acos ωct to produce the switching action.

•When the signal cos ωct is of a

polarity that will make terminal c
positive with respect to d, all diodes
conduct.
•terminals a and b have the same
potential and are effectively
shorted.
25
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Switching Modulators
• During the next half-cycle, terminal d is positive with respect to c
and all four diodes off, thus opening terminal a and b.
• This therefore acts as a switch.
• Terminals a and b open and close periodically with carrier frequency
fc when a sinusoid A cos ωct is applied across c and d.

26
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Switching Modulators
• To obtain m(t)cos wct, terminals a and b are connected in series or
across (parallel) to m(t) as shown below:

• This is called series bridge diode modulator and the shunt bridge
diode modulator.
• The switching on and off periodically with fc results in switched
signal m(t)w(t) which when bandpassed yields modulated signal
(2/π)m(t)cosωct
27
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Ring Modulators
• This another switching modulator.
• During the positive half-cycles of the carrier, diodes D1 and D3
conduct and D2 and D4 are off.
• Terminal a is therefore connected to c and terminal b to d.

28
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Ring Modulators
• During negative half-cycles of the carrier, D1 and D3 are off, D2 and
D4 are conducting
• Terminal a and d are connected and so is b and c.
• Output is proportional to m(t) during positive half-cycle and to –m(t)
during the negative half-cycle.

29
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Ring Modulators
• In effect, m(t) is multiplied by a square pulse w0(t) shown below:

30
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Ring Modulators
• The Fourier series of w0(t) is given by:

4 1 1 
w ( t )   cos ct  cos 3ct  cos 5ct  
 3 5 
and v i (t) = m(t)w 0 ( t )
4 1 1 
  m( t ) cos ct  m( t ) cos 3ct  m( t ) cos 5ct  
 3 5 

• When m(t)w0(t) is passed through a bandpass filter tuned to ωc, the

filter output will be (4/π)m(t)cos ωct.

31
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Ring Modulators
• The Ring modulator circuit has two inputs: m(t) and cos ωct
• The input to the bandpass filter does not contain either of these
inputs
• As a result, this circuit is an example of a double balanced
modulator.

32
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Frequency Mixer or Converter
• Frequency mixer or converter: is used to change the carrier angular
frequency of a modulated signal m(t)cos ωct from ωc to ωI
• This is achieved by multiplying m(t) cos ωct by 2cos ωmixt, where
ωmix = ωc+ ωI or ωc-ωI and bandpass filtering the product.

• The product x(t) is:-

x ( t )  2m( t ) cos c t cos mix t
 m( t ) cos c  mix  t  cos c  mix  t 
33
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Frequency Mixer or Converter
x ( t )  m( t ) cos c  mix  t  cos c  mix  t 
• If ωmix = ωc-ωI then x ( t )  m( t ) cos I t  cos  2c  I  t 

• If ωmix = ωc+ωI then x ( t )  m( t ) cos I t  cos  2c  I  t 

34
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Frequency Mixer or Converter
• When a bandpass filter tuned to ωI is applied at the output,
m(t) cos ωIt will be passed and the other spectra will be suppressed.
• As a result, carrier frequency ωc has been translated to ωI from ωC.
• The operation of frequency mixing/conversion is known as
heterodyning.

35
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016