EELE 3370

Communications I

Amplitude Modulations
and Demodulations

Islamic University of Gaza

Electrical Engineering Department
Dr. Talal Skaik 2016
1
 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
• DSB-SC amplitude modulation is easy to understand in both time
and frequency domains, but it is not simple in practical
implementation
• The coherent modulation of DSB-SC requires the receiver to have a
carrier signal that is synchronized with incoming carrier. (Not easy to
achieve in practice)
• The modulated signal may have travelled hundreds of miles and
could have suffered from unknown frequency shift.
• The bandpass received signal has the form:
r(t) = Acm(t-t0)cos[(ωc+Δω)(t-t0)] = Acm(t-t0)cos[(ωc +Δω)t- θd)]
• Δω represents the Doppler effect and comes from unknown delay
t0: θd =(ωc +Δω)td
• To utilize the coherent demodulator, the receiver must be
sophisticated enough to generate a local oscillator
cos[(ωc +Δω)t-θd)] from r(t) -This will be difficult and costly 2
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
• Alternative to coherent demodulator is for the transmitter to send A
cos ωct [along with the modulated signal m(t) cos ωct.
• As a result, there will be no need to generate a carrier at the
receiver.
• However, transmitter will need to transmit at a much higher power
level which makes it more costly as a trade-off.
• This option is obvious choice in broadcasting system with huge
number of receivers for single transmitter.
• Transmitting the carrier with the modulated signal leads to so-called
AM in which the transmitted signal is given as:
AM ( t )  A cos c t  m( t ) cos ct
=  A  m( t ) cos ct
3
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
AM ( t )  A cos c t  m( t ) cos ct =  A  m( t ) cos ct
• The spectrum is the same as the DSB-SC [m(t) cos ωct] except for
two additional impulses ±fc.
1 A
AM ( t )   M ( f  f c )  M ( f  f c )     f  f c     f  f c  
2 2

• Comparing φAM(t) and φDSB-SC (t) = m(t) cos ωct, AM signal is identical
to the DSB-SC signal with A+m(t) as the modulating signal [instead
of m(t)]
• To sketch φAM(t), we sketch the envelope |A+m(t)| and its mirror
image -|A+m(t)| and fill in between with the sinusoid of carrier
frequency fc.
• The size of A affects the time domain envelope of the modulated
signal. 4
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 5
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
• In fig b (first case), A is large enough to ensure that A+m(t)≥0 is
always nonnegative
• In fig c (second case), A is not large enough to satisfy the previous
condition.
• In the first case, the envelope has the same shape as m(t).
• In the second case, envelope shape differs from the shape of m(t)
because the negative part of A+m(t) is rectified.
• The desired signal m(t) can be detected by detecting the envelope in
the first case when A+m(t)>0
• However, it is not possible in the second case.
• Envelope Detection is a simple and inexpensive operation that
does not require the generation of local carrier at the receiver.
6
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
• For envelope detection to properly detect m(t), these condition
needs to be met:
fc>> bandwidth of m(t)
A+m(t) ≥ 0

Message Signals m(t) with zero offset

• Let ±mp be the maximum and the minimum values of m(t)
respectively.
• Hence the condition of envelope detection is :
A≥-mmin=mp
• The minimum carrier amplitude required for the viability of
envelope detection is mp.
7
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
Modulation index : μ = mp/A
• For envelope detection to be distortionless, the condition is A≥mp
, hence 0 ≤ μ ≤1
• If A < mp , μ >1 (overmodulation), Envelope detection will not be
viable, synchronous demodulation is used instead.
Message signals m(t) with nonzero offset:
• On some occasions, the message signal m(t) will have a nonzero
offset such that maximum mmax and its minimum mmin are not
symmetric.
• Envelope detection still remains distortionless if 0 ≤ μ ≤1
μ = (mmax–mmin)/(2A+mmax+mmin)
8
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
• Example: Sketch φAM(t) for modulation indices of μ = 0.5 and μ =
1, when m(t) = b cos ω mt (tone modulation because modulating
signal is a pure sinusoid or tone)

9
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Amplitude Modulation (AM)
Example

10
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Demodulation of AM signals
• Generation is similar to DSB-SC modulation except that additional
carrier component is added.
• Demodulation can be carried out coherently like the DSB-SC where
local carrier is generated.
• However, coherent or synchronous demodulation defeats the
purpose of AM. It does not take advantage of the additional carrier.
• We saw that the envelope of AM signal follows the message signal
m(t) for μ ≤ 1.
• Hence, two non-coherent methods of AM demodulation will be
considered for (0< μ ≤ 1)
a) Rectifier detection
b) envelope detection
11
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Demodulation of AM signals
Rectifier detection
• If an AM signal is applied to a diode and a resistor circuit, the
negative part of the AM wave will be removed.
• The output across the resistor is half-wave rectified version of the
AM signal.
• At the rectifier output, the AM signal is multiplied by w(t). Half
wave rectified output VR(t) is:

V R ( t )   A  m( t ) cos c t w ( t )
1 2  1 1 
  A  m( t ) cos c t    cos c t  cos 3c t  cos 5c t  
2   3 5 
1
  A  m( t )   other terms of higher frequencies
 Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
12
 Demodulation of AM signals
Rectifier detection

13
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Demodulation of AM signals
Rectifier detection
1
VR(t )   A  m( t )   other terms of higher frequencies

• When VR(t) is applied to a low pass filter of cutoff B Hz, the output is
[A+m(t)]/π , and all the other terms of frequencies higher than B Hz
are suppressed.
• The dc term A/π may be blocked by a capacitor to give the desired
output m(t)/π.

14
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Demodulation of AM signals
Envelope Detection
• The output of the detector follows the envelope of the
modulated signal.
• On positive cycle of the input signal, the input grows and may
exceed the charged voltage on the capacitor vC(t).
• This turns on the diode and allowing the capacitor C to charge
up to the peak voltage of the input signal cycle.
• As the input signal falls below this peak value, it falls quickly
below the capacitor voltage (near peak voltage) the diode
therefore opens.
• Capacitor then discharges through the resistor R at a slow rate
with time constant (RC). The same scenario during the next
positive cycle.
15
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 16
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Demodulation of AM signals
Envelope Detection
• During each positive cycle, the capacitor charges up to the peak
voltage of the input signal and then decays slowly until the next
positive cycle.
• As a result, the output voltage vC(t) closely follows the envelope of
the input AM signal.
• Capacitor discharge between positive peaks causes a ripple signal of
frequency ωc in the output.
• Ripple can be reduced by choosing a larger RC (not too large - see
Fig.)
• Design Criteria : 1/ωc << RC < 1/2πB

17
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Bandwidth-Efficient Amplitude Modulations
• The DSB spectrum ( including AM) has two sidebands: upper
sideband (USB) and lower Sideband (LSB) both containing
information about m(t)
• As a result, for a baseband signal m(t) with bandwidth B Hz, DSB
modulation requires twice the radio frequency bandwidth to
transmit.

18
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Bandwidth-Efficient Amplitude Modulations
• To improve the spectral efficiency of the amplitude
modulation, two schemes can be used to either utilize or
remove the 100% spectra redundancy:-

 Single-sideband (SSB) modulation, which removes

either the LSB or USB so that for one message signal
m(t), there is only a bandwidth of B Hz
 Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), which
utilizes spectral redundancy by sending two messages
over the same bandwidth of 2B Hz.

19
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
Amplitude Modulation – Single Side Band (SSB)
• Either the LSB or USB can be suppressed from the DSB signal via a
bandpass filtering.
• A scheme in which only one sideband is transmitted is known as
Single sideband (SSB) transmission and requires only half the
bandwidth of the DSB signal.
• An SSB signal can be coherently (synchronously) demodulated
just like DSB –SC signals.
• Multiplication of a USB signal in fig c by cos ωct shifts its
spectrum to the left and right by fc yielding the spectrum as
shown in fig e.
• Low pass filtering of this signal in fig e yields the baseband signal.
• Since no additional carrier accompanies the modulated signal, it
is called SSB-SC. 20
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 21
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Hilbert Transform
• New tool called Hilbert transform, will be used to write equations
for SSB signals.
• The Hilbert transform of a signal x(t):

1 x()
x h ( t )  H x ( t )    d
  t  
• The right hand-side of equation is the form of convolution
1
x ( t )*
t
• Since 1/  t   j sgn (f)
• Applying time convolution property:
X h ( f )   j X(f) sgn (f)
22
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Hilbert Transform
X h ( f )   j X(f) sgn (f) = X(f) H(f)
• Looks as if m(t) is passed through a transfer function H(f) = -j sgn(f)
then output is mh(t), Hilbert transform of m(t).
 j  1 e  j  / 2 f  0
H ( f )   j sgn (f) =  j / 2
 j  1  e f 0

23
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Hilbert Transform
• Hence if we change the phase of every component m(t) by π/2
(without changing the amplitude), the resulting signal is mh(t)
which is the Hilbert transform of m(t).
• Hilbert transformer is an ideal phase shifter that shifts the
phase of every positive spectra component by -π/2

24
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Time Domain Representation of SSB Signals
• The building blocks of SSB signal are sidebands, see Fig. (next slide)
1 1
M  ( f )  M ( f ) u( f )  M ( f ) 1  sgn( f )   M ( f )  jM h ( f ) 
2 2
1 1
M  ( f )  M ( f ) u( f )  M ( f ) 1  sgn( f )   M ( f )  jM h ( f ) 
2 2
• Expressing the SSB signal in terms of m(t) and mh(t).
USB ( f )  M  ( f  f c )  M  ( f  f c )
1 1
  M  f  f c   M  f  f c     M h  f  f c   M h  f  f c  
2 2j
• Finding inverse transform :
USB ( t )  m( t ) cos ct  m h ( t ) sin ct
• Similarly, we can show that
LSB ( t )  m( t ) cos ct  m h ( t ) sin ct 25
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Time Domain Representation of SSB Signals
In general,

SSB ( t )  m( t ) cos ct m h ( t ) sin ct

The minus sinus applies to USB and plus sign applies to LSB.
• To check whether SSB can be coherently demodulated:
SSB ( t )  2 cos c t   m( t ) cos c t m h ( t ) sin ct  2 cos ct
 m( t ) 1  cos 2c t  m h ( t ) sin 2ct
 m( t )   m( t ) cos 2c t m h ( t ) sin 2ct 
SSB SC signal with carrier frequency 2 c

• A low pass filter will suppress the unwanted SSB terms giving m(t)
26
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 27
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Example: Tone Modulation SSB
Find SSB ( t ) for the simple case of a tone modulation that is a
modulating signal is a sinusoid m(t) = cos ωmt. Also demonstrate the
coherent demodulation of the SSB signal.
[Recall that Hilbert transform delays the phase of each spectral component by π/2].

28
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 29
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 SSB Modulation Systems
Selective Filtering Methods: DSB-SC signal is passed through sharp cut-
off filter to eliminate undesired sideband.
Phase Shifting Methods: System shown below.

30
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Vestigial Sideband Modulation (VSB)
• VSB is a compromise between DSB and SSB.
• VSB is similar to SSB but it retains a small portion of the unneeded
sideband.[In SSB, it is difficult to suppress sideband completely]
• VSB signals have bandwidth only some what (typically 25%) greater
than that of SSB signals.
• VSB signals are generated using standard AM or DSB-SC
modulation, then passing modulated signal through a sideband
shaping filter that does gradual cutoff of the unwanted sideband.
• Demodulation uses either standard AM or DSB-SC demodulation,
depending on whether a carrier tone is transmitted.
• VSB is used for television broadcast.

31
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
Vestigial Sideband Modulation (VSB)

32
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016
 Vestigial Sideband Modulation (VSB)

• The transmitted signal has spectrum

VSB ( f )   M ( f  f c )  M ( f  f c )  H i ( f )
where Hi(f) is the shaping filter for the VSB modulator.
In demodulator, the product signal e(t) is given by:

e( t )  VSB ( t )  2cos ct  VSB ( f  f c )  VSB ( f  f c )

Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016 33

33
 Vestigial Sideband Modulation (VSB)
e( t )  VSB ( t )  2cos ct  VSB ( f  f c )  VSB ( f  f c )
The signal e(t) is passed through a LPF of Transfer function Ho(f).
The output of the filter is required to be m(t). Hence,
M ( f )  VSB ( f  f c )  VSB ( f  f c )  H o ( f )

Since VSB ( f )   M ( f  f c )  M ( f  f c )  H i ( f )
Then M ( f )  M ( f )  H i ( f  f c )  H i ( f  f c )  H o ( f )
[the spectra at –2fc and +2fc are suppressed by the filter Ho(f)].

1
Hence, Ho( f ) 
H i ( f  f c )  H i ( f  f c ) 
[Hi(f) is BPF, Ho(f) is LPF]
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016 34
34
 Vestigial Sideband Modulation (VSB)
Example : The carrier frequency of a certain VSB signal is fc= 20 KHz,
and the baseband signal bandwidth is 6 KHz. The shaping filter Hi(f)
is shown, find the output filter Ho(f) required for reception.

35
Dr. Talal Skaik IUG 2016 35