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Introduction to • AM Modulation Demodulation

Communication Systems

Spring 2023

LECTURE 4,
Bilge Kartal Çetin, PhD 1 2

1 2

Amplitude Modulation Amplitude Modulator

Objectives

• Calculate the modulation index and percentage of modulation of an

AM signal, given the amplitudes of the carrier and modulating
signals.
• Define overmodulation and explain how to alleviate its effects.
• Explain how the power in an AM signal is distributed between the
carrier and the sideband, and then compute the carrier and
sideband powers, given the percentage of modulation.
• Compute the sideband frequencies, given carrier and modulating
signal frequencies.
• Compare time-domain, frequency-domain, and phasor
representation of an AM signal.
• Explain what is meant by the terms DSB and SSB and state the main
advantages of an SSB signal over a conventional AM signal.

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AM Modulation/Demodulation Amplitude Modulation

Source Sink
• The process of changing the amplitude of a relatively
Channel
high frequency carrier signal in proportion with the
instantaneous value of modulating signal (information)
Modulator Demodulator
• The amplitude of high-carrier signal is varied according
to the instantaneous amplitude of the modulating
message signal m(t).

Baseband Signal
with frequency
Bandpass Signal
with frequency
Original Signal
with frequency
Carrier Signal: cos(2 fct) or cos(ct)
fm fc fm
(Modulating Signal) (Modulated Signal) Modulating Message Signal: m(t): cos(2 fmt) or cos(mt)
The AM Signal: sAM (t)  [ Ac  m(t)]cos(2 fct)
Generally carrier frequency is much higher than message frequenc, fc >> fm
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For example: Voice: 300-3400Hz GSM Cell phone: 900/1800MHz

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Amplitude Modulation Modulation Index and Percentage of

Modulation
• Modulating or information signal For undistorted AM to occur 𝑉 <𝑉

The relationship between the amplitude of the modulation signal

and the amplitude of the carrier known as
the modulation index m*, is the ratio

• The modulated carrier

m= for undistorted AM 0< m<1
* Modulating signal uses the
peak value of the carrier Multiplying the modulation index by 100 gives the percentage
rather than zero as its of modulation %m
referense point.
* Because of this, the
amplitude of the modulating Ideal condition for AM 𝑉 = 𝑉 or m=1 which gives 100%
signal should be less than the modulation.
amplitude of the carrier.
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*modulation index is also called modulating factor or coefficient, or the degree of modulation

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Modulation Index of AM Signal Modulation Index of AM Signal

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Calculation the Modulation Depth by measuring the actucal values

Modulation Index of AM Signal

𝑉 −𝑉
𝑉 =
2 𝑉 −𝑉
𝑚=
𝑉 +𝑉 𝑉 +𝑉
11 𝑉 = 12
2
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Representing AM by using modulation index Sidebands and the Frequency Domain

• Whenever a carrier is modulated by an information signal, new
signals at different frequencies are generated as part of the process.
• Message signal m(t )  Am cos(2f mt ) • These new frequencies called
Side Frequencies or Sidebands
• Carrier signal
• Specifically, the sidebands occur at frequencies that are the sum and
difference of the carrier and modulating frequencies.

13 𝑓 = 𝑓 +𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓 =𝑓 −𝑓 14

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The upper and lower sidebands of a voice

Bandwidth (BW) of AM Double Sideband Full modulator AM signal
Carrier wave
• The BW of an AM DSBFC wave is equal to the difference between the
highest upper side frequency and lowest lower side frequency:
• BW = [fc + fm(max)] – [fc – fm(max)]
= 2fm(max)
• For efficiency transmission the carrier and sidebands must be high
enough to be propagated through earth’s atmosphere.

• The voice frequencies occur in the 300 to 3000 Hz range.

• Therefore, voice signals produce a range of frequencies above
and below the carrier frequency
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Frequency spectrum of AM broadcast band AM Signal Math Expression

• Mathematical expression for AM: time domain
• AM broadcast stations are spaced every 10kHz across the
spectrum from 540 to 1600 kHz. S A M ( t )  (1  km c o s  m t ) c o s  ct
• The sidebands from the first AM broadcast frequency • expanding this produces:
extend down to 535 kHz and up to 545 kHz, forming a 10
kHz channel for the signal. S A M ( t )  c o s  c t  km c o s  m t c o s  c t
• The highest channel frequency is 1600 kHz with sidebands
extending from 1565 up to 1605 kHz. using : cos A cos B  1
2 cos( A  B )  cos( A  B ) 
• There are total 107 10 kHz wide channels for AM radio S AM ( t )  cos  ct  cos( c   m )t  𝑚2k2 cos( c   m )t
k
𝑚
2
stations. 2
• In the frequency domain this gives:

Carrier, A=1.
Amplitude 𝑚k/2
⁄2 𝑚 ⁄2
k/2
frequency

lower fc-fm fc fc+fm

sideband upper sideband
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AM Power Frequency Spectrum AM Power Distribution

• AM Power frequency spectrum obtained by squaring
the amplitude:
Carrier, A2=12 = 1
• Mathematically power in unmodulated carrier is
Power
𝑚 𝑚
k2/4 k2/4
4 4 (𝑉 ⁄ 2) 𝑉
𝑃 = =
fc-fm fc fc+fm freq .
𝑅 2𝑅

Pc = carrier power (watts)

𝑚 𝑚 Vc = peak carrier voltage (volts)
• Total power for AM: =𝐴 + + R = load resistance i.e antenna (ohms)
4 4
𝑚
=1+
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AM Power Distribution- Cont’d… AM Power Distribution -Cont’d…

• The upper and lower sideband powers will be • The total power in an AM wave is
2 2 2 Pt  Pc  Pusb  Plsb
(mV c / 2) m Vc
Pus b  Plsb   • Substituting the sidebands powers in terms of PC yields
2R 8R
• Rearranging in terms of Pc, m2 m2
Pt  Pc  Pc  Pc
4 4
 Vc 2  m 2
2
m m2
m2    Pc  Pc  Pc [1  ]
Pus b  Plsb   2 R   4 Pc
2 2
4  
• Since carrier power in modulated wave is the same as
unmodulated wave, obviously power of the carrier is
unaffected by modulation process.
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Power spectrum for AM DSB wave with a Transmitter Efficiency

single-frequency modulating signal
Transmitter efficiency,
𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
η=
𝑉
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃
= =
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑃 +𝑃
For tone modulation
= m²/ ( 2+m² )

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Efficiency of DSB AM Example 1

 With 100% modulation the maximum power in both sidebands • For an AM DSCB wave with a peak unmodulated carrier voltage Vc
equals to one-half the carrier power. = 10 Vp, a load resistor of RL = 10  and m = 1, determine
 One of the most significant disadvantage of AM DSB is with m = 1, a) Powers of the carrier and the upper and lower sidebands.
the efficiency of transmission is only 33.3% of the total transmitted
signal. b) Total sideband power.
c) Total power of the modulated wave.
η = m²/ ( 2+m² ) d) Draw the power spectrum.

 The advantage of DSB is the use of relatively simple, inexpensive

demodulator circuits in the receiver.

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Example 2 Demodulation of AM Signals

• Determine the maximum sideband power if the carrier output is 1 kW and
calculate the total maximum transmitted power. Demodulation extracting the baseband message from
the carrier.
• Max sideband power occurs when m = 1. At this percentage modulation each side
frequency is ½ of the carrier amplitude. Since power is proportional to the •There are 2 main methods of AM Demodulation:
square of the voltage, each has ¼ of the carrier power. ¼ x 1kW = 250W
Total sideband power = 2 x 250 = 500W. • Non-coherent detection or demodulation.
Total transmitted power = 1kW + 500W = 1.5kW •Envelope Detector
• Synchronised or coherent demodulation.

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Envelope/Diode AM Detector
Synchronous or Coherent Demodulation

If the modulation depth is > 1, the distortion below occurs

This is relatively more complex and more expensive. The Local

Oscillator (LO) must be synchronised or coherent, i.e. at the same
frequency and in phase with the carrier in the AM input signal.

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Synchronous or Coherent Demodulation Synchronous or Coherent Demodulation

If the AM input contains carrier frequency, the LO or synchronous If we assume zero path delay between the modulator and
carrier may be derived from the AM input. demodulator, then the ideal LO signal is cos(ct).

VDC + mt cosωc t 

Resim görüntülenemiy or.

Analysing this for a AM input =

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Coherent Detection Coherent Detection

Assume zero path delay between the modulator and demodulator:
VX = AM input x LO
VDC + mt cosωc t   cosωc t 
Resim görüntülenemiy or.

=
= VDC + mt cos 2 ωc t 
Resim görüntülenemiy or.

VDC + mt  1 + 1 cos2ωc t 

Resim görüntülenemiy or.

=
2 2 

VDC m  t  VDC m t 
Resim görüntülenemiy or.

Vx = + + cos  2ωc t  + cos  2ωc t 

2 2 2 2
Note – the AM input has been 'split into two' – ‘red part' has
moved or shifted up to higher frequency:  m  t  cos  2ωct  +VDC cos  2ωct  
Resim görüntülenemiy or.

 2 
VDC m  t 
Resim görüntülenemiy or.

and blue part shifted down to baseband: 

2 2
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Envelope v.s Coherent Exercises: Draw the Spectrums

a) cos(ct)cos(1t)
1. Envelope-: Unable to follow fast-modulation properly
from cosAcosB= 1/2[cos(A-B)+cos(A+B)]
2. Envelope-: Power is absorbed from the tuned circuit by
we get: cos(ct)cos(1t)=1/2[cos(c-1)t + cos(c+1)t]
the diode circuit.
Hence the spectrum of this is:
3. Envelope-: Distortion produced is not acceptable for amplitude
some communications. 1/2 1/2

4. Envelope+: Obviously simple, low cost.

5. Coherent+: Low Distortion c-1 c+1 frequency

6. Coherent+: Greater ability to follow fast-modulation. b) cos2t

7. Coherent+: The ability to provide power gain from cos2A=1/2[1+cos2A] 1/2 1/2
8. Coherent-: Complex and expensive we get: cos2t=1/2[1+cos2t]
The spectrum is thus:
DC=0Hz 2 freq

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Example
Suppose you have a portable (for example you carry it in your ' back pack')
AM transmitter which needs to transmit an average power of 10 Watts in
each sideband when modulation depth k = 0.3. Assume that the transmitter is
powered by a 12 Volt battery. The total power will be
Resim görüntülenemiy or. Resim görüntülenemiy or.

k2 k2 where k2
PT = Pc + Pc + Pc Pc  10 Watts
4 4 4
4 10 
Resim görüntülenemiy or.

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Pc = =  444.44 Watts
 0.3
2
k2
Hence, total power PT = 444.44 + 10 + 10 = 464.44 Watts.

Hence, battery current (assuming ideal transmitter) = Power / Volts =

464.44
Resim görüntülenemiy or.

 Amps A large and heavy 12 Volt battery!!!!

12
Suppose we could remove one sideband and the carrier, power transmitted would
be 10 Watts, i.e. 0.833 amps from a 12 Volt battery, which is more reasonable for a
portable radio transmitter. (Single Side Band)
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Conventional AM(DSB-FC, DSB-LC)

(Tone moduation; modulating signal is a sinusoid)
AM modulation family 𝑆 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔 𝑡 + 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔 𝑡
Frequency Spectrum

= 𝐴 + 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔 𝑡
• Amplitude Modulation (AM,DSB-FC )
• Double sideband-supressed carrier (DSB-SC) Bandwidth=2 x fmmax
Total Power=Pcarrier +Pusb +Plsb fc-fm fc+fm
• Single Sideband (SSB) fc

• Vestigial Sideband (VSB) 𝑆 (𝑓) = 𝑀 𝑓+𝑓 +𝑀 𝑓−𝑓 + [𝛿 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 + 𝛿(𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐)]

Two major Drawbacks:

1. Large power consumption, where carrier power constitutes >2/3
transmitted power.{remember:carrier does not contain any information}
2. Large bandwidth utilized.

Thus,
DSBFC / AM is both power and bandwidth inefficient
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Double Side Band Suppressed Carrier (DSB-SC) (Tone moduation)

Time domain display of a DSB AM signal.
Frequency Spectrum
𝑆 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔 𝑡

Bandwidth=2 x fmmax
Total Power=Pusb +Plsb
• The carrier component in full AM or DSB-LC does not convey any information.
Hence it may be removed or suppressed during the modulation process to attain
• A unique characteristic of the DSB signal is the phase
higher power efficiency. The trade off of achieving a higher power efficiency transitions that occur at the lower-amplitude portion of
the wave.
using DSB-SC is at the expense of requiring a complex and expensive receiver
• One way to tell from an oscilloscope display whether the
due to the absence of carrier in order to maintain transmitter/receiver signal showns is a true DSB signal is two adjacent
positive-going half cycles at the null points in the wave.
synchronization. 41 42

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Derive the Frequency Spectrum for Double Sideband Generation and Detection of DSB-SC
Suppressed Carrier Modulation (DSB-SC)
• The simplest method of generating a DSB-SC signal is merely to filter
1 Consider the carrier out the carrier portion of a full AM (or DSB-LC) waveform.
sc (t )  Ac cos( c t ) where  c  2f c • Given carrier reference, modulation and demodulation (detection)
2 modulated by a single sinusoidal signal can be implemented using product devices or balanced modulators.

sm (t )  Am cos  mt where  m  2f m • It is necessary to have synchronization in both frequency and phase

3 The modulated signal is simply the product of these two between the transmitter (modulator) & receiver (demodulator),
when DSB-SC modulation ,which is of the coherent type, is used.
s ( t )  A c cos(  c t ) A m cos(  m t)
 A c A m cos(  c t ) cos(  t) • Both phase and frequency must be known to demodulate DSB-SC
m

1 waveforms.
since cos A cos B  cos( A  B )  cos( A  B ) 
2
Am Ac Am Ac
 cos(  c   m ) t  cos(  c   m ) t
 2        2       43 44
USB LSB

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4.4 Bandwidth efficient Amplitude 4.4 Bandwidth efficient Amplitude

modulations modulations
AM and DSB-SC require twice the radio-frequency bandwidth to 1- Single-sideband (SSB) modulation:
transmit. To improve the spectral efficiency of amplitude modulation, which removes either the LSB or the USB that uses only bandwidth of B
there exist two basic schemes to either utilize or remove the 100% Hz for one message singal m(t).
spectral redundancy:
1. Single-sideband (SSB) modulation, which removes either the LSB or
the USB that uses only bandwidth of B Hz for one message singal
m(t).
2. Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), which utilizes the
spectral redundancy by sending two messages over the same
bandwidth of 2B Hz.

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DSB-SC and AM spectrum has two sidebands: Either the LSB or the USB can be suppressed from
USB and LSB, each containing the complete the DSB signal.
information of the baseband signal m(t) • Such a scheme in
which only one
sideband is
transmitted is known
as single-sideband
(SSB) transmission,
and required only one
half of the DSB signal.

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Single Side Band Full Carrier (SSB-FC) (note that here m(t) Single Side band Suppress Carrier (SSB-SC)
is cosine) (note that here m(t) is cosine)
Frequency spectrum: Frequency spectrum:

Bandwidth=fm(max)
fc-fm fc+fm
Total Power=Pcarrier +Pusb fc Bandwidth=fm(max) fc-fm fc+fm
fc
Total Power=Pusb
* A form of amplitude modulation in which the carrier is
transmitted at full power but only one of the sidebands (either • A form of amplitude modulation in which the
the upper or lower) is transmitted carrier is totally suppressed and one of the
* Requires less bandwidth than DSBFC/DSB AM but also sidebands removed.
produces a demodulated signal with a lower amplitude • Therefore, SSBSC requires half as much bandwidth
as conventional DSB AM and considerably less
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transmitted power 50

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Example 1
For an AM DSCFC wave with a peak unmodulated Example 1..cont’d
carrier voltage Vc = 10 Vp,frequency of 100kHz, a load  Solution for DSBFC;
resistor of RL = 10 , frequency of modulating signal of i)
(V / 2 ) V (10) 2 2 2
10kHz and m = 1, determine the following
P  c
  5W c

R 2R 2 10
c

i) Powers of the carrier and the upper and lower sidebands.

mP 2

ii) Total power of the modulated wave. P P   1.25W c

4
usb lsb

iii) Bandwidth of the transmitted wave. ii) m m 2 2

P P  P P
4 4
t c c c

iv) Draw the power and frequency spectrum.

1 1
2 2

v) For the same given values, determine questions (ii)-(iv) for a AM DSB-SC, AM  5  (5)  (5)  7.5W
4 4
SSB-FC and AM SSB-SC systems. Determine also the percentage of power
saved in each of the system design
iii) Bandwidth=2xfmmax=2(10kHz)=20kHz 90kHz 110kHz
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Example 1..cont’d Example 1..cont’d

• Solution:For DSB-SC • Solution:For SSB-FC
Power  7.5W  2.5W ii) m Power  7.5W  6.25W
ii)
2

m m 2 2 saved
P P P
saved

P  P  P  5W t c
4
c
 1.25W
4 4
t c c

5W 1 2 1.25W
1 1  % Power  x100%
% Power x100%  5  (5)  6.25W
2 2

7.5W
saved

 (5)  (5)  2.5W saved

7.5W 4
4 4  16.67%
 66.67%

iii)Bandwidth=2xfmmax=2(10kz)=20kHz iii)Bandwidth=fmmax=10kHz

iv)
iv)
fc-fm 100kHz 110kHz
90kHz 110kHz
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Example 1..cont’d
Example in class
• Solution:For SSB-sC

ii) P 
m
P
2
Power saved
 7.5W  1.25W
• An AM transmitter has an output • If the carrier is unmodulated,
t
4
c
 6.25W of 24kW when modulated by a Power out = Pcarrier only since PUSB
1 2
% Power 
6.25W
x100% sinusoid to a depth of 100%. and PLSB = 0
 (5)  1.25W saved
7.5W
4  83.33%
• a) What is the unmodulated
power? µ
• = = , 𝑃 =
• b) if the unmodulated carrier µ
iii)Bandwidth=fmmax=10kHz current is 4 A, what is the antenna • 𝑃 = 𝑃 + 𝑃 =24kW then
load ?
• = 24𝑘𝑊 𝑃 = 16𝑘𝑊
• c) What is the output power at 30%
modulation and one sideband is •
suppressed fully while carrier -> 4 . 𝑅 =
iv) component is reduced by 26dB?) • 𝐼 .𝑅 = 𝑃
16 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑅 = 1 𝑜ℎ𝑚
fc-fm 110kHz
fc
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