Frequency Shift Keying (FSK):
• FSK is another simple, but it is low performance type of digital modulation.
• FSK is a form of constant amplitude angle modulation similar to FM except the modulating
signal is a binary signal varies between 2 discrete voltage levels rather than a continuously
changing analog waveform.
• FSK is sometimes called as (BFSK) Binary FSK.
The general expression for FSK is,
Vfsk(t) = Vc cos[2 π [fc + Vm(t)∆f]t] ------------(1)
Where, Vfsk(t) = Binary FSK waveform
Vc = Peak analog carrier amplitude (volts)
fc = analog carrier center frequency (hertz)
∆f = Peak change in the analog carrier frequency (hertz)
Vm(t) = binary input signal/volts
From equation (1), the peak shift in the carrier frequency (∆f) is
proportional to the amplitude of the binary input signal [Vm(t)].
∆f α Vm(t)
The modulating signal is a normalized binary waveform where a logic
1 = +1V & logic 0 = -1V.
Therefore, For a logic 1 input, Vm(t)=+1V, equ (1) becomes,
Vfsk(t) = Vc cos[2∏[fc + (1)∆f]t]
= Vc cos[2∏(fc + ∆f)t]
For a logic 0 input, Vm(t)=-1V, equ (1) becomes,
Vfsk(t) = Vc cos[2∏[fc + (-1)∆f]t]
= Vc cos[2∏(fc - ∆f)t]
• As the binary input signal changes from a logic 0 to logic 1 & logic 1 to logic 0, the output
frequency shifts between 2 frequencies,
i. a mark or logic 1 frequency (fm ) &
ii. a space or logic 0 frequency (fs )
• In FSK, frequency deviation (∆f) is defined as the half the difference between mark and
space frequencies.
frequency deviation, ∆f = fm - fs /2
Where, fm - fs = absolute difference between the mark and space frequencies (Hz)
fs fs fm fm fs fm fs fs fs fm fs
(a)
fm – mark frequency, fs – space frequency
Binary input Frequency
output
0 Space (fs)
1 Mark (fm)
(b)
Fig: FSK in the time domain (a) waveform (b) truth table
• Figure (a) shows, when the binary input (fb) changes from a logic 1 to logic 0 & logic 0
to logic 1 , the FSK output frequency shifts from a mark (fm) to a space (fs) frequency
and space (fs) to mark (fm) frequency.
• The mark frequency is the higher frequency (fc+∆f) & the space frequency is the lower
frequency (fc-∆f).
FSK Bit Rate, Baud & Bandwidth:
tb=ts
Bit rate = Baud
The Baud for binary FSK,
baud = fb/1 = fb
Bandwidth Consideration:
In FSK,
i. logic 0 (or) space frequency (fs)
ii. logic 1 (or) mark frequency (fm)
The minimum bandwidth for FSK is,
B = (fm+fb)-(fs-fb)
=(fm-fs)+2fb
fm-fs = 2∆f
B = 2(∆f+fb)
where, B = minimum Nyquist bandwidth (Hz)
∆f = frequency deviation (fm-fs) (Hz)
fb = input bit rate (bps)
The above equation closely resembles carson’s rule. The only difference in the 2
equations is that, for FSK the bit rate (fb) is substituded for the modulating signal
frequency (fm).
FSK Transmitter:
NRZ
Binary FSK output
input
Fig: FSK Modulator
• Binary FSK (BFSK) is similar to FM modulator and is very often a voltage controlled
oscillator (VCO).
• The center frequency (fc) is selected such that it falls between the mark and space
frequencies (fm & fs).
• A logic 1 input shifts the VCO output to the mark frequency.
• A logic 0 input shifts the VCO output to the space frequency.
• As the binary input signal changes back & forth between logic 1 & logic 0 conditions, the
VCO output shifts (or) deviates back & forth between the mark & space frequencies (fm &
fs).
• A VCO FSK modulator can be operated in the sweep mode when the peak frequency
deviation is the product of the binary input voltage & the deviation sensitivity of the VCO.
The frequency deviation is,
∆f = Vm(t)k1
where, ∆f = Peak frequency deviation (Hz)
Vm(t) = Peak binary modulating signal voltage (volts)
k1 = deviation sensitivity (hertz per volt)
FSK Receiver:
Fig: Noncoherent FSK demodulator
• The FSK input signal is simultaneously applied to the inputs of both Band Pass
Filters(BPFs) through a power splitter.
• The filter passes only the mark (or) space frequency to the Envelope detector.
• The envelope detector shows the total power in each pass band.
• The comparator responds to the largest of the 2 powers.
• In noncoherent detector, there is no frequency involved in the demodulation process
(i.e) synchronized either in phase, frequency (or) both with the incoming FSK signal.
Fig: Coherent FSK demodulator
• The incoming FSK signal is multiplied by a recovered carrier signal that has the exact
same frequency and phase.
Fig: Demodulated output waveform
• For demodulating binary FSK signals, the most common circuit used is the phase locked
loop (PLL).
• There are 2 input frequencies (mark and space) and 2 output error voltages.
• One represents a logic 1 and the other a logic 0. Therefore the output is a binary
representation.
