Communications Engineering ELEC 341

Chapter 4:
Amplitude Modulation and Demodulation
1. Amplitude modulation with Carrier and
Suppressed Carrier
2. Modulators and Demodulators
Architectures
3. Envelope detectors
4. Quadrature amplitude modulation
(QAM)
5. Single side band (SSB) amplitude
modulation
6. Vestigial side band (VSB) amplitude
modulation
7. Carrier acquisition
8. Phase locked loop concept
1
Baseband and carrier communications
✓ Baseband: low frequency band of the signal delivered by the source:
▪ Baseband communication can be used for wireline communications
▪ For wireless communications baseband requires large antennas

✓ Carrier communication: is communication using modulation

✓ Modulation: Process that causes frequency shift in the range of
frequencies of the transmitted signal
One of the basic parameters of a sinusoidal carrier (amplitude, frequency,
phase) is modified in proportion to the baseband signal [i.e. message m(t)]

➢ In the following, we will study:

• Amplitude modulation

2
Amplitude Modulation (AM)
• All types of amplitude modulation involve changing the amplitude of a
carrier signal according to a modulating signal.
― AM: Conventional amplitude modulation
― DSB-SC AM: Double sideband suppressed carrier
― SSB-SC AM: Single sideband suppressed carrier

• A number of questions.
― How the modulator work?
― How the demodulator work?
― What is the required bandwidth?
― What is the power efficiency?

3
Conventional Amplitude Modulation:
• Conventional amplitude modulation is normally called amplitude
modulation, or simply AM in short. To be more specific, it is also
known as DSB with Carrier (double sideband AM).

• Consider a carrier signal c(t) with amplitude Ac and frequency fc as

illustrated below:

1/fc c(t ) = Ac cos( 2f ct )

Ac

time

-Ac

Page 4
Conventional Amplitude Modulation (cont.)
◼ Consider a message signal 𝑚 𝑡 with amplitude Am and frequency fm
(fm is much smaller than fc) as illustrated below:
1/fm
1/fc 𝑚 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑚 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)
Am

time

-Am

The message signal is also called the baseband signal.

◼ The AM modulated signal 𝑥𝐴𝑀 (𝑡) is illustrated as follows:

Page 5
Conventional Amplitude Modulation (cont.)
◼ Two representations of a modulated signal
◼ Envelope-and-phase representation

◼ Quadrature-carrier representation

◼ The signal of amplitude modulation (AM), 𝑥𝐴𝑀 (𝑡) is given below

𝑥𝐴𝑀 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 [1 + 𝜇𝑚 𝑡 ] cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
where  is the modulation index, which is also called modulation depth.
◼ Note that m(𝑡) is the normalized message with an unit amplitude.
◼ The complete (original) message is given by 𝐴𝑐  𝑚(𝑡) but not 𝑚(𝑡) alone
◼ The amplitude of the message is given by: 𝐴𝑐
◼ In case the normalized message is a sinusoidal signal 𝑚 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑚 cos 2𝑓𝑚𝑡
𝐴𝑚 = 1 and 𝑚(𝑡) = cos(2 𝑓𝑚 𝑡)
The term 𝐴𝑐 [1 +  𝑚 𝑡 ] = 𝐴𝑐 + 𝐴𝑐  𝑚(𝑡) is the envelope of AM signal
◼ Here, 𝐴𝑐 is the DC component of the envelope.
Page 6
Conventional Amplitude Modulation (cont.)
◼ The in-phase and quadrature components of AM signal:
𝑥𝐴𝑀 𝑡 = 𝑥𝒄𝑖 𝒕 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡) − 𝑥𝒄𝑞 𝒕 sin 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
൞ 𝑥𝒄𝑖 𝒕 = 𝐴𝑐 1 + 𝜇𝑚 𝑡
𝑥𝒄𝑞 𝒕 = 0
The quadrature component is zero.
◼ Amplitude of the modulated AM signal, 𝐴(𝑡):
𝐴 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 1 + 𝜇𝑚 𝑡
◼ In AM, the envelope of modulated signal A(t) has the same
shape as the normalized message signal m(t).

|𝑥(𝑡)| ≤ 1

0<<1

Page 7
Conventional Amplitude Modulation (DSB with Carrier)
◼ Modulated AM signal needs to satisfy 2 conditions:
◼ Keep | 𝑚(𝑡)| ≤ 1, so that there is no phase reversal in

envelope.
 > 1

◼ Keep 𝑓𝑐 >> 𝑓𝑚 , so that there is a clearly visible envelope.

Here, where 𝑓𝑚 is the highest frequency in spectrum of
normalized message signal 𝑚(𝑡).

◼ Meeting the two conditions, a simple envelope detector can

be used for demodulation.
Page 8
Conventional AM (DSB with Carrier)
AM send a Carrier with the message signal:
☺ Save on receiver complexity
☺ Good for broadcast (single Tx and multiple Rx)

 Consume more power per transmitted signal

 Bad for point-to-point (single Tx and single Rx)

𝑥𝐴𝑀 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 + 𝑚 𝑡 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡

𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅
𝑥𝐴𝑀 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑚 𝑡 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
𝑚 𝑡
𝑥𝐴𝑀 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 1 + cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
𝐴𝑐

Fourier Transform of AM Signal:

𝑭𝑻 𝑨 𝟏
𝒙𝑨𝑴 𝒕 𝐗 𝑨𝑴 𝒇 = 𝜹 𝒇 − 𝒇𝒄 + 𝜹(𝒇 + 𝒇𝒄 ) + 𝑴 𝒇 − 𝒇𝒄 + 𝑴(𝒇 + 𝒇𝒄 )
𝟐 𝟐
9
Amplitude Modulation (AM) - II
𝑚(𝑡)
𝑥𝐴𝑀 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 + 𝑚 𝑡 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 1 + cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 here 𝒎𝒂𝒙 |𝒎(𝒕)| = 𝒎𝒑
𝐴𝑐

◼ Modulation index
𝑚𝑝 signal peak
𝜇=
𝐴𝑐 carrier peak

◼ Envelope detection
◼ Track the envelope
◼ Condition:
A + m(t )  0 for all t
0   1

can use envelope

detection Synchronous demodulation
10
Amplitude Modulation - III
Modulation Index 𝜇 can be simply expressed as:
𝛽−𝛼
𝜇=
𝛽+𝛼
𝜶 𝜷

11
Example: AM Tone Modulation
Tone modulation when 𝑚 𝑡 equal to 𝑚 𝑡 = 𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑚 𝑡 = 𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡
Question: Sketch the modulated signal for the given tone modulated signal
𝑥𝐴𝑀 𝑡 = 𝐴 + 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
𝑏
𝑥𝐴𝑀 𝑡 = 𝐴 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐴 1 + 𝝁 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑐 𝑡
𝐴

𝒃
𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐱: 𝝁 =
𝑨

12
AM Signal Demodulator (Detector)
◼ Envelope of a modulated AM signal has the same shape as the
message, independent of carrier frequency and phase. Therefore,
demodulation can be accomplished by simply extracting the envelope
with no worry about synchronization.

◼ Envelope detector is simple, as illustrated by the following circuit.

◼ Diode allows only positive part of envelope to go through

◼ R1C1 acts as low pass filter in tracking the envelope

◼ R2C2 removes DC bias introduced by carrier

DC term to be removed

v(t ) = Ac (1 + x(t ))
Page 13
AM Signal Demodulator (cont.)
◼ In envelope detector, the output signal follows the envelope of
modulated AM signal.
◼ During the positive cycle of input signal, the diode conducts and

the capacitor C1 charges up to the peak value of input signal.

◼ When input signal falls below the peak value, the diode is cut off.

This is because the diode voltage which is nearly the peak voltage
is greater than the input signal voltage causing the diode to open.
With the diode opens, the capacitor discharges at slew rate
determined by R1C1.
◼ The process repeats itself in the next positive cycle of input signal.

Page 14
AM Signal Detector (cont.)

Diode: behavior

◼ The capacitor charges up to the peak voltage of input signal, and then
decays slowly until the next positive cycle. This makes v(t) follow the
envelope of the input signal. But, the capacitor discharge causes a
ripple signal of frequency fc in v(t).

Page 15
AM Signal Demodulator (cont.)

Page 16
AM Signal Demodulator (cont.)
◼ The ripple effect can be reduced by increasing the time constant R1C1
so the capacitor discharges very little between positive peaks of the
input signals. So, R1C1 >> 1/fc. However, making R1C1 too large will
cause v(t) unable to follow the signal envelope.

◼ The R1C1 time constant must be set carefully:

◼ Too big: discharge too slow.

◼ Too small: discharge too fast.

too large R1C1

good R1C1

too small R1C1

Page 17
AM Signal Demodulator (cont.)
◼ Guidelines in choosing R1C1:
◼ R1C1 should be large compared to 1/fc, but should be small

compared to 1/W, where W is the highest frequency in

spectrum of normalized message signal x(t).

Page 18
AM Signal Modulator
◼ Modulated AM signal can be produced using a product modulator as i
llustrated below:

mixer

Ac cos( 2f ct )

Note that the scaled normalized message signal x(t) is multiplied wit
h carrier before adding the product to the carrier.

Mixer is also called frequency converter.

Page 19
AM Signal Spectrum
◼ AM signal spectrum is simply its Fourier transform.
Ac A
Xc( f ) = [ ( f + f c ) +  ( f − f c )] + c [ X ( f + f c ) + X ( f − f c )]
2 2

Given W is the bandwidth of normalized message signal x(t), the

bandwidth of AM signal is 2W.

◼ Based on the signal spectrum, AM is simply a frequency translation

operation where the original spectrum of normalized message signal
X(f) is move up and down by as much as fc.
Page 20
Bandwidth Efficient Amplitude Modulation
(a) Original message spectrum
(b) Redundant bandwidth consumption in DSB Modulations

◼ Single-SideBand (SSB): either LSB or USB is suppressed from DSB

◼ SSB requires one-half the bandwidth of the DSB

21
AM Signal Spectrum (cont.)
◼ Since modulated AM signal xc(t) is real, its spectrum is Hermitian
symmetric. In addition, it is also symmetric around an impulse
representing carrier signal at fc.
◼ It has two sidebands around fc, and so the name of double-

sideband.
◼ The upper sideband (USB) contains frequencies |f| > |fc|.

◼ The lower sideband (LSB) contains frequencies |f| < |fc|.

◼ To avoid overlap in spectrum, fc > 2W must be fulfilled. If fc < 2W

the information in x(t) will be partly lost in the process of
modulation.
Take note of the distinct impulses at fc in the spectrum, where
the impulses indicate the presence of carrier in AM signals.

Page 22
AM Signal Spectrum (cont.)
◼ From the AM signal spectrum Xc(f), we can easily identify AM signal
bandwidth as 2W, where W is the bandwidth of normalized message
signal x(t). This is also called the transmission bandwidth, BT = 2W.

◼ Bandwidth efficiency of AM signal, B:

signal bandwidth
𝜀𝐵 =
transmission bandwidth

𝑊 1
𝜀𝐵 = =
𝐵𝑇 2
In general, AM is not bandwidth efficient because only 50% of the
transmission bandwidth is used to carry information.

Page 23
AM Signal Power Efficiency
◼ Power efficiency of AM signal, P :
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒
𝜖𝑝 =
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

◼ Average transmission power, 𝑆𝑇 :

ST =  xc2 (t ) square of rms

= ( Ac 1 + x(t )cos( 2f ct ) )2 

( )
=  Ac2 1 + 2 x(t ) +  2 x 2 (t ) cos 2 (2f ct )

Apply trigonometric identity 2cos2(2fct) = 1 + cos(4fct),

1 2 1 2
ST = Ac 1 + 2x(t ) +  x (t ) + Ac (1 + x(t ))2 cos(4f ct )
2 2
2 2

Page 24
AM signal power efficiency (cont.)
◼ Average of the term with cos(4fct) is (approximately) zero
when 𝑓𝑐 >> 𝑊.
◼ Also, let the original normalized message signal 𝒙(𝒕) has no
DC component, such that 𝒙(𝒕) = 𝟎. Then,
1 2
ST = Ac 1 +  2 x 2 (t )
2
1
= Ac2 (1 +  2 S x )
2
where is 𝑆𝑥 = < 𝑥 2 𝑡 > is average power of the original
normalized message signal 𝑥(𝑡).

Page 25
AM signal power efficiency (cont.)
◼ Further decompose the average transmission power.
1
◼ Let the carrier signal’s power be: 𝑃𝑐 = 𝐴2𝑐
2
◼ Then, the average transmission
1 2 1 2 2
𝑆𝑇 = 𝐴𝑐 + 𝐴𝑐 𝜇 𝑆𝑥
2 2
= 𝑃𝑐 + 2𝑃𝑠𝑏
where Psb is the transmission power of x(t) in each of the two sy
mmetric sidebands.
1 2 2
Psb = Ac  S x
4
1
= Pc  2 S x
2
Therefore,
ST = Pc [1 +  2 S x ]

Page 26
AM signal power efficiency (cont.)
◼ Recall that | x(t)| ≤ 1, so that simple envelope detector can
be used for demodulation.
ST
Pc =
[1 +  2 S x ]
1
 ST
2
This means AM spends more than 50% of transmission power
in transmitting its carrier signal that carries no information.
◼ AM is not power efficient.

2 Psb
◼ Power efficiency of AM: p =
ST
 2Sx 1
= 
[1 +  2 S x ] 2

Page 27
Power efficiency of single-tone AM signal
◼ Consider a special case of single-tone message:
x(t ) = cos( 2f xt )
Then, the modulated AM signal
xc (t ) = Ac (1 +  cos( 2f xt )) cos( 2f ct )
Accordingly, power efficiency

2
p =
[2 +  2 ]

Note that when  →  , P → 1.

But, recall that | x(t)| ≤ 1.
At  = 1.0, P = 1/3
→ Not power efficient.

Page 28
Power efficiency of single-tone AM signal (II)
1
Using cos 2 (𝜔𝑐 𝑡) = 2 1 + cos(2𝜔𝑐 𝑡)

◼ AM with Carrier 1 𝑇 𝐴2
 AM ( t ) = A cos ct + m(t ) cos ct
2
𝑃𝑐 = න 𝐴 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 =
𝑇 0 2
𝑇
1 2 2
𝑃𝑚 𝑚2 𝑡
carrier sidebands 𝑃𝑠 = න 𝑚 𝑡 cos ( 𝜔𝑐 𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 = =
𝑇 2 2
➢ Power Efficiency:
0

carrier power sideband power

𝑃𝑠 useful power
𝜌=
𝑃𝑠 + 𝑃𝑐 𝑃𝑠 Power of the Signal A2
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑃𝑐 Power of carrier Pc = 𝑃𝑚 𝑚2 𝑡
2 𝑃𝑠 = =
2 2
Example: Tone Modulation
Tone modulation
𝑚 𝑡 = 𝑏 cos 𝜔𝑚 𝑡 = 𝜇𝐴 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)
𝑚2 𝑡
ρ = 100% 𝝁𝟐
𝐴2 + 𝑚 2 𝑡 𝝆= 𝝆𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟑𝟑%
𝜇2 𝐴2 𝟐 + 𝝁𝟐 When 𝜇 = 1
𝑏 = 𝜇𝐴 → 𝑚2 𝑡 =
2

1 𝑇 2 𝑑𝑡
𝜇2 𝐴2 𝑇
1 𝜇2 𝐴2 𝑇
1 𝑇
cos 4𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡 𝜇2 𝐴2 𝑇 𝜇2 𝐴2
𝑚2 𝑡 = න 𝜇𝐴 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡 = න 1 + cos(4𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡) 𝑑𝑡 = න 𝑑𝑡 + න 𝑑𝑡 = +0 =
𝑇 0 𝑇 0 2 𝑇 0 2 2 𝑇 2 2
0
29
Power efficiency of multi-tone AM signal
◼ Consider a multi-tone message:
x(t ) = cos( 2f x1t ) + cos( 2f x 2t ) + cos( 2f x3t ) + 
The total sideband power is the sum of individual sideband
powers 1
Psb = Pc ( 12 S x1 +  22 S x 2 + 32 S x3 + )
2
Accordingly, power efficiency
T2
p =
[2 + T2 ]
where
T2 = 12 +  22 + 32 + 

Page 30
 Amplitude modulation Double SideBand (DSB)
Carrier has amplitude, phase, and
Ac cos (c t + c )
◼
frequency.
◼ Modulated signal
◼ The amplitude is linearly related to the
baseband signal (message)
Modulating signal carrier
◼ We have 2 replicas of the baseband
◼ Bandwidth is double of baseband
◼ We do not have a separate component ( ) ( )
m t cos c t +  c
for the carrier
◼

◼
Called DSB-Suppressed Carrier (SC)
Without loss of generality we can () m t M  ( )
◼
assume phase equals zero (𝜃𝑐 = 0)
Carrier frequency has to be at least
() ( )
m t cos ct +  c  ...
equal the bandwidth of baseband
c = 0

c  2 B
31
DSB-SC - Modulation

DSB-SC: Double-SideBand Suppressed Carrier

𝐹𝑇 1 1
𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 𝑀 𝜔 − 𝜔𝑐 + 𝑀(𝜔 + 𝜔𝑐 )
2 2
32
DSB-SC - Demodulation
Coherent detection (or Synchronous demodulation)
▪ Receiver must generate a carrier in phase and frequency synchronism with incoming carrier

1 2
𝑒 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 + 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜔𝑐 𝑡
2
1 1
𝐸(𝜔) = 𝑀(𝜔) + 𝑀 𝜔 − 2𝜔𝑐 + 𝑀 𝜔 + 2𝜔𝑐
2 4
33
Example 4.1
Assume a Baseband signal 𝑚 𝑡 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡
1) Find the DSB-SC and sketch its spectrum.
2) Identify the Upper Sideband (USB) and Lower Sideband (LSB)
3) Verify that the DSB-SC can be demodulated using previous demodulator

34
DSB-SC Modulators
◼ Multiplier modulators
◼ Directly multiply message with carrier
◼ Difficult to maintain linearity
◼ multiplication of signals with sizeable dynamic range was challenge to circuit designers
◼ Non-linear modulators
◼ Easy to implement using nonlinear devices: semiconductor diode or a transistor
◼ Balanced with respect to the carrier
◼ Single balanced modulator

y (t ) = ax(t ) + bx 2 (t )
x1 (t ) = cos(c t ) + m(t ) x2 (t ) = cos(ct ) − m(t )
z (t ) = y1 (t ) − y2 (t ) = 2am(t ) + 4bm(t ) cos(c t )
35
DSB-SC Modulators - II
◼ Switching modulators ∞

◼ Any periodic signal is sum of sinusoids (Fourier Series): 𝒘 𝒕 = ෍ 𝑪𝒏 cos(𝒏𝝎𝒄 𝒕 + 𝜽𝒏 )

Use the square wave as carrier (switching)

𝒏=𝟎
◼
∞

𝒎 𝒕 𝒘 𝒕 = ෍ 𝑪𝒏 𝒎(𝒕) cos(𝒏𝝎𝒄 𝒕 + 𝜽𝒏 )
𝒏=𝟎

w(t) periodic pulse with Fourier Series:

1 2 1 1 
w (t ) = + cos c t − cos 3c t + cos 5c t − ...
2  3 5 

𝒎 𝒕 𝒘 𝒕 1 2
m(t ) w ( t ) = m(t ) +  m(t ) cos c t −
2 
1
m(t ) cos 3c t +
3
1 
m(t ) cos 5c t − ...
5 

36
DSB-SC Modulators - III
◼ Switching modulator: Diode Bridge Modulator
◼ Easy to implement using the electronic diode-bridge switch

𝐷𝑖𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝐷1 𝐷2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷3 𝐷4 are matched pairs

When 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 is of polarity that makes

the terminal c positive with respect to d.
all the diodes conduct.
During next half cycle d > c then All diodes open.

𝒎 𝒕 𝒘 𝒕

37
DSB-SC Modulators - IV
◼ Switching modulators: Ring Modulator ▪ Has no baseband term
◼ Easy to implement using diode rings ▪ More power in desired
signal
Positive half cycle:𝐷 𝐷 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷 𝐷3 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛:
1 3 2
(a) Connected to (c) and
(b) connected to (d)

Negative half cycle:𝐷1 𝐷3 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷2 𝐷3 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡:

(a) Connected to (d)
(b) connected to (c)

𝑤0 𝑡 = 2𝑤 𝑡 − 1
4 1 1 
w0 ( t ) = cos  t − cos 3 t + cos 5 t − ...
  
c c c
3 5 

𝑣𝑖 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 𝑤0 𝑡
𝑣𝑖 𝑡
4 1
= ቈ𝒎 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝎𝒄 𝒕 − 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝜔𝑐 𝑡
𝜋 3
1
+ 𝑚 𝑡 cos 5𝜔𝑐 𝑡 − ⋯ ቉
5 38
Frequency Mixer or Converter
This operation is also called upconversion when 𝜔𝑚𝑖𝑥 = 𝜔𝑐 + 𝜔𝐼
This operation is also called downconversion when 𝜔𝑚𝑖𝑥 = 𝜔𝑐 − 𝜔𝐼

39
 Generation of Amplitude Modulation
◼ Circuit for AM Generation

c  m p

1 2 1 1 
w (t ) = + cos c t − cos 3c t + cos 5c t − ...
2  3 5 

vbb =  c cos c t + m(t )  w(t )

2
c cos ct + m(t ) +  m(t ) cos ct + c cos ct cos ct − [c cos ct + m(t )]cos 3ct + [c cos ct + m(t )]cos 5ct − ...
1 1 1
vbb =
2  3 5 

40
Amplitude Demodulation
◼ Rectifier detector

𝑣𝑅 𝑡 = 𝐴 + 𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 𝑤 𝑡
1 2 1 1
𝑣𝑅 𝑡 = 𝐴 + 𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠5𝜔𝑐 𝑡 − ⋯
2 𝜋 3 5
1 𝟏 1 2
𝑣𝑅 𝑡 = 𝐴 + 𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑨 + 𝒎(𝒕) + 𝐴 + 𝑚(𝑡) 𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜔𝑐 𝑡 − 𝐴 + 𝑚(𝑡) 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑐 𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝜔𝑐 𝑡
2 𝝅 𝜋 3𝜋
𝟏
When 𝒗𝑹 𝒕 is applied to a low-pass filter of cutoff B Hz the output is 𝑨 + 𝒎(𝒕)
𝝅
The dc term 𝑨/𝝅 is blocked by the capacitor
41
Amplitude Demodulation-II
◼ Envelope detector
𝟏
𝟏/𝝎𝒄 ≪ 𝑹𝑪 <
𝟐𝝅𝑩

42
Bandwidth Efficient Amplitude Modulations
(a) Original message spectrum
(b) Redundant bandwidth consumption in DSB Modulations

◼ Single-SideBand (SSB): either LSB or USB is suppressed from DSB

◼ SSB requires one-half the bandwidth of the DSB
43
Bandwidth Efficient Amplitude Modulations
◼ SSB spectra from suppressing one DSB sideband

44
Hilbert Transform
◼ The Hilbert transform denoted by 𝒎𝒉 𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝐻{𝑚 𝑡 } of 𝑚(𝒕) is given by:
+∞
1 1 𝑚 𝜏
𝐻 𝑚 𝑡 = 𝑚ℎ 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 ∗ = න 𝑑𝜏
𝜋𝑡 𝜋 𝑡−𝜏
−∞
1
◼ From FT table: −𝑗𝑠𝑔𝑛(𝑓)
𝜋𝑡
◼ 𝑀ℎ 𝑓 , the FT of Hilbert transform 𝑚ℎ 𝑡 , is given by:
𝑀ℎ 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑓 −𝑗𝑠𝑔𝑛 𝑓 = −𝑗𝑀 𝑓 𝑠𝑔𝑛(𝑓)

◼ If 𝑚(𝑡) passes though a transfer function 𝐻 𝑓 = −𝑗𝑠𝑔𝑛 𝑓

−𝑗 = 𝑒 −𝑗𝜋/2 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓 > 0

𝐻 𝑓 = −𝑗𝑠𝑔𝑛 𝑓 = ൝
+𝑗 = 𝑒 +𝑗𝜋/2 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓 < 0

Important:
Hilbert transform is an ideal phase shifter of
every spectral component by -π/2

45
Single SideBand amplitude modulation (SSB)
◼ Uses only upper side band 𝝓𝑼𝑺𝑩 (𝒕) or lower side band 𝝓𝑳𝑺𝑩 (𝒕)
◼ Modulated signal has the same bandwidth as baseband B
𝑚 𝑡 = 𝑚+ 𝑡 + 𝑚− 𝑡 1
𝑈 𝑓 = 1 + 𝑠𝑔𝑛(𝑓)
𝑀 𝑓 = 𝑀+ 𝑓 + 𝑀− (𝑓) 2

1
𝑀+ 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑓 𝑈 𝑓 = 𝑀(𝑓) × 1 + 𝑠𝑔𝑛(𝑓)
2
1 1
= 𝑀 𝑓 + 𝑗𝑀ℎ (𝑓)
2 2

1
𝑀− 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑓 𝑈 −𝑓 = 𝑀(𝑓) × 𝟏 − 𝒔𝒈𝒏(𝒇)
2
1 1
= 𝑀 𝑓 − 𝑗𝑀ℎ (𝑓)
2 2

Φ𝑈𝑆𝐵 𝑓 = 𝑀+ 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀− 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐
1 1
Φ𝑈𝑆𝐵 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 − 𝑀 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 − 𝑀ℎ (𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 )
2 2j ℎ

By taking the Inverse FT we obtain:

𝜙𝑈𝑆𝐵 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 − 𝑚ℎ (𝑡) sin2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡

46
Time Domain Representation of SSB Signals
◼ From the frequency-shifting property:
𝜙𝑈𝑆𝐵 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 − 𝑚ℎ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡)
◼ Similarly
𝜙𝐿𝑆𝐵 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑚ℎ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡)

◼ Generally, SSB signal

𝜙𝑆𝑆𝐵 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ∓ 𝑚ℎ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡)

◼ SSB-SC signal can be coherently demodulated

𝜙𝑆𝑆𝐵 𝑡 2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑐 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ∓ 𝑚ℎ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑐 𝑡

𝜙𝑆𝑆𝐵 𝑡 2𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑐 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 + 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ∓ 𝑚ℎ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝜔𝑐 𝑡

𝑆𝑆𝐵−𝑆𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 2𝜔𝑐

47
 Example 4.6: SSB for Tone Modulation
1) Find 𝝓𝑺𝑺𝑩 𝒕 for a simple case of tone modulation
that is when the modulating signal 𝒎 𝒕 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝎𝒎 𝒕
2) Demonstrate the coherent modulation of this SSB
signal.

SOLUTION:
Hilbert transform just delays the phase of each spectral
𝝅
component by ,: 𝒎𝒉 𝒕 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒎 𝒕 − 𝟐 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝒘𝒎 𝒕)
𝝅
𝟐

𝝓𝑺𝑺𝑩 𝒕 = 𝒎 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝝎𝒄 𝒕 ∓ 𝒎𝒉 𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝝎𝒄 𝒕)

𝝓𝑼𝑺𝑩 𝒕 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝝎𝒄 +𝝎𝒎 )𝒕

𝝓𝑳𝑺𝑩 𝒕 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝝎𝒄 −𝝎𝒎 )𝒕

𝝓𝑺𝑺𝑩 𝒕 𝟐𝒄𝒐𝒔𝝎𝒄 𝒕 = 𝒎 𝒕 + 𝒎 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟐𝝎𝒄 𝒕 ∓ 𝒎𝒉 𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐𝝎𝒄 𝒕

𝑺𝑺𝑩−𝑺𝑪 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝝎𝒄

48
Generation of SSB Signals
▪ Selective filtering method
▪ Easy to understand
▪ Requires sharp cut-on filters selective filter
▪ Practically useful for signals with no
low frequency components (allows for
some slope in the cut-on filter)
▪ Phase-shift method
▪ Useful for signals that has more power
at lower frequency
SSB signal
▪ Practical implementation of Hilbert
transform system is difficult due to
requirement of flat magnitude of large
band

49
Generate SSB Using the phase-shift method

50
Demodulation of SSB Signals
▪ Coherent demodulation
𝜙𝑆𝑆𝐵 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ± 𝑚ℎ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝐶 𝑡
Coherent demodulation by multiplying the modulated signal by 2 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 , we get

𝜙𝑆𝑆𝐵 𝑡 × 2 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 = 2𝑚 𝑡 cos 2 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ± 2𝑚ℎ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜔𝐶 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡

𝜙𝑆𝑆𝐵 𝑡 × 2 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 = 𝒎 𝒕 +𝑚(𝑡) cos 2𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ± 𝑚ℎ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝜔𝑐 𝑡

▪ Envelope detection (detection with a carrier SSB+C)

SSB + C (t ) = [a + m(t )] cos ct + mh (t ) sin c t
SSB + C (t ) = E (t ) cos(ct +  )
E (t ) = [ A + m(t )]2 + m 2h (t ) A | m(t ) | A | mh (t ) |
1
E (t )  A[1 + 2m(t )]  A + m(t )
2

51
 Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)
▪ Bandwidth efficiency of AM can be improved by transmitting two
message signals m1(t) and m2(t) simultaneously. These two signals are
generated by modulating two carrier signals of same frequency but
shifted in phase by -90.

xQAM (t ) = m1 (t ) cos( 2f ct ) + m2 (t ) sin( 2f ct )

inphase signal (I) quadrature signal (Q)

This scheme is called QAM because the two modulated signals are in
quadrature phase to each other.
Page 52
Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) (cont.)
▪ Modulation

Modulator Demodulator

QAM (t ) = m1 ( t ) cos (ct ) + m2 ( t ) sin (ct ) ❑ Doubles bandwidth efficiency

❑ Very sensitive to phase and frequency
inphase signal (I) quadrature signal (Q) difference

▪ Demodulation
x1 ( t ) = 2 m1 ( t ) cos ct + m2 ( t ) sin ct  cos ct = m1 ( t ) + m1 ( t ) cos 2ct + m2 ( t ) sin 2ct

x2 ( t ) = 2  m1 ( t ) cos ct + m2 ( t ) sin ct  sin ct = m2 ( t ) − m2 (t ) cos 2ct + m1 (t ) sin 2ct

53
QAM Demodulation
◼ Both modulated signals 𝑚1(𝑡)cos(2 𝑓𝑐𝑡), and m2(t) sin(2fct)
occupy the same band. Thus, the total transmission bandwidth of 2W
can be used to transmit 2 message of bandwidth W. This leads to
improvement in bandwidth efficiency.

◼ At the receiver, the two baseband signals can be separated by using

a second carrier that is shifted in phase by -90.
◼ The first signal m1(t) can be detected by a multiplication with

2cos(2fct) followed by a low-pass filter.

◼ The second signal m2(t) can be detected accordingly by a

multiplication with 2sin(2fct) followed by a low-pass filter.

This is synchronous product demodulator for QAM.

Page 54
DSB\SC and AM signal power efficiency
◼ Power efficiency of SC-DSB AM, P is improved compared to the
conventional AM.

◼ Average transmission power, ST.

ST =  xc (t )
2

1 2 2 1 2 2
= Ac  x (t ) + Ac  x (t ) cos( 4f ct )
2 2
1
= Ac2 S x
2
where is Sx = x2(t)  is average power of the original normalized
message signal x(t).

◼ Power efficiency, P: Very power efficient! All

2 Psb transmission power is used to
P = =1
carry information
ST
Page 55
DSB\SC and AM signal power efficiency (cont.)
◼ There is a trade-off between demodulator complexity and power
efficiency.
◼ Let Amax be the maximum amplitude of the modulated signal X𝑐 (𝑡).
◼ Then, the peak instantaneous power is A2max.
◼ For conventional AM, Amax = 2Ac.
◼ For DSB-SC AM, Amax = Ac.
◼ The sideband to peak power ratio, Psb/A2max :

 S 4, if DSB - SC AM
2
Psb Amax = x
S x 16, if convention al AM with  = 1

For a given peak transmission power, DSB-SC AM can

produce a sideband with 4 times stronger signal compared
to AM. But, the cost is in building more complex
demodulator.

Page 56
Recommended Problems
◼ Section 4.2: all questions except 4.2-7
◼ Section 4.3: all questions
◼ Q 4.4-1

Page 57
 Vestigial Side Band (VSB) modulation
✓ Difficult to generate exact SSB signals (𝑚(𝑡) should have null around dc)
✓ VSB signals relatively easy to generate, and BW is about 25% greater than SSB
⚫ Bandwidth higher than SSB but lower than DSB
➢ More practical selective filter design

 VSB ( ) =  M ( − c ) + M ( + c )  H i ( )
e ( t ) = VSB ( t ) 2 cos ct   VSB ( − c ) +  VSB ( + c )
M ( ) =  VSB ( − c ) +  VSB ( + c )  H o ( )
M ( ) = M ( )  H i ( + c ) + H i ( − c )  H o ( )

1
H o ( ) =
H i ( + c ) + H i ( − c )

𝐻𝑖 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 + 𝐻𝑖 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 = 1 |𝑓| ≤ 𝐵 𝐻0 𝑓 = 1 |𝑓| ≤ 𝐵

Transmitter Receiver 58
VSB
◼ Becasue of 𝐻𝑖 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 + 𝐻𝑖 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 = 1 𝑓 ≤ 𝐵 we can 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐋𝐏𝐅:
𝑭 𝒇 = 𝒋 𝟏 − 𝟐𝑯𝒊 𝒇 − 𝒇𝒄 = −𝒋 𝟏 − 𝟐𝑯𝒊 𝒇 + 𝒇𝒄 |𝒇| ≤ 𝑩

◼ A new complex Low pass filter:

𝐹𝑇
𝑚𝑣 𝑡 ֞ 𝑀𝑣 𝑓 = 𝐹 𝑓 𝑀 𝑓
◼ We can rewrite the VSB:
1 1
Φ𝑉𝑆𝐵 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 − 𝑀𝑣 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐
2 2𝑗 𝑣
𝜙𝑉𝑆𝐵 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑚𝑣 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡)

59
Carrier acquisition
◼ Receiver local oscillator errors
cos 𝑥 cos 𝑦 = 1/2[cos(𝑥 + 𝑦) + cos(𝑥 − 𝑦)]
Tx carrier Rx local oscillator
2 m ( t ) cos c t  cos (c t + t +  )

m ( t ) cos ( 2c t + t +  ) + m ( t ) cos ( t +  )

Type equation here.phase error

frequency error
m ( t ) cos ( t ) ,   B m ( t ) cos 
Time varying beating effect Constant attenuation effect

⚫ Phase locked loop (PLL)

x ( t ) = A sin (ct + i ) B cos (ct +  o )

AB
e (t ) = sin (i −  o )
2
60
Main Points
◼ Amplitude modulation with carrier
◼ Double Side Band-Suppressed Carrier (DSB-SC)
◼ Modulators and demodulators Architectures
◼ Envelope detectors
◼ Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM)
◼ Single side band (SSB) amplitude modulation
◼ Vestigial side band (VSB) amplitude modulation
◼ Carrier acquisition
◼ Phase locked loop concept

61