Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Experiment No. 10

GENERATION OF AMPLITUDE MODULATION

Aim: To observe the waveforms of amplitude modulation and calculate modulation index.

1) Implementation of AM Generator.
2) Observe and sketch waveforms.
3) Calculate modulation index using graphical method.

Apparatus: DSB Modulation and Demodulation kit, CRO/ DSO, CRO Probes, Patch cords.

Theory:

The process in which the amplitude of the high frequency carrier signal is changed in
accordance with the amplitude of the modulating signal is called Amplitude Modulation.
A carrier is described by
vc = Vc sin( wc t +  )
To amplitude modulate the carrier; its amplitude is changed in accordance with the level of
the audio signal, which is described by
vm = Vm sin wm t
The amplitude of the carrier varies sinusoidally about a mean of Vc . When the carrier is
modulated its amplitude is varied with the instantaneous value of the modulating signal. The
amplitude of the variation of the carrier amplitude is Vm and the angular frequency of the
rate at which the amplitude varies is wm .
The amplitude of the carrier is then:
Carrier amplitude = Vc + Vm sin wm t and the instantaneous value (value at any instant in time)
is
v = (Vc + Vm sin wm t )  sin wc t
…………………………………………………… (1)
v = Vc sin wc t + Vm sin wm t  sin wc t

Using the rule

1 1 this becomes
sin A  sin B = cos( A − B ) − sin( A + B )
2 2
1 1 …………………..… (2)
v = Vc sin wc t + Vm cos( wc − wm )t − Vm cos( wc + wm )t
2 2
This is a signal made up of 3 signal components

PES’s Modern College of Engineering

Department of Electrical Engineering
Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Components Angular frequency (rad/sec) Frequency (Hz)

Carrier wc wc
2
Upper side frequency ( wc + wm ) ( wc + wm )
2
Lower side ( wc − wm ) ( wc − wm )
frequency 2

The bandwidth (the difference between the highest and the lowest frequency) is
w
Bandwidth = {( wc + wm ) − ( wc − wm )} = 2  wm (rad / sec) = m ( Hz )

Modulation Index
Modulation index is defined as Vm
m=
Vc
Using this (2) can be re-written as,
1 ………………………………... (3)
v = Vc {sin wc t + m[cos(wc − wm )t + cos( wc + wm )t ]}
2
The maximum allowed value of m is “1”. If this is exceeding, the envelope of the output waveform
is distorted. This is known as Over-modulation.
If an AM signal is being displayed on an oscilloscope it can be difficult to read Vc and Vm . Instead
the form for expressing m can be modified to make it easier to read. The formula of Modulation
index using the waveform or graphical or envelope method becomes

Vmax − Vmin
m=
Vmax + Vmin

It is possible to read the maximum and minimum amplitude of the signal from the oscilloscope
display. In case of periodic modulating signal it is easy to identify the maximum and minimum
voltages of the modulated wave but for non-periodic waveforms these quantities will vary due to
which modulation index will also varies but the condition is m ≤ “1”.

Procedure
1. Connect the power supply to the kit.
2. Set the modulating input signal amplitude to 3 Vpp and the frequency to 700 KHz using
sine wave generator. Observe it on DSO and note it down.
3. Set the carrier signal amplitude to 3 Vpp and the frequency to 100 KHz/ 200 KHz using
carrier generator. Observe it on DSO and note it down.
4. Connect the modulating and carrier signal as inputs to the modulator block. Observe the
output waveform with modulating signal on DSO.
5. Take the readings as per the observation table by varying the amplitude of the modulating
signal. Calculate the modulation index using the given formula.

PES’s Modern College of Engineering

Department of Electrical Engineering
Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering

6. Now connect the load resistor at the output of modulator block and repeat the above set of
observations to calculate the power.
7. For total power measurement, carrier power Pc is required. Measure the carrier voltage
after the load resistor at the output of modulator block by disconnecting the second input of
modulating signal. Calculate the Pc using the given formula.
8. Connect the output of modulator to the demodulator block. Observe the demodulated
output. Compare it with the modulating input signal.
9. Plot the graphs of modulating signal, carrier signal and modulated signal for under
modulation, 100% modulation and over modulation.

Observation Table:

Vc = _________________ Fc = ______________________ Fm = ____________________

Sr. Vm Vmax Vmin m %m Vmax Vmin m

No.

Carrier Power VC2

PC =
2 RL

Total transmitted power )

PES’s Modern College of Engineering

Department of Electrical Engineering
Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Conclusions
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Lab Assignment Questions:

1. Explain amplitude modulation.
2. Define Modulation index. Explain linear, 100% and over modulation concept.
3. Explain applications of AM in brief.
4. Draw the spectrum of AM signal.
5. Explain the procedure to calculate modulation index from waveforms.

PES’s Modern College of Engineering

Department of Electrical Engineering
Basic Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Experimental Kit

PES’s Modern College of Engineering

Department of Electrical Engineering