Single Sideband Techniques

(SSB)
 Example
ppose you have a portable (for example you carry it in your ' back pack') DSBAM transmit
hich needs to transmit an average power of 10 Watts in each sideband when modulation d
= 0.3. Assume that the transmitter is powered by a 12 Volt battery. The total power will b

m2 m2
PT = Pc + Pc + Pc
4 4
m2 410 40
where Pc = 10 Watts, i.e. Pc = = = 444.44 Watts
4 m 2
0.32

Hence, total power PT = 444.44 + 10 + 10 = 464.44 Watts.

464.44 amps!
ence, battery current (assuming ideal transmitter) = Power / Volts =
12
i.e. a large and heavy 12 Volt battery.
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 Sideband Amplitude Modulation
One method to produce signal sideband (SSB) amplitude modulation
is to produce
DSBAM, and pass the DSBAM signal through a band pass filter,
usually called a
single sideband filter, which passes one of the sidebands as illustrated
in the diagram
below.

The type of SSB may be SSBAM (with a 'large' carrier component),

SSBDimC or
SSBSC depending on VDC at the input. A sequence of spectral
diagrams are shown
on the next page.
Single Sideband Amplitude Modulation
 Single Sideband Amplitude Modulation

te that the bandwidth of the SSB signal B Hz is half of the DSB signal bandwidt
te also that an ideal SSB filter response is shown. In practice the filter will not b
al as illustrated.

shown, with practical filters some part of the rejected sideband (the LSB in thi
se) will be present in the SSB signal. A method which eases the problem is to
oduce SSBSC from DSBSC and then add the carrier to the SSB signal.
Single Sideband Amplitude Modulation
 Single Sideband Amplitude Modulation

with m(t) = Vm cos mt, we may write:

Vm V
v s t = VDC cosωc t + cosωc + ωm t + m cosωc  ωm t 
2 2
The SSB filter removes the LSB (say) and the output is
Vm
v s t = VDC cosωc t + cosωc + ωm t 
2
Again, note that the output may be
SSBAM, VDC large For SSBSC, output signal =
SSBDimC, VDC small V
v s t = m cosωc + ωm t 
SSBSC, VDC = 0 2
 Power in SSB
 m2 
From previous discussion, the total power in the DSB signal = Pc  1 +
PT is 
 2 
2 2
m m
= PT = Pc + Pc + Pc for DSBAM.
4 4
ence, if Pc and m are known, the carrier power and power in one sideband may
etermined. Alternatively, since SSB signal =
Vm
v s t = VDC cosωc t + cosωc + ωm t 
2
then the power in SSB signal (Normalised Average Power) is
2 2 2 2
V  V  V V
PSSB = DC +  m  = DC + m
2 2 2 2 8
2 2
VDC Vm
Power in SSB signal = +
2 8
 Demodulation of Amplitude Modulated Signals

There are 2 main methods of AM Demodulation:

• Envelope or non-coherent Detection/Demodulation.

• Synchronised or coherent Demodulation.

 Envelope or Non-Coherent Detection
An envelope detector for AM is shown below:

s is obviously simple, low cost. But the AM input must be DSBAM with m << 1,
oes not demodulate DSBDimC, DSBSC or SSBxx.
 Large Signal Operation
or large signal inputs, ( Volts) the diode is switched i.e. forward biased  ON, reverse
ased  OFF, and acts as a half wave rectifier. The 'RC' combination acts as a 'smoothing
rcuit' and the output is m(t) plus 'distortion'.

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

 Small Signal Operation – Square Law Detector
r small AM signals (~ millivolts) demodulation depends on the diode square law
aracteristic.

he diode characteristic is of the form i(t) = av + bv2 + cv3 + ..., where

v = VDC + mt cosωc t  i.e. DSBAM signal.

Single Side Band Suppressed Carrier
Carri
From DSB-SC spectrum: er
Information m is carried twice LS US
B B
Bandwidth is high

c - m c c + m
Single frequency
Question: Why transmit both side bands?
Ans:

Question: Can one suppress one of the side bandcarrier?

Ans.: Yes, just transmit one side band (i.e SSB-SC)

But what is the penalty?

System complexity at the receiver

 • Frequency discrimination

SSB-SC - Implementation
Band
Upper sideband
pass
filter
DSB-SC ME
Messag cc+ cc c(t )  c cos (c  m )t
Multiplier
Multiplier 2
e
m(t)
Band
Lower sideband
pass
Local
filter
oscillator
cc- cc c(t )  MEc cos (c  m )t
c(t) = cos cct 2

c(t ) Em cos mt cos c t

MEc MEc
 cos (c  m )t  cos (c  m )t
2 2
Three main systems are employed for the generation of
SSB :

 Filter Method

Phase Cancellation Method

Third Method

All use balanced modulator to suppress the carrier

“When two frequencies are passed together through a nonlinear resistance, the process of
amplitude modulation takes place”-Justify.
if i is the collector current & v is the voltage applied to the base.
i=bv (1)
And if the amplifier operates in class A,there will be a dc component of collector
current(a),which is not dependent on the signal voltage at the base

i=a+bv (2)
In a nonlinear resistance ,the current is still to a certain extent proportional to the
applied voltage,but no longer directly as before.Current now becomes
proportional not only to voltage but also to the square,cube and higher powers of
voltage.

i=a+bv+cv2 +dv3 +higher powers (3)

If two voltages are simultaneously applied to the gate of a FET, then we can
obtain
i=a+b(v1+v2)+c (v1+v2)2 (4)
v2 V2 sin t
v1 V1 sin t

Let and
 (a  1 / 2cV  1 / 2cV ) bV1 sin t bV2 sin t
2 2
i 1
2

(I ) ( II ) ( III )
(1 / 2cV cos 2t  1 / 2cV cos 2 t ) cV1V2 cos(   )t
2 2
 1 2
 
( IV ) (V )

cV1V2 cos(   )t
(VI )
I : dc component,
II : carrier
Here omega is the carrier angular frequency III: modulating signal
& rho is the modulating angular frequency IV: harmonics of the carrier and m
V: Lower sideband
VI: Upper sideband
Balanced Modulator
A balanced modulator is a circuit that
generates a DSB signal, suppressing the
carrier and leaving only the sum and
difference frequencies at the output.
The output of a balanced modulator can be
further processed by filters or phase-shifting
circuitry to eliminate one of the sidebands,
resulting in a SSB signal.
Types of balanced modulators include lattice,
1496/1596 IC, and the analog multiplier.
Balanced Modulator
Lattice Modulator
A popular and widely used balanced modulator
is the diode ring or lattice modulator.
The lattice modulator consists of an input
transformer, an output transformer and four
diodes connected in a bridge circuit.
The carrier signal is applied to the center taps
of the input and output transformers.
The modulating signal is applied to the input
transformer.
The output appears across the output
transformer.
 Balanced Modulator

Figure Lattice-type
balanced modulator.
Balanced Modulator
Lattice Modulators
The carrier sine wave is considerably higher in
frequency and amplitude than the modulating
signal.
The carrier sine wave is used as a source of
forward and reverse bias for the diodes.
The carrier turns the diodes off and on at a
high rate of speed.
The diodes act like switches that connect the
modulating signal at the secondary of T1 to the
primary of T2.
Balanced Modulator
IC Balanced Modulators
The 1496/1596 IC is a versatile circuit
available for communication applications.
It can work at carrier frequencies up to 100
MHz.
It can achieve a carrier suppression of 50 to 65
dB.
The 1496/1596 IC can operate as a balanced
modulator or configured to perform as an
amplitude modulator, a product detector, or a
synchronous detector.
4-4: Balanced Modulator
IC Balanced Modulators: Analog Multiplier
An analog multiplier is a type of integrated
circuit that can be used as a balanced
modulator.
Analog multipliers are often used to generate
DSB signals.
The analog multiplier is not a switching circuit
like the balanced modulator.
The analog multiplier uses differential
amplifiers operating in the linear mode.
The carrier must be a sine wave and the
multiplier produces the true product of two
analog inputs.
4-5: SSB Circuits
Generating SSB Signals: The Filter Method
The filter method is the simplest and most
widely used method of generating SSB signals.
The modulating signal is applied to the audio
amplifier.
The amplifier’s output is fed to one input of a
balanced modulator.
A crystal oscillator provides the carrier signal
which is also applied to the balanced
modulator.
4-5: SSB Circuits
Generating SSB Signals: The Filter Method
The output of the balanced modulator is a
double-sideband (DSB) signal.
An SSB signal is produced by passing the DSB
signal through a highly selective bandpass
filter.
With the filter method, it is necessary to select
either the upper or the lower sideband.
 4-5: SSB Circuits

igure 4-31 An SSB transmitter using the filter method.

SSB Circuits
Generating SSB Signals: Phasing Method
The phasing method of SSB generation
uses a phase-shift technique that causes
one of the sidebands to be canceled out.
The phasing method uses two balanced
modulators which eliminate the carrier.
The carrier oscillator is applied to the
upper balanced modulator along with the
modulating signal.
4-5: SSB Circuits
Generating SSB Signals: Phasing Method
The carrier and modulating signals are both
shifted in phase by 90 degrees and applied to
another balanced modulator.
Phase-shifting causes one sideband to be
canceled out when the two modulator outputs
are added together.
 SSB Circuits

Figure An SSB generator using the phasing method.

4-5: SSB Circuits
DSB and SSB Demodulation
To recover the intelligence in a DSB or SSB
signal, the carrier that was suppressed at the
receiver must be reinserted.
A product detector is a balanced modulator
used in a receiver to recover the modulating
signal.
Any balanced modulator can be used as a
product detector to demodulate SSB signals.
 4-5: SSB Circuits

Figure 4-38 A balanced modulator used as a product detector to

demodulate an SSB signal.
SSB-SC - Waveforms

B = m

USB

B = 2m
Bandwidth B = m
 • Phase discrimination (Hartley modulator)

SSB-SC - Implementation cont.

v(t) =Emm cos mmt cos cct + Emm sin
Em cos mt mmt sin cct
Messag X
X = Emm cos (mm - cc)t LSB
e Em cos mt cos
m(t) ct
Carrier cos +
c t
SSB-SC

90oo 90oo signal
phase shift -
phase shift
sin
c t Em sin mt sin ct
X
Em sin v(t) =Emm cos mmt cos cct - Emm sin mmt
 mt sin cct
= Em cos (m + c)t USB
 SSB-SC - Hartley Modulator
Advantages:
No need for bulky and expensive band pass
filters
Easy to switch from a LSB to an USB SSB output

• Disadvantage:
– Requires Hilbert transform of the message signal. Hilbert
transform changes the phase of each +ve frequency component
by exactly - 90o.
 Synchronous

SSB-SC - Detection
detection
MEc
v(t )  cos mt
4
Low
SSB-SC Multiplier
Multiplier pass
filter Message
signal
Local MEc
y (t )  cos (c  m )t  cos c t
oscillator 2
c(t) = cos cct MEc MEc
y (t )  cos (  mt )  cos (2 c   m )t
4 4
ndition:
ocal oscillator has the same information high frequency
requency and phase as that of the
arrier signal at the transmitter. Low pass filter

m 2c+m
 Case 1 - Phase error

SSB-SC - Synch. Detection cont. v(t ) 

MEc
4
cos ( m  )t

Low
SSB-SC Multiplier
Multiplier pass
filter Message
signal
Local MEc
y (t )  cos (c  m )t  cos (c t  )
oscillator 2
c(t) = cos y (t ) 
MEc
cos ( mt   ) 
MEc
cos (2 c t   m   )
(cct+) 4 4

ondition:
ocal oscillator has the same information high frequency
requency but different phase as
hat of the carrier signal at the Low pass filter
ransmitter.
m 2c+m
 SSB-SC - Synch. Detection cont.
Case 1 - Frequency MEc
v(t )  cos (m  )t
error 4
Low
SSB-SC Multiplier
Multiplier pass
filter Message
signal
Local MEc
y (t )  cos (c  m )t  cos (c  )t
oscillator 2
c(t) = cos y (t ) 
MEc
cos ( m   )t 
MEc
cos (2 c   m   )t
(c+)t 4 4

ondition:
ocal oscillator has the same information high frequency
hase but different frequency as
hat of the carrier signal at the Low pass filter
ransmitter.
m + 2c+m +
SSB-SC - Power
The total power (or average
power): 2
1  MEc / 2 
PT  SSB  SC   
R 2 
( MEc ) 2

8R

• The maximum and peak envelop power

2
( MEc )
PP  SSB  SC 
4R
 SSB-SC - Summary
Advantages:
Lower power consumption
Better management of the frequency spectrum
Less prone to selective fading
Lower noise

• Disadvantage:
- Complex detection

• Applications:
- Two way radio communications
- Frequency division multiplexing
- Up conversion in numerous telecommunication systems
 • Purpose : to reduce the bandwidth requirement of AM by
one-half. This is achieved by transmitting only the upper
sideband or the lower sidebband of the DSB AM signal.

Single Sideband (SSB)

SSB Frequency M()

baseband

 2B 2B 
0

DSB
 c c 
0

 SSB () SSB (Upper sideband)

SSB
 c c 
0
 SSB Math
 1  sgn( )  1
  2 M ( )  M ( ) sgn( ) 
1
M  ( ) M ( )U ( ) M ( )  m  (t )  12 m(t)  12 F {M ( )}  F  1{sgn( )}
 2
1 j  1  1
F  1{sgn( )}    m  (t )  12  m(t)  jm(t )    2 m(t)  jmh (t ) 
jt t  t 

1 1 m( )
wher e mh (t ) m(t )  
t  t   d


mh (t ) is called the Hilbert transform of m(t).

M  ()
 1  M  ()
Similarly, we can show that m  (t )  12  m(t)  jm(t )    12 m(t)  jmh (t ) 
 t 

F 1{sgn( )}  MH ()  j M() sgn( )

How to generate mh(t) ?

MH ()   jM() sgn( ) H() 1

MH () M() Mh()

H( )  - jsgn( ) H()
M()
 
 j for   0
 H( )
j for   0 2

 
Transfer function of a Hilbert transformer  
2
SSB Hilbert
• SSB signal can be expressed in terms of m(t) and its Hilbert
transform
 SSB  USB ()  M  (   c )  M  (   c )
M  (   c )  F -1{m  ( t )e j t }  F -1{ 21 (m( t )  jm h ( t ))e j t }
c c

M  (   c )  F -1{m  ( t )e  j t }  F -1{ 21 (m( t )  jm h ( t ))e  j t

c c

M  (   c )  M  (   c ) F -1{ 21 (m( t )  jm h ( t ))e j t  21 (m( t )  jm h ( t ))e  j t }

c c


 F -1 21 m( t )(e j t  e j t )  j 21 m h ( t )(e j t  e  j t )
c c c c 
F -1m(t) cos( c t )  m h ( t )sin( c t )
  SSB  USB ()  F -1m(t) cos( c t )  m h ( t )sin( c t )

Similarly, we can show that  SSB  LSB ()  F -1m(t) cos( c t )  m h ( t )sin( c t );

In general,  SSB ()  F -1m(t) cos( c t ) m h ( t )sin( c t ) (- for USB,  for LSB )
SSB Generator
• Selective Filtering using filters with sharp cutoff
characteristics. Sharp cutoff filters are difficult to design.
The audio signal spectrum has no dc component,
therefore , the spectrum of the modulated audio signal has
a null around the carrier frequency. This means a less than
perfect filter can do a reasonably good job of filtering the
DSB to produce SSB signals.
• Baseband signal must be bandpass
• Filter design challenges
• No low frequency components
0
 c c 
SSB Generator
Phase shift method using Hilbert transformer
Non-causal filter, approximations
x
+
m(t)
cosc ) ~
 +  ssb ( t )
 2

Hilbert
Transformer X
Synchronous, SSB-SC demodulation

SSB Demodulation
 SSB ( t ) cos(  c t )  m( t ) cos(  c t )  jm h ( t ) sin(  c t ) cos( n( c t )  21 m( t )(1  cos(  c t ))  jm h ( t ) sin( 2 c t )

A lowpass filter can be used to get 21 m( t ).

SSB+C, envelop detection

 SSBC ( t )  A cos(  c t )  m( t ) cos(  c t ) m h ( t ) sin(  c t )
An envelope detector can be used to demodulate such SSB signals .
What is the envelope of  SSBC ( t )  ( A  m( t )) cos(  c t ))  m h ( t ) sin(  c t ) E( t ) cos(  c t  ) ?

 
1

{Recall Acos(  )  Bsin(  )  A 2  B 2 2

cos(   ),    tan -1( B
A
))
E(t)  (( A  m( t )) 2  m h2 ( t )) 2  (( A 2  m 2 ( t ))  m h2 ( t )  2Am( t )) 2
1 1

A  1  A 2  Ah 2  A 
2
m2 ( t ) m (t) 2m( t )
 
 A  m( t ) for A  m(t) , A  m h (t) .
The efficiency of this scheme is very low since A has to be large.
SSB vs. AM
Since the carrier is not transmitted, there is a reduction
by 67% of the transmitted power (-4.7dBm). --In AM
@100% modulation: 2/3 of the power is comprised of
the carrier; with the remaining (1/3) power in both
sidebands.
Because in SSB, only one sideband is transmitted, there
is a further reduction by 50% in transmitted power
Finally, because only one sideband is received, the
receiver's needed bandwidth is reduced by one half--
thus effectively reducing the required power by the
transmitter another 50%
(-4.7dBm (+) -3dBm (+) -3dBm = -10.7dBm).
Relative expensive receiver
Vestigial Sideband (VSB)
• VSB is a compromise between DSB and SSB. To produce SSB
signal from DSB signal ideal filters should be used to split
the spectrum in the middle so that the bandwidth of
bandpass signal is reduced by one half. In VSB system one
sideband and a vestige of other sideband are transmitted
together. The resulting signal has
DSB a bandwidth > the

bandwidth of the modulating (baseband) signal but < the

DSB signal bandwidth.
 c c 
0
 SSB () SSB (Upper sideband)

 c c 
0
 VSB () VSB Spectrum

 c c 
Filtering scheme for the generation of VSB modulated wave.
VSB Transceiver
m(t)  VSB () e(t)
 VSB () M()
Hi (  ) LPF
Ho()

2cos(  c t )
2cos(  c t )
Transmitter Receiver

M() is bandlimite d to 2B rad/sec

 VSB ()  [M(   c )  M(   c )]Hi ()
E()  [ VSB (   c )   VSB (   c )]
 [Hi (   c )M(  2 c )  Hi (   c )M()  Hi (   c )M()  Hi (   c )M(  2 c )]
High freq. term High freq. term
 M() E()H o ()  Hi (   c )  Hi (   c )M()H o ()
 [Hi (   c )M(  2 c )  Hi (   c )M(  2 c )]H o ()
Lowpass filter removes this.
Thus we should have Hi (  c )  Hi (   c )H o () 1 for   2B
1
OR H o () 
Hi (    c )  Hi (    c )
Other Facts about VSB
 Envelope detection of VSB+C
 Analog TV:
 DSB, SSB and VSB
 DSB bandwidth too high
 SSB: baseband has low
frequency component,
receiver cost
 Relax the filter and
baseband
requirement with modest
increase
in bandwidth
(a) Idealized magnitude spectrum of
a transmitted TV signal. (b)
Magnitude response of VSB shaping
filter in the receiver.
 Comparison
 Common types & modulated signal
1. AM: sAM (t )  Ac [1  m(t )]cos(2 f ct )
2. DSB: sDSB (t )  Ac m(t ) cos(2 f ct )
3. QAM: sQAM (t )  Ac m1 (t ) cos(2 f ct )  Ac m2 (t ) sin(2 f ct )
4. SSB: sSSB (t )  Ac m(t ) cos(2 f ct ) Ac mˆ (t ) sin(2 f ct )
5. VSB: sVSB (t )  Ac m(t ) cos(2 f ct ) Ac m (t ) sin(2 f ct )
 Complex domain representation:
s (t ) Re{g (t )e j 2 fct },
complex envelop: g (t ) ?
 Bandwidth: Bm B 2 Bm (Bm : message bandwdith)
 Type of modulation
Character Description
Double-sideband amplitude modulation (e.g. AM broadcast
A
radio)
Independent sideband (two sidebands containing different
B
signals)
C Vestigial sideband (e.g. NTSC)
D Combination of AM and FM or PM
F Frequency modulation (e.g. FM broadcast radio)
G Phase modulation
H Single-sideband with full carrier (e.g. as used by CHU)
Single-sideband with suppressed
J
carrier (e.g. Shortwave utility and amateur stations)
K Pulse amplitude modulation
L Pulse width modulation (e.g. as used by WWVB)
M Pulse position modulation
N Unmodulated carrier
P Sequence of pulses without modulation
Sequence of pulses, phase or frequency modulation within
Q
each pulse
R Single-sideband with reduced or variable carrier
V Combination of pulse modulation methods
W Combination of any of the above
X None of the above
 Type of modulating signal
Character Description
0 No modulating signal
One channel containing digital information, no
1
subcarrier
One channel containing digital information,
2
using a subcarrier
3 One channel containing analog information
More than one channel containing digital
7
information
More than one channel containing analog
8
information
9 Combination of analog and digital channels
X None of the above

Types 4 and 5 were removed from use with the 1982 Radio Regulations. In
previous editions, they had indicated facsimile and video, respectively.
 Type of transmitted information
Charact
Description
er
N No transmitted information
Aural telegraphy, intended to be decoded by ear,
A
such as Morse code
Electronic telegraphy, intended to be decoded by
B
machine (radioteletype and digital modes)
C Facsimile (still images)
Data
D transmission, telemetry or telecommand (remote
control)
Telephony (voice or music intended to be listened to
E
by a human)
F Video (television signals)
W Combination of any of the above
X None of the above
A3E:

R3E:

J3E:

B8E:

H3E:

C3F: