Lecture 2 (Amplitude Modulation AM)

 Modulation Definition and Purpose of Use

 Types of Modulation
 Amplitude Modulation Definition and Types
 DSB-SC Amplitude Modulation
 Demodulation of DSB-SC AM Signal
 Quadrature Amplitude Multiplexing (QAM)
 Normal (DSB-LC) Amplitude Modulation
 Demodulation of Normal (DSB-LC) AM Signals
 Single Sideband Amplitude Modulation (SSB-AM)
 Demodulation of SSB Signals
 Vestigial Sideband (VSB) Modulation
 Demodulation of VSB Signals
 Comparison of AM Techniques
 Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
Lecture 6: Amplitude Modulation Page 1 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi
 Modulation Definition and Purpose of Use
 Modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a periodic waveform,
called the carrier signal, with a separate signal called the modulation signal that
typically contains information to be transmitted.

Shit the spectral content • Reducing the antenna size.

of a message signal into a
band which is better • Match the signal to the channel characteristics and increase
suited to the channel. the efficiency of information transmission.

• Allow simultaneous communication by multiple users on the

Modulation permits the same channel.
use of multiplexing. • The radio frequency spectrum must be shared and modulation
allows users to separate themselves into bands.

Modulation can provide • Modulation can be used to reduce noise and interference.
some control over
noise/interference. • To overcome equipment limitation.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 2 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Types of Modulation

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 3 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Types of Analog Modulation
a- Continuous Wave (CW) Modulation
In which a sinusoidal signal is changed in amplitude, frequency or phase in proportion to a
message signal which gives three types of modulation:
1) Amplitude modulation (AM):- in AM, the amplitude of sinusoidal carrier wave is varied
in accordance of with the base-band signal (information signal).
2) Frequency modulation (FM):- in FM, the frequency of sinusoidal carrier wave is varied
in accordance of with the base-band signal (information signal).
3) Phase modulation (PM):- in PM, the phase of sinusoidal carrier wave is varied in
accordance of with the base-band signal (information signal). Actually FM and PM are very
close relatives and it is called as an angle modulation.
b- Pulse Modulation
In which a periodic train pulses is changed amplitude, or width in proportion to a message
signal. Such as pulse amplitude modulation (PAM), pulse position modulation (PPM), pulse
width modulation (PWM), pulse code modulation (PCM) and delta modulation (DM).
Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 4 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi
 A carrier is a sinusoid of high frequency and one of its parameters (amplitude,
frequency or phase) is varied in proportion to the Baseband signal. Accordingly, we
have Amplitude Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM) And Phase Modulation
(PM).
𝑦 𝑡 =𝑎 ถ(𝑡) cos[𝜃
ถ (𝑡) ∙ 𝑡 + ∅
ถ 𝑡 ]
Amp. Freq. Phase

Changing only
 [𝑎(𝑡) for AM] or
 [𝜃(𝑡) for FM] or
 [∅(𝑡) for PM].

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 5 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Amplitude Modulation Definition and Types
 The amplitude modulation definition is, an amplitude of the carrier signal is proportional to
(in accordance with) the amplitude of the input modulating signal.
 In AM, there is a modulating signal. This is also called an input signal or baseband signal
(low-frequency signal for example Speech). There is another high-frequency signal called
carrier.
 The purpose of AM is to translate the low-frequency baseband signal to a higher frequency
signal using the carrier.
There are four types of amplitude modulation schemes:
1. Double-sideband suppressed carrier (DSB-SC) amplitude modulation.
2. Double-sideband large carrier (DSB-LC) amplitude modulation (or normal AM).
3. Single-sideband amplitude modulation (SSB-AM).
4. Vestigial-sideband amplitude modulation (VSB-AM).

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 6 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 DSB-SC Amplitude Modulation
 This type of modulation is used in analogue TV systems, to transmit color information. Also
used, for transmitting stereo information in FM sound broadcast at VHF. Also, used in Phase
shift keying method. DSB is used in phase shift keying to transmit the binary data.
 In DSB-SC, the amplitude of the modulated signal is proportional to the message signal. This
means that the time-domain representation of the modulated signal is given by
𝑠 𝑡 =𝑐 𝑡 𝑚 𝑡
where
𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
is the carrier and 𝑚(𝑡) is the message signal. The frequency-domain representation of the DSB-
AM signal is obtained by taking the Fourier transform of 𝑠(𝑡) and results in
𝐴𝑐 𝐴𝑐
𝑆 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐
2 2
where 𝑀(𝑓) is the Fourier transform of 𝑚(𝑡). This type of modulation results in a shift of ±𝑓𝑐
and a scaling of 𝐴𝑐 /2 in the spectrum of the message signal.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 7 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Generation of DSB-SC Amplitude Modulation

Notes:
1- The carrier is suppressed.
2- 𝐵𝑊𝐷𝑆𝐶−𝑆𝐶 = 2𝑊 rad/sec
where 𝑊 is the bandwidth of message.
3- Above process (multiplication) is called “Frequency conversion” or frequency mixing” or
Heterodyning.
Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 8 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi
 Electronic Circuits Used to Generate of DSB-SC signals
a- Using Nonlinear Devices (Using balanced modulator)

b- Using Switching Modulator

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 9 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Demodulation of DSB-SC AM Signal
The process of extracting an original message signal from DSB-SC wave is known as detection or
demodulation of DSBSC. Two types of demodulators (detectors) are used for demodulating
DSBSC wave: Coherent Detector, Costas Loop
(a) Coherent (or synchronous) Detector
The same carrier signal (which is used for generating DSBSC signal) is used to detect the
message signal. Hence, this process of detection is called as coherent or synchronous
detection. Following is the block diagram of the coherent detector.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 11 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Quadrature Amplitude Multiplexing (QAM)
QAM is a method of combining two amplitude modulation (AM) signals into a single channel.
This approach helps double its effective bandwidth. QAM is also used with pulse AM (PAM) in
digital systems, like wireless applications.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 16 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Double-Sideband Large Carrier (DSB-LC) amplitude modulation (or normal AM)
For broadcast system (where many receivers for each transmitter) it is more economical to obtain
less expensive receivers. For such a case, a large carries signal is used to transmit the DSB-AM
signal in order to eliminate the need of local oscillator in the receiver. For this reason, this type of
modulation referred by double sideband large carrier (DSB-LC).
Consider a sinusoidal carrier wave 𝑐(𝑡) defined by: -
𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡
where 𝐴𝑐 is the carrier amplitude and 𝜔𝑐 is the angular carrier frequency. Let 𝑚(𝑡) denote the
base-band signal that carries the specification of the message. An AM wave given by:-
𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 + 𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡
The signal fed into the mixer can be made always positive by adding a DC offset to 𝑚(𝑡): Such that
𝐴𝑐 + 𝑚 𝑡 > 0 ⟹ 𝐴𝑐 ≥ min 𝑚(𝑡)
𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡
𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 is called sidebands which is equivalent to adding a carrier component to a DSB-SC
signal, hence the name DSB-LC (large carrier). The Fourier transform of DSB-LC signal given in
above equation is
𝑆 𝜔 = 𝜋𝐴𝑐 𝛿 𝜔 − 𝜔𝑐 + 𝛿 𝜔 + 𝜔𝑐 + 𝑀 𝜔 − 𝜔𝑐 + 𝑀 𝜔 + 𝜔𝑐
As given in above equation the carrier is present in the first two terms.
Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 17 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi
 Generation of DSB-LC Modulators
The implementation of DSB-LC
modulators can be done by using two
ways:
1) Add DC offset to the message
signal m(t) prier to mixing, this is
done according to Equation {𝑠 𝑡
= 𝐴𝑐 + 𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 }.
2) Create DSB-SC and add carrier
which is done according to
Equation { 𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡
+ 𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 }.
Notes:
1- The carrier is presents.
2- 𝐵𝑊𝐷𝑆𝐶−𝐿𝐶 = 2𝑊 rad/sec
where 𝑊 is the bandwidth of message
Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 18 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi
 Modulation Index
This relationship, known as the modulation index 𝑚𝑎 (also called the modulating factor or coefficient,
or the degree of modulation), is the ratio
𝐴𝑚
𝑚𝑎 =
𝐴𝑐
where 𝐴𝑚 and 𝐴𝑐 are the peak amplitudes of message and carrier signals respectively. Multiplying the
modulation index by 100 gives the percentage of modulation.
Let 𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛 denote the maximum and minimum values of envelope of the modulated wave as
shown in Figure below. Therefore,
𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝐴𝑐 1 + 𝑚𝑎
=
𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑐 1 − 𝑚𝑎
𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑚𝑎 =
𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 19 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Modulation Case According to Modulation Index Value

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 20 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Over Modulation and Distortion
 The modulation index should be a number between 0 and 1. If the amplitude of the
modulating voltage is higher than the carrier voltage, 𝑚𝑎 will be greater than 1, causing
distortion of the modulated waveform. If the distortion is great enough, the intelligence
signal becomes unintelligible.
 Distortion of voice transmissions produces garbled (deformed), harsh, or unnatural sounds in
the speaker. Distortion of video signals produces a scrambled and inaccurate picture on a TV
screen.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 21 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Spectrum Power of DSB-LC AM
In practice, AM wave 𝑠(𝑡) is a voltage or current wave. In either case, the average power
delivered to 1 ohm resistor by 𝑠(𝑡) is comprised of three components:
1 2
Carrier power 𝑃𝑐 = 𝐴𝑐
2
1 2 2
Upper sideband power 𝑃USB = 𝑚𝑎 𝐴𝑐
8
1 2 2
Upper sideband power 𝑃LSB = 𝑚𝑎 𝐴𝑐
8
The total average power of normal AM signal is
1 2
𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝑐 + 𝑃USB + 𝑃LSB = 𝑃𝑐 1 + 𝑚𝑎
2
The efficiency 𝜂 of DSB-LC signal is defined as
𝑃SB 𝑃USB + 𝑃LSB 𝑚𝑎2
𝜂= × 100% = × 100% = 2 × 100%
𝑃𝑇 𝑃𝑇 𝑚𝑎 + 2
where 𝑃SB = 0.25𝑚𝑎2 𝑃𝑐 is the power of the upper and lower sidebands.
Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 25 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi
 Electronic Circuits Used to Generate of DSB-LC signals
1- Using Nonlinearity for Modulation 2- Switching (Chopper) modulator

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 28 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Demodulation of Normal (DSB-LC) AM Signals
1- Asynchronous detection (Non-coherent detection)
It is also called envelope detection since it is extracts the message from its envelope. It is low
cost and applicable only when 𝑚 ≤ 1. Figure below shows a simple DSB-LC AM receiver

2) Synchronous (Coherent) Detection

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 30 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Single Sideband Amplitude Modulation (SSB-AM)

Since either LSB and USB in DSB modulation contains the complete information of the
baseband signal. It is more efficient to transmit only one sideband. SSB signals offer
four major benefits.
1) To reduce the required signal bandwidth.
2) SSB transmitters can be made smaller and lighter than an equivalent AM or DSB
transmitter because less circuitry and power are used.
3) Because SSB signals occupy a narrower bandwidth, the amount of noise in the
signal is reduced.
4) There is less selective fading of an SSB signal over long distances.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 33 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Generation of SSB signals
1- Filter Method:

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 6 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

2- Phase Shift Method:
A single-sideband signal is given by
𝑠 𝑡 = 𝑚 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ± 𝑚 ഥ 𝑡 sin 𝜔𝑐 𝑡
where the (-) sign is associated with the USB and the (+) sign is associated with the LSB. 𝑚
ഥ 𝑡 is
obtained by shifting the phase of all frequency components of 𝑚 𝑡 by −900 . Figure below shows
the generation of a SSB signal using phase shift method.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 35 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Demodulation of SSB Signals
Demodulation of SSB signals can be accomplished by using a synchronous detector. As shown in
Figure below

At the receiving end, the band-pass signal is multiplied by a locally generated carrier signal
cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 , which is in synchronism with the transmitted carrier signal. The output of
multiplier is:
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑚(𝑡) cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ± 𝑚(𝑡)
ഥ sin 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 = 𝑚(𝑡) cos 2 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ± 𝑚(𝑡)
ഥ sin 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡
= 0.5𝑚 𝑡 + 0.5𝑚 𝑡 cos 2𝜔𝑐 𝑡 ± 0.5𝑚(𝑡)
ഥ sin 2𝜔𝑐 𝑡
The last two terms are suppressing using low pass filter (LPF), therefore:
𝑦 𝑡 = 0.5𝑚(𝑡)
That is, we can recover the component 𝑚(𝑡). If the carrier signal has phase or frequency
errors, the recovered message is distorted.
Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 36 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi
 Vestigial Sideband (VSB) Modulation
 The SSB modulation is not appropriate way of modulation when the message signal contains
significant components at extremely low frequencies. Because in such cases the upper and
lower sidebands meet at the carrier frequency and it is difficult to isolate one sideband. To
overcome this difficulty the modulation technique known as vestigial sideband modulation
(VSB) is used.
 In this technique one sideband is passed almost completely whereas just a trace, or vestige,
of the other sideband is retained. The television signals contain significant components at
extremely low frequencies and hence vestigial sideband modulation is used in TV
transmission.
 VSB modulation It is used to modulate the video signals which have a large bandwidth (0→4
𝑀𝐻𝑧).
 In fact, VSB modulation is a compromise between DSB and SSB modulation. It relaxes the
sharp cut off requirement of a SSB signal by retaining a trace of the other sideband in the
transmitted signal. Typically, the bandwidth of a VSB modulated signal is about 1.25 times
that of the corresponding SSB modulated signal.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 37 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Spectrum of VSB Signal
This type of modulation is used in analogue TV systems, to transmit color information. Also used,
for transmitting stereo information in FM sound broadcast at VHF. Also, used in Phase shift keying
method. DSB is used in phase shift keying to transmit the binary data. Figure below shows the
spectrum of a VSB modulate wave 𝑠(𝑡) analog with the message signal 𝑚(𝑡). The transmission
bandwidth required by the VSB modulated wave is given by
𝐵𝑉𝑆𝐵 = 𝑊 + 𝑓𝑣
where 𝑊 is the bandwidth of the message signal 𝑚(𝑡)and 𝑓𝑣 is the width of the vestigial sideband as
shown in Figure. Since 𝑓𝑣 ≪ 𝑊, the VSB required bandwidth almost equal to SSB transmission. VSB
transmission is used where transmission of low frequency component is important, but the bandwidth
required for DSB transmission is unavailable or uneconomical.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 38 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Generation of VSB Signal
The VSB modulated wave can be generated by passing DSB-SC modulated wave through
a sideband shaping filter (BPF). This is illustrated in Figure below. The relation
between the transfer function 𝐻(𝑓) of the filter and the spectrum 𝑆(𝑓) of the VSB
modulated wave 𝑠(𝑡) is defined by
𝐴𝑐
𝑆 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 𝐻 𝑓
2

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 39 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Demodulation of VSB Signals
The demodulation of VSB signals can be accomplished by using a coherent (synchronous)
detector as illustrated in Figure below. Let 𝑠(𝑡) be the input signal to the synchronous
detector. At the receiving end, the band-pass signal is multiplied by a locally generated carrier
signal cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 , which is in synchronism with the transmitted carrier signal. The output of
the multiplier is:
𝑥 𝑡 = 𝑠(𝑡) cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
and the Fourier transform of 𝑥 𝑡 is:
1
𝑋 𝑓 = 𝑆 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑆 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐
2
Substituting 𝑆(𝑓) in the above equation, we get
1 𝐴𝑐 𝐴𝑐
𝑋 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑓 − 2𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 𝐻 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 + 𝑀 𝑓 + 2𝑓𝑐 𝐻 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐
2 2 2
The frequency component at ±2𝑓𝑐 can be suppressing by a low-pass filter, therefore:
𝐴𝑐
𝑌 𝑓 = 𝑀(𝑓) 𝐻 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 + 𝐻 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐
4
Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 40 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi
 Comparison of AM Techniques
Parameter DSB-LC SSB DSB-SC VSB
Power High Less Medium 𝑃𝑆𝑆𝐵 < 𝑃𝑉𝑆𝐵 < 𝑃𝐷𝑆𝐵𝑆𝐶

Bandwidth 2𝑓𝑚 𝑓𝑚 2𝑓𝑚 𝑓𝑚 < 𝐵𝑊 < 2𝑓𝑚

Carrier Suppression No Yes Yes No

Receiver Complexity Simple Complex Complex Simple

Point to point comm. Preferred

Application Radio Comm. Point to point comm. TV Broadcasting
for long distance transmission

Modulation Type Nonlinear Linear Linear Linear

Sideband One sided
No One sided completely No
Suppression suppressed partly
Transmission
Minimum Maximum Moderate Moderate
Efficiency
Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 41 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi
 Radio Frequency Bands

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 44 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 AM Radio Frequency Bands
10 kHz bandwidth from 540 – 1600 kHz (106 channel bands )

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 44 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi

 Problems
1) What are the types of AM, make a comparison between these types for the
following parameters:(power, bandwidth, carries suppression, receiver complexity
and applications.
2) What are the types of amplitude modulation. For only one of these types draw the
block diagrams of generation and detection.
3) What is the modulation index in AM, what are the cases of AM according to the
value of modulation index.

Lecture 2: Amplitude Modulation Page 45 Lecturer: Dr. Haydar Al-Tamimi