AIR UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENT NO 3

Lab Title: Amplitude Modulation and Demodulation

Student Name: Reg. No:
Objective: Understanding amplitude modulation theory, generating AM signals through generator’s
modulator, observe AM phenomena (under, ideal, over-modulation). Calculate modulation index and
perform demodulation

LAB ASSESSMENT:
Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Attributes
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)
Ability to Conduct
Experiment
Ability to assimilate the
results
Effective use of lab
equipment and follows
the lab safety rules

Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

LAB REPORT ASSESSMENT:

Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Attributes
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Data presentation

Experimental results

Conclusion

Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

Date: 4th March 2024 Signature:

EXPERIMENT NO 3

Amplitude Modulation and Demodulation

Objectives:
 To study the theory behind Amplitude Modulation
 To generate an AM signal using built-in modulator of function generator.
 To observe different phenomena involved in AM e.g. under-modulation, ideal-modulation, over-
modulation etc.
 To calculate the modulation index of the generated AM wave.
 To observe the spectrum of AM wave on digital oscilloscope.
 To design and implement an AM receiver using Envelop Detector.

Equipment required:

 Function generators
 Oscilloscope
 Digital oscilloscope

Modulation:
Modulation is the process of putting information onto a high frequency carrier for transmission
(frequency translation). Modulation occurs at the transmitting end of the system.

Figure 3.1 Block diagram of modulation process

Amplitude Modulation (AM):

In Amplitude Modulation, the amplitude of the carrier waveform varies with the information signal.

(a) Carrier wave

(b) Modulating wave

From the above analysis, we found that the spectrum of AM waveform DSB LC:
 A component of carrier frequency, fc
 An upper sideband (USB), whose highest frequency component is at fc + fm.
 A lower sideband (LSB), whose highest frequency component is at fc – fm .
 The bandwidth of the modulated waveform is twice the information signal bandwidth.
 Because of the two sidebands in the frequency spectrum with carrier frequency, thus it is
often called Double Sideband with Large Carrier (DSB-LC).

Modulation Index
The degree of modulation is an important parameter and is known as the modulation index. It is the ratio
of the peak amplitude of the modulation signal, Am to the peak amplitude of the carrier signal, Ac.
The modulation index, m is also referred as percent modulation, modulation factor and depth of
modulation. It is a number lying between 0 and 1 and is typically expressed as a percentage. The
modulation index can be determined by measuring the actual values of the modulation voltage and the
carrier voltage and computing the ratio.
In practice, the modulation index of an AM signal can be computed from Amax and Amin. As below:

Figure 3.4 AM wave Envelope

The values for Amax and Amin can be obtained directly from the oscilloscope. The evaluation of the
modulation index m can be achieved by invoking the following expression:
A - Amin
m = A max + A
max min

Under Modulation
When m < 1, we call this as under modulation By ensuring the amplitude of sm(t) to be less than the
carrier amplitude, message signal can comfortably be retrieved from the envelope waveform of s(t) .

Figure 3.5 Under modulation

Ideal Modulation
When m = 1, this is the best modulation where to ensure successful retrieval of the original transmitted
information at the receiver end. The ideal condition for amplitude modulation (AM) is when m = 1 also
means Am = Ac ; this will give rise to the generation of the maximum message signal outputs at the
receiver without distortion.

Figure 3.6 Ideal modulation

Over Modulation
When m>1, we call this as over modulation. If the amplitude of the modulating signal is higher than the
carrier amplitude, it will cause severe distortion to the modulated signal.

Figure 3.7 over modulation

Procedure

Part (a): AM in time-domain.

 Connect the Main output of first function generator to the Mod-In connector of the second one.
 The first function generator will provide the modulating signal and the second one will be used as
a modulator.
 Adjust the frequency and amplitude of the modulating signal on the first function generator and
the frequency and amplitude of the carrier on the second one.
 Make sure that Ac>Am.
 Push the sweep switch to the OFF position.
 Push the modulation switch to the ON position.
 Push AM/FM switch to the ON position for AM modulation.
 Push INT/EXT switch to the ON position for external modulation.
 Connect the output of the function generator to the oscilloscope to view the AM waveform.
  Measure Amax and Amin and calculate the modulation index of the wave.
Amplitude Modulation using AD633 IC
 Adjust the frequency and amplitude of the modulating signal on the first function generator and
connect it to IC pins X1 and X2.
 Adjust the frequency and amplitude of the modulating signal on the first function generator and
connect it to IC pins Y1 and Y2.
 Apply ± 12 dc voltages to pin 8 and 5 from the trainer.
 Connect pin 2,4 and 6 to common ground available on trainer.
 Connect the oscilloscope to pin 7 to analyse the AM waveform.

Figure 3.8 AD633 Analog Multiplier

Part (b): AM in frequency-
domain
 Now connect the output of the function generator to the digital oscilloscope and enable its FFT
operation to view the frequency spectrum of the AM wave.
 You will be able to see an impulse for the carrier wave along with two sidebands.
 Change the amplitude and frequency of the modulating wave and observe its effects on the AM
spectrum.
 Now change the amplitude and frequency of the carrier wave and observe the changes in the
frequency domain.
 Now apply different signals (i.e. rectangular or triangular wave) as modulating wave and observe
their modulated time-domain and frequency-domain waveforms.

Demodulation
Extracting the original message signal from the modulated carrier wave is called demodulation. The
device used to recover the message signal from the carrier wave is called demodulator.

Envelop Detector
An envelope detector is an electronic circuit that takes a high-frequency signal as input, and provides an
output which is the "envelope" of the original signal.

Figure 3.9 Envelop Detector (AM Demodulator)

On positive half-cycle of input signal s(t) the diode is forward biased and the capacitor C charges up
rapidly to the peak value of input signal.
When input falls below the output voltage then the diode becomes reverse-biased and the capacitor C
discharges slowly through the load resistor R.

Then the average value of output voltage is equal to the message signal.
However, if the time constant ‘RC’ is not correctly set, the output strays away from the original message
signal.

Figure 3.2 Effect of Time Constant on output

Circuit Diagram

Figure 3.10 Circuit diagram of an AM Demodulator

 Procedure
 Generate an AM wave as described in the previous lab.
 Design the envelop detector using suitable values of resistor and capacitor according to the
carrier and message frequencies, satisfying the following condition: Where fc = carrier frequency
FM = message frequency
 Apply the AM wave to the input of the envelop detector.
 Observe the output of the envelop detector on the oscilloscope. The output will be our
message signal but containing high frequency components.
 Design a passive low-pass filter with cut-off frequency just higher than the frequency of
message signal, by selecting suitable values of the resistor and capacitor using the equation:
fcut off = 1
2π R2C2
 Connect the output of the envelop detector to the input of the low-pass filter.
 Now observe the output of the low-pass filter on the oscilloscope. This will be our received
message signal.

Table:

Vc Vm Vmax Vmin M=(Vmax-Vmin)/

Modulation Type M=Vm/Vc
(V) (V) (V) (V) (Vmax+Vmin)
No Modulation
Under Modulation
Perfect Modulation
Over Modulation

Modulation through function generator:

Analyses:
In modulation through a function generator parameters of modulating and carrier wave are set. Press
the modulation button to modulate the message signal. In a digital function generator, the message
signal and carrier wave can be given to an oscilloscope with a single probe. Once the proper signal is
extracted change the frequency of the message signal and see modulated signal. In this experiment, I
obtained a perfect/ideal modulated signal which contains m=1and under an under-modulated signal
which contains m=0.9. Types of modulated signals are decided by observing Vmax, Vmin, Vc, and
Vm and then put into the Modulation index formula (M).

Setting:
Output:
 Table:

Vc Vm Vmax Vmin M=(Vmax-Vmin)/

Modulation Type M=Vm/Vc
(V) (V) (V) (V) (Vmax+Vmin)
No Modulation
Under Modulation 5 3 5 0.2 0.923 0.6
Perfect Modulation 5 5 5 0 1 1
Over Modulation

Modulation through IC:

In modulation through an IC. Set parameters of modulating and carrier wave. In this process, an
integrated circuit is going to produce a modulated signal and then we can see the signal by using an
oscilloscope. In this experiment, I obtained an under-modulated signal that contains m=0.9. Types of
modulated signals are decided by observing Vmax, Vmin, Vc, and Vm and then put into the
Modulation index formula (M). In this experiment, the modulated signal is not seen. It contains some
noise which is created by the wire.

Circuit diagram:
Setting:

Output:
 Table:

Vc Vm Vmax Vmin M=(Vmax-Vmin)/

Modulation Type M=Vm/Vc
(V) (V) (V) (V) (Vmax+Vmin)
No Modulation
Under Modulation 5 3 5 0.2 0.923 0.6
Perfect Modulation
Over Modulation

Demodulation:

Analyses:
During demodulation, an envelope detector circuit captures the "envelope" of a high-frequency input
signal. As the input signal's positive half-cycle occurs, the diode forward biases, leading the capacitor
to swiftly charge to its peak value. Subsequently, when the input signal falls below the output voltage,
the diode reverses bias, prompting the capacitor to discharge gradually through the load resistor. This
process results in an average output voltage equivalent to the message signal. However, an improperly
configured time constant 'RC' may cause the output to diverge from the original message signal. We
selected value of capacitor = 0.001uF and resistor = 33K ohms. The cut-off frequency is fc = 4k. Time
constant = RC = 33usec

Circuit Diagram:
Output:

Table:

Vc Vm Vmax Vmin M=(Vmax-Vmin)/

Modulation Type M=Vm/Vc
(V) (V) (V) (V) (Vmax+Vmin)
No Modulation
Under Modulation 3.5 1.5 3.5 1.5 0.4 0.428
Perfect Modulation 3 3 3 0 1 1
Over Modulation

Conclusion:
In this lab, I did modulation through a function generator and integrated circuit, and at the end, demodulation
was implemented using an envelope detector circuit. Using the function generator, I obtained ideal modulated
and under-modulated signals. The type of modulated signal is obtained by observing Vmax, Vmin, Vm, and Vc
and calculating the modulation index. In the second part, modulated signal is obtained through an integrated
signal. In this process, the modulated signal contains noise which is created by the use of wire. At the end,
demodulation is obtained using an envelope detector circuit. In this circuit, we need to calculate the time
constant and place resistor and capacitor values on the circuit. It is important to choose that value of time
constant which creates an under-modulated signal. A demodulation circuit is used to obtain a message signal.