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Analog Communication - AM Modulators

In this chapter, let us discuss about the modulators, which generate amplitude
modulated wave. The following two modulators generate AM wave.

Square law modulator

Switching modulator

Square Law Modulator

Following is the block diagram of the square law modulator

Let the modulating and carrier signals be denoted as m(t) and Acos 2πf ct respectively.( )
These two signals are applied as inputs to the summer (adder) block. This summer block
produces an output, which is the addition of the modulating and the carrier signal.
Mathematically, we can write it as

(
V 1t = m(t) + A ccos 2πf ct )
This signal V 1t is applied as an input to a nonlinear device like diode. The characteristics
of the diode are closely related to square law.

2
V 2t = k 1V 1(t) + k 2V 1(t) (Equation 1)

Where, k 1 and k 2 are constants.

Substitute V 1(t) in Equation 1

[ (
V 2(t) = k 1 m(t) + A ccos 2πf ct )] + k2 [m(t) + Accos (2πfct )]2
( )
⇒ V 2(t) = k 1m(t) + k 1A ccos 2πf ct + k 2m 2(t) +
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( )
k 2A 2c cos 2 2πf ct + 2k 2m(t)A ccos 2πf ct ( )
( )
⇒ V 2(t) = k 1m(t) + k 2m 2(t) + k 2A 2c cos 2 2πf ct +

[ () ]
k 1A c 1 +
2k 2
k1 (
m(t) cos 2πf ct )
The last term of the above equation represents the desired AM wave and the first three
terms of the above equation are unwanted. So, with the help of band pass filter, we can
pass only AM wave and eliminate the first three terms.

Therefore, the output of square law modulator is

[ ( ) ]
s(t) = k 1A c 1 +
2k 2
k1 (
m(t) cos 2πf ct )
The standard equation of AM wave is

[ ] (
s(t) = A c 1 + k am(t) cos 2πf ct )
Where, K a is the amplitude sensitivity

By comparing the output of the square law modulator with the standard equation of AM
2k 2
wave, we will get the scaling factor as k 1 and the amplitude sensitivity k a as k1 .

Switching Modulator
Following is the block diagram of switching modulator.

Switching modulator is similar to the square law modulator. The only difference is that in
the square law modulator, the diode is operated in a non-linear mode, whereas, in the
switching modulator, the diode has to operate as an ideal switch.
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Let the modulating and carrier signals be denoted as m(t) and c(t) = A ccos 2πf ct ( )
respectively. These two signals are applied as inputs to the summer (adder) block.
Summer block produces an output, which is the addition of modulating and carrier
signals. Mathematically, we can write it as

V 1(t) = m(t) + c(t) = m(t) + A ccos 2πf ct ( )

This signal V 1(t) is applied as an input of diode. Assume, the magnitude of the modulating
signal is very small when compared to the amplitude of carrier signal A c. So, the diode’s
ON and OFF action is controlled by carrier signal c(t). This means, the diode will be
forward biased when c(t) > 0 and it will be reverse biased when c(t) < 0.

Therefore, the output of the diode is

V 2(t) =
{ V 1(t)
0
if
if
c(t) > 0
c(t) < 0

We can approximate this as

V 2(t) = V 1(t)x(t) (Equation 2)

1
Where, x(t) is a periodic pulse train with time period T = f
c

The Fourier series representation of this periodic pulse train is

∞
1 2 (− 1) n − 1
x(t) = + ∑
2 π n = 1 2n − 1
cos 2π(2n − 1)f ct ( )
1 2 2
⇒ x(t) = (
+ cos 2πf ct −
2 π 3π )
cos 6πf ct + . . . . ( )
Substitute, V 1(t) and x(t) values in Equation 2.

[ ( )] [ 2 + π cos (2πfct ) − 3π cos (6πfct ) + . . . . . ]

1 2 2
V 2(t) = m(t) + A ccos 2πf ct

Ac 2A c
( ) ( ) ( )
m(t) 2m ( t )
V 2(t) = 2
+ 2 cos 2πf ct + π
cos 2πf ct + π cos 2 2πf ct −
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2A c
( ) ( ) ( )
2m ( t )
3π
cos 6πf ct − 3π cos 2πf ct cos 6πf ct + . . . . .

Ac

( ( ) )
V 2(t) = 2 1 +
4
πA c (
m(t) cos 2πf ct + )
m(t)
2
2A c
+ π cos 2 2πf ct −( )
2m ( t ) 2A c
3π ( ) ( ) (
cos 6πf ct − 3π cos 2πf ct cos 6πf ct + . . . . . )
The 1st term of the above equation represents the desired AM wave and the remaining
terms are unwanted terms. Thus, with the help of band pass filter, we can pass only AM
wave and eliminate the remaining terms.

Therefore, the output of switching modulator is

s(t) =
Ac
2 ( ( ) )
1+
4
πA c (
m(t) cos 2πf ct )
We know the standard equation of AM wave is

[ ] (
s(t) = A c 1 + k am(t) cos 2πf ct )
Where, k a is the amplitude sensitivity.

By comparing the output of the switching modulator with the standard equation of AM
4
wave, we will get the scaling factor as 0.5 and amplitude sensitivity k a as πA .
c