COMS3100/7100
Introduction to
Communication
s
Lecture 9: Amplitude Modulation
This lecture:
1. What is Modulation?
2. AM Signals and Spectra.
3. AM Modulation and Demodulation.
4. Double-Sideband Suppressed Carrier.
Ref: CCR pp. 152–159, 176–177, Couch pp. 302–312.
COMS3100/COMS7100 Intro to Communications
Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation
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Communications Course So Far
g(t
x(t) )
Tx Signal
Encoder Modulation Signal
Conditioning
(Filtering / Nois
e,
Interfere
nce
Am pli�ication) distorti
on
Decoder x(t) Demodulation S ignal Rx Signal
Conditioning
(Filtering/
Communicati
Equalization) ons
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What is Modulation?
Often, the message is itself a signal, e.g.,
an audio signal, and to produce a signal
that is suitable for transmission through
the channel, we effect some
transformation on the message signal.
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Modulation
0I We call this modulation.
0I Modulation is often performed with
respect to another signal, called
the carrier.
0I We say the message modulates
the carrier to produce the
transmitted signal.
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Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation
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Modulation (2)
0I Sometimes the modulation is as simple
as multiplication with the carrier, cf. the
Fourier modulation properties.
0I In continuous-wave (CW) modulation,
the carrier is a sinusoid. (cos (2πfct)).
0I This is the traditional mode for
all-analogue communications.
0I In pulse modulation, the carrier is
a pulse train.
0I This is a mode that
allows for digital
communications.
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CW Modulation
g (t) = A (t) cos (2πfct + φ (t))
The two principal subclasses of
CW modulation are:
amplitude modulation, in which the
carrier amplitude is varied with
the message signal and
angle modulation, in which the phase
angle of the carrier is varied
with the message signal.
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Examples of CW Modulation
(1) Carrier wave. (b) Sinusoidal modulating signal.
3) Amplitude-modulated signal. (d) Angle-modulated signal.
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Bene its of Modulation
Make message better suited to the channel
There are three practical bene its
that result from modulation:
1. Modulation can shift the spectral
content of a message signal into a band
which is better suited to the channel.
0I Antennas only ef iciently radiate and
admit signals whose wavelength is
similar to their physical aperture.
0I Hence, to transmit and receive, say,
voice, by radio we need to shift the
voice signal to a much higher
frequency band.
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Bene its of Modulation
Multiplexing
2. Modulation permits the use
of multiplexing.
0I Multiplexing means allowing
simultaneous communication by
multiple users on the same
channel.
0I For instance, the radio frequency
spectrum must be shared and
modulation allows users to separate
themselves into bands.
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Bene its of Modulation
Some immunity to noise/interference
3. Modulation can provide some
control over noise/interference.
0I As we will see, frequency modulation
(FM) permits a tradeoff between
bandwidth and noise.
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AM Modulation
This lecture focuses on AM Modulation
Next lecture will be on phase modulation (of which FM is a subset of)
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Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation
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AM Signals and Spectra
(Double-sideband) amplitude
modulation (AM) is a technique from the
very beginning of CW radio transmission
at the dawn of the 20th century.
0I It is still in use today because of
its simplicity.
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Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation
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Modulating AM Signals
A message signal x (t) is
amplitude modulated as follows:
1. An envelope signal g (t) is obtain
by amplifying and biasing the
message signal, so that
g (t) = gI (t) = Ac [1 + μx (t)] :
0I The modulation index μ > 0 is chosen to
ensure that g (t) > 0, and to conserve power.
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Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation
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Modulating AM Signals (2)
2. The signal is then mixed with the
carrier, a sinusoid of frequency fc,
to produce the AM signal
xc (t) = g (t) = gI (t) cos 2πfct:
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Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation
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Modulating AM Signals (3)
3. The AM signal can then be
radiated through the antenna.
AM radio typically uses
0I 148.5 kHz – 283.6 kHz (9 kHz channel
spacing) navigational aids + radio in
other countries. (shortwave)
0I 520 kHz – 1610 kHz (9 kHz spacing)
(typical commercial radio) (medium wave)
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Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation
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Frequency-Domain Analysis
... of an AM Signal
F
T FT
Suppose x (t) ! X (f) and g (t) ! G (f).
ThenGf A 1
f f f f
()= [δ ( ) + δ ( + )]
c c c
A [X f ) + X (f + f
2 + (f )] :
12μ c c c
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Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation
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Frequency Domain Analysis (2)
x (t)
O 0g (t)
0O g (t)
/t
Message signal in the time domain.
A M s ig n a l in
G
X (f)
th e
O ( f) time domain.
O1
2
2
2 A c O
2 /f _ O
2
? ?
•? •?
W W /
• ? • ?
Message signal in the frequency domain. • •
f f
c c ω
AM signal in the frequency
domain.
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- Amplitude Modulation 17 / 24
AM Modulation and
Demodulation
A System for Amplitude Modulation
Basic AM requires only an ampli ier, a
sum m erand
M e s sa ge
x (t)
s ig n a l a mixer. A M S ig n a l
g (t)
Oscillator
f signal
cost 2 c
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A System for Amplitude
Demodulation
To demodulate the received signal, i.e.,
to recover the original message signal,
we can use an envelope detector circuit.
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System for AM Demodulation (2)
0I A diode is used to half-wave rectify
the received signal.
0I The R1C1 ilter then smooths to
recover an approximation of
the original envelope.
0I R2C2 removes the bias.
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Amplitude Modulation 20 / 24
DSB AM
Is power inef icient
A problem with AM is that it is inef icient
with power.
0I With jx (t)j 1, at least half the power
is used in the carrier.
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DSB-SC AM
Double-Sideband Suppressed Carrier
0I Instead, in double-sideband
suppressed carrier (DSB-SC), the
natural envelope is just an ampli
ication of the message, i.e.,
g (t) = Acx (t):
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Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation 22 /
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Demodulation of DSB-SC AM
0I A simple envelope detector cannot
be used: a product detector is
needed instead.
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Demodulation of DSB-SC AM (2)
0I The receiver needs accurate phase
information to recover the message )
a carrier recovery circuit is needed.
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Costas Loop
Shown below is a Costas Loop for carrier recovery in DSB-SC.
0I It is assumed that the phase error θe is small.
0I The input to the VCO is roughly proportional to θe.
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Lecture 9 - Amplitude Modulation
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