Communication Systems I Second Year

Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

Modutation

The transmission of the message signal (baseband signal) over a communication

channel may require a shift of the range of frequencies contained in the signal to another
frequency range suitable for transmission. A shift in the signal frequency range is
accomplished by modulation.
There are other reasons for modulation, these are:
1) Ease of radiation: Because antennas with dimensions less than one-quarter
wavelength are inefficient, it is a distinct advantage to be able to raise the frequency
by at least several orders of magnitude before transmission is attempted.
2) Adjustment of bandwidth: Because of the modulated signal may be made larger than
the original signal. Signal to noise ratio in the receiver which is a function of the
signal bandwidth can thus be improved by the proper control of bandwidth at the
modulating stage.
3) Increasing the power of the information signal by increasing the power of the carrier.
4) By proper choices, a large number of signals can be transmitted at the same time
without mutual interference.
Modulation is defined as the process by which some characteristics of a carrier
signal is varied in accordance with a modulating signal. The message signal is referred
to as the modulating signal, and the result of modulation is referred to as the modulated
signal.
A general modulated carrier signal can be represented as
( )= ( ) [ + ( )]

If ( ) ( ) ⇒ Amplitude modulation

If ( ) ( ) ⇒ Phase modulation

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 Communication Systems I Second Year
Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

If ′( ) ( ) ⇒ Frequency modulation

Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSB-SC)

DSB modulation results when ( ) is proportional to the message signal ( ), that is
( )= () [ ]
where we assumed that the constant of proportionality is (1). The spectrum of a DSB
signal is given by
1 1
( )= ( − )+ ( + )
2 2
Generation of DSB Signals

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 Communication Systems I Second Year
Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

Demodulation of DSB-SC Signals

Recovery of the message signal from the modulated signal is called demodulation
or detection and it requires another translation in frequency to shift the spectrum to its
original position.

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 Communication Systems I Second Year
Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

( )= () ( )=[ ( ) ( )] ( )
= ( ) ( )

= ( )+ (2 )

After LPF of ( ), we obtain

1
( )= ( )
2
The basic difficulty associated with the DSB modulation is that for demodulation,
the receiver must generate a local carrier which is in phase and frequency synchronism
with the incoming carrier. This type of demodulation is known as synchronous
demodulation or coherent detection.

H.W. Evaluate the effect of phase error in the local oscillator on synchronous DSB
demodulation.
H.W. Evaluate the effect of a small frequency error in the local oscillator on
synchronous DSB demodulation.

Pilot Carrier
A method commonly used in DSB-SC modulation to maintain synchronization
between modulator and demodulator is to send a sinusoidal tone whose frequency and
phase are related to the carrier frequency. This tone is generally sent outside the
passband of the modulated signal so it will not alter the frequency response capability of
the system. A tuned circuit in the receiver detects the tone, translates it to the proper
frequency, and uses it to correctly demodulate the DSB-SC signal.
The best way to synchronize one sinusoid to another instead of narrow bandpass
filters is by using the so-called Phase-Locked Loop (PLL).

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 Communication Systems I Second Year
Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

Note:
A signal spectrum can be translated an amount ∓ by multiplying the signal
with any periodic waveform whose fundamental frequency is rad/sec and it is not
necessary to be sinusoidal. So for any periodic signal ( )

( )=

Chossing = and multiplying it by ( ) gives us

( ) ( )= ( )

and ( ) ( )⇔∑ ( − )

Amplitude Modulation (AM)

The AM signal, which is also called a Double Side Band Large Carrier (DSB-LC)
has the form
( )= ( ) ( )+ ( )
=[ + ( )] ( )
The spectrum of ( ) is given by
1 1
( )= ( − )+ ( + )+ ( − )+ ( + )
2 2

The advantage of AM is that a very simple scheme known as envelope detection

can be used for demodulation if sufficient carrier power is transmitted. The condition for
demodulation of AM by envelope detector is
+ ( ) ≥ 0 for all
≥| { ( )}|

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 Communication Systems I Second Year
Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

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 Communication Systems I Second Year
Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

Modulation Index
The modulation index ( ) for AM is defined as
| { ( )}|
=

The condition for demodulation of AM by an envelope detector can be expressed as

≤ 1. When > 1, the carrier is said to be over modulated, resulting in envelope
distortion.
For a single-tone modulation (i.e., sinusoidal), we have
( )= ( )
( )=[ + ( )] ( )

= 1+ ( ) ( )

Defining

= (1 + )
= (1 − )
1+ −
= ⇒ =
1− +

Carrier and Sideband Power in AM

( )= ( )+ ( ) ( )

The average power is given by the mean square value

( )= ( )+ ( ) ( )+2 ( ) ( )

Let the average value of ( ) is zero, then

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 Communication Systems I Second Year
Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

( )= ( )+ () ( )
= /2 + ( )/2
⇒ = +

The efficiency is
( )
= =
+ ( )
So for a single tone
( )= [1 + ( )] ( )
= ( )+ ( ) ( )
1 1 1
( )= +
2 2 2

⇒ = + = 1+
2
1
= = 4 =
1 1 2+
+
2 4
⇒ = 33% for = 1 because of the power that is expanded in the carrier. While

for DSB-SC the efficiency is 100%.

Example
A given AM (DSB-LC) broadcast station transmits an average carrier power of
40kW and uses a modulation index of 0.707 for sine wave modulation. Calculate:
a) The total power output,
b) The transmission efficiency,
c) The peak amplitude of the output if the antenna is represented by a 50Ω resistive
load.

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 Communication Systems I Second Year
Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

Solution
= 40 , = 0.707, = 50Ω
a) The total power is

= 1+ = 50
2
b) For a single tone modulation

= = 0.2 = 20%
2+
c) The peak amplitude of the carrier after modulation is
= + = + = (1 + )
To find we have = 40 ,

= ⇒ = 2000 volt
2
⇒ = 3414 volt

Generation of DSB-LC Signals

( )

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 Communication Systems I Second Year
Communication Engineering Department Assist. Prof. Dr. Atheer Alaa Sabri

( )

( )

The output characteristic of a diode be approximated by as

( )= ( )+ ( )

,
H.W. Find the output ( ).

Demodulation of DSB-LC (AM) Signals

1) Envelope Detector

During the positive half cycle of the input signal, the diode is forward biased and the
capacitor C charges rapidly to the peak value of the input signal. As the input signal falls
below its maximum, the diode turns off. This is followed by a slow discharge of the
capacitor through resistor R until the next positive half cycle, when the input signal
becomes greater than the capacitor voltage and the diode turns on again.

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