621.396.619:621.392.

52

Paper No. 1013 RADIO SECTION

POLYPHASE MODULATION AS A SOLUTION OF CERTAIN FILTRATION PROBLEMS IN TELECOMMUNICATION

By I. F. MACDIARMID and D. G. TUCKER, D.Sc, Associate Members.
(Tke paper was received 22nd August, 1949.)

(c) Heterodyne Demodulating System (e.g. a superheterodyne radio receiver, or a heterodyne wave analyser). With a heterodyne demodulating system difficulty is experi" enced from image-channel interference. Suppose it is desired to (1) INTRODUCTION receive a frequency OJ1 and the intermediate frequency is co0. Types of Filtration Problem which are Difficult by Conventional Then the heterodyning frequency is, say, (co, + o> ). But 0 Techniques, but may be Simplified by Polyphase Modulation interference is obtained if a signal exists at a frequency a)2 (1.1) Demodulation Problems (called the image frequency) such that OJ2 (co1 + co0) = o>0. In communication systems and in related apparatus using However, the wanted i.f. signal could be regarded, say, as modulation (e.g. wave analysers) the circumstances often arise + o>0 and that obtained from the image frequency as a>0, where two different input frequencies to a modulator give the although normally this distinction is meaningless. It can be seen that considerable advantages would be obtained same output frequency. In all cases except one, the two input frequencies represent separate signals, so that after modulation in practice if real meaning could be attached to this idea of the two signals are inseparably mixed. Thus preliminary filtra- positive and negative frequencies, and if circuits could be devised tion is normally employed to prevent one of the signals being for separating them. Two authors, Madella 1 and Barber,2.3> n have previously (and modulated. The exception is where the two frequencies are the mainly independently) discussed some aspects of this problem, sidebands of a modulated carrier and the local modulation frequency is equal to that of the carrier; in this case the two output and have described some practical circuits where the idea is applied. 4 ' 5>6 A popular article on the subject has also been signals are coincident. Consider the three common cases: published. 7 The basis of the physical solution is that, if the (a) Demodulation of Double-Sideband Carrier Channel. modulation is effected in a polyphase circuit instead of the If the signal is modulated with a local frequency equal to that usual single-phase circuit, then the components which have of its carrier, as in the synchrodyne demodulator, and all the h.f. been called positive and negative frequencies are distinguished output components are removed by a filter, then the process can by having opposite sequences, and circuits can be made to pass be represented thus: signals of one sequence but to attenuate those of the other Sidebands = 0 [cos (o> + coQ)t + cos (co o>0)/] sequence. Alternatively, by suitably remodulating (after polyphase filtration, if desired), the original signals can be restored, Local signal = j[cos (cot + 9)] although in the intermediate stage they exist as positive and Written contributions on papers published without being read at meetings are negative frequencies in the same numerical range. invited for consideration with a view to publication. Mr. Macdiarmid is at the Post Office Research Station, and Dr. Tucker is with the It must be emphasized that positive and negative values of Royal Naval Scientific Service, and was formerly at the Post Office Research Station. VOL. 97, PART III. [ 349 ] 23

SUMMARY An important class of filtration problems in telecommunication is associated with frequency changing; it includes the generation and demodulation of single-sideband carrier channels and the elimination of image-frequency interference in heterodyne demodulators, such as the superheterodyne radio receiver or the conventional wave analyser. Filters for these applications are often difficult to design or realize, or may be inconvenient on account of variable tuning, etc. It has been realized recently that polyphase modulation can be used as part of the frequency-changing process with great advantage. It can eliminate the need for difficult or inconvenient filters, although other design problems are introduced which may sometimes be as difficult to solve. But there is no doubt that the idea of polyphase modulation is of great importance in telecommunication theory and practice. The basis of the advantages given by polyphase working is that polyphase signals possess an identifying property additional to that of frequency, namely sequence. By using circuits which distinguish between signals of the same frequency but opposite sequence, it is possible, without any preliminary filtration, to separate signals which lie in the same frequency band after modulation, and which, therefore, could be separated by normal means only by filters before the modulation stage. The first Section of the paper outlines the main filtration problems which can be tackled by polyphase methods, and then the necessary polyphase theory is given. This is followed by a discussion of circuit design for polyphase modulation and sequence discrimination. The list of references shows that there have been many publications covering some of the separate applications of this work, but the paper is believed to present for the first time a comprehensive theory of polyphase modulation embracing all the known applications.

Required output is proportional to cos ( a y 6) + cos ( ooQt 6) = cos ( a y 6) + cos ( a y + 6) = 2 cos a y cos 6 This shows that it would be possible to regard the output as comprising two signals, one of "positive" frequency cu0 derived from the upper sideband and one of "negative" frequency co0 derived from the lower sideband (or vice versa if the phase angles are reversed in sign), both having the same phase. The distinction between positive and negative frequencies is quite meaningless in this circuit, however, since the negative can be changed to positive merely by altering the sign of its phase angle, as shown above. But it should be noted that the two components do not add without interference, as indicated by the amplitude term cos d. (6) Demodulation of Single-Sideband Carrier Channels. In a single-sideband multi-channel system the signals on each side of a particular carrier frequency do not belong to the same channel, so that if they are demodulated by a local frequency, as in the double-sideband case, the positive and negative frequency components would belong to different channels and would normally be inseparable. Hence preliminary channel filtration is employed before demodulation.

350

MACDIARMID AND TUCKER: POLYPHASE MODULATION AS A SOLUTION OF

frequency as such have no physical significance in ordinary circuits, whether single-phase or polyphase, but can only be interpreted in terms of the rotating vector conception, which is mathematical and not physical. They have real significance only when the quantities concerned are true vectors, such as in electromagnetic fields; for instance, the direction of rotation of a polyphase field is a physical interpretation of the sign of a frequency. This is set out fully in Section 2, which shows the whole basis of the conceptions involved.

uot

(1.2) The Generation of Single-Sideband Signals Another type of problem which often involves difficult filter design is the generation of single-sideband signals. For example, a music channel in the range 30-10 000 c/s may have to be transmitted on a single-sideband carrier system. On modulation by any carrier frequency /, the upper and lower sidebands, if-r 30) to ( / + 10 000) and ( / - 30) to ( / - 10 000) c/s (a) (b) respectively, are obtained. To obtain a single sideband only, a filter is required to transmit one of these bands with uniform Fig. 1.Vectorial representation of single-phase alternating signal. loss and attenuate the other, which is separated in frequency (b) Resultant = \Az} + \AzJ^~u>' = A cos oof by only 60 c/s. It is not difficult to appreciate that this is not easily achieved. However, by the use of polyphase circuits, the velocity modulation (e.g. frequency modulation) is being conunwanted sideband can be eliminated without filtration. sidered.20 An alternative expression for an alternating voltage or current (2) VECTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF SINGLE-PHASE AND which appears in the solution to some types of differential POLYPHASE SIGNALS equation is in terms of the complex eJat and its conjugate, thus Before going on to consider the principles of polyphase moduA cos cot =-- \Aei<*t (2) lation, it is desirable to have a clear conception of the meaning -f of a polyphase signal and of the various notations used to represent it. This section attempts to set out in a unified form the From this form it can be seen that the ordinary single-phase usual notations for single-phase and polyphase signals, with alternating quantity is the resultant of two vectors rotating in special reference to the concept of positive and negative fre- opposite directions, i.e. it has a component with a positive frequency 6U/2TT and another with a negative frequency CO\2TT. quency. Since cos cot = cos ( oo)t, the two components cannot be (2.1) Single-Phase Signals separated in any circuit. As eqn. (2) gives an exact representation of an alternating The idea of positive and negative frequencies is usually associated with the idea of rotating vectors. If a vector is rotating quantity which does not depend on linearity for its justification, with an angular velocity oo, then the frequency is rofln and is it can be used without restrictions. Fig. 1(6) illustrates the considered to be positive or negative as co is positive or negative, equation, and it can be seen that the resultant of the two comthe usual convention for the latter being that counter-clockwise ponents always lies along the real axis but is of varying length, the length being A cos cot. rotation is taken as positive. Alternating currents and voltages are commonly illustrated by (2.2) Polyphase Circuits rotating vectors. This, however, is only an illustration and not an equality. It can be made an equality only by taking the proIn any one branch of a network, only single-phase currents can jection of the vector on a suitable axis. Mathematically, an exist. Polyphase conditions can apply only when different alternating current or voltage can be expressed as meshes of a network are being considered. It follows, therefore, that a number of single-phase circuits with appropriate phase A cos cot 0) differences between them can be joined to different meshes of in which /' is the mathematical expression for a rotating vector a network to form a polyphase circuit. This is, in fact, what of angular velocity co. The equation is illustrated graphically in is done in the polyphase modulation circuits. It follows then Fig. l(a). that the single-phase relationships just considered can also be This form of expression is frequently used in ordinary a.c. cir- used in polyphase circuits. cuit problems, but to further simplify the algebra AeJ"' is used As in the single-phase case the line voltages or currents can be alone. The manipulation is done with the complete exponential, represented either by projections from a rotating vector or by and in the final form the real part is extracted to give the answer. pairs of vectors rotating in opposite directions. In terms of This process can be justified in linear circuits by the principle projections, two forms of representation are used and are illusof superposition, as the use of c-fa' instead of ^W w/ is equivalent trated for a 3-phase system in Fig. 2. In one method, n rotating to adding another component to the alternating voltage or vectors are used for a w-phase system, spaced at 2TT//I radians current (c-/'40' = cos cot + j sin cot). On taking the real part of and all rotating together. The projections on the real axis the answer the additional j sin cot term is removed. In con- represent the instantaneous values of the voltages or currents. sidering modulation processes in linear modulators it is per- In the other method a single rotating vector is used, and promissible to use this notation only for the signal being modulated. jections are made on to n axes inclined at lirln radians to each The modulating function, which can be regarded as a property other. This second method can be regarded as being symbolic of the modulator circuit, must be expressed as its appropriate of the method of generating a polyphase current in an alternator. time function, which is exponential in form only when angularTo represent exactly the current in each phase-wire of a poly-

CERTAIN FILTRATION PROBLEMS IN TELECOMMUNICATION Phase 3

Phase 2

351

The rotation of a line through an angle <j> about the origin is equivalent to multiplying the expression for the line by e # . Eqns. (4) and (5) for phases 2 and r therefore become Phase 2:

Phase 1

Phase 1

. . . Phase r:

(6)

+
Phase 2 (a)

iW

. (7)

Fig. 2.Alternative forms of vectorial representation of a 3-phase signal, corresponding to Fig. l(a). phase system, the conjugate form can be used, which gives for the phases of an w-phase system: Phase 1: A cos cot = +2tr (3)

The equations are illustrated for n = 3 in Fig. 4. It can be seen that all the components with positive angular velocity now coincide, but the resultant for each phase is still a stationary line of varying length. If the various resultants are now added vectorially, a process whose significance is discussed later, we get from eqns. (3), (6) and (7): Resultant =
-f

+ 41 +
e ;4(r-1 Wn

-J-

(8)

(a) Fig. 3.The representation of a 3-phase signal by conjugate vectors, corresponding to Fig. 1(6).
(a) Phase 1 (6) Phase 2 (c) Phase 3.

Phase 2: A cos (cur - lirln) =

l" +

h . (4) .Phase 2

Phase r: y4 cos [o> - 2 ( r -

' . . .

(5)

This assumes the phase sequence to be 1, 2, 3, . . . n; for the opposite sequence 1, n, (n 1 ) , . . . 2 the signs of the 2(r 1)TT//I terms are reversed. The equations are illustrated in Fig. 3 for the case where n ~ 3. It is seen that the resultant in each phase is a vector of varying length lying along the real axis. As polyphase signals are frequently used with rotating machinery where the phase wires are joined to separate coils to produce fields which have a spatial displacement with respect to each other, it is sometimes convenient to rotate the diagrams for phases 2, 3, . . . n so that the resultants lie about axes at
2TT//I, 47T//J, . . . 2(r 1)TT/AI, . . . 2(n l)ir/n radians from the

real axis. This process has no physical significance when circuits are being considered and the diagrams represent voltage or current, as both the latter are actually scalar quantities and have no directional properties.

Fig> 4 # _ T h e

nt S

representation of a 3-phase signal with a geometrical displacement of 2TT/3 radians between phases.

352

MACDIARMD) AND TUCKER: POLYPHASE MODULATION AS A SOLUTION OF

It is easy to see that the expression in the brackets sums to zero, giving: Resultant vector = ^nAcJat . . . . (9) which is a single rotating vector with positive angular velocity. It can be shown in the same way that, if the other phase sequence had been chosen, the resultant is inAe-fa', i.e. a vector rotating in the opposite direction. Physical significance can be given to the operation in eqn. (8) only in a case where the n phases can be added vectorially, e.g. where fields are being used as in a polyphase motor. Here the n phase wires are joined to n coils spatially displaced from one another, and the resultant magnetic field will be a single rotating field of positive or negative angular velocity according to the phase sequence. (2.3) Summary Any alternating current or voltage can be regarded as the sum of two components, one of positive and the other of negative frequency. These components cannot, however, be distinguished or separated. In polyphase working, where the vector addition of spatially displaced phases is possible, a vector resultant can be obtained which has a positive or negative frequency (defined as W/2TT) which corresponds to the phase sequence. In normal lumped networks and circuits, the voltages and currents are scalar quantities, and hence it is not possible to perform the necessary vector addition to get the single resultant of positive or negative frequency. However, it is possible to differentiate between phase sequences in polyphase networks, so that the description of the process by other authors as separating positive and negative frequencies is convenient but not really justified.

(4) POLYPHASE MODULATION As shown in Section 1, the advantages of polyphase operation in communication systems are mainly connected with modulation. There are three possibilities in polyphase modulation: (a) Input to modulator polyphase, modulation process itself being single-phase. (b) Input to modulator single-phase, modulation process being of polyphase type. (c) Input polyphase, modulation polyphase. In the first case, n input signals, separated by phase intervals of 27r/n, are each applied to one of n modulators which have identical switching or carrier supplies. In the second case, one input signal is applied to n modulator inputs, the switching or carrier supplies being arranged at phase
intervals of 2TT//Z.

In the third case, there are n input signals separated by phase intervals of 2TT//J, each applied to one of n modulators, the switching or carrier supplies being arranged at phase intervals of 2TT//I to correspond with the input signals. The principle of operation of the first two cases is, for practical purposes, the same. It is usually more convenient to use (6), because the phase relationships in the carrier supply have to be obtained only at the one frequency, whereas in the input circuit they will usually be required to hold over a range of frequencies. The two distinct problems analysed below are therefore the application to a polyphase modulator of (i) A single-phase input.' (ii) A polyphase input. (4.1) Single-Phase Input The input signal is proportional to e carrier supplies to the modulators are:

+ e-*'. The (3) NUMBER OF PHASES There is generally no object in using a system with a large Phase 1: eJw + e-!<>* number of phases, and the only numbers of practical significance Phase 2: j<*2t-j2nln are three and four. However, it is interesting to examine how large numbers of phases can be assembled, because it then Phase 3: becomes clear that not all numbers of phases are independent. (a) 2 phases.Since the angle between phases is IT radians, the system is merely two single phases of opposite polarity. There is no rotation or sequence, and the system is not an Phase efa2t-j2{r-\ynln _|_ e-jat2t+j2(.r-l)xln independent polyphase system. (b) 3, 4, or 5 phases.These are independent systems, as they cannot be assembled from simpler systems merely by using phase-reversing transformers. Thus the outputs are proportional to: (c) 6 phases.This is merely two 3-phase systems of opposite Phase 1: r e/(i+2)f + g7(wi+u2)/i _j_ rg/fcoit2)f _j_ e -y(i~u2)n polarity, and is therefore not independent. id) 7, 8, or 9 phases.These are independent. Phase 2 : TeXa>i + <*2)t-j2nln 4_ -j( )J (e) 10 phases.This is two 5-phase systems of opposite polarity, and is therefore not independent; and so on. It is clear that a number of phases given by 2(2r 1), where r takes all positive integral values, has no independent significance. It is also clear that the 3- and 4-phase systems are the two Phase r: simplest, since a 2-phase system is excluded. The three-phase system is generally used for power transmission, but for communication work the 4-phase system is -f preferred because a complete 4-phase system is unnecessary, since if only two adjacent phases (i.e. a pair of phases in quadrature) are used, the same results apply, and the complete system (10) can be reconstructed, if required, merely by the use of a phaseIt can be seen that the output has both sidebands present, and reversing transformer. Thus the system usually used in communication is best referred to as the "quadrature system" and each one in polyphase; hence, this type of modulation is a should be regarded as a degenerate 4-phase system. The use of method of converting a single-phase input to a polyphase output. the term "2-phase" for this system is deprecated, as requiring an Apart from using the polyphase output as such (e.g. in a exception to the general definition of polyphase systems. motor-driven automatic frequency-control27), there are two ways

CERTAIN FILTRATION PROBLEMS IN TELECOMMUNICATION

353

in which to consider using it if a single-phase output is required from the system: (a) Add the phases together, (b) Convert to single phase by means of an n-phase to singlephase transformer. As there is a balanced polyphase output with two component frequencies, it is evident from Section 2 that adding them together as in (a) will give a resultant of zero. In case (b) the resultant field will have two components, one at the sum frequency with positive angular velocity, and one at the difference frequency with negative angular velocity. The resultant single-phase output will, of course, be a normal single-phase current with component frequencies (col + co2) and (ojj OJ2). An exception to the foregoing occurs when adding together the outputs from the phases of a quadrature system. Here we have only phases 1 and 2, with n = 4. The resultant output is therefore proportional to
C02)*(l -f-

Phase 2:
-j-

Phase -f
-j-

-l)n://tj

i.e. the field is proportional to

[I -I- eJfcln -)j^* i *) * .

ej6(n Orr/wl
J * *

(\&)
^ *

since the other terms sum to zero in every case. This field is zero for all values of n above 3, but in the special case of a 3-phase system, the field is proportional to
3e-;(co,+<o2)<

(15)

'TC/4 + e -

4 cos i?r{cos

>j w2)t

cj2)t TT/4] + cos

(11)

(4.2) Polyphase Input The carrier supply is the same as before, but the input signal is now a polyphase signal having the same expressions as the carrier, but with a>l replacing a>2. Thus the outputs are proportional to:
Phase 1: Phase 2: 4- e~^COl

-\-

which gives in the single-phase output coil an output signal of the sum frequency only. This can be changed to the difference frequency by reversing the sequence of either the inputs or the carriers. It is possible, in systems with five or more phases, to obtain a polyphase output field corresponding to that obtained in 3-phase systems, by a simple re-arrangement of the phases. The number of output phases may be a submultiple of the number of input phases. But, since the modulation process effectively doubles the angle between phases of the wanted modulation product, it is evidently impossible to obtain a rotating output field by any rearrangement of a 4-phase (or quadrature) system, since the output phases are at 180 intervals. It is interesting to note that a polyphase modulation system has been proposed by Guanella,29. in which a rotating-field output can be obtained for any number of phases. In this system, each input is modulated by every modulation phase, so that the total number of individual modulators is n2, except that in the quadrature system it is 4. The practical value of such a complex system is, however, rather doubtful.

(4.3) Summary of Results on Polyphase Modulation (a) Polyphase input with single-phase modulation or single-phase Phase input, polyphase modulation. ("i-"2)' 4- -;(coi-t (i) A polyphase output containing both sidebands is obtained. (ii) If the outputs of modulators are added, the output is zero except in the quadrature system, where both sidebands are obtained at equal amplitude. . 02) (iii) If the outputs of modulators are converted to single-phase Consider two ways of utilizing these outputs, as in the previous by means of a /z-phase to single-phase transformer, then both sidebands are obtained at equal amplitude. Section.
e

(b) Polyphase input, polyphase modulation. . . . - . (13) (i) If the outputs of modulators are added, either the sum or difference frequency alone is obtained, according to input and modulation sequences. 4nh + . . . eMn-l)nln = Q since (ii) If the outputs of modulators are converted to single-phase The output thus contains only the difference frequency; i.e. by means of an -phase to single-phase transformer, then the the System is a single-sideband modulator. To obtain only the output is zero except for a 3-phase system, when one sideband sum frequency, it is necessary to reverse the sequence of either alone is obtained according to the input and modulation the input or the carriers. sequences. For the quadrature system the result is the same. If the polyphase output is used in a transformer, i.e. a rotating (5) SEQUENCE DISCRIMINATORS field is produced by giving each phase a geometrical rotation (5.1) General of 2(r l)ir/n radians, the field is proportional to the sum of: It is clear from eqn. (10) that, if a single-phase input is sup+ e-;(coi+co2)'l 4i-w 2 )f 4- cx^i Phase 1: plied to a polyphase modulator, then the polyphase output

Adding all the phases together gives

354

MACDIARMID AND TUCKER: POLYPHASE MODULATION AS A SOLUTION OF

contains both sidebands. For instance, in eqn. (10) the upper Thus co2 has been eliminated, but not to,. If the phase-shifts sideband in phase r may be represented in trigonometrical had been 2(r 1)TT/W, then a>, would have been eliminated, but not u)2. This process applies equally to the quadrature terms as system. cos [(co, + o)2)t - 2(r - 1)TT/] It should be noted that the discriminator described above is and the lower sideband for the same phase as essentially of the star* type, i.e. the networks are inserted 2(r separately in each phase. Another type of discriminator, corcos responding to the delta* arrangement, is also possible. The The sequence is indicated by the sign of the phase angle in these general form now to be described is due to Orchard,12 but the expressions. particular networks of Madella and Barber are also of this type. If the input consists of two signals of angular frequencies The general delta discriminator is shown in Fig. 6(a). The con and w ] 2 , where con < OJ2 and a>12 > co2, then the outputs basic network arrangement, shown in Fig. 6(6), has characare proportional to teristics determined thus:
cos [(OJ ]2 + <o2)t - 2(r - l)7r/n]

+ cos [(coI2 - oj2)t + 2(r - l)7r/n] and cos [(o>n + co2)t 2(r l)?r//i] + cos [(co2 <on)t 2(r
1)TT/]

Voltage on phase r proportional to

ja>t-j2(r-l)7zln

_|_

since co2 > a>n

Voltage on phase (r + 1) proportional to Therefore the input voltage to network, vh is

Vj

It is clear from this that the sum frequencies are of the same sequence, but that the difference frequencies are of opposite sequence when the two input frequencies lie one on each side of the modulation frequency. It will now be seen that if a circuit (or other device) can be made to distinguish between the two sequences, then the two difference-frequency outputs can be separated, even if they are of identical frequency. Referring to the heterodyne receiver (radio receiver, wave analyser, etc.) this would mean that image-channel interference could be eliminated without filtration before the modulator. Such a circuit can be made quite easily to reject a particular frequency of a certain sequence, while transmitting the same frequency in the other sequence, but it is more difficult to realize the rejection over a wide band of frequencies. The earliest proposal of a sequence discriminator as such was apparently that of Madella,4 who proposed a simple RC circuit for a quadrature system. The operation of this is simply to shift the phases by 77/2 radians relative to one another. Since the phases were previously in quadrature, they are now either in phase or in opposite phase, according to the sequence. In the former case an output is obtained; in the latter there is no output. The same principle can be extended to any number of phases, and Barber3 has independently described 3-phase and 4-phase discriminators. (5.2) Theory of Sequence Discriminators The general principle of sequence discrimination is easily shown analytically. Suppose there are two signals of angular frequency col and co2 in the same polyphase system, the first signal having positive sequence and the second negative sequence. The signals can be represented as proportional in phase r to
+ l)nln _j_
-j(o2t-j2(r-l)nln

= jat-j2{r-l)nln(^-j2rjn 1) +

-jat+j2(r-

Now if the output voltage v2 is equal but opposite to the voltage on phase r, then the voltage on the output phase r is zero. This is the requirement of the discriminator, so that
V2= J<*t-j2(r-l)n[n -]u>t+}2(r-\)nln

The voltage-transfer ratio of the network is the ratio of the peak magnitudes of vi and v2, and the phase shift is the difference of phase of u, and v2. The peak magnitude of vl oc [(1 cos 27r/n)2 + sin2 (27r/)]*. The peak magnitude of v2 cc 1.
= 2 sin v2 The phase shift from vx to v2 is Therefore arc tan VI cos The complex transfer ratio is then clearly (1 cos ) j sin .
/, 27r\ Z7T\
2TT . . ITT

(18)

sin ZT

(19)

V n) n This, then, defines the required network to eliminate a voltage of the sequence chosen. It can easily be seen that the other sequence is not eliminated. To eliminate the other sequence instead, the phase shift between vi and v2 must be of opposite sign. It must be observed that this delta discriminator gives a polyphase output. The quadrature case, however, is exceptional in giving a single-phase output, as shown later.
(5.3) Practical Circuits

(20)

Now let the various phases of the system each be given a phase- (5.3.1) "Star" Arrangement. shift of 2(r l)7r/ radians, where r is the number of each It is evident that in the arrangement of Fig. 5 it will be easy phase in turn. A schematic arrangement is shown in Fig. 5. to make the phase-shifters only if a single frequency (or a very Then the signals in phase r become narrow band of frequencies) is to be eliminated. For such an -f ejo>2t+j4(r-l)n/n _|_ -jo>2t-j4(.r-l)n/n ju>it _j_ ~jait application (which may arise in a wave analyser or radio receiver) When all the phases are added together, the terms in co2 sum the phase-shifters will be simple LC networks, but it must be
in polyphase engineering. The word "delta" is used for all numbers of phases, to zero, since 2 ejA<J~ l^~f" = 0, but the terms in col remain, used although obviously strictly only appropriate for three. It must not be thought thaf n * The terms "star" and "delta" are used here, as they are the terms generally

r=l

resulting in a single-phase output, fa + e-^'O

(17)

CERTAIN FILTRATION PROBLEMS IN TELECOMMUNICATION Phase - shifter (radians) O

355

Phase

(a)

\ \
r

2(r-l)n n Phase r+1 (b) Phase r Phase r'

Output Neutral

Fig. 5.Sequence discriminator, "star" type.

arranged that the load does not alter the phase-shift, e.g. buffer Fig. 6.(a) General sequence discriminator, "delta"' type, (b) Basic amplifiers may be introduced in each phase or in the common network. output. Actually, for this application, the delta arrangement is probably better and more economical. When the discriminator has to operate over a wide band of frequencies, e.g. when it is used in the audio stage of a singlesideband receiver whose local carrier is tuned to that on which the wanted signal is modulated, the only feasible way of achieving the phase requirements is to use networks in each phase which may have any phase/frequency response but have 'R/2 differences of 27T/H radians per phase.23 It is obvious that this meets the requirements of the discriminator. Such networks are Fig. 7A.3-phase discriminator. still difficult to design, but satisfactory results can be obtained Input points 1, 2, 3. Output points D, E, F. over the speech range (say 300-3 000 c/s) and probably over the music range (say 30 c/s to 10 kc/s). Information on the design * 1-5 of suitable networks is available.10-15> 23>28
2 "^

(5.3.2) "Delta" Arrangement. The arrangement of Fig. 6 is probably preferable to the star discriminator when only single frequencies or narrow bands are being considered, because, first, only RC networks are necessary for n = 3 or 4 (including the quadrature system) and, secondly, the elimination of the unwanted sequence is independent of the load. But for wide bands, the delta arrangement is not very useful, since it does not permit of differential phase-shifters, as discussed for the star arrangement. For single-frequency applications, the networks may be as shown in Figs. 7A, 8A and 9A, for 3-phase, 4-phase and quadrature systems respectively. For the 3-phase discriminator shown in Fig. 7A, the ratio of output/input voltage is plotted against frequency in Fig. 7B, which shows how the ratio becomes zero at one particular frequency of negative sequence, but is finite at all other finite frequencies. The vector diagram* of Fig. 7c shows how this response may be determined graphically and shows how the dependence on sequence occurs. The star N,l,2,3
* The representation of the discriminator operation by these vector diagrams may appear merely plausible, but it can be shown to be quite rigorous; in any case the networks can be deduced from the general schematic of Fig. 6, and can be analysed mathematically.

^^

^0-5 en 3 0

V,

N
o)RC/2ti 0 0-10-2 oo

0-20-1

Sequence 3,2,1 Sequence 1,2,3 Fig. 7B.Discrimination curve for Fig. 7A.
Sequence ^ =,

1 , 2 , 3 /

"" J

Sequence 3,2,1 Fig. 7c.Vector diagram for Fig. 7A.

356

MACDIARMID AND TUCKER: POLYPHASE MODULATION AS A SOLUTION OF

represents the 3-phase supply voltage applied to the input terminals 1, 2, and 3 of the bridge. The vector diagram of the bridge voltages for the link 1-2 is shown, and evidently the vector voltage of the junction between R/2 and C must lie somewhere on the larger broken circle. With a sequence 1,2,3, the point falls upon the upper left-hand semicircle, and with a sequence 3,2,1 it falls upon the othef semicircle, as indicated in the diagram. The vector voltage of the output terminal D falls on the smaller circle. This circle passes through the neutral point, and when the frequency and sequence are such that D and O coincide in the vector diagram, the output voltage is zero. This occurs at angular frequency, 2ft-\/3RC) for the sequence 3,2,1. At the same frequency, but with sequence 1,2,3, the output is equal to the input voltage. A similar result is obtained for a 4-phase circuit, as shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, where zero output is obtained at angular

Local oscillator

Fig. 10.Quadrature modulator and sequence discriminator. system, with a single-phase input and output. This is the type of arrangement which would be used, for instance, in a wave analyser to eliminate image-channel interference. As in other polyphase circuits using filters, it is evident that the two lowpass filters selecting the difference-frequency products must be as nearly as possible identical in transmission characteristics; otherwise the system becomes unbalanced, and the unwanted products are not completely eliminated. Another requirement in this circuit is that the output impedance from each phase (i.e. from the filters in the schematic shown) should be of low value, since otherwise the phase relationships in the RC discriminator are upset. Alternatively, one phase may have a resistive output and the other a reactive output which may be absorbed in the resistance and capacitance of the discriminator. (6) SINGLE-SIDEBAND MODULATORS There have been many publications on the design of singlesideband modulators.8.9>10.13,21,22,28 The practical difficulty of obtaining a single sideband by conventional filtration methods is that, if the original band extends to very low frequencies, then the upper and lower sidebands produced by modulation lie very close together in the frequency spectrum, and sufficiently selective filters to separate them often cannot be readily designed. All the single-sideband modulators designed to eliminate the filter problem are, in effect, applications of the polyphase modulation theory given in Section 4. Section 4.2 showed that, if a polyphase input is applied to a polyphase modulator, then, on adding the voltages in all the output phases, either the lower sideband alone or the upper sideband alone is obtained, according to whether the sequences of input and modulation are the same or different. The polyphase modulation is easily effected; the practical difficulty in this scheme is to obtain the polyphase input. Since the input signal normally originates in a single-phase circuit, it is necessary to effect a suitable phase-splitting over the whole frequency-range of the input signal. This is difficult. There are two main possibilities: (a) Insert in each phase a phase-shift of 2(r l)v/n radians, constant over the frequency range, or (b) Insert a phase-shifter in each phase with any frequency response, provided that, at all frequencies in the range, the phaseshift in each phase is 2ir/n radians greater than that of the preceding phase. This is exactly the problem discussed in Section 5.3.1 in connection with sequence discriminators; as before, the second possibility is the only practicable one; it has been used successfully for the speech range (300-3 000 c/s), and is likely to be successful for music (30 c/s to, say, 10 kc/s). The accuracy of the phase differences determines the level of the unwanted side-

Fig. 8A.4-phase discriminator. Input points 1, 2, 3, 4. Output points D, E, F, G.

1 1 0-5 \

-o oo 0-5 02 01 0 01 0-2 05 oo Sequence 4,3,2.1 Sequence 1,2,3,4

,v

/
oJRC/2n

Fig. 8B.Discrimination curve for Fig. 10A. frequency 1/RC with sequence 4,3,2,1. For more than four phases, inductance would be needed in each part of the bridge. The discriminator for the quadrature system is shown in Fig. 9A, and its vector diagram in Fig. 9B. The latter, constructed on Sequence 1,2

oN

Sequence 2,1

Fig. 9A.Quadrature discriminator.

Fig. 9B.Vector diagram for Fig. 9A.

the same lines as that of Fig. 7c, shows how, at an angular frequency 1/RC and with negative sequence, the junction (D) of R and C coincides with the neutral, so that there is no voltage between D and neutral N. With a positive sequence there is no such balance. In this circuit only a single-phase output is provided. (5.3.3) Further Practical Considerations. There are one or two more particular practical considerations which are worth noting. Fig. 10 shows a typical schematic of a modulator and sequence discriminator for the quadrature

CERTAIN FILTRATION PROBLEMS IN TELECOMMUNICATION

b a n d , a n d , for a q u a d r a t u r e system with 1 phase error, the ratio of sidebands is a b o u t 40 d b . A n interesting variant 3 0 of the system described above is the use of combined amplitude- a n d phase-modulation t o cause t h e elimination of o n e m a i n sideband. This h a s the advantage of producing a n easily demodulated signal, although interference m a y arise from the higher-order sidebands. (7) SEQUENCE DISCRIMINATION BY A SECOND STAGE O F MODULATION T h e difficulty of m a k i n g a suitable sequence discriminator c a n sometimes b e avoided by the use of a second stage of polyphase m o d u l a t i o n , if the consequent change of frequency is acceptable. T h e first stage, as before, will have a polyphase m o d u l a t i o n applied to a single-phase input, so t h a t the polyphase o u t p u t from t h e n m o d u l a t o r s will b e given by eqn. (10), i.e. it contains b o t h sidebands. T h e difference-frequency c o m p o n e n t h a s a sequence dependent o n whether co, is greater t h a n o r less t h a n co2. If t h e difference-frequency c o m p o n e n t is applied as a polyphase input to a second polyphase m o d u l a t o r with a convenient m o d u l a t i o n frequency (co 3 ), a n d in the o u t p u t all the phases are a d d e d together as in the single-sideband m o d u l a t o r , then t h e o u t p u t corresponds t o that given by eqn. (13), i.e. it contains only t h e new difference frequency, to 2 ) co3 o r t h e s u m I Local carrier 102 kc/s Fig. 11.Modulation system giving band-pass filter effect.
Notes. A. Filters should have identical phase characteristics. B. Simple filter to remove higher-order modulation products.

357

112 channels

2 kc/s 100-104 ktyis To demodulator

102 kc/s. The wanted signals then all lie in the frequency-band 0-2 kc/s, and all other signals lie outside this. Thus a low-pass filter, with cut-off around 2 kc/s in each phase, will remove the unwanted signals, so that at the output of the second polyphase modulation the original band, 100-104 kc/s, is obtained free of all other signals. It can then be demodulated in the usual way. It is evident that the low-pass filters to cut off in a small range specified in cycles per second can be designed much more easily than band-pass filters operating at 50 times the frequency. 2 3 In a scheme of this type, there are, naturally, new difficulties frequency, (ojj o>2) + to3, according to the sequence of the polyphase signal. Thus, in effect, the second modulation gives introduced, such as the necessity of maintaining the polyphase a sequence discrimination, since an ordinary filter can be used system balanced. This means close tolerances on phase-shifts, which must be the same in each phase. Also, of course, the to separate these sum- and difference-frequency outputs. If the second modulation frequency is the same as the first phasing of the carrier supplies to the modulators must be accuand the sequences are the same, a particularly interesting result rate. The tolerances on these phase angles must be related to is obtained, for then the output consists of the original input the desired degree of filtration. Fig. 11 is of a quadrature system; this is the most useful practical arrangement and is frequency OJ1; thus if coi > co2: easily analysed by ordinary circuit analysis to show the effect of Input (single-phase) = e^i* + e-J<*i* phase errors. What may happen can be illustrated by conModulation (polyphase) sidering such a circuit with an input signal JECOSCOJ/ and = yw2<-y2(r-i)7i//i _j. e-juit+jUr-\)nlh o n phase r quadrature carriers, with an error in phasing of e, either cos (co2t + e) and sin o>2t in both stages . Case A
phase r =: eKm-u>2)t+j2(.r-l)nln _j_ c-/(coi-co2)(-./2(r-l)n://i
o n

Therefore the difference-frequency output (polyphase)

or and

cos (a)2t + e) and sin w2t in Stage 1 sin u)2t and cos (<v2t + e) in Stage 2 . Case B

N o t e that the sequence is opposite t o that of the m o d u l a t i o n , a n d therefore: O u t p u t of t h e second m o d u l a t i o n (on a d d i n g all phases together)

Both cases have the same modulation sequence in each stage, so the ideal performance is unchanged, but the effects of errors are different. It is easily shown that the output in case A is
i"{cos u)xt + sin e cos [(ajj 2co2)t + </>]} where
<j> =
\TT

It will be seen that the original signal has been restored; but if other, unwanted signals were present in the frequency band adjacent to the wanted signal, then these could be removed by the low-pass filters following the first modulation with much greater ease than by, say, band-pass filters at the input. An example will make the advantages of this clearer. Fig. 11 shows how the principle can be applied to the filtration and demodulation of the channel signals in a multi-channel carrier system. Here single-sideband channels are considered, each approaching 4-kc/s bandwidth, assembled in groups of 12 in the frequency range 60-108 kc/s. The usual procedure is to have 12 band-pass filters to select the 12 channels, which are then demodulated by local frequencies equal to the original carrier frequency of each channel. The band-pass filters provide the whole of the discrimination between channels, and to obtain a 3-4-kc/s band with 60-db separation from other channels involves special filter techniques. With the polyphase arrangement, no band-pass filters are used. The channel occupying the band 100-104 kc/s, for example, is modulated in polyphase by

%E cose sin a)xt and in case B is Thus in case A, the amplitude of the wanted frequency is unaffected by phase errors in phase 1, but unwanted frequencies are introduced; and in case B, no unwanted frequencies are introduced by errors in phase 2, but the amplitude of the wanted frequency is changed. In general, both effects occur. In its quadrature form, this system offiltrationusing two modulation stages with a low-pass network between them was proposed by Barber,5 and an application with different modulation frequencies in the two stages has also been published.14

(8) OTHER TYPES OF POLYPHASE CIRCUIT So far in the paper the term polyphase has been used in the limited sense to which it is usually restricted in power engineering. But there are other types of circuit which utilize phase relation-

358

MACDIARMID AND TUCKER: A SOLUTION OF FILTRATION PROBLEMS IN TELECOMMUNICATION

ships for various purposes, and these are therefore logically admissable as polyphase circuits. Such circuits usually involve modulation, and come within the scope of the title of the paper. However, it is not proposed to discuss them. A list of such systems known to the authors, with references, is given below. (a) Transmission systems in which two (or more) channels use the same frequency band, being distinguished by the phase of the carriers with which they are modulated, and separated by demodulation with local carriers of suitable phase (references 16 and 17). {b) Demodulation systems for separating out a wanted a.m. signal when another a.m. signal overlaps in frequency (references 18 and 19). (c) An entirely different type of application of polyphase principles is the control of the radiation patterns of aerial systems by feeding a number of suitably spaced radiators with polyphase currents. A simple example is the "turnstile" aerial,24 which uses two crossed horizontal dipoles at right angles fed with currents in quadrature to produce an almost circular radiation pattern in the horizontal plane (see also references 13 and 26).
(9) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

B. E.: "A New Single-Sideband Carrier System," Electrical Engineering, 1947, p. 549. (9) HONNELL, M. A.: "Single-Sideband Generator," Electronics, Nov. 1945, p. 166. (10) DOME, R. B.: "Wideband Constant Phase-Shift Networks," ibid.,~Dec. 1946, p. 112. (8)
LENEHAN,

(1.1) BARBER, N. F.: Private communication, Jan., 1948.

(12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25) (26-) (27) (28) (29) (30)

Thanks are due to Mr. N. F. Barber of the Royal Naval Scientific Service for introducing the authors to the general problem of polyphase modulation and for much helpful discussion. Thanks are also due to the authors' colleague, Mr. H. J. Orchard, for help in the preparation of the paper and for much constructive criticism. (10) REFERENCES G. B.: "Sul Concetto di Frequenza Negativa," Alta Frequenza, 1944, 13, p. 31. BARBER, N. F.: "Positive and Negative Frequencies," Wireless Engineer, 1948, 25, p. 98. BARBER, N. F.: Letter in Nature, 1948, 161, p. 685. MADELLA, G. B.: "Analizatori Eterodina con Tensione Ausiliaria Polifase," Alta Frequenza, 1944, 13, p. 132. BARBER, N. F.: "Narrow Band-Pass Filter using Modulation," Wireless Engineer, 1947, 24, p. 132. MADELLA, G. B.: "Single-Phase and Polyphase Filtering Devices using Modulation," Wireless Engineer, 1947, 24, p. 310. "Cathode Ray": "Negative Frequency," Wireless World, 1948, 44, p. 361.
MADELLA,

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

H. J.: Private communication, April, 1949. F.: "Polyphase Broadcasting," Transactions of the American I.E.E., 1939, 58, p. 347. TUCKER, D. G.: "Highly-Selective Transmission-Measuring Equipment for Communication Circuits," Journal I.E.E., 1947, 94, Part III, p. 211. ORCHARD, H. J.: "The Synthesis of Wide-Band Two-Phase Networks," Wireless Engineer, 1950, 27, p. 72. TUCKER, D. G.: "A Two-Phase Telecommunication System," Electronic Engineering, 1948, 20, pp. 150 and 192. HARRIS, D. B.: "Selective Demodulation," Proceedings of the Institution of Radio Engineers, 1947, 35, p. 565. TUCKER, D. G.: "The Synchrodyne: Reception of Weak Stations adjacent to Strong, with Overlapping Sidebands," Electronic Engineering, 1948, 20, p. 51. British Patent No. 504455: GABRILOVITCH, L., 1939. BLOCH, A.: "Modulation Theory," Journal I.E.E., 1944, 91, Part III, p. 31. NAKAI, T., and OGUMA, I.: "On an Experiment of Producing Single Sideband," Nippon Electrical Communication Engineering, 1939, p. 587. VILLARD, O. G.: "A High-Level Single-Sideband Transmitter," Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers, 1948, 36, p. 1419. LUCK, D. G.: "Properties of Some Wide-Band PhaseSplitting Networks," ibid., 1949, 37, p. 147. BROWN, G. H.: "The Turnstile Antenna," Electronics, April, 1936, 9, p. 15. VILLARD, O. G.: "Simplified Single-Sideband Receiver," ibid., May, 1948, 21, p. 82. LOYET, P.: "Experimental Polyphase Broadcasting," Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers, 1942, 30, p. 213. TAYLOR, F. J. D.: "Carrier System No. 7," The Post Office Electrical Engineers' Journal, 1941, 34, p. 101. U.S. Patent No. 1666206: HARTLEY, R. V. L., 1928. Swiss Patent No. 218502: GUANELLA, G., 1942. VILLARD, O. G.: "Composite Amplitude and Phase Modulation," Electronics, Nov., 1948, 21, p. 86.
ORCHARD, BYRNE, J.