Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Notes on
Elementary Concepts in Telecommunications
By
Prof. Dileeka Dias
Department of Electronic & Telecommunication Engineering
University of Moratuwa
September 2015
Chapter 5
Modulation
5.1 What is Modulation and why is it needed ?
We have encountered the word modulation in connection with FM (Frequency Modulation) and
AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio. Modulation and its inverse demodulation, make it possible to
tune in to one radio or TV program when many are on the air. Modulation is an essential element
in communications. It enables many independent messages to be sent over a communication
channel. The modulation and demodulation process is shown in Figure 2.4.1.
Information-bearing signal
Modulator
Channel
Demodulator
Recovered signal
Carrier
baseband frequency, 4 kHz, a wavelength would be 75,000 m. At this frequency, it will not be
possible to have antennas.
Through modulation, we can move baseband signals to non-overlapping frequency bands for
transmission over a common channel, and also to frequency ranges where it is possible to have
antennas of reasonable size.
The two basic categories into which modulation techniques fall are continuous wave modulation
schemes, and pulse modulation schemes. In continuous wave modulation schemes, the
information-bearing signal (the modulating signal) varies a sinusoidal signal of a much higher
frequency, called a carrier signal. The variation may be in amplitude, frequency or phase.
In traditional continuous wave modulation schemes, both the modulating signal as well as the
carrier are analog signals. These will be described in Section 5.2. In more modern digital
modulation techniques, a digital signal modulates an analog carrier. These are described in
Section 5.3.
In pulse modulation schemes, the carrier is a periodic pulse train whose pulse widths, positions
or amplitudes are varied by the information-bearing signal which is analog. These are described
in Section 5.4.
Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) is described in Annex A. Even though it is not correct to say that
this is a modulation scheme in the same sense as the other techniques, this important technique is
included in this section for the sake of completeness.
5.2 Fundamentals of Continuous Wave Modulation Schemes
Continuous wave modulation schemes carry the information in the message signal by varying the
amplitude, phase or frequency of a carrier signal. In the process, the message signal energy is
distributed around the carrier frequency.
A sinusoidal carrier can be represented as
c(t ) Ac cos2f c t
(5.1)
where A is the amplitude fc is the frequency and is the phase. When serving as a carrier, it may
be modulated by varying the amplitude, frequency or phase in direct proportion to the message
signal. These types of modulation are called amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation
(FM) and phase modulation (PM) respectively. Collectively, FM and PM are called angle
modulation. Figure 5.2 depicts AM and FM.
AM is a linear modulation scheme, which means that the modulating signal spectrum is linearly
translated during the process of modulation. PM and FM are examples of nonlinear modulation
techniques. In these techniques, there is no linear relationship between the signal spectra before
and after modulation.
(a) AM
(b) FM
Figure 5.2 Amplitude Modulation (AM) and Frequency Modulation (FM)
In this section, we will study the different fundamental modulation techniques using a
modulating signal x(t). For mathematical convenience, we will normalize all modulating signals
to have a magnitude not exceeding unity:
x(t ) 1
(5.2a)
This normalization puts an upper limit on the average modulating signal power ,
S x x 2 (t ) 1
(5.2b)
when we assume x(t) to be a deterministic power signal. Both energy signals and power signal
models can be used for x(t).
T
2
where x (t ) T
x (t)dt
2
(5.2c)
If Ac denotes the unmodulated carrier amplitude, modulation by x(t) produces the modulated
envelope
A(t ) Ac 1 x(t )
(5.3)
where is a positive constant called the modulation index. The complete AM signal is given by:
xc (t ) Ac 1 x(t )cos ct
Ac cos ct Ac x(t ) cos ct
(5.4)
Figure 5.3 shows the modulator structure implementing the above AM signal. Figure 5.4 shows a
typical message and the resulting AM signal for two values of . The envelope reproduces the
shape of x(t) if f c W and 1 where W is the bandwidth of x(t).
When these conditions are satisfied, the signal may be extracted from the carrier using a simple
envelope detector.
Ac [1+x(t)]cos ct
x(t)
X
X
Modulating
Signal
Carrier
+
X
Modulated
Signal
Ac cos ct
Ac ( f f c ) ( f f c ) Ac X ( f f c ) X ( f f c )
2
2
(5.5)
The AM spectrum given by this equation is sketched in Figure 5.5. The AM spectrum consists of
impulses at the carrier frequency and symmetrical sidebands centered at fc. The presence of an
upper and a lower sideband accounts for the name double sideband amplitude modulation
(DSB). The transmission bandwidth using this technique is
BTAM 2W
(5.6)
This implies that AM requires twice as much bandwidth to transmit x(t) at than at baseband
without any modulation. Transmission bandwidth is an important consideration in comparison of
modulation techniques.
Figure 5.5 The AM Spectrum
Another important consideration is the average transmitted power given by,
STAM x 2 c (t )
1 2x(t)
Ac 2 1 x(t ) 2 cos 2 c t
Ac 2
1 cos 2 c t
x(t ) 2
using (5.4).
(5.7)
x(t ) 0 and
x 2 (t ) S x , then
STAM 1 Ac 2 (1 2 S x )
2
(5.8)
(5.9a)
where the unmodulated carrier power Pc and the sideband power Psb are given respectively by,
Pc 1
2
Ac and Psb 1
2
Ac 2 S x 1
2 S x Pc
(5.9b)
Psb 1 S T
4
(5.10)
Consequently, at least 50% of the total transmitted power resides in a carrier term that is
independent of x(t), and thus conveys no information.
However, this modulation scheme is used in AM broadcasting due to the simplicity of the
demodulator. Carrier frequencies in the range 540 to 1600 kHz are assigned for AM
broadcasting, with a carrier spacing of 10 kHz. The bandwidth of 10 kHz for each channel allows
the transmission of signals having a bandwidth of approximately 5 kHz.
5.2.2 Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSB-SC) AM
The wasted carrier power in conventional AM can be eliminated by setting = 1 and
suppressing the unmodulated carrier frequency component. The resulting modulated wave
becomes:
xc (t ) Ac x(t ) cos c t
(5.11)
(5.12)
The DSB-SC spectrum looks similar to that of conventional AM shown in Figure 5.5 without the
unmodulated carrier impulses. The transmission bandwidth remains unchanged at
BTDB SC 2W
(5.13)
This modulation process and the spectrum are shown in Figure 5.6.
Although AM and DSB-SC are quite similar in the frequency domain, they are different in the
time domain as illustrated in Figure 5.7. The DSB-SC envelope and phase are:
9
A(t ) Ac x(t )
and
(t )
x (t ) 0
180
x (t ) 0
(5.14)
The envelope takes the shape of |x(t)|, rather than x(t), and the modulated wave undergoes a
phase reversal whenever x(t) crosses zero. Recovery of x(t) cannot be accomplished by an
envelope detector, and calls for a more sophisticated demodulation process.
However, since there is no unmodulated carrier component in the modulated signal, all the
transmitted power is in the information-bearing sidebands. Thus:
STDSB SC 2 Psb 1 Ac 2 S x
2
(5.15)
DSB-SC makes better use of the available transmit power from a given transmitter.
The foregoing considerations suggest a trade-off between power efficiency and demodulation
methods. DSB-SC conserves power, but requires complicated demodulation circuitry, whereas
AM requires increased power, yet permits simple envelope detection.
10
BTSSB W
(5.16)
(5.17)
Thus, SSB conserves transmission bandwidth as well as making efficient use of transmit power.
However, the problem with SSB is the difficulty of filtering out one sideband. This is
particularly critical for signals having significant low frequency content. The sideband filter
tends to remove and/or distort the low frequency components of the sideband that is to remain.
11
(5.18)
For small , VSB approximates SSSB, and for large , it approximates DSB-SC.
The transmit power is given by,
2
1 A 2S S
1
TVSB 2 Ac S x
4 c x
(5.19)
13
Amplitude
-fc
fc-fm
fc
fc+fm
Frequency
fc-fm
fc fc+fm
Frequency
fc
Frequency
(a) AM
Amplitude
-fc
0
(b)DSB-SC
Amplitude
-fc
fc+fm
(c) SSB
Amplitude
-fc
fc-fm
fc
fc+fm
Frequency
(d) VSB
Figure 5.11 shows a comparison of the different AM techniques using a single tone of frequency
fm as the modulating signal. This is called tone modulation or sinusoidal modulation, and is often
used as a tool for the study of modulation techniques.
Figure 5.11 Spectra of the different AM techniques for tone modulation
5.3 Angle Modulation
As in the case of AM, this too is a type modulation scheme where both the modulating signal and
the carrier are analog signals.
Phase modulation (PM) and frequency modulation (FM) are special cases of angle modulation.
The angle modulated signal may be written as:
xc (t ) Ac cos c t (t )
(5.20)
14
For PM, the phase is directly proportional to the modulating signal. That is,
(t ) p x(t )
(5.21)
where the proportionality constant p is called the phase sensitivity or the phase deviation
constant of the modulator.
For FM, the modulated signal phase is proportional to the integral of x(t) :
(t ) f
x(v)dv
(5.22)
where f is the frequency deviation constant of the modulator in radians/volt-sec. Figure 5.12
shows examples of PM and FM signals.
1 d
ct (t )
2 dt
1
fc
f x(t )
2
f i (t )
(5.23)
15
which is why this modulation scheme is called frequency modulation. The instantaneous
frequency varies about the carrier frequency in a manner that is directly proportional to the
modulating signal.
The peak frequency deviation of an FM signal is a quantity of special interest in communication
systems, and is given by,
1 d
(t )
F max
2 dt
max (t )
dt
or
(5.24)
W
2W
(5.25)
(5.26)
i c f x(t )
c f a cosmt
(5.27)
(5.28)
i c cos m t
The angle of the FM signal is,
(t ) ct
(5.29)
sin mt
m
ct f sin mt
(5.30)
(5.31)
cos( f sin m t ) 1
sin( f sin m t ) f sin m t
(5.32)
16
(5.33)
At this point it is instructive to compare (2.4.33) with an AM signal with tone modulation given
by.
(5.34)
Though the two equations are similar, AM and NBFM are very different modulation schemes.
As equation (5.34) shows, the modulation is added in phase with the carrier in AM. In contrast,
as (2.4.33) shows, in NBFM, the modulation is added in quadrature with the carrier.
Figure 5.13 shows the generation of NBFM and NBPM using equations (5.21), (5.22) and (5.33).
x(t)
X
Modulating
Signal
+
NBPM
Signal
900
Carrier Ac cosct
(a) NBPM
x(t)
Integrator
+
NBFM
Signal
Modulating
Signal
900
Carrier
Ac cosct
(b) NBFM
xc (t ) Re Ac e j (t )
Re Ac e j ct e j sin mt
(5.35)
17
The second exponential in(5.35) is a periodic function of time with a fundamental frequency of
m. It can be expanded in a Fourier Series
e j sin mt
F e
jn m t
(5.36)
where
T /2
1
Fn
e j sin mt e jn mt dt
T T / 2
(5.37)
1
Fn
2
j ( sin n )
(5.38)
The above function is known as the Bessel function of the first kind, of order n and argument ,
and is denoted by Jn(). Note that n is an integer and is a positive continuous variable. Some
of these functions are plotted in Figure 5.14.
4.
2
n
( ) 1
18
e j sin mt
( )e jn mt
(5.39)
xc (t ) Re Ac e j ct J n ( )e jn mt
n
Ac
(5.40)
( ) cos c n 0 t
From these results, it can be seen that an FM waveform with sinusoidal modulation, in contrast
to AM, has an infinite number of sidebands. However, the magnitudes of the higher order
spectral components (sidebands) become negligible, and for all practical purposes, the power is
contained within a finite bandwidth.
Spectral plots for several different values of are shown in Figure 5.15. Note that can be
varied by varying or m as demonstrated in Figure 5.15.
19
Figure 5.15 Spectra form FM waveforms with sinusoidal modulation (a) for constant m
(b) for constant
5.3.4 Bandwidth of FM signals
20
How many sidebands are important to the FM transmission of a signal? This will depend on the
intended application and the fidelity requirements. A rule commonly adopted is that a sideband is
significant if its magnitude is equal to or exceeds 10% of the carrier frequency component, i.e., if
J n ( ) 0.1
(5.41)
The actual number of significant sidebands for different values of can be found from a plot of
Bessel functions such as Figure 2.4.14. It can be seen that Jn() diminishes rapidly for n >,
particularly as becomes large.
The bandwidth for very large can then be approximated by taking the last significant sideband
at
n = so that the transmission bandwidth BT is given by,
BT 2n m 2 m
m 2
for large
(5.42)
For very small , the only Bessel functions of significant magnitude are J0() and J1().
Therefore, the bandwidth for the narrowband case is,
BT 2 m
for small
(5.43)
We now have bounds on the limiting cases. A more general rule to take care of intermediate
cases is, given by,
BT 2 m (1 )
(5.44)
frequencies or phases. The term keying in these modulation schemes implies that the amplitude,
phase or freqeuency of the carrier switches between the allowable values. These modulation
schemes are generally known as digital modulation techniques.
Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK)
The modulation varies the amplitude of the carrier. Consider the amplitude modulation of a
carrier with a binary digital signal having voltage levels 0 and V Volts. This scheme shown in
Figure 5.16 is called Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) or On-Off Keying (OOK). The information
is encoded in the amplitude of the signal. Optical communication systems carry information on
light beams in this manner. This is analogous to AM.
23
In Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), the amplitude of the pulses of the carrier is varied in
accordance with the amplitude of the modulating signal. In Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), the
duration of each pulse is varied in accordance with the modulating signal. In Pulse Position
Modulation (PPM), the position in time of each pulse is varied according to the modulating
signal.
900
900
1800
00
1800
00
2700
Binary ASK
For 0: s1(t) = 0
For 1: s2(t) = A cos ct
2700
4 Level -ASK
For 00: s1(t) = 0
For 01: s2(t) = A/3 cos ct
For 11: s3(t) = 2A/3 cos ct
For 10: s4(t) = A cos ct
24
900
900
1800 1
-A
270
01
A
00
1800 11
-A
00
00
-A
10
0
270
011
A
111
101
1800
-A
000
00
100
-A
010
110 0
270
900
A
00
01
00
1800
00
01
00
1800
A
-A
11
10
11
10
-A
0
270
270
26