Amplitude Modulation

(AM)
Maria Lyca Acuyong
Jayson Alejandro
BSEE 401-A
Modulation - In electronics and telecommunications,
modulation is the process of varying one or more properties of a
periodic waveform, called the carrier signal, with a modulating
signal that typically contains information to be transmitted.
Carrier wave (carrier signal, or just carrier)
Is a waveform (usually sinusoidal) that is
modulated (modified) with an input signal for the
purpose of conveying information.

A modulator is a device that performs

modulation.
 Types of Modulation
Amplitude modulation
a type of modulation where the amplitude of the carrier signal is
modulated (changed) in proportion to the message signal while the
frequency and phase are kept constant.
Frequency modulation
a type of modulation where the frequency of the carrier signal is
modulated (changed) in proportion to the message signal while the
amplitude and phase are kept constant.
Phase modulation
a type of modulation where the phase of the carrier signal is
varied accordance to the low frequency of the message signal is
known as phase modulation.
 Amplitude Modulation
(AM)
The first amplitude modulated signal was transmitted in 1901 by
a Canadian engineer named Reginald Fessenden. He took a
continuous spark transmission and placed a carbon microphone in
the antenna lead.
The sound waves impacting on the microphone varied its
resistance and in turn this varied the intensity of the transmission.
Although very crude, signals were audible over a distance of a few
hundred metres, although there was a rasping sound caused by the
spark.
With the introduction of continuous sine wave signals,
transmissions improved significantly, and AM soon became the
standard for voice transmissions. Nowadays, amplitude modulation,
AM is used for audio broadcasting on the long medium and short
wave bands, and for two way radio communication at VHF for
aircraft.
 Amplitude Modulation
(AM)
Is a modulation technique used in electronic
communication, most commonly for transmitting
information via a radio carrier wave.
In AM, the amplitude (signal strength) of the
carrier wave is varied in proportion to that of the
message signal being transmitted.
Demodulation
is extracting the original information-
bearing signal from a carrier wave.

A demodulator is an electronic circuit (or

computer program in a software-defined
radio) that is used to recover the information
content from the modulated carrier wave.
There are many types of modulation so there are
many types of demodulators. The signal output
from a demodulator may represent sound (an
analog audio signal), images (an analog video
signal) or binary data (a digital signal).
Diode AM detector
This is by far the simplest form of AM demodulator or
detector, requiring just a semiconductor (or other form) of
diode along with a capacitor to remove the high frequency
components. It suffers from a number of disadvantages, but
its performance is more than adequate for most applications
including broadcast receivers where cost is a significant
driver.
Synchronous AM detector
This form of AM detector offers a higher level of
performance, but at the cost of considerably the use of
considerably more components. This means that it is only
used in receivers where the levels of performance are
paramount and can justify the additional component costs.
 Amplitude modulation applications
Broadcast transmissions
AM is still widely used for broadcasting on the long, medium
and short wave bands. It is simple to demodulate and this means that
radio receivers capable of demodulating amplitude modulation are
cheap and simple to manufacture. Nevertheless many people are
moving to high quality forms of transmission like frequency
modulation, FM or digital transmissions.
Air band radio
VHF transmissions for many airborne applications still use AM.
It is used for ground to air radio communications as well as two way
radio links for ground staff as well.
 Amplitude modulation applications
Single sideband
Amplitude modulation in the form of single sideband is
still used for HF radio links. Using a lower bandwidth and
providing more effective use of the transmitted power this
form of modulation is still used for many point to point HF
links.
Quadrature amplitude modulation
AM is widely used for the transmission of data in
everything from short range wireless links such as Wi-Fi
to cellular telecommunications and much more.
Effectively it is formed by having two carriers 90° out of
phase.
 ADVANTAGES

 It is simple to implement
 It can be demodulated using a circuit consisting of very
few components
 AM receivers are very cheap as no specialised
components are needed.
 DISADVANTAGES

 An amplitude modulation signal is not efficient in terms

of its power usage
 It is not efficient in terms of its use of bandwidth,
requiring a bandwidth equal to twice that of the highest
audio frequency
 An amplitude modulation signal is prone to high levels
of noise because most noise is amplitude based and
obviously AM detectors are sensitive to it.
The End