ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
ELE3340
ANALOG AND DIGITAL
COMMUNICATIONS
2. AMPLITUDE MODULATION
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
QUICK REVIEW OF SOME BASIC CONCEPTS
Fourier transform of a signal x(t):
X() =
and its inverse
1
x(t) =
2
x(t)ejt dt
X()ejtd
Note that is in rad/sec.
We use the notation
x(t) X()
to mean that X() is the Fourier transform of x(t), & that x(t) is the inverse Fourier
transform of X().
In addition, F [x(t)] stands for the Fourier transform of x(t).
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Some Properties:
Frequency translation:
x(t)ejc t X( c )
i
1h
x(t) cos(c t) X( c ) + X( + c )
2
i
1h
x(t) sin(c t)
X( c ) X( + c )
2j
Convolution: let be the convolution operator.
x(t) y(t) X()Y ()
x(t)y(t) X() Y ()
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Dirac delta: let (t) be the Dirac delta function.
x(t) (t ) = x(t )
(t) 1
1 2()
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
DOUBLE-SIDEBAND SUPPRESSED CARRIER
Let m(t) be a (baseband) message signal that is real-valued, such as voice (in more
advanced study we may have complex-valued message signals).
In double-sideband suppressed carrier (DSB-SC) modulation, the transmitted
signal or the modulated signal is
DSBSC (t) = m(t) cos(c t)
The signal cos(c t) is called the carrier signal, & c the carrier frequency. The
message signal m(t) is also called the modulating signal.
The modulation process is depicted as follows:
m(t ) cos Z c t
m(t )
(Modulating signal)
(Modulated signal)
cos Zct
(Carrier)
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
DSB-SC modulation simply shifts the freq. contents of m(t) to the carrier frequency.
Specifically, if m(t) M () then
m(t) cos(c t)
1
[M ( + c ) + M ( c )]
2
) DSB-SC (Z )
M (Z )
2S B
2S B
Zc
4S B
Zc
Suppose that m(t) has a (baseband) bandwidth of BHz (or 2Brad/sec). Then
DSB-SC modulation occupies a bandwidth of 2BHz.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
The portion of the spectrum that lies above c is called the upper sideband (USB).
The portion of the spectrum that lies below c is called the lower sideband (LSB).
) DSB-SC (Z )
USB
USB
LSB
LSB
Zc
Zc
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Demodulation
Conceptually, this can be done by frequency-shifting DSBSC (t) back to the baseband.
M DSB-SC (t )
e( t )
Low-pass filter
1
m(t )
2
cos Zct
Since
e(t) = DSBSC (t) cos(c t) = m(t) cos2 (c t) =
1
m(t)[1 + cos(2c t)]
2
we have
1
1
M () + [M ( + 2c ) + M ( 2c )]
2
4
Using a low-pass filter with cutoff freq. at BHz, we may keep 12 M () while eliminating
1
[M ( + 2c ) + M ( 2c )].
4
E() =
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
DSB-SC ( )
E ( )
2c
2 B
2 B
2c
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
The method of recovering m(t) described above is called coherent demodulation or
synchronous demodulation.
It requires that the local carrier at the receiver has exact frequency and phase
synchronism with respect to that at the transmitter.
Ex 2.1 Suppose that the local carrier generated at the receiver is cos(c t + ), where
is a phase error due to asynchronism. Derive the resulting coherent demodulator
output. What happens if = /2?
The problem of frequency & phase synchronization can be handled by carrier
acquisition methods.
Alternatively, we can consider modulation that enables noncoherent demodulation.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
10
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Ex 2.2 Suppose that the message signal is a cosine wave
m(t) = cos(m t).
Sketch the time-domain waveform & the spectrum of the modulated signal.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
11
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Ex 2.3 (Switching modulator) We consider an alternate implementation of modulation,
in which the carrier multiplication operation is replaced by a simpler switching
operation:
DSB-SC (t )
e( t )
m(t )
Band-pass filter
p(t )
Here, m(t) is multiplied by a periodic pulse train with period Tc =
1, 0 |t| < Tc
4
p(t) =
0, Tc |t| < Tc
4
2
:
c
and p(t) = p(t + nTc ) for all n.
Determine the Fourier transform of e(t). Explain why and how a bandpass filter
applying to e(t) can generate the DSB-SC modulated signal.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
12
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
AMPLITUDE MODULATION
Amplitude modulation (AM) is a scheme that enables noncoherent demodulation.
The AM modulated signal is given by
AM (t) = (A + m(t)) cos(c t)
where A is chosen such that A + m(t) > 0 for all t.
Demodulation can be achieved by an envelope detector (noncoherent).
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
13
2. Amplitude Modulation
The spectrum of AM (t)
AM () =
1
[M ( + c ) + M ( c )] + A[( + c ) + ( c )]
2
is similar to that of DSB-SC except for the presence of carrier.
AM ( )
M ( )
2 B
2 B
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
4 B
14
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Let mp be the peak amplitude (+ve or -ve) of m(t); i.e., |m(t)| mp for all t.
The modulation index is defined as
=
mp
A
In order to enable envelope detection, we need mp A and as a result
01
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
15
2. Amplitude Modulation
Power efficiency
The advantage of envelope detection in AM has its price. Some power has been spent
on the carrier which contains no information.
AM (t) = A cos(c t) + m(t) cos(c t)
| {z } |
{z
}
c(t)
Let x2 (t) = limT
1
T
R T /2
T /2
s(t)
x2 (t)dt denote the average power of the given signal x(t).
The power efficiency of AM is defined as
=
=
useful power
s2 (t)
=
total power
c2 (t) + s2 (t)
m2 (t)
A2 + m2 (t)
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
16
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Ex 2.4 Consider a sinusoidal message signal m(t) = cos(m t). Show, in this special
case, that the best possible power efficiency of AM can only be 33%.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
17
2. Amplitude Modulation
QUADRATURE AMPLITUDE MODULATION
In DSB-SC and AM, the transmission bandwidth is 2BHz, twice of the message signal.
In quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), two DSB signals are transmitted over
the same carrier frequency:
QAM (t) = m1 (t) cos(c t) + m2 (t) sin(c t)
where m1 (t) & m2 (t) denote the two message signals.
The message signals m1 (t) & m2 (t) are in-phase & quadrature-phase components of
QAM (t).
QAM generally requires coherent demodulation.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
18
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Modulation and demodulation (coherent) of QAM:
Low-pass
filter
x1 (t )
m1 (t )
cos c t
2 cos c t
QAM (t )
/2
m1 (t )
/2
2 sin c t
sin c t
x2 (t )
m2 (t )
Low-pass
filter
m2 (t )
Ex 2.5 Show how the coherent demodulator in the above fig. can recover m1 (t) &
m2 (t).
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
19
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
SINGLE SIDEBAND MODULATION
The idea is to transmit either the USB or LSB.
SSB-USB ( )
2 B
c
SSB-LSB ( )
c
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
2 B
20
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
SSB may be seen as a special case of QAM.
Let
M+ () = M ()u(),
M () = M ()u()
be the +ve freq. & -ve freq. portions of M (), respectively. (here u() is the unit step
function)
Let us focus on SSB modulation using USB
USB () = M+ ( c ) + M ( + c )
Taking inverse transform of USB () yields
USB (t) = m+ (t)ejc t + m (t)ejc t
= [m+ (t) + m (t)] cos(c t) j[m (t) m+ (t)] sin(c t)
|
{z
}
|
{z
}
m(t)
,mh (t)
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
21
2. Amplitude Modulation
Hilbert transform
Let
j = ej/2 , > 0
H() = jsgn() =
j = ej/2 , < 0
Its inverse Fourier transform is (see textbooks for the proof)
h(t) =
1
t
The Hilbert transform of x(t) is defined as
xh (t) = h(t) x(t)
( Xh () = H()X())
Hilbert transform introduces /2 phase shift to the signal.
For example, if x(t) = cos(m t) then xh (t) = cos(m t /2) = sin(m t) (you can
verify that from the definition!).
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
22
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
h (t )
h ( )
| H ( ) |
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
23
2. Amplitude Modulation
In SSB, the quadrature-phase component mh (t) is the Hilbert transform of
m(t). To see this,
Mh () = F [jm+ (t) + jm (t)]
= jM+ () + jM ()
= jsgn()M ()
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
24
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Ex 2.6 Show that for the LSB counterpart, the SSB-modulated signal can be expressed
as
LSB (t) = m(t) cos(c t) + mh (t) sin(c t)
Ex 2.7 Consider again a sinusoidal message signal m(t) = cos(m t). Assuming USB
transmission, sketch the spectrum and time-domain waveform of the modulated signal.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
25
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Modulation
There are two ways of performing SSB modulation.
Selective filtering method: apply a band-pass filter to the DSB-SC signal, eliminating
the unwanted sideband.
This necessitates a very sharp cutoff band in the filter design, which is not too easy to
achieve in practice (at least compared to AM).
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
26
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
Phase-shift method: recall that
USB (t) = m(t) cos(c t) mh (t) sin(c t).
Supposing that Hilbert transform is practically realizable, we can use a QAM modulator
to generate SSB signals.
cos c t
m(t )
USB (t )
/2
sin c t
/2
mh (t )
Actually, an ideal Hilbert transformer is not practically realizable (have a look at the fig.
for h(t)). It is approximated in practice.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
27
2. Amplitude Modulation
Demodulation
SSB signals can be coherently modulated in the same way as DSB-SC.
SSB (t )
e( t )
Low-pass filter
1
m(t )
2
cos ct
Since
e(t) = cos(c t)USB (t)
= m(t) cos2 (c t) mh (t) sin(c t) cos(c t)
=
1
1
1
m(t) + m(t) cos(2c t) mh (t) sin(2c t)
2
2
2
applying low-pass filtering to e(t) can recover 12 m(t).
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
28
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
VESTIGIAL SIDEBAND MODULATION
The generation of SSB signals is rather difficult in practice.
The generation of DSB signals is simple, but DSB signals require twice the signal
bandwidth of SSB.
Vestigial sideband (VSB) modulation was designed to provide a compromise
between DSB and SSB.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
29
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
The modulation process is similar to the selective filtering method in SSB.
m (t )
Band-pass filter
VSB (t )
H i ( )
2 cos ct
Instead of eliminating one sideband completely (as in SSB), we allow the band-pass
filter to have a gradual cutoff of one sideband.
This results in some increase in transmission bandwidth (say, 20%), but it also makes
the band-pass filter easier to realize.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
30
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
DSB-SC ( )
H i ( )
VSB ( )
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
31
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
The (coherent) demodulation process is similar to that in DSB-SC and SSB.
VSB (t )
e( t )
Low-pass filter
m (t )
H o ( )
2 cos ct
However, to ensure perfect recovery of m(t), the low-pass filter Ho () is specially
designed.
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
32
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
The VSB signal spectrum is given by
VSB () = [M ( + c ) + M ( c )]Hi ()
At the demodulator, the signal e(t) has its Fourier transform given by
E() = VSB ( + c ) + VSB ( c )
= M ()[Hi( c ) + Hi ( + c )]
+ M ( + 2c )Hi ( + c ) + M ( 2c )Hi ( c )
Now, if the demodulating low-pass filter Ho () is such that
Ho () =
1
,
Hi ( + c ) + Hi ( c )
|| 2B
and Ho () = 0 for || > 2B, then
() = E()Ho () = M ()
M
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
33
ELE3340 Analog and Digital Communications
2. Amplitude Modulation
H i ( )
H o ( )
Wing-Kin Ma, Dept. Electronic Eng., The Chinese University of Hong Kong
34
