AMPLITUDE MODULATION

Lecture Notes by:

Engr. Analene M. Nagayo
Modulation Theory
What is MODULATION?
- A process by which a low frequency signal is made to change a property of a
higher frequency signal to allow effective transmission and reception of the
desired information.
- A process of imposing information contained in lower-frequency signal onto a
higher frequency signal.
-The low frequency signal is called the modulating signal and the high
frequency signal is called the carrier.
Why modulate?
1.) Direct transmission of low-frequency information signal would cause to
interference problem since the resulting radio waves would all be at the same
frequency range.
2.) Transmitting low-frequency information signal in free space is not practical
since it will require a very high antenna.
Modulation Theory
Types of Modulation
A. Analog Modulation
I. Amplitude Modulation
II. Angle Modulation
a.) Frequency Modulation
b.) Phase Modulation
B. Digital Modulation
fmt 2 sin Vm ) ( t = t Vm
fct 2 sin Vc ) ( t = t Vc
Amplitude Modulation
What is AMPLITUDE MODULATION?
-Type of analog modulation wherein the amplitude of the carrier signal is
varied or changed according to the instantaneous amplitude of the
modulating signal.
- Process of modulation wherein the information is imposed on the carrier,
causing the amplitude of the carrier to vary in accordance with the
modulating signal. Note that the carrier frequency remains constant during
the modulation process.
Amplitude Modulation
MATHEMATICAL DESCRIPTION OF AN AM SIGNAL
Let:
fct 2 sin A ) ( t = t
AM
V
where:
V
AM
is the Amplitude
Modulated signal
A is the instantaneous
amplitude of the AM signal
fmt 2 sin Vm Vc A t + =
(

+ = fmt 2 sin
Vc
Vm
1 Vc A t
fct 2 sin fmt 2 sin
Vc
Vm
1 Vc ) ( t t
(

+ = t
AM
V
but Vm / Vc is the
modulation index, m.
Amplitude Modulation
| | fct 2 sin fmt 2 sin m 1 Vc ) ( t t + = t
AM
V
fct 2 sin fmt] 2 sin mVc [Vc ) ( t t + = t
AM
V
fct 2 sin fmt 2 sin mVc fct sin2 Vc ) ( t t t + = t
AM
V
Note:
Y) cos(X
2
1
- Y) - cos(X
2
1
Y sin X sin + =
Let :
fmt 2 Y and fct 2 X t t = =
fm)t (fc cos2
2
mVc
- fm)t - (fc cos2
2
mVc
fct 2 sin Vc ) ( + + = t t t t
AM
V
2
Vc
) rms (
C
V =
2 2
2
mVc
) rms ( LSB
V
) rms ( USB
V ;
mVc
) pk ( LSB
V
) pk ( USB
V = = = =
Amplitude Modulation
Amplitude Modulation
FREQUENCY SPECTRUM OF AN AM SIGNAL
BANDWIDTH = 2 fm
PERCENT MODULATION, %M AND MODULATION INDEX, m
- show the relationship between amplitudes of the
modulating signal and carrier. Also referred to as
modulation factor or depth of modulation.
100 x
Vc
Vm
M %
Vc
Vm
m
=
=
Amplitude Modulation
Vmin Vmax
Vmin - Vmax
m
+
=
where:
V
max
is the maximum peak value of the AM wave
V
min
is the minimum peak value of the AM wave
Amplitude Modulation
a) Undermodulation - %M < 100%, m < 1,
Vm < Vc (practical)
b) 100% modulation - m = 1, Vm = Vc
(ideal)
Three (3) degrees of modulation :
c) Over modulation %M > 100%,
m > 1, Vm > Vc (with distortion)
Amplitude Modulation
POWER CONTENT OF AN AM SIGNAL
USB LSB T
P P Pc P + + =
Where:
P
T
= total transmitted power or total modulated
power in Watts
P
LSB
, P
USB
= lower and upper sideband power in
Watts
P
c
= unmodulated carrier power in Watts. Carrier
power remains the same, regardless of percent
modulation.
Pc
2
m

USB
P
LSB
P
4
= =
Pc
m
Pc
m
Pc P
2 2
T
4 4
+ + =
(

+ =
2
2
T
m
1 Pc P
Amplitude Modulation
CALCULATION OF VOLTAGE IN AM SYSTEMS

2
m
1 Vc v
2
T
+ =
where:
v
T
= total transmitted voltage or total voltage of
the modulated wave
I
c
= unmodulated carrier voltage
m = modulation index
Amplitude Modulation
CALCULATION OF CURRENTS IN AM SYSTEMS

m
1 Ic I
2
T
2
+ =
where:
I
T
= total transmitted current or total current of
the modulated wave
I
c
= unmodulated carrier current
m = modulation index
EFFICIENCY OF TRANSMISSION
-ratio of the total sideband power to the total transmitted power
SB
T
LSB USB
T
SB
P % 100 x
P
P P
100 x
P
P
(eta) % =
+
= = q
100 x
m 2
m
(eta) %
2
2
+
= q
2
Pc
2
m

4
Pc
2
m

4
Pc
2
m

LSB
P
USB
P
SB
P = + = + = where:
MODULATION BY A COMPLEX INFORMATION SIGNAL OR BY SEVERAL
INFORMATION SIGNAL
Amplitude Modulation
The total modulating signal,
The total modulation index,
The total transmitted power,
The total sideband power,
......
2
3
Vm
2
2
Vm
2
1
Vm
t
Vm + + + =
......
2
3
m
2
2
m
2
1
m
t
m + + + =
(
(

+ =
2
2
t
m
1 Pc
T
P
2
Pc
2
t
m

t
SB
P =
Amplitude Modulation
FORMS OF AMPLITUDE MODULATION TRANSMISSION
1. Double Sideband, Full Carrier Transmission (DSBFC) or A3
- Standard AM transmission
- Component of the AM wave being transmitted: USB, LSB and carrier signal
- In conventional AM systems, at least two thirds of the transmitted power is in
the carrier. There is no information in the carrier; the sidebands contain the
information. Also the information contained in the upper sideband is
identical to the information contained in the lower sideband.
USB LSB T
P P Pc P + + =
2. Double Sideband, Suppressed Carrier Transmission (DSBSC)
- Component of the AM wave being transmitted: USB and LSB signals
- Produced by balanced modulator
USB LSB T
P P P + =
Amplitude Modulation
3. Single sideband, Full Carrier Transmission or H3E emission
- Form of amplitude modulation in which the carrier is transmitted at full
power, but only one sideband is transmitted
USB T LSB T
P Pc P or P Pc P + = + =
4. Single Sideband, Suppressed Carrier Transmission (SSBSC) or J3E
emission
- Form of amplitude modulation in which the carrier is totally suppressed and
only one sideband is transmitted.
- It reduces the amount of power and bandwidth necessary to transmit a
given amount of information.
- Used for radio communication.
USB T LSB T
P P or P P = =
5. Single sideband, Reduced Carrier Transmission or R3E
- Form of amplitude modulation in which one sideband is totally removed
and the carrier voltage is reduced to approximately 10% of its unmodulated
amplitude
Amplitude Modulation
6. Two independent sidebands, with an attenuated or suppressed carrier
Transmission or B8E
- Also known as ISB (independent sideband emission).
- A form of amplitude modulation in which a single carrier frequency is
independently modulated by two different modulating signals.
- Used for HF point to point radiotelephony
7. Vestigial Sideband Transmission or C3F
- Used for TV video transmission
- A form of amplitude modulation in which the carrier and one complete
sideband are transmitted, but only part of the second sideband is
transmitted.
- Picture carrier and only a small vestige of the lower sideband is
transmitted to conserve bandwidth.
8. Amplitude Compandored Single Sideband (ACSSB)
- recently developed AM system in which the speech signal is compressed
at the transmitter and expanded at the receiver.
Amplitude Modulation
100 x
n suppressio without power Total
n suppressio during saved Power
SAVING POWER % =
PERCENTAGE POWER SAVING
SINGLE SIDEBAND TRANSMITTER RATING
R
V
PK
2
2
PEP
|
.
|

\
|
=
Where: PEP = peak envelope power (W)
Vpk = peak voltage (V)
R = load resistance (ohms)
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
1. An audio signal whose mathematical representation is 25 sin 2t1000t
modulates a carrier described as 75 sin 2t150000t. Determine the
following:
a) sketch of the modulating signal
b) sketch of the carrier
c) sketch of the AM wave
d) modulation index and percent modulation
e) instantaneous voltage equation of the AM signal
f) frequency spectrum of the AM signal
g) bandwidth
2. An antenna transmit an AM signal having a total power content of 15KW.
Determine the power being transmitted at the carrier and at each sideband
when the %M is 85% and find the efficiency of transmission.
3. An AM signal contains 4000W at the carrier frequency and 1000 W in
each of its sidebands. Determine the following:
a) total power of the AM signal
b) %M and m
c) total power of the AM signal when the %M is changed to 70%
4. When a broadcast transmitter is 50% modulated, its total antenna current
is 12 A. What is the carrier unmodulated current? What will be the total
modulated current when the modulation depth is increased to 0.9?
5. A certain transmitter radiates 9KW with the carrier unmodulated, and 12KW
when the carrier is sinusoidally modulated. Calculate the modulation index.
If another sine wave, corresponding to 30% modulation, is transmitted
simultaneously, determine the total modulation index and total radiated power.
6. The antenna current of an AM broadcast transmitter, modulated to a depth of
40% by an audio signal, is 10 A. It is increased to 12 A as a result of the
simultaneous modulation by another sine wave. Determine the following:
a) Carrier current
b) Total modulation index
c) Modulation index due to the second wave
7. A SSB transmission contains 800W. This transmission is to replaced by a
DSBFC AM signal with the same power content. Determine the power being
transmitted at the carrier and at each sideband when the %M is 85%. Find the
efficiency of transmission.
8. A SSB signal contains 10KW. How much power is contained in the sideband
and how much at the carrier?
9. A 500 W carrier is modulated to a depth of 75%. Calculate the total power in
the modulated wave in the following form of AM transmission.
a) DSBFC
b) DSBSC
c) SSBFC
d) SSBSC
REFERENCES
Electronic Communication Systems Through
Advanced by W. Tomasi
Communication Electronics by L. Frenzel
Lecture Notes in Principles of Communication
by A.H. Ballado and M.M. Sejera
Electronic Communication Systems by
G. Kennedy