Laboratory Exercise 5 PULSE TIME MODULATION Performance Objectives: ‘A. Demonstrate how to generate Pulse-Time Modulated (PTM) signals. Examine Pulse- ‘Width Modulated (PWM) and Pulse-Position ‘Modulation (PPM) signals. B. Demonstrate how to reconstruct the original intelligence from PWM and PPM signals using low-pass filters. Basic Concepts 1. Pulse-time modulation is a modulation tech- nique that includes pulse-width modulation (PWM) and pulse-position modulation (PPD. 2. Pulse-amplitude modulation is frequently used as an intermediate step in generating pulse- time modulated signals, 3, Pulse-width modulation is the process in which the width of each pulse of a pulse waveform is made proportional to the amplitude of the intelligence signal. 4. Afrequent use for pulse-width modulation is to generate pulse-position modulated signals. Pulse-position modulation is the process of a fixed width, fixed amplitude pulse that varies position proportional to the amplitude of the intelligence signal. 6. A detector circuit consisting of low-pass filters can be used to reconstruct the intelligence from PWM and PPM signals. Introductory Information ‘There are different methods used to pulse modulate a signal. Each method gets its name from the way samples or pulses are varied to represent the in. telligence. Two common types of pulse modulation are pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) and pulse time modulation (PTM). A PAM signal, is shown in Figure 5-la. A PAM signal is rarely used for trans. mission purposes. The reason is that the modulating. information contained in the amplitude of the pulses can easily be distorted during transmission by noise, crosstalk, or other forms of distortion. PAM is used. frequently in pulse-time modulation and division multiplexing Pulse-time modulation represents a general category ofpulse modulation techniques. In PTM, the timing of the pulse, and not the amplitude (as in PAM), is the PRINCIPLES cE 2 I WLLL Figure 5-1 variable. Two types of PTM are pulse-width modula- tion (PWM) and pulse-position modulation (PPM). Pulse-width modulation (PWM) signalls are generated when the intelligence is sampled at regular intervals and the pulse width is proportional to the amplitude ofthe intelligence at the time of sampling as shown in Figure 5-1b. The pulses are equal in amplitude and each leading edge of the pulses is the same time apart, ‘The trailing edge of the pulses is not. Two variations of this method are possible. One variation is when the trailing edge of the pulses is the same time apart and the leading edge is varied with the modulation. The other variation is when the center of the pulses is the same time apart and the pulse width is varied with the modulation. This form of modulation is known as class D modulation. PWM is commonly used to gener- ate PPM, Pulse-position modulation (PPM) signals are gener- ‘ated when fixed-width, fixed amplitude pulses vary their position due to the change in amplitude of the intelligence as shown in Figure 5-1c. PPM signals are commonly generated by the trailing edge of the PWM 51signals. Bach PPM pulse varies position due to the varying trailing edge of the PWM signal. An advantage of PPM is that it saves power by using a small, fixed, transmitted pulse, Sampling rates, guard-time allowances, and time- division multiplexing apply to all forms of PTM as they apply to PAM signals, Several methods are used in a receiver to detect PTM signals and reconstruct the transmitted intelligence. ‘One method is shown in Figure 5-2 for a PWM signal. A PAM signal is generated in the receiver from the PWM. signals. The PAMsignalis then demodulated. Convert- ing the PWM signal to a PAM signal before demodula. tion removes some of the noise received on the signal, aw Figure 5-2 ‘A disadvantage of this method is that symehroniza- tion with the input PWM signal is required to convert, the PWM signal into a PAM signal, Another method used in a receiver to detect PTM signals is shown in Figure 5-3 for a PPM signal. Figure 5-3 A PWM signal is generated in the receiver from the input PPM signal. Synchronization with the input PPM signals is required to convert to the PWM signals, After conversion, the PWM signals are demodulated to reconstruct the original intelligence signal. An advantage of this method is that a PWM signal will output a much higher amplitude reconstructed in- telligence signal than a PPM signal. The reason for this, isthat PPM pulses are very narrow and are spaced far apart. ‘The most simple method used to detect PTM signals is, shown in Figure 5-4. PWM or PPM signals are input directly to a demodulator. The demodulator detects the average value contained in the pulse waveform which is proportional to the intelligence signal. The PTM signals are demodulated and the original in telligence is reconstructed. This method yields a very low amplitude detected intelligence signal for a PPM signal input because PPM pulses have very narrow Pulse widths and are spaced far apart. AAT, SUL Figure 5-4 Additional Reading See the bibliography at the back of this manual for additional reading material on Pulse-Time Modulation. Equipment And Materials PowerSource +15Vde, 100mA PowerSource — -15Vde, 100mA Pulse Modulation Trainer AF Generator Dual-Trace Oscilloscope Frequency Counter Exercise Procedure Objective A. Demonstrate how to generate Pulse- ‘Time Modulated (PTM) signals. Examine Pulse- Width Modulated (PWM) and Pulse-Position Modulated (PPM) signals, Preparatory Information PTM signals such as PWM and PPM are frequently transmitted instead of PAM signals. One reason for this is that PAM signals can be distorted easier than PWM or PPM signals, PAM is frequently used in the generation of PWM and PPM signals as shown in Figure 5-5. The PWM signal is generated from the sampled PAM signal, The leading edge of the PWM Pulses is fixed and the position of the trailing edge of the pulses is determined by the instantaneous ampli tude of the intelligence signal as shown in Figure 5-6. 5:2 Pulse Time Modulation Principles rr oOane ea saxgee | Moses oS Figure 5-6 PPM signals are generated easily from PWM signals as, shown in Figure 5-5. PPM signals are fixed-width, fixed-amplitude pulses whose position varies with the instantaneous amplitude of the intelligence signal. Figure 5-6 showsthe relationship of the PPM signal to the intelligence and PWM signal. A block diagram of a system used to generate PWM and PPM signals is shown in Figure 5-7. ‘The intelligence signal and sampling pulses are input to the PAM modulator. A PAM staircase signal is ‘output from the PAM modulator and input to the summing amplifier. The sampling pulses that are input to the PAM modulator are also input to the sawtooth generator. A series of sawtooth pulses, with equal ramps, amplitudes, and duration, are output from the sawtooth generator and input to the ‘summing amplifier. The sawtooth pulses are added to the PAM staircase signals in the summing amplifier to generate ramp signals that vary in amplitude. The amplitude of the ramp signal vary according to the instantaneous amplitude of the intelligence signal added to the staircase signal from the PAM modu- lator. The varying-height ramps are input to a pulse width modulator which generates the PWM pulses. ‘The width of the PWM pulses is determined by the height of the ramps at the input to the pulse-width modulator, The PWM pulses can be transmitted directly or used as the input to a pulse-position modulator to generate PPM signals. ‘The PWM signal is input to the pulse-position modu- lator, and pulses are generated whose leading edge ‘occur at the trailing edge of each PWM pulse. The PPM. pulses output from the pulse-position modulator Pulse Time Modulation Principles 5-3 have fixed amplitude and fixed pulse-width but the pulse position is variable and proportional to the original intelligence signal. The timing diagram of Figure 5-8 summarizes the operation of Figure 5-7. ‘The height of the ramp signal follows the amplitude of the intelligence and PAM signals. The pulse width of the PWM signals increase and decrease with the changing height of the ramp signals. The leading edge of the PPM signals occur at the trailing edge of the PWM signals. Figure 5-8 A diagram of the circuitry used on the trainer to demonstrate PWM and PPM generation is shown in Figure 5-9. The block diagrams are identical to the circuitry used in previous laboratory exercises. The schematic diagrams are of the ramp generator, com parator, and pulse generator. NS Figure 5-75-4 _ Pulse Time Modulation Principles Figure 5-9 ‘The intelligence signal is input to the sample/hold circuit at J14 and the frequency of the clock deter: mines the sampling period. A sampling pulse is developed in the sample/hold circuit at the trailing edge of each clock input at J15. Actual sampling is controlled by the sampling pulse at J17. During each sampling pulse the sample/hold circuit will output an instantaneous value of the intelligence signal at J16. ‘The sample/hold circuit holds this instantaneous value at J16 until the next sampling pulse is gener- ated from the clock input and then outputs a new instantaneous value at J16. The output waveform of the sample/hold circuit at J16 is a PAM stairease signal and is input to the adder circuit at J26. ‘The sampling pulses at J17 generated in the sample/hold circuit to sample the intelligence signal input are also used as the input to the ramp gener- ator. The ramp generator consists of operational amplifier U11, JFET Ql, and associated components. ULIB operates as a non-inverting comparator. The threshold voltage input to the comparator on pin 6 is set by a voltage divider consisting of R25 and R26. With no sampling pulse at J22 and pin 5, pin 6 ismore positive than pin 5 driving the output of the compar- ator at pin 7 close to the -12V supply voltage. This negative voltage at pin 7 turns QI off and allows a ramp voltage to be developed at J23, ULLA operates as an inverting integrator and inverts the negative input voltage on pin 2 to a positive voltage at J23. The SLOPE ADJ potentiometer R28 and resistor R29 in series with capacitor C25 form an RC circuit. Capacitor C25 charges from -12V through R28 and R29 to the positive supply voltage at J23 with QI off. A linear ramp voltage develops at J23 as C25 charges, ‘The amplitude of the ramp voltage is set by potentio- meter R28. When a sampling pulseis input at J22, pin 5 of U11B becomes more positive than pin 6 driving ‘the output of UIIB at pin 7 to +12V. The positive voltage at pin 7 is input through a current limiting resistor R27 to the gate of QI turning it on. C25 discharges through QI making the ramp voltage zero with QI on. QI stays on provided the sampling pulse at ULIB pin 5 (J22) is more positive than the voltage input to pin 6 of UI1B. At the end of the sampling pulse, C25 starts to charge to develop another ramp voltage. The ramp voltage at J23 is input to the adder cireuit at 324 ‘The adder circuit adds the PAMstaircase signal input, at J26 to the ramp voltage input at J24. The resulting signal output from the adder at J27 is a ramp signal that follows the amplitude of the intelligence signal. ‘The output of theadder cireuit isinput to UL2 pin 2at, 28, Operational amplifier U12 operates as a non. inverting comparator and generates the PWM signal, ‘The threshold input voltage to U12 at pin 3s set by a voltage divider consisting of resistor R30 and ‘THRESHOLD ADJ potentiometer R31. Potentiometer R3I, in conjunction with R28 in the ramp generator, set the unmodulated pulse width of the PWM signal at 329 and J30, The output of U12 at pin 7 is a+5V PWM pulse referenced to ground and its pulse width is determined by the amplitudes of the varying-height ramp signal input at U12 pin 2. Resistor R32 is apull-up resistor causing the output of U12 pin 7 to operate at ground or +5V. The output of U12 pin 7 is grounded until the input ramp voltage exceeds the reference voltage at pin 3. U12 pin Tis at +5V when the ramp voltage exceeds the reference voltage. The higher the input ramp voltage exceeds the reference voltage, the wider the PWM pulse width at pin 7. Capacitors C26 and C27 are supply voltage decoup!- ing capacitors. The +5V pulse at U12 pin 7 is input to U13B pin 5 and inverted to a -BV pulse at pin 4 (J29). ‘The -BV pulse from U13B pin 4 is input to U13A pin 3 and inverted at pin 2 (J30) to become the comple- ment of the PWM signal at J29. The complementary PWM signal has its leading edge varyingiin time and its trailing edge fixed. The PWM signal at J29 is the input to the pulse generator cireuit at J31 ‘The pulse generator circuit consisting of U13D, E, F, and associated components generates the PPM signal. ‘The positive PWM signal input to U13D at pin 9 (J31) is inverted at pin 10. The inverted PWM signal at pin 10 is differentiated by capacitor C30 and TIME CONST ADJ potentiometer R33. Negative excursions of the differentiated signal are shunted to ground through diode CR9. The positive excursions, oc- curring at the trailing edge of the PWM input signal at 4JB1, are inverted by U13E at pin 12 (J32). The pulse at 1382 is the PPM signal and its leading edge occurs at ‘the trailing edge of the PWM signal, The PPM signal at. 532 is inverted by UL3F at J33 to become the comple- ment of the PPM signal at J32. Potentiometer R33 sets the width of the PPM signals at J32 and J33. © 1. a) With the power off, connect the circuit shown in Figure 5-10. Apply power to the trainer, AF generator, oscilloscope, and frequency counter. Ad- Just the FREQ ADJ controlon the CLOCK circuit to set ‘the sampling signal frequency at J22 to 12kHz, (1 __b) Set the AF generator frequency to 1kHz and adjust the AF level control to output a3Vp-psine wave at J14, What does this signal represent? Pulse Time Modulation Principles 55 a Ce) Connect the channel 2 probe to J23. Adjust the SLOPE ADJ controlon the ramp generator/ adder circuit for a 9Vp-p ramp signal. What is the destination and purpose of this ramp voltage? GQ __ @) Set the output of the AF generator to ‘minimum. Move the channel 2 probe connected at J23 to J27. Set the oscilloscope sweep speed to 0.2 millisecond and trigger the oscilloscope on channel 1 While viewing the ramp signal on the oscilloscope, adjust the AF level control on the AF generator to output a3Vp-psine wave at J14, What type of signal is shown on channel 2? Explain.5-6 _ Pulse Time Modulation Principles i De) Set the output of the AF generator to minimum. Move the channel 2 probe connected at J27 to J29 and trigger the oscilloscope from channel2. Set the oscilloscope sweep speed to view three pulses, What type of pulses are shown at J29 with the AF generator output set to minimum? CO £) Turnthe THRESHOLD ADJ controlon the ‘comparator/pulse generator circuit for asymmetrical squarewave (50 percent duty cycle). What reference have you set with this adjustment with respect to the PWM signals? © g) Move the channel 1 probe connected at 414 to J17, Trigger the oscilloscope on channel 1 Increase then decrease the AF level controlon the AF generator while observing the PWM signal. With reference to the sampling pulse at J17, which edge of the PWM signal at J29 is being modulated? Ch) Move the channel 2 probe connected at 329 to J30, Increase then decrease the AF level control on the AF generator while observing the PWM signal, With reference to the sampling pulse at J17, which edge of the PWM signal at J30 is being modulated? C4) Move the channel 1 probe connected at JIT to J14. Set the AF level control on the AF generator to output a 3Vp-p sine wave at J14, Move the channel 1 probe connected at J14 to J28, Set the oscilloscope sweep speed to 0.2 milliseconds. Adjust the oscilloscope trigger level control as necessary for stable signals on channel | and channel2, What is the relationship between the amplitude of the ramp signals on channel | and the width of the PWM signals, on channel 2? CQ __§) Set the output of the AF generator to minimum. Move the channel 1 probe connected at J28 to J29 and the channel 2 probe from J30 to J33. Set the oscilloscope sweep speed to view three pulses, What type of signals are observed at J33? Ok) Adjust the TIME CONST ADJ on the comparator/pulse generator circuit to obtain 10 microsecond PPM signals at J33. Where is the position of the leading edge of the PPM signals with reference to the PWM signals at J297 O1) Move the channel 1 probe connected at J29 to J14. Adjust the AF level control on the AP generator to output a 3Vp-p sine wave at J14, Move the channel 1 probe connected at J14 to J29. Using the oscilloscope magnifier if necessary, observe the trailing edge of the PWM signals and the position of the PPM signals. What is causing the trailing edge of the PWM signal to change position, and how does that. affect the position of the PPM signals? Cm) Tum off power to all equipment. Objective B. Demonstrate how to reconstruct the original intelligence from PWM and PPM signals using low-pass filters. Preparatory Information Pulse width modulated (PWM) and pulse-position modulated (PPM) signals can be demodulated di- rectly by low-pass filters as shown by the block diagram in Figure 6-11 Pulse Time Modulation Principles —_5- ny al Pn Direct detection is possible with low-pass filters because the PWM signal average pulse width and the PPM signal average position are proportional to the amplitude of the intelligence signal. The low-pass filters extract these average values from the PWM and PPM signals and output a reasonable replica of the original intelligence signal. The first low-pass filter inputs the constant amplitude PWM or PPM signals and outputs a reconstructed intelligence signal con- taining a high frequency component from the sampI- ing pulses, The second low-pass filter connected in series provides the additional filtering necessary to produce a reconstructed intelligence signal with much less distortion. ‘The direct detection method works for both PWM and PPM signals, but the amplitude of the reconstructed intelligence signal from a PPM signal is very low ‘compared to a PWM signal. This is because the PPM signals consist of very narrow pulses spaced far apart. Ablock diagram of the circuitry used on the trainer to ‘demonstrate PWM and PPM signal detection is shown in Figure 5-12. All of the circuitry used to generate PWM and PPM signals was discussed in Objective A in this laboratory exercise, PWM signals are output from the comparator circuit at J29. PPM signals are output from the pulse generator circuit at J33 when PWM signals are input at J31. ‘The PWM signals at J29 are input to two series- connected low-pass filters at J34 for demodulation. ‘The output of the filters at J37 is the reconstructed intelligence signal. The amplitude of the intelligence ignal is determined by the average of the pulse- widths of the PWM signals input to the filters at J34, ‘The intelligence signal at J37 isa reasonable replica of the original intelligence signal. AC gan a Figure 5-125-8 Pulse Time Modulation Principles ED a Figure 5-13 ‘The PWM signals output from the comparator circuit at J29 are also used to generate PPM signals, With the circuit connected using the dashed lines, (no connec- tion between J29 and J34) the PWM signals from the comparator circuit are input to the pulse generator at 4J81. The pulse generator converts the PWM signals to PPM signals which have fixed amplitudes and pulse widths, The leading edge of the PPM signals occur at the trailing edge of the PWM signals. The PPM signals output at J33 are input to the two series-connected low-pass filters at J34 for demodulation. The output of the filters at J37 is the reconstructed intelligence signal. The amplitude of the intelligence signal at J37 is determined by the average of the time between the PPM signals into the filters at J34. The intelligence signal at J37 is a reasonable replica of the intelligence signal. © 2 a) With the power off, connect the circuit shown in Figure 5-13 using the solid lines (Connect a Jumper wire from J29 to J34. The dashed line connec- tions will be madein step gof this exercise procedure.) Connect the channel 1 probe to J23. Apply power to the trainer, AF generator, oscilloscope, and frequency counter. Adjust the FREQ ADJ control on the clock circuit until the counter indicates 12kHz, Set the AF generator frequency to 1kHz and adjust the AF level control to minimum output, © _b) Adjustthe SLOPE ADJ on the ramp gener- ator circuit for a 9Vp-p signal at J23. Move the channel 1 probe connected at J23 vo J29. Set the oscilloscope sweep speed to 20 microseconds. Adjust the THRESHOLD ADJ control on the comparator circuit for a symmetrical squarewave (50 percent duty cycle) at J29. What do these pulses represent? © __&) Move the channel 1 probe connected at 4329 to J14. Adjust the AF level control on the AF generator to output a 3Vp-p sine wave at J14. What does this signal represent? Od) Place the channel 2 probe at J37. Are the demodulated PWM signals on channel 2 reasonable replicas of the intelligence signals on channel 1? OQ _e) Move the channel 2 probe connected at 4J87 to J35. Does the detected AF signal contain a ripple component? OC __£) Decrease the AF amplitude to zero and connect the frequency counter to J35 and measure the ripple frequency. What can you conclude from the frequency indicated on the frequency counter? SyDg) Turn off power to the trainer. Insert the pulse generator in the circuit by removing the jumper wire from J34 and connecting it to J31 on the pulse generator as shown by the dashed lines. Place a Jumper wire between J33 on the pulse generator and 334 on low-pass filter A. Oh) Turn the AF level control on the AF generator to minimum and move the channel 2 probe connected at J35 to J33. Apply power to the trainer. Turn the TIME CONST ADJ on the pulse generator circuit to obtain 10 microsecond PPM signals at J33. What do the pulses at J33 on channel 2 represent? (i) Move the channel 2 probe connected at 4433 to J37. Increase the output of the AF generator for a 3Vp-p pulse at J14 on channel 1. Are the demodulated PPM signals on channel 2 reasonable replicas of the intelligence signals on channel 1? D5) Turn off power to all equipment. Summary In this laboratory exercise you connected a circuit used to generate PWM and PPM signals. You observed how the sampled signals were generated and added to a ramp signal with fixed amplitude and ramp length to provide a varying-height ramp signal. The height of the ramp signal varied with the amplitude of the intelligence signal. The varying-height ramp signal was converted to PWM signals and the height of the ramp determined the pulse width of the PWM signals. Pulse Time Modulation Principles 5-9 Finally you observed how the PWM signals were converted to PPM signals by inputting the PWM signals into a pulse generator. The generator output, PPM pulses with fixed amplitudes and pulse widths, and whose leading edge occurred at the trailing edge of the PWM signals, You also connected a circuit on the trainer to detect PWM and PPM signals. You observed how inputting PWM or PPM signals into low-pass filters demodu- lated the signal inputs. You saw that the output of the filters were reasonable replicas of the intelligence signal for both PWM and PPM input signals, Quiz 1. PTM has more applications than PAM because PTM signals require less circuitry to generate. PAM signals use more transmitter power. PTM signals are less subject to noise. PAM signals require more bandwidth Bore 2. Which one of the following statements is TRUE? a. PTM signals cannot be time-division multi- plexed. b. An advantage of PWM is its varying pulse width. ¢. PWM signals can be easily generated from PPM signals. 4. PPM saves transmitter power. 3. Ifa conversion process were used to detect PWM and PPM signals, PPM would be more difficult to detect because the ‘a. PPM pulses require synchronization with the transmitted signals, b. PPM pulses are very narrow. c. width of the PPM pulses never change. 4d. duty cycle of PPM pulses is very low. 4. The output of a low-pass filter used to detect PWM signals is an average of the of the input signals. pulse widths pulse amplitude pulse frequency distance between pulses Pore 5. The sample/hold circuit used in this laboratory exercise in the generation of PTM signals was used as a a. signal mixer.5-10 __ Pulse Time Modulation Principles b. PAM modulator, c multiplexer. @. converter. 6. Because the pulse width of a PWM signal changes in accordance with the amplitude of the modulat- ing intelligence, it can be said that the tr: edge of a PWM signal is modulated. a. amplitude Oo ©) O