Lab 01 : Amplitude Modulation

Institute of Information & Communication Technologies

Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro, Pakistan
Communication Systems
Lab 01
Roll Number ____________

Amplitude Modulation
1.1 Performance Objectives
After this lab, you should be able to:
To perform basic operations on signals
o Time Scaling
o Time Reversal
o Time Shift
To perform combinations of these operations on a signal
To plot the signals and their operated counterparts using Matlab

1.2 Equipment Required

PC with Windows
MATLAB 6.5 or latest with Signal Processing and Communication Toolbox

1.3 Amplitude Modulation

Amplitude modulation (AM) is a
modulation technique used in
electronic communication, most
commonly
for
transmitting
information via a radio carrier
wave. AM works by varying the
strength (amplitude) of the carrier
in proportion to the waveform
being sent. That waveform may,
for instance, correspond to the
sounds to be reproduced by a
loudspeaker, or the light intensity
of television pixels.

AM was the earliest modulation

method used to transmit voice by
radio. It was developed during the
first two decades of the 20th
century beginning with Reginald
Fessenden's
radiotelephone
experiments in 1900. It remains
in use today in many forms of
communication; for example it is
used in portable two way radios,
VHF
aircraft
radio
and
in
computer modems. "AM" is often
used to refer to medium-wave AM
radio broadcasting.

AM Concepts
Institute of information & Communication Technologies (IICT), MUET

Lab 01 : Amplitude Modulation

A modulator is a circuit used to

produce
AM.
Amplitude
modulators compute the product
of the carrier and modulating
signals.

Figure:
The
modulating
information signal.

or

Modulation
Index
Percentage of Modulation

Figure: Modulated Waveform.

In AM, it is particularly important

that the peak value of the
modulating signal be less than
the peak value of the carrier.

Vm < Vc

Distortion
occurs
when
the
amplitude of the modulating
signal is greater than the
amplitude of the carrier.

&

The modulation index (m) is a

value
that
describes
the
relationship
between
the
amplitude of the modulating
signal and the amplitude of the
carrier signal.
m = Vm / Vc

This index is also known as the

modulating
factor
or
coefficient, or the degree of
modulation.

Multiplying the modulation index

by 100 gives the percentage of
modulation.

Over modulation & Distortion

Institute of information & Communication Technologies (IICT), MUET

Lab 01 : Amplitude Modulation

The modulation index should be a

number between 0 and 1.

If the distortion is great enough,

the intelligence signal becomes
unintelligible.

If the amplitude of the modulating

voltage is higher than the carrier
voltage, m will be greater than 1,
causing distortion.

PROGRAM
Example 1: Amplitude Modulation
Institute of information & Communication Technologies (IICT), MUET

Lab 01 : Amplitude Modulation

t=linspace(0,30,100)
a=sin(t)
plot(t,a)
b=ammod(a,25,50)
plot(t,b)
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1

10

15

20

25

30

Example 2: Amplitude Modulation & Demodulation

%AMPLITUDE MODULATION
Fs = 10000; % Sampling rate of signal
Fc = 200; % Carrier frequency
t=[0:Fs-1]'/Fs; % Sampling times
x = sin(2*pi*t);
subplot(3,1,1);
plot(x);
title('Modulating Signal')
mi = 50; % Frequency deviation in modulated signal
y = ammod(x,Fc,Fs,mi); % Modulate .
subplot(3,1,2);
plot(y);
title('AM Modulated Waveform')
z = amdemod(y,Fc,Fs,mi); % Demodulate both channels.
subplot(3,1,3);
plot(z);
title('AM Demodulated Signal')

Institute of information & Communication Technologies (IICT), MUET

Lab 01 : Amplitude Modulation

Modulating Signal

1
0
-1

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000 10000

7000

8000

9000 10000

7000

8000

9000 10000

AM Modulated Waveform

1
0
-1

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

AM Demodulated Signal

2
0
-2

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

1.4 Review Questions

1. Why modulation is needed in a communication system? .
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2. What are the characteristics
communication devices ?

of

better-quality

receiver

in

the

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3. What do you mean by over modulation ?

Institute of information & Communication Technologies (IICT), MUET

Lab 01 : Amplitude Modulation

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Institute of information & Communication Technologies (IICT), MUET