MODULATION

This document covers the basics of amplitude modulation AM and frequency modulation FM:

AMPLITUDE MODULATION, AM
For conventional AM:
• Though the carrier component contains most of the transmitted power, it contains
no signal information.
• The sideband information is redundant. Both sidebands contain amplitude and
frequency information about the message.
• For a given bandwidth of channel (10KHz by law) the highest legal message signal
frequency is 5KHz.
• The envelope is the message, so an envelope detector is a sufficient demodulator.

Expressions for the amplitude modulated signal:

vout = Ecc [1 + m cos ωm t ] cos ωc t

mEcc mEcc
vout = Ecc cos ωct + cos ( ωc + ωm ) t + cos ( ωc − ωm ) t
14243
carrier 144
2 424443 144 2 424443
upper sideband lower sideband

Amplitudes are in peak volts.

Carrier frequency and amplitude carrier

peak volts lower frequency
sidebands: sideband
Ecc
upper
sideband
mEcc
2

frequency
ωc
ωc − ω m ωc + ω m

Modulation index:
Em
m≡
The ratio of the modulated signal amplitude to the carrier signal Ecc
amplitude.

Lower sideband frequency: ωc ωm

f LSB = fc − f m = −
2π 2π

Tom Penick tomzap@eden.com www.teicontrols.com/notes 4/7/00 Page 1 of 3

 Minimum bandwidth required: 2ωm
BWmin = f USB − f LSB =
2π

(v )
2
Carrier power: vpeak
P = where vRMS =
carrier (RMS)
c ,
RL 2

2
One sideband power: 1 
 mvcarrier (RMS) 
PSB =   ,
2 vpeak
where vRMS =
RL 2

Total power to load:  m2 

Ptotal = Pc  1 + 
 2 

FREQUENCY MODULATION, FM
For FM:
• The maximum frequency deviation (FCC regulation) is 75 KHz.
• Station frequency spacing is 200 KHz.

Expressions for the frequency modulated signal:

vout = Ecc ωc t + M f sin ωmt 

 J 0 ( M f ) cos ωc t + J1 ( M f ) cos ( ωc + ωm ) t − cos ( ωc − ωm ) t  

 
vout = Ecc + J 2 ( M f )  cos ( ωc + 2ωm ) t + cos ( ωc − 2ωm ) t  
 
+ J 3 ( M f )  cos ( ωc + 3ωm ) t − cos ( ωc − 3ωm ) t  + L 
Even for sinusoidal modulation the number of side frequency pairs is theoretically
(
infinite. The J n M f ) functions are Bessel functions. Amplitudes are in peak volts.

The instantaneous frequency: fi is the instantaneous frequency [Hz]

fc is the carrier frequency [Hz]
fi = f c + ∆f cos ωmt Hz ∆f is the frequency deviation [Hz]
ωm is the modulating signal frequency or
message signal [rad/s]

Modulation index:
∆f
Mf ≡
The ratio of the frequency deviation to the modulating signal fm
frequency.

Tom Penick tomzap@eden.com www.teicontrols.com/notes 4/7/00 Page 2 of 3

Minimum bandwidth required:
where n ≡ M f + 1 rounded to the next integer
BWmin = 2nf m

Tom Penick tomzap@eden.com www.teicontrols.com/notes 4/7/00 Page 3 of 3