Execution of Experiments FOR SUCCESS!

Before each laboratory you are expected to have read through the experiment and
answered all of the preliminary questions. All preliminary questions will have an
asterisk (*) next to them. The preliminary work is worth 20% of the report mark.
Note: For safety reasons the supervisor is obliged to prevent any student from
participating in the laboratory session if they believe that student has not met the above
conditions.
Write up all the experiments on the sheets provided and hand them to your laboratory
supervisor. The lab supervisors will advise you on the due dates for the reports.
The experiments are based on the TIMS units; these units contain the various building
blocks required to implement various communications systems. Refer to
http://www.tims.com.au/system.html for a description of the TIMS Unit.

Best ways to fail experiments !!!

• Not preparing, ie reading the theory, or completing the preliminary work.
• Being careless with the equipment
• Not asking the demonstrator for help
• Not answering all the questions in the lab.
• Writing vague conclusion statements such as:
"All the objectives were met"
"It was the supervisor's fault"
"Doing this experiment was very revealing"
"The gear wouldn't work properly"
"It was a good experiment, we learned a lot"

Key to abbreviations in experiment

CRO Cathode Ray Oscilloscope
H scale :- Horizontal scale
V scale :- Vertical scale
i/p :- input
o/p :- output
DSB Double Sideband
DAS :- Dual Analogue Switch
ASK :- Amplitude Shift Keying
FSK :- Frequency Shift Keying
USB :- Upper Sideband
LSB :- Lower Sideband TIMS Unit
QPS :- Quadrature Phase Splitter

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Swinburne University of Technology

Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies
ASSIGNMENT AND PROJECT COVER SHEET

Unit Code: TNE30003 Unit Title: Communications Principles

Lab number and title: Time Domain  Frequency Domain Due date:

Lab group Day: Time: Demonstrator:

Family name: Doan Student ID: 102855707

Other names: Le Tien Dung (John)

To be completed if this is an individual assignment

I declare that this assignment is my individual work. I have not worked collaboratively nor have
I copied f rom any other student’s work or f rom any other source except where due
acknowledgment is made explicitly in the text, nor has any part been written f or me by another
person.
Signature: John

To be completed if this is a group assignment

We declare that this is a group assignment and that no part of this submission has been copied
f rom any other student's work or f rom any other source except where due acknowledgment is
made explicitly in the text, nor has any part been written f or us by another person.

ID Number Name Signature

Marker's comments:

Total Mark:

Extension certification:

This assignment has been given an extension and is now due on

Signature of Convenor:

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Experiment 1
TIME DOMAIN  FREQUENCY DOMAIN
Preliminaries
The preliminary work is worth 20% of the report mark and must be completed before
the laboratory session.
Enter all your results in the next section, the background and methodology can be found
in page 10.

Results
1. Single Sinusoid (Single Tone)
1.1. Preliminary Work
Given a 2 kHz, 4Vp-p sinusoid as the time domain signal. Sketch both time and
frequency domain waveforms in the predicted graphs of Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Clearly scale and label the axes, identifying key parts like max ampl. and period

Predicted (time domain) Observed (time domain)

Figure 1 Time Domain representation of a Single Sinusoid

Predicted (frequency domain) Observed (frequency domain)

Figure 2 Frequency Domain representation of a Single Sinusoid

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1.2. Compare your predictions with the experimental results commenting on

differences.
Note if your results are in dB, you must convert to Volts.

1.3. What is the relationship between the strength of the impulse and the amplitude
of the sinusoid? Note this will be useful when taking measurements in the next
sections.

2. Addition of Two Sinusoids

2.1. Preliminary Work
Given the following time domain expression:
y(t) = 2sin(22103t ) + 2sin(25103t)

Express this signal in the frequency domain and sketch both time and frequency
waveforms in the predicted graphs of Figure 3 and Figure 4. Clearly scale and label
the axes , identifying key parts like max amplitude and period.

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Predicted (time domain) Observed (time domain)

Figure 3 Time Domain representation of the addition of two Sinusoids

Predicted (frequency domain) Observed (frequency domain)

Figure 4 Frequency Domain representation of the addition of two Sinusoids

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2.2. Compare your predictions with the experimental results commenting on

differences.

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3. Product of Two Sinsoids

3.1. Preliminary Work
Given the following time domain expression:
y(t) = 2sin( 22103t )  2sin(25103t)
Express this signal in the frequency domain and sketch the resultant frequency and
time domain waveforms in the predicted graphs of Figure 5 and Figure 6. Clearly
scale and label the axes, identifying key parts like max amplitude and period.

Predicted (time domain) Observed (time domain)

Figure 5 Time Domain representation of the product of two Sinusoids

Predicted (frequency domain) Observed (frequency domain)

Figure 6 Frequency Domain representation of the product of two Sinusoids

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3.2. Compare your predictions with the experimental results commenting on

differences.

4. Square Wave
4.1. Preliminary work
Given a 2 kHz, 0-4V square wave as the time domain signal derive frequency
domain representation mathematically and sketch the resultant frequency and time
domain waveforms in the predicted graphs of Figure 7 and Figure 8. Include all
harmonics up to 20kHz. Clearly scale and label the axes, identifying key parts like
max amplitude and period.

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Predicted (time domain) Observed (time domain)

Figure 7 Time Domain representation of the Square wave

Predicted (frequency domain) Observed (frequency domain)

Figure 8 Frequency Domain representation of the Square wave

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4.2. What is the Duty cycle of this signal?

4.3. Comment on the comparison between the predicted results and those predicted
by theory. Is this a “perfect” square wave? Discuss.

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5. Conclusion

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 Method
Introduction
To better understand the transition from time domain to frequency domain, we shall
observe a series of different waveforms in both domains and record their characteristics.
To re-enforce this practical knowledge you are expected to verify your experimental
results with mathematical proofs see the preliminary work.
Before you commence the experiment, spend time understanding how the Pico Virtual
Instrument works. (Refer to Appendix 1) Also familiarise yourself with the layout of
the TIMS Unit.
Required Modules:
Adder, Multiplier and Audio Oscillator

1. Single Sinusoid (Single Tone)

1.1. Power up the "TIMS" unit by using the switch at the back.
1.2. Connect the Pico Virtual Instrument (PicoScope) to the PC as per Appendix 1
1.3. On the "TIMS" unit, connect the 2 kHz (sin t) message found on the “Master
Signals” module, to input A-CH1 of the “Scope Selector” module. Making
sure the toggle switch is set to A, connect CH1 of the scope selector to CHA
of the PicoScope Virtual Instrument via the coaxial cable provided (See Figure
1.1). Observe and record the time domain signal, noting characteristics such as
frequency and amplitude. (Note: make sure that the probe setting on the CRO
is 1X). If you use the PicoScope set the trigger to Auto or Ch A.

MASTER SCOPE
SIGNALS SELECTOR
Note:
Yellow jacks: Analog 100 kHz sint A To
Signals Carrier PicoScope
Red jacks: Digital B
cost
Signals
8.3 kHz
Sample TTL
Clock
A

2 kHz
Messagesint B

Figure 1-1 Connection Diagram

1.4. The Frequency domain information can be obtained by using the Pico Virtual
Instrument, as per section 1.4.1.
1.4.1. Launch PicoScope on the PC (double click the icon). Connect the BNC CH1
output of the “Scope Selector” module to the A input of the PicoScope. To
display the spectrum click on the spectrum analyser icon in the PicoScope
menu bar. Set the Max Frequency (menu bar) to 12.21 kHz. To set the Y
scale to volts, choose Settings Spectrum options icon, spectrum window will
open, change the Y scale to volts.

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2. Addition of Two Sinusoids

2.1. Connect the 2 kHz (sin t) signal to input A of the “Adder” module
2.2. Connect input B to ground (GND).
2.3. Connect the output of the “Adder”(GA+gB) to input A-CH1 of “Scope
Selector”.
2.4. Adjust the G control so that the output of the adder is  4Vpp sinewave. Use
the PicoScope to verify this.
2.5. Disconnect the ground from the B input
2.6. Connect the (sin t) output of the “Audio Oscillator” module to the analogue
input of the “Frequency Counter” module. Using the f control, adjust the
audio oscillator (sin t) output to 5 kHz. Now apply this 5 kHz signal to input
B of the “Adder” module. Ground input A of the “Adder”.
2.7. Adjust the g control so that the output of the adder is a 4Vpp sinewave.
Note: do not adjust the G control.
2.8. Remove the ground from input A of the “Adder” module and reconnect the 2
kHz message signal.
2.9. Observe and record the resultant waveform in both the time and frequency
domain, noting all the important characteristics. (As per section 1 Single
Sinusoid).
Note: The time domain waveform might be difficult to trigger. You can adjust the trigger
point on the Pico, refer to Appendix 1. If all else fails try using
START/STOP(PicoScope).

3. Product of Two Sinsoids

3.1. Connect the two signals used in section 2 above to the “Multiplier” module.
Make sure that you record the amplitude of each signal.
3.2. Observe and record the resultant waveform in both the time and frequency
domain, noting all the important characteristics.
Note: You can synchronise the CRO or Pico by connecting the 2 kHz message
to the “Ext” input of the PicoScope and selecting the “External Trigger”. This
will result in a stable trace on the oscilloscope.

4. Square Wave
4.1. Connect the TTL output (square wave) of the “Audio Oscillator” to the
“Scope Selector”.
4.2. Adjust the frequency of the square wave to 2 kHz. Observe and record the time
domain picture, noting all the important characteristics in the graph above.
4.3. Set the maximum frequency to 24.41 kHz on the spectrum analyser. Observe
and record the Frequency Domain spectrum using the PicoSoft Spectrum
Analyser, noting all the important characteristics.

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Appendix 1 Pico Virtual Instrument
The Pico ADC-200 is a PC based oscilloscope that can be used as a general purpose lab
oscilloscope, a spectrum analyser and a meter.

Connecting to the PC
Connect the USB-connector on the ADC-3204 to the USB Port closest to the power
switch on the front of the PC using the cable provided.
The red LED will glow to indicate that the unit has power. The light may switch off
when data is not being processed.
Connect a signal to the A input of the the PicoScope.
On the PC Start up the PicoScope software.
The unit operates in a similar fashion to a CRO.

Channel A Trigger

A B Ext

Channel B

PicoSoft Sotware:
Oscilloscope:
The real time digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) is similar to a typical ‘benchtop’ CRO
and has the usual timebase, and trigger options.

The DSO can be selected by clicking on the Oscilloscope icon on the PicoScope

Oscilloscope Timebase
Icon

Sensitivity Zoom
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A window will open will display the signal in the time domain. Eg:

The Triggering mode can be selected by using the toolbar at the bottom of the window.
Set this to Auto Channel A channel B or External as required.

See the help file for more detailed information.

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Spectrum Analyser
The spectrum analyser plots amplitude against frequency, in other words it shows
signals in the frequency domain. The spectrum analyser has the same trigger options as
the oscilloscope.
To use the spectrum analyser click on the Spectrum icon on the PicoScope toolbar:

Spectrum
Analyser Icon

Sensitivity Highest frequency

A window will open that will display the spectrum eg:

Zoom
Spectrum options icon

The zoom feature can be use to zoom magnify the frequency axis. This may be useful
when looking at modulated signals.
Note the y scale of the spectrum analyser is usually scaled in dB. If you would like the
scale to be in volts, then choose Spectrum options icon and change the Y scale to linear.

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Change to
Linear
See the help file for more detailed information.

XY Scope
The XY scope is used to plot one parameter against another. This is useful when
displaying the trapezoidal pattern for a DSB-LC signal.
To use this feature select Add View > XY from the Views menu. It automatically
chooses the two most suitable channels to place on the X and Y axes. Or you can change
the X axis channel assignment using the X-Axis command

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