Eastern Mediterranean University

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Communication Systems I Laboratory

LAB EXPERIMENT 5

PULSE AMPLITUDE MODULATION (PAM) & DEMODULATION

Objectives
 Understanding the principles of pulse amplitude modulation and demodulation using
MATLAB Simulink.
 Generating a waveform from an analog signal which looks like pulses and contains
the information present in the analog waveform by modulation.
 Applying sampling technique to produce a PAM signal.
 Performing the demodulation by recovering the original analog waveform from the
PAM signal through a low-pass filter.

Theory
Pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) and demodulation is the process of converting an
analog signal to a pulse-type signal in which the amplitude of the pulse denotes the analog
information and then recovering the original signal from the pulse amplitude modulated
signal. Two types of sampling are used to produce a PAM signal which are natural
sampling and instantaneous sampling that produces a flat-top pulse. If 𝜔(𝑡) is an analog
waveform bandlimited to 𝐵 hertz, the PAM signal that uses natural sampling (gating) is

𝜔𝑠 (𝑡) = 𝜔(𝑡)𝑠(𝑡) (1)

where
∞
𝑡 − 𝑘𝑇𝑠
𝑠(𝑡) = ∑ Π ( ) (2)
𝜏
𝑘=−∞

is a rectangular wave switching waveform and 𝑓𝑠 = 1⁄𝑇𝑠 ≥ 2𝐵. The duty cycle (ratio) of
𝑠(𝑡) is 𝑑 = 𝜏⁄𝑇𝑠 where 𝜏 is the pulse width and 𝑇𝑠 is the sampling time.
 0
t

(a) Baseband Analog Waveform

0
t
Ts
(b) Switching Waveform with Duty Cycle d = /T s = 1/3

t
0
Ts

(c) Resulting PAM Signal (natural sampling, d = /T s = 1/3)

Figure 1 PAM signal with natural sampling

Analog multiplier
( four-quadrant multiplier )

𝜔
PAM (natural sampling)
Low-pass filter

cos(n 𝜔 s t )

Oscillator
𝜔 o = n 𝜔s – f co f co f

where B < fco< f s – B

Figure 2 Demodulation of a PAM signal (naturally sampled).

Procedure
1. Switch on the computer and click on the MATLAB icon.
2. Go to start at the bottom of the command window, then select “Simulink” then go to
library browser and drag it into creating file. (or) Once you open the MATLAB, click
on the Simulink icon . Go to file and select new and then select model. You will get a
new window.
3. Arrange the functional blocks as shown in Simulink model.
4. Assign required parameters to each functional block.
5. Observe the outputs on scope.

Simulink Model
Parameters
Output
Homework

1. Find and plot as a figure the frequency spectrum of the analog sine wave of the
above experiment for the given period and pulse width. Use the time increment
𝑑𝑇 = 𝑇/(64 ∗ 512) and the number of samples 𝑀 = 256.
2. Which is better, natural sampling or flat topped sampling and why?
Submit your solutions and answers in the report format along with the code,
command window parameters and figures as hardcopy within one week from the
lab time.