Modulation

Modulation may be defined as the process by which some parameter of high frequency signal
termed as carrier is varied in accordance with the signal to be transmitted.

In the modulation process, two signals are used namely the modulating signal and the carrier.
The modulating signal is nothing but the baseband signal or information signal while the carrier
is a high frequency sinusoidal signal .

The receiver demodulates the received modulated signal and gets the original information
signal back. Thus, demodulation is exactly opposite to modulation . In the process of
modulation the carrier wave actually acts as carrier which carries the information signal from
the transmitter to receiver.

Need of Modulation

The baseband transmission has many limitations which can be overcome using modulation . It
is explained below:

1. Reduction in the height of antenna

2. Avoids mixing of signals
3. Increases the range of communication
4. Multiplexing is possible
5. Improves quality of reception

1. Reduction in the height of antenna

For the transmission of radio signals, the antenna height must be multiple of λ/4 ,where λ is the
wavelength .

λ = c /f

where, c = the velocity of light

f = the frequency of the signal to be transmitted

The minimum antenna height required to transmit a baseband signal of f = 10 kHz is calculated as
follows :

The antenna of this height is practically impossible to install .

Prepared by: Suchismita Biswas, Woemen’s Polytechnic, Chandannagar

Now, let us consider a modulated signal at f = 1 MHz . The minimum antenna height is given by,

This antenna can be easily installed practically. Thus, modulation reduces the height of the antenna .

2. Avoids mixing of signals

If the baseband sound signals are transmitted without using the modulation by more than one
transmitter, then all the signals will be in the same frequency range i.e. 0 to 20 kHz . Therefore,
all the signals get mixed together and a receiver can not separate them from each other .

Hence, if each baseband sound signal is used to modulate a different carrier then they will
occupy different slots in the frequency domain (different channels). Thus, modulation avoids
mixing of signals .

3. Increase the Range of Communication

The frequency of baseband signal is low, and the low frequency signals can not travel long
distance when they are transmitted. They get heavily attenuated. The attenuation reduces with
increase in frequency of the transmitted signal, and they travel longer distance.

The modulation process increases the frequency of the signal to be transmitted. Therefore, it
increases the range of communication.

4. Multiplexing is possible

Multiplexing is a process in which two or more signals can be transmitted over the same
communication channel simultaneously. This is possible only with modulation.

The multiplexing allows the same channel to be used by many signals. Hence, many TV channels
can use the same frequency range, without getting mixed with each other or different
frequency signals can be transmitted at the same time.

5. Improves Quality of Reception

With frequency modulation (FM) and the digital communication techniques such as PCM, the
effect of noise is reduced to a great extent. This improves quality of reception.
Prepared by: Suchismita Biswas, Woemen’s Polytechnic, Chandannagar
Amplitude Modulation:

Amplitude Modulation is defined as a system of modulation in which the amplitude of the

carrier is made proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of the modulating voltage.

Let, the carrier voltage vc = VCSin wct ……………….(1)

And the modulating voltage vm = VmSin wmt ……..(2)

From the definition of amplitude modulation It is seen that the maximum amplitude of the
carrier Vc of the unmodulated carrier is made proportional to the instantaneous modulating
voltage VmSin wmt

𝑉𝑚
The ratio of = m is defined as the modulation index. It is a number lying between 0 and 1.
𝑉𝑐
And it is often expressed as a percentage and called percentage modulation.

The instantaneous voltage of the resulting amplitude modulated wave is

𝑣 = (𝑉𝑐 + 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝑤𝑚 𝑡) sin 𝑤𝑐 t

𝑉𝑚
=(𝑉𝑐 + 𝑚𝑉𝑐 sin 𝑤𝑚 t) sin 𝑤𝑐 t [ as =m ]
𝑉𝑐

= 𝑉𝑐 sin 𝑤𝑐 t + m𝑉𝑐 sin 𝑤𝑚 t sin𝑤𝑐 t

𝑚𝑉𝑐
=𝑉𝑐 sin 𝑤𝑐 t + . 2 sin 𝑤𝑚 t sin 𝑤𝑐 t
2
𝑚𝑉𝑐 𝑚𝑉𝑐
=𝑉𝑐 sin 𝑤𝑐 t + cos ( 𝑤𝑐 - 𝑤𝑚 ) t - cos (𝑤𝑐 + 𝑤𝑚 )t
2 2

From the above equation it is seen that the amplitude modulated wave contains
three terms. The first term is same as equation no. (1) and represents the
unmodulated carrier. The two additional terms produced are the two sidebands.
The frequency of the lower side band (LSB) is (𝑓𝑐 - 𝑓𝑚 ) and the frequency of the
upper side band (USB) is (𝑓𝑐 +𝑓𝑚 ).

Therefore the band width required for amplitude modulation is twice the
frequency of the modulating signal. In modulation by several Sine waves
simultaneously, the band width is twice the highest modulating frequency.

Prepared by: Suchismita Biswas, Woemen’s Polytechnic, Chandannagar

 FREQUENCY SPECTRUM OF AM WAVE
(Frequency Domain Representation of AM wave)

From the above diagram it is seen that

𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑉𝑚 =
2

𝑉𝑐 = 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 - 𝑉𝑚

𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛
= 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 -
2

2𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑉max + 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛

=
2
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛
=
2
𝑉𝑚
Therefore modulation index m =
𝑉𝑐

𝑉max − 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛
m =
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛

Prepared by: Suchismita Biswas, Woemen’s Polytechnic, Chandannagar

Power Calculation in Amplitude Modulated Wave:
The equation of AM wave is,

𝑚𝑉𝑐 𝑚𝑉𝑐
𝑣 = 𝑉𝑐 𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑐 𝑡 + cos 𝑤𝑐 − 𝑤𝑚 𝑡 − cos 𝑤𝑐 + 𝑤𝑚 𝑡
2 2

It is seen that, the carrier component of the modulated wave has the same amplitude as the
unmodulated carrier. The modulated wave contains extra energy in the two sideband components.
Therefore the modulated wave contains more power than the carrier before modulation.

As the amplitude of the sidebands depends on modulation index , the total power in the modulated
wave depends on the modulation index.

The total power in the modulated wave is,

Where all the voltages are in RMS and R is the antenna resistance, through which the power is
dissipated.

𝑉𝑐2
If carrier power is = 𝑃𝑐 = then
2𝑅

𝑚2 𝑚2
𝑃𝑡 = 𝑃𝑐 + 𝑃 ++ 𝑃
4 𝑐 4 𝑐
𝑚2
𝑃𝑡 = 𝑃𝑐 1 +
2

Therefore Pt max = 1.5 Pc

Prepared by: Suchismita Biswas, Woemen’s Polytechnic, Chandannagar
Current Relation with Depth of Modulation in AM:

We know that,

Let Ic = Unmodulated carrier current

It = Total or modulated current of an AM transmitter.

Let R is the resistance through which those currents flows.

Then we can write that,

Prepared by: Suchismita Biswas, Woemen’s Polytechnic, Chandannagar

Efficiency of AM signal:
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠
Efficiency 𝜂= x 100%
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝑃𝐿𝑆𝐵 + 𝑃𝑈𝑆𝐵
= x 100%
𝑃𝑡

𝑚2
𝑃
2 𝑐
=
2 x 100%
𝑃𝑐 1+ 𝑚2

If m=1 (for 100% modulation),

0.5
Then 𝜂 = 𝑥 100% = 33.3%
1.5

Therefore maximum efficiency of AM signal is 33.3%

Prepared by: Suchismita Biswas, Woemen’s Polytechnic, Chandannagar