AMPLITUDE MODULATION (ADC: UNIT-I)

Introduction
Communication is the process of transferring the message from one point and to another point in
space which are called as source and destination respectively. It can also be defined as an act of
exchanging the information between two points in space or individuals through a medium. A
system which establishes the communication between source and destination is called as a
communication system. The basic block diagram of a communication system is as follows.

Input Output
Source Transducer Modulator Channel Demodulator Destination
Transducer

Transmitter Receiver
Noise

 Source: The point where information generated.

 Transmitter: Couples the message into the channel using high frequency signals.
 Channel: The medium used for transmission of signals
 Receiver: Restores the signal to its original form.
 Destination: The point where information is delivered.

The communication systems are classified into two types based on transmission media as 1) Line
Communication System 2) Radio Communication System.

Line Communication System: A communication system in which a pair of conductors are used
majorly as the media of transmission is called transmission Line Communication System. In this
system signals are directly transmitted through the transmission lines. The installation and
maintenance of a transmission line is not only costly and complex, but also overcrowds the open
space.

Radio Communication System: A communication system in which free space and air medium
are used majorly as the channel for transmission is called Radio Communication System. In this
system of transmission the modulation is mainly used for signal transmission. The installation
and maintenance is not inexpensive and less complex compared line communications.

Modulation: Modulation is defined as the process by which some characteristics (i.e. amplitude,
frequency, and phase) of a high frequency wave (carrier) are varied according to the
instantaneous value of message (modulating) signal. Modulation results infrequency translation
(shift) from baseband range to bandpass range and used at the transmitting end.
Demodulation: Demodulation is the reverse process of modulation, which is defined as the
process of recovering or getting back the original message signal form modulated signal.
Demodulation is performed at the receiving end.
Need of Modulation
1. Ease of radiation: Signals can be radiated easily into the free space in the form of
electromagnetic waves if the signal frequency is large so that the wavelength of the signal
is in the order of antenna dimensions.
2. Frequency Division Multiplexing: In a case when message signals from more than one
source which lie in the same frequency band are transmitted simultaneously through a
channel, they will interfere with each other and cannot be recovered back at the intended
receiver. But if each signal is translated in frequency such that they encompass different
ranges of frequencies, not interfering with other signal spectrums, then each signal can be
separated back at the receiver easily and can be processed suitably to get back the
original message signal.
3. Practicability of antenna: In a wireless medium, antennas are used to radiate and to
receive the signals. The antenna operates effectively, only when the dimension of the
antenna is of the order of magnitude of the wavelength of the signal concerned. At
baseband low frequencies, wavelength is large and so is the dimension of antenna
required is impracticable. By frequency translation, the signal can be shifted in frequency
to higher range of frequencies. Hence the corresponding wavelength is small to the extent
that the dimension of antenna required is quite small and practical.
4. Narrow banding: For a band-limited signal, an antenna dimension suitable for use at one
end of the frequency range may fall too short or too large for use at another end of the
frequency range. This happens when the ratio of the highest to lowest frequency
contained in the signal is large (wideband signal). This ratio can be reduced to close
around one by translating the signal to a higher frequency range, the resulting signal
being called as a narrow-banded signal. Narrowband signal works effectively well with
the same antenna dimension for both the higher end frequency as well as lower end
frequency of the band-limited signal.
5. Noise: The effect of noise is less on high frequencies rather than on low frequencies
In analog modulation methods the carrier is either sinusoidal signal or sequences of pulses
(rectangular) and the message is in analog form. In digital modulation schemes message signals
are in digital form. The different kinds of analog modulation schemes can be classified as
follows
Types of Modulation:
Three main schemes of modulations:
Analog Modulation
 Amplitude modulation
Example: Double sideband with carrier (DSB-WC), Double- sideband suppressed
carrier (DSB-SC), Single sideband suppressed carrier (SSB-SC), vestigial sideband
 (VSB)
 Angle modulation (frequency modulation & phase modulation)
Example: Narrow Band Frequency Modulation (NBFM), Wideband Frequency
Modulation (WBFM), Narrowband Phase Modulation (NBPM), Wideband Phase
Modulation (NBPM)
Pulse Modulation
 Carrier is a train of pulses
 Example: Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) ,
Pulse Position Modulation (PPM)
Digital Modulation
 Modulating signal is analog
Example: Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), Delta Modulation (DM), Adaptive Delta
Modulation (ADM), Differential Pulse Code Modulation (DPCM), Adaptive
Differential Pulse Code Modulation (ADPCM) etc.
 Modulating signal is digital (binary modulation)
Example: Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK), Frequency Shift Keying(FSK),
Phase Shift Keying (PSK) etc
The below figure shows the different kinds of analog modulation schemes that are available

Amplitude Modulation (AM)

Amplitude Modulation is the process of changing the amplitude of a relatively high
frequency carrier signal (linearly) in accordance with the amplitude of the modulating
signal (Message/Information).The frequency of the carrier is not affected i.e constant.

Various forms of Amplitude Modulation

1. Conventional Amplitude Modulation (Alternatively known as Full AM or Double
Sideband Large carrier modulation (DSBLC) /Double Sideband Full Carrier (DSBFC)
2. Double Sideband Suppressed carrier (DSBSC) modulation
3. Single Sideband (SSB) modulation
4. Vestigial Sideband (VSB) modulation

Time Domain Description

In amplitude modulation the amplitude of the carrier is varied proportional to that of the
message signal. Let m(t) be the base-band signal having the bandwidth W (maximum
frequency, fmax) and C(t) be the carrier as c(t) = AC cos(2 fc t), where fc is chosen such that fc
>> W. The amplitude modulated signal is given by the definition as
S(t) = A(t) cos(2 fc t)
Where
A(t) ∞ m(t)
= K ⁕ m(t) ---------------------------------- (1)
And in absence of m(t)
A(t) = AC ---------------------------------- (2)
Therefore from eq (1) and (2)
A(t) = [AC + K ⁕ m(t)] = AC [1 + ka m(t)]
Where ka = K/ AC is called amplitude sensitivity and | ka m(t) | is called modulation index, µ.
Therefore the AM signal is given by
s(t) = AC [1 + ka m(t)] cos(2 fc t)
Where the envelope of AM signal is AC [1 + ka m(t)]
AM signal waveforms in Time domain are shown in the figure below.
 There are two requirements to maintain the envelope of AM signal is same as the shape of base
band signal.
1. The amplitude of the ka m(t) is always less than unity i.e., | ka m(t) |<1 for all ‘t’.
2. The carrier signal frequency fc is far greater than the highest frequency component W of
the message signal m (t) i.e., fc>>W
Frequency Domain Description
AM signal in time domain is given by
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝐴𝐶 [1 + 𝑘𝑎 𝑚(𝑡)]𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
= 𝐴𝐶 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) + 𝑘𝑎 𝑚(𝑡)𝐴𝐶 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)

Take Fourier transform on both sides

𝐴𝐶 𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶
𝑆(𝑓) = [𝛿(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝛿(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )] + [𝑀(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝑀(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )]
2 2

The spectrum of AM signal S(f) given in the above equation is shown plotted in the figure below.
The message signal spectrum is assumed to be arbitrarily as triangular in shape whose frequencies
are ranging from 0 to W Hz.

The spectrum of AM signal S(f) given in the above equation is shown plotted in the figure below.
The message signal spectrum is assumed to be arbitrarily as triangular in shape whose
frequencies are ranging from 0 to W Hz. The AM spectrum consists of two impulse functions
which are located at fc and -fc and weighted by AC/2.
On positive frequencies the impulse is accompanied by two side bands, one band of
frequencies from fc to fc +W is known as upper side band (USB) and a band of frequencies
from fc -W to fc, is known as lower side band (LSB).
Similarly on negative frequencies a band of frequencies from -fc -W to -fc is known as USB and
a band of frequencies from -fc to -fc, +W is known as lower side band (LSB). The difference
between highest frequency component and lowest frequency components on positive
frequencies is known as transmission bandwidth. i.e BT = 2W.
Single Tone Amplitude Modulation:
Consider a modulating wave m(t ) that consists of a single tone or single frequency component
given by
𝑚(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑚 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)
Therefore AM signal is given by
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝐴𝐶 [1 + 𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝑚 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)]𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)

𝑠(𝑡) = 𝐴𝐶 [1 + 𝜇 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)]𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)

Where µ = 𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝑚 is modulation index. Therefore the envelope is given by

A(t) = [1 + 𝜇 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)]
Then, Amax = 1 + 𝜇 and Amin = 1 − 𝜇
𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑥 1+𝜇
=
𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛 1−𝜇

𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑥 −𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛
∴ 𝜇=
𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑥 +𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛

𝑠(𝑡) = 𝐴𝐶 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) + 𝐴𝐶 𝜇 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)

𝐴𝐶 𝜇
= 𝐴𝐶 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) + {𝐶𝑂𝑆[2𝜋(𝑓𝐶 − 𝑓𝑚 )𝑡] + 𝐶𝑂𝑆[2𝜋(𝑓𝐶 + 𝑓𝑚 )𝑡]}
2

Carrier
frequency LSB USB
 𝑆(𝑓)
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
2 2

µ𝐴𝐶 µ𝐴𝐶 µ𝐴𝐶 µ𝐴𝐶

4 4 4 4

−𝑓𝐶 - 𝑓𝑚 −𝑓𝐶 −𝑓𝐶 + 𝑓𝑚 𝑓𝐶 - 𝑓𝑚 𝑓𝐶 𝑓𝐶 +𝑓𝑚

USB LSB LSB USB

Power of AM waves:
Consider the expression for single tone/sinusoidal AM wave.
𝜇
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝐴𝐶 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) + {𝐶𝑂𝑆[2𝜋(𝑓𝐶 − 𝑓𝑚 )𝑡] + 𝐶𝑂𝑆[2𝜋(𝑓𝐶 + 𝑓𝑚 )𝑡]}
2

𝐴 𝜇 2 𝐴 𝜇 2
𝐴𝐶 2 ( 𝐶 ) ( 𝐶 )
2 2
𝑃𝑇 = + +
2 2 2
𝐴𝐶 2 𝐴𝐶 2 𝜇 2 𝐴𝐶 2 𝜇 2
= + +
2 8 8
𝐴𝐶 2 𝜇2
=
2
[1 +
2
]
𝜇2
= 𝑃𝐶 [1 + ]
2
Therefore
𝜇2 𝜇2
𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝐶
4 4
= 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝐿𝑆𝐵 + 𝑃𝑈𝑆𝐵
Generation of AM waves:
Two basic amplitude modulation principles are discussed. They are square law modulation
and switching modulator.
Square Law Modulator
Square-law modulator is used to generate Amplitude modulated signal. This consists of
a means of summing device for combining the carrier and message (modulating) signal, a
nonlinear element such as Semi-conductor diode and transistor and a band pass filter for
extracting the desired modulation term from product terms of nonlinear device. The circuit
diagram of square-law modulator is shown in the figure below.

When the device is nonlinear the Input-Output relation of a non-linear device can be
expressed as

When the output is considered up to square of the input, the device is called a square law
device and the modulator is called square law modulator.

Wanted term representing AM Unwanted terms to be removed

 𝑎
Where 𝑘𝑎 = 2 𝑎2
1

Switching Modulator:

The total input for the diode at any instant is given by

When the peak amplitude of c(t) is maintained more than that of information signal, the
operation is assumed to be dependent on only c(t) irrespective of m(t).
When c(t) is positive, v2=v1since the diode is forward biased. Similarly, when c(t) is negative,
v2=0 since diode is reverse biased. Based upon above operation, switching response of the diode
is periodic rectangular wave with an amplitude unity and is given by
𝑣2 = 𝑣1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐(𝑡) > 0
=0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐(𝑡) < 0
∴ 𝑣2 = 𝑣1 𝑔𝑝 (𝑡)
Where
1 1 (−1)𝑛−1
𝑔𝑝 (𝑡) = + 𝜋 ∑𝛼𝑛=−𝛼 𝐶𝑂𝑆[2𝜋 (2𝑛 − 1)𝑓𝑐 𝑡]
2 2𝑛−1
 1 2 2
= 2 + 𝜋 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡) + 3𝜋 𝐶𝑂𝑆(6𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡) + ⋯

The required AM signal centered at fc can be separated using band pass filter. The
lower cut off-frequency for the band pass filter should be between w and fc -W and the upper
cut-off frequency between fc+W and 2fc. The filter output is given by the equation

𝐴𝐶
= [1 + 𝑘𝑎 𝑚(𝑡)]𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
2
4
Where 𝑘𝑎 =
𝜋𝐴𝑐

Detection of AM waves
Demodulation is the process of recovering the information signal (base band) from the
incoming modulated signal at the receiver. There are two methods, they are Square law Detector
and Envelope Detector

Square Law Detector

Consider a non-linear device to which the AM signal s(t) is applied. When the level of
s(t) is very small, output can be considered up to square of the input.
Passing Vo’ through LPF we get Vo as

Envelope Detector
It is a simple and highly effective system. This method is used in most of the commercial AM
radio receivers. An envelope detector is as shown below.

During the positive half cycles of the input signals, the diode D is forward biased and
the capacitor C charges up rapidly to the peak of the input signal. When the input signal falls
below this value, the diode becomes reverse biased and the capacitor C discharges through
the load resistor RL. The discharge process continues until the next positive half cycle.
When the input signal becomes greater than the voltage across the capacitor, the diode
conducts again and the process is repeated.

The charge time constant (rf + Rs)C must be short compared with the carrier period,
the capacitor charges rapidly and there by follows the applied voltage up to the positive peak
when the diode is conducting. That is the charging time constant shall satisfy the condition,
 Where ‘W’ is band width of the message signal. The result is that the
capacitor voltage or detector output is nearly the same as the envelope of AM wave.
Power Efficiency:
𝜇2
𝐴𝑀 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 (𝑃𝑇 ) = 𝑃𝐶 [1 + ]
2
𝜇2
𝑈𝑠𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 (𝑃𝑇 ) = 𝑃𝐶 2

𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟

% 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 (𝜂) = × 100 %
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑀 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝜇2
𝑃𝐶 2
= × 100 %
𝜇2
𝑃𝐶 [1 + ]
2
𝜇2
=[ ] × 100 %
2 + 𝜇2

When µ = 1
% 𝜂 = 33.3 %
At maximum modulation index (i.e 100 % modulation) only 33.3 % of total AM power is
useful for information transmission whereas 66.7 % of total AM signal power is wasted in the
form of carrier component
Advantages and Disadvantages of AM:
Advantages of AM:
1. Operation of AM systems is simple and easy to design
2. AM systems are inexpensive
Disadvantages:
1. AM contains unwanted carrier component, hence it requires more transmission power.
2. The transmission bandwidth is equal to twice the message bandwidth.
Applications:
AM is most commonly used in commercial (AM) Radio broadcast.

DSB-SC MODULATION
To overcome limitations of Amplitude modulation such as power wastage in the form of carrier
component, the component is removed (suppressed) from conventional AM system at the cost
of increased system complexity. Therefore, the resulting signal has only upper sideband and
lower sidebands and is called Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSB-SC) modulation.
DSB-SC Time domain and Frequency domain Description:
The expression of conventional AM is
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝐴𝐶 [1 + 𝑘𝑎 𝑚(𝑡)]𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)

𝑠(𝑡) = 𝐴𝐶 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) + 𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶 𝑚(𝑡) 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)

After suppressing carrier

𝑠(𝑡) = 𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶 𝑚(𝑡) 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)

In the above equation except scaling factor 𝑘𝑎 the modulated signal is the product of message
signal and the carrier. Therefore the DSB-SC signal is given by
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝐴𝐶 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡) ∗ 𝑚(𝑡)

Consequently, the modulated signal s(t) under goes a phase reversal , whenever the message
signal m(t) crosses zero as shown below

𝑚(𝑡)

𝐴𝐶 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
 DSB-SC

The envelope of a DSBSC modulated signal is therefore different from the message signal and
the Fourier transform of s(t) is given by

Generation of DSBSC Waves:

Balanced Modulator (Product Modulator)
A balanced modulator consists of two standard amplitude modulators arranged in
a balanced configuration so as to suppress the carrier wave as shown in the following block
diagram. It is assumed that the AM modulators are identical, except for the sign reversal
of the modulating wave applied to the input of one of them. Thus, the output of the two
modulators may be expressed as,

Hence, except for the scaling factor 2ka, the balanced modulator output is equal to the
product of the modulating wave and the carrier.
Ring Modulator
Ring modulator is the most widely used product modulator for generating DSBSC wave and is
shown below.

The four diodes form a ring in which they all point in the same direction. The diodes are
controlled by square wave carrier c(t) of frequency fc, which is applied longitudinally by
means of two center-tapped transformers. Assuming the diodes are ideal, when the carrier
is positive, the outer diodes D1 and D3 are forward biased whereas the inner diodes D2
and D4 are reverse biased, so that the modulator multiplies the base band signal m(t) by
c(t).
When the carrier is negative, the diodes D1 and D3 are reverse biased and D2 and D4
are forward, and the modulator multiplies the base band signal –m(t) by c(t).

Thus the ring modulator in its ideal form is a product modulator for square
wave carrier and the base band signal m(t). The square wave carrier can be expanded using
Fourier series as

From the above equation it is clear that output from the modulator consists
entirely of modulation products. If the message signal is band limited to the frequency
band − w < f < w, the output spectrum consists of side bands centered at fc.
 Detection of DSB-SC waves:
Coherent Detection:
The message signal m(t) can be uniquely recovered from a DSBSC wave s(t) by
first multiplying s(t) with a locally generated sinusoidal wave and then low pass filtering the
product as shown.

It is assumed that the local oscillator signal is exactly coherent or synchronized, in

both frequency and phase, with the carrier wave c(t) used in the product modulator to
generate s(t). This method of demodulation is known as coherent detection or synchronous
detection.
 From the spectrum, it is clear that the unwanted component (first term in the expression)
can be removed by the low-pass filter, provided that the cut-off frequency of the filter is greater
than W but less than 2fc - W. The filter output is given by

The demodulated signal vo(t) is therefore proportional to m(t) when the phase error ϕ is constant.

Costas Receiver (Costas Loop):

Costas receiver is a synchronous receiver system, suitable for demodulating DSBSC
waves. It consists of two coherent detectors supplied with the same input DSBSC signal, but
two quadrature carriers.
The frequency of the local oscillator is adjusted to be the same as the carrier frequency fc. The
detector in the upper path is referred to as the in-phase coherent detector or I-channel, and that
in the lower path is referred to as the quadrature-phase coherent detector or Q-channel. These
two detector are coupled together to form a negative feedback system designed in such a way
as to maintain the local oscillator synchronous with the carrier wave. Suppose the local
oscillator signal is of the same phase as the carrier c(t) = Ac cos(2πfct) wave used to generate
the incoming DSBSC wave. Then we find that the I-channel output contains the desired
demodulated signal m(t), whereas the Q-channel output is zero due to quadrature null
effect of the Q-channel. Suppose that the local oscillator phase drifts from its proper value
by a small angle ϕ radians. The I-channel output will remain essentially unchanged, but there
will be some signal appearing at the Q-channel output, which is proportional to sin(𝜙) ≈ 𝜙 for
small ϕ. This Q-channel output will have same polarity as the I-channel output for one direction
of local oscillator phase drift and opposite polarity for the opposite direction of local oscillator
phase drift. Thus by combining the I-channel and Q-channel outputs in a phase discriminator
(which consists of a multiplier followed by a LPF), a dc control signal is obtained that
automatically corrects for the local phase errors in the voltage-controlled oscillator.
 ADC NOTES UNIT- I (SSB & VSB)

In standard DSBSC the upper and lower sides are uniquely related to each other
by the virtue of their symmetry about the carrier frequency and it requires transmission
bandwidth equal to twice the message signal bandwidth. Thus if only one side band is
transmitted no information is lost. This kind of modulation is called SSBSC or simply SSB
modulation. Hence SSB modulation is defined as one type of Amplitude modulation in
which only one sideband of AM wave is transmitted while other sideband and the carrier are
suppressed. Spectral comparison between DSBSC and SSB is shown in the figures 1 and 2.

Figure -1

-𝑊 𝑊
Figure -2

−𝑓𝐶 − 𝑊 −𝑓𝐶 𝑓𝐶 𝑓𝐶 + 𝑊

Consider a message signal m(t) with a spectrum M(f) band limiled to the interval -W < f < W as
shown in figure. The DSBSC wave obtained by multiplying m(t) by the carrier wave c(t) = A C
cos(2fCt) and is also shown.in figure. The upper side band is represented in duplicate by the
frequencies above fC and those below –fC. and when only upper sideband is transmitted the
resulting SSB modulated wave has the spectrum shown in figure
Similarly, the lower side band is represented in duplicate by the frequencies
below fc and those above -fc and when only the lower side band is transmitted, the spectrum of
the corresponding SSB modulated wave shown in figure 5.Thus the essential function of the
SSB modulation is to translate the spectrum of the modulating wave, either with or without
inversion, to a new location in the frequency domain. The advantage of SSB modulation is
reduced bandwidth and the elimination of high power carrier wave. The main disadvantage is the
cost and complexity of its implementation
Time Domain Description:
The time domain description of an SSB wave s(t) (any bandpass signal) in the canonical form is
given by the equation 1.
Following the same procedure, we can find the canonical representation for an SSB s(t) obtained
by transmitting only the lower side band is given by
Generation of SSB wave:
Frequency discrimination method
Consider the generation of SSB modulated signal containing the upper side band
only. From a practical point of view, the most severe requirement o SSB generation arises
from the unwanted sideband, the nearest component of which is separated from the
desired side band by twice the lowest frequency component of the message signal. It implies
that, for the generation of an SSB wave to be possible, the message spectrum must have an
energy gap centered at the origin as shown in figure. This requirement is naturally
satisfied by voice signals, whose energy gap is about 600Hz wide.

The frequency discrimination or filter method of SSB generation consists of a product

modulator, which produces DSBSC signal and a band-pass filter to extract the desired side
band and reject the other and is shown in the figure.

Application of this method requires that the message signal satisfies two conditions:
1. The message signal m(t) has no low-frequency content. Example: speech, audio,
music.
2. The highest frequency component W of the message signal m(t) is much less than
the carrier frequency fc.
Then, under these conditions, the desired side band will appear in a non-overlapping interval
in the spectrum in such a way that it may be selected by an appropriate filter.

Phase discrimination method for generating SSB wave:

Time domain description of SSB modulation leads to another method of SSB
generation using the equations 9 or 10. The block diagram of phase discriminator is as shown
in figure.
The phase discriminator consists of two product modulators I and Q, supplied with carrier waves
in-phase quadrature to each other. The incoming base band signal m(t) is applied to product
modulator I, producing a DSBSC modulated wave that contains reference phase sidebands
symmetrically spaced about carrier frequency fc. The Hilbert transform mˆ (t) of m (t) is applied
to product modulator Q, producing a DSBSC modulated that contains side bands having identical
amplitude spectra to those of modulator I, but with phase spectra such that vector addition or
subtraction of the two modulator outputs results in cancellation of one set of side bands and
reinforcement of the other set. The use of a plus sign at the summing junction yields an SSB wave
with only the lower side band, whereas the use of a minus sign yields an SSB wave with only the
upper side band. This modulator circuit is called Hartley modulator.
Demodulation of SSB Waves:
Coherent (Synchronous) detection is used to demodulate (detect) SSB waves. In coherent
detection the incoming (received) SSB signal is product modulated with the locally generated
coherent carrier and filtered through a lowpass filter. The block diagram of coherent detection is
shown in the figure.
Single Tone Amplitude Modulation (SSB):
Consider a modulating wave m(t ) that consists of a single tone or single frequency component
given by
𝑚(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑚 𝐶𝑂𝑆(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)
Therefore upper sideband SSB (i.e SSBU) signal is given by
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝑚(𝑡)𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) − ̂ (𝑡)𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
𝑚
2 2
𝐴 𝐴
𝑠(𝑡) = 2𝐶 𝐴𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) − 2𝐶 𝐴𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
𝐴 𝐴
= 𝐶2 𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠[2𝜋(𝑓𝐶 + 𝑓𝑚) 𝑡]
Spectrum of Single tone SSBU signal
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝑚
𝑆(𝑓) = ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
[𝛿(𝑓 − 𝑓 ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
𝐶 + 𝑓𝑚 ) + 𝛿(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 + 𝑓𝑚 )]
4

𝑀(𝑓)
𝐴𝑚 𝐴𝑚
2 2

−𝑓𝑚 𝑓𝑚
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
2 𝐶𝑓) 2

−𝑓𝐶 𝑓𝐶
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝑚 𝑆(𝑓) 𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝑚
4 4

−𝑓𝐶 - 𝑓𝑚 𝑓𝐶 +𝑓𝑚
Therefore lower sideband SSB (i.e SSBL) signal is given by
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝑚(𝑡)𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) + 𝑚
̂(𝑡)𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
2 2
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)𝑐𝑜𝑠(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) + 𝐴𝑚 𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝜋𝑓𝑚 𝑡)𝑠𝑖𝑛(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
2 𝑚 2
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝑚
= 𝑐𝑜𝑠[2𝜋(𝑓𝐶 − 𝑓𝑚) 𝑡]
2

Spectrum of Single tone SSBL signal

𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝑚
𝑆(𝑓) = ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
[𝛿(𝑓 − 𝑓 ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
𝐶 − 𝑓𝑚 ) + 𝛿(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 − 𝑓𝑚 )]
4
𝑀(𝑓)

𝐴𝑚 𝐴𝑚
2 2

−𝑓𝑚 𝑓𝑚
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
2 𝐶𝑓) 2

−𝑓𝐶 𝑓𝐶

𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝑚 𝑆(𝑓) 𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝑚
4 4

−𝑓𝐶 + 𝑓𝑚 𝑓𝐶 − 𝑓𝑚

Power saving in SSB modulation

Total power of AM signal is given by
𝜇2
𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝐶 [1 + 2
]

Therefore
𝜇2 𝜇2
𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝐶
4 4
= 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝐿𝑆𝐵 + 𝑃𝑈𝑆𝐵
For SSB, the power of carrier and one sideband are removed, therefore
𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝐿𝑆𝐵 Or 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝐿𝑆𝐵
 𝜇2
i.e 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝐶
4
𝜇2 𝜇2
Amount of power saved = 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝐶 4
= 𝑃𝐶 [1 + 4
]
𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑑
% power saving = × 100 %
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑀 𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
𝜇2 𝜇2
𝑃𝐶 [1+ ] [1+ ]
4 4
% power saving = 𝜇2
× 100 % = 𝜇2
× 100 %
𝑃𝐶 [1+ ] [1+ ]
2 2

When µ =1

1 5
[1+ ] [ ]
4 4
% power saving = 1 × 100 % = 3 × 100 % = 83.3 %
[1+ ] [ ]
2 2

Vestigial Side Band Modulation (VSB):

Vestigial sideband is a type of Amplitude modulation in which one side band is
completely passed along with trace or tail or vestige of the other side band. VSB is a
compromise between SSB and DSBSC modulation. SSB modulation is suited for transmission
of voice signals due to the energy gap that exists in the frequency range from zero to few hundred
hertz. But when signals like video signals which contain significant frequency components even
at very low frequencies, the USB and LSB tend to meet at the carrier frequency. In such a case it
is very difficult to isolate one sideband without disturbing other sideband using practical filters.
This problem is overcome by the Vestigial Sideband Modulation.
Frequency Domain Description
The following Fig illustrates the spectrum of VSB modulated wave s(t) with respect to the
message m(t) (band limited)
Assume that the Lower side band is modified into the vestigial side band. The vestige of the
lower sideband compensates for the amount removed from the upper sideband. The bandwidth
required to send VSB wave is
𝐵𝑇 = (𝑓𝐶 + 𝑊) − (𝑓𝐶 + 𝑓𝑣 ) = 𝑊 + 𝑓𝑣 (Where 𝑓𝑣 is the width of the vestigial sideband)

The vestige of the Upper sideband compensates for the amount removed from the Lower
sideband. The bandwidth required to send VSB wave is
𝐵𝑇 = (𝑓𝐶 + 𝑓𝑣 ) − (𝑓𝐶 − 𝑊) = 𝑊 + 𝑓𝑣
Therefore, VSB has the virtue of conserving bandwidth almost as efficiently as SSB
modulation, while retaining the excellent low-frequency base band characteristics of DSBSC.
VSB modulation is used as standard modulation for the transmission of TV signals.

Generation of VSB Modulated Wave

VSB modulated wave is obtained by passing DSBSC through a sideband shaping filter as
shown in fig below.

Product DSBSC S(t)

m(t) Sideband Shaping Filter
Modulator H(f)

AC cos(2fCt)

The exact design of this filter depends on the spectrum of the VSB waves. The relation
between filter transfer function H (f) and the spectrum of VSB waves is given by
𝐴𝑐
𝑆(𝑓) = [𝑀 (𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝑀(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )]𝐻(𝑓) − − − − − − − −(1)
2
Where M(f) is the spectrum of Message Signal. Now, we have to determine the specification for
the filter transfer function H(f). It can be obtained by passing s(t) to a coherent detector and
determining the necessary condition for undistorted version of the message signal m(t). Thus, s (t)
is multiplied by a locally generated sinusoidal wave cos(2πfct) which is synchronous with the
carrier wave Ac cos(2πfct) in both frequency and phase, as in fig below
.
 Product V(t)
s(t) LPF Vo(t)
Modulator

cos(2fCt)
𝑣(𝑡) = 𝑠(𝑡) ∗ 𝐴𝐶 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
1
𝑉(𝑓) = 2 [𝑆(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝑆(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )]
Substituting the S(f) in the above equation
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
𝑉(𝑓) = {[𝑀 (𝑓 − 2𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝑀(𝑓)]𝐻(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 )} + {[𝑀 (𝑓 ) + 𝑀(𝑓 + 2𝑓𝐶 )]𝐻(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )}
4 4
𝐴𝑐
𝑉𝑜 (𝑓) = 𝑀 (𝑓 )[𝐻(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝐻(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )]
4

𝐻(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝐻(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 ) = 1 = 2𝐻(𝑓𝐶 )

Where 𝐻(𝑓𝐶 ) is a constant

Time Domain Description:

Time domain representation of VSB modulated wave, procedure is similar to SSB Modulated
waves. Let s(t) denote a VSB modulated wave and assuming that s(t) containing Upper sideband
along with the Vestige of the Lower sideband. VSB modulated wave s(t) is the output from
Sideband shaping filter, whose input is DSBSC wave.
The time domain description of VSB wave s(t) (any bandpass signal) in the canonical form is
given by the equation.
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝑆𝐼 (𝑡) cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) − 𝑆𝑄 (𝑡) sin(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
Where 𝑆𝐼 (𝑓) = 𝑆(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝑆(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 ) |𝑓| ≤ 𝑊

And 𝑆𝑄 (𝑓) = 𝑗[𝑆(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) − 𝑆(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )] |𝑓| ≤ 𝑊

Therefore
𝑆𝐼(𝑓) = 𝑆(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝑆(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 ) |𝑓| ≤ 𝑊
𝐴𝑐 𝐴𝐶
= {[𝑀 (𝑓 − 2𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝑀(𝑓)]𝐻(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 )} + {[𝑀 (𝑓 ) + 𝑀(𝑓 + 2𝑓𝐶 )]𝐻(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )} |𝑓| ≤ 𝑊
2 2
𝐴𝐶
= 𝑀 (𝑓 )[𝐻(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝐻(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )]
2

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 [𝐻(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝐻(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )] = 1

𝐴𝐶
𝑆𝐼 (𝑓) =
2
𝑀 (𝑓 )
𝐴𝐶
∴ 𝑠𝐼 (𝑡) =
2
𝑚(𝑡)
𝑆𝑄 (𝑓) = 𝑗[𝑆(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) − 𝑆(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )] |𝑓| ≤ 𝑊
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
𝑆𝑄 (𝑓) = 𝑗 {[𝑀(𝑓 − 2𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝑀(𝑓)]𝐻(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 )} − 𝑗 {[𝑀(𝑓 ) + 𝑀(𝑓 + 2𝑓𝐶 )]𝐻(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )} |𝑓| ≤ 𝑊
2 2
𝐴𝑐
=
2
𝑀 (𝑓 )𝑗[𝐻(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) − 𝐻(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )]

𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑗[𝐻(𝑓 − 𝑓𝐶 ) + 𝐻(𝑓 + 𝑓𝐶 )] = 𝐻𝑆 (𝑓)

𝐴𝐶
∴ 𝑆𝑄 (𝑓) = 𝑀 (𝑓 )𝐻𝑆 (𝑓)
2
𝐴𝐶
𝑁𝑜𝑤 𝑠𝑄 (𝑡) = 2
𝑚𝑠 (𝑡)

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝑆𝐼 (𝑡) cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) − 𝑆𝑄 (𝑡) sin(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)

After substituting 𝑠𝐼 (𝑡) and 𝑠𝑄 (𝑡) into the above equation the time domain form of VSB is
given by
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶
𝑠(𝑡) = 𝑚(𝑡) cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) − 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡) sin(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
2 2
If vestigial side band is increased to full side band, VSB becomes DSCSB, i.e., 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡) = 0.
If vestigial side band is reduced to zero, VSB becomes SSB i.e., 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡) = 𝑚
̂ (𝑡).

Envelope detection of a VSB Wave:

Actually VSB modulated wave will not have carrier component but for the purpose of easy
detection using envelope detector some amount of carrier is added to VSB signal in commercial
transmission. Let the VSB wave is scaled by ka and added to the carrier 𝐴𝐶 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡).
Therefore the resulting signal is given by
𝑣 (𝑡 ) = 𝐴𝐶 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡 ) + 𝑘𝑎 𝑠(𝑡 )
𝐴 𝐴
= 𝐴𝐶 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) + 𝑘𝑎 𝐶 𝑚(𝑡) cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) − 𝑘𝑎 𝐶 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡) sin(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)
2 2
= 𝐴𝐶 [1 +
𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶
2
𝑚(𝑡)] cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) − 𝑘𝑎2𝐴𝐶 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡) sin(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) × 𝐶𝐶
𝑘 𝐴 𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶
𝐴𝐶 [1+ 𝑎 𝐶 𝑚(𝑡)] 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡)
2
= 𝐶[ cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) − 2
sin(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)]
𝐶 𝐶

= 𝐶 [cos(∅) cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡) − sin(∅) sin(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡)]

= 𝐶 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝐶 𝑡 + ∅ )
Where
1
𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶 2 𝑘 𝐴 2 2
𝐶 = {𝐴𝐶 2 [1 + 𝑚(𝑡)] + [ 𝑎2 𝐶 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡)] }
2
𝑘 𝐴
𝐴𝐶 [1+ 𝑎 𝐶 𝑚 (𝑡)]
cos(∅) = 2
𝐶
𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶
𝑚𝑠 (𝑡)
And sin(∅) = 2
𝐶
 𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶
𝑚𝑠 (𝑡)
−1
∅ = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 [ 2
𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶 ]
1+ 𝑚(𝑡)
2
The output of envelope detector is given by
1
2 2 2
𝑘𝑎 𝐴 𝐶 𝑘𝑎 𝐴 𝐶
𝐶 = {𝐴𝐶 2 [1 + 𝑚(𝑡)] + [ 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡)] }
2 2
1
𝑘𝑎𝐴𝐶 2 2
𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡)
= 𝐴𝐶 [1 + 𝑚(𝑡)] {1 + [ 2
𝑘𝑎𝐴𝐶 ] }
2 1+ 2 𝑚(𝑡)

If 𝑘𝑎 or 𝑚𝑠 (𝑡) is small then the output of envelope detector i.e C is proportional to

𝑘𝑎 𝐴 𝐶
𝑣𝑜 = 𝐴𝐶 [1 + 𝑚(𝑡)]
2
The DC component can be eliminated from vo by passing it through a capacitor, Thus the output
is proportional to message signal alone

Comparison of AM Techniques:
Applications of different AM systems:
• Amplitude Modulation: AM radio, Short wave radio broadcast
• DSB-SC: Data Modems, Color TV’s color signals.
• SSB: Telephone
• VSB: TV picture signals