Experiment 7

FM Modulation using PLL

Laboratory Tasks
In this Laboratory exercise you will generate a single-tone modulated FM signal using the Voltage-
controlled Oscillator (VCO) in a Phase-locked loop (PLL)

Background
Figure 1 shown below uses the VCO portion of the 4046 PLL.

The frequency deviation constant in FM i.e. 𝑘𝑓 can be determined for the above circuit by
plotting the VCO’s output frequency versus the VCO’s input voltage. This should give
(approximately) a straight line, its slope is 𝑘𝑓 in hertz-per-volt. The formula for modulation
index for FM i.e. 𝛽𝑓 is given in Chapter 4 of the text (by J. G. Proakis & M. Salehi 2014)

Description

1. Investigate the above circuit by giving it different inputs through the circuit as shown in
Figure 2.
2. Find the frequency or the three VCO input voltages as shown in the table of Figure 2. From
that information, determine 𝑘𝑓 for your modulator.
3. Now apply a sinusoidal signal of 5 KHz with an amplitude of 2 Volts peak to peak and DC
offset of 5 Volts at the input of VCO. Determine 𝛽𝑓 of your signal.
4. Show the time domain output of the VCO to the instructor. It should look like Figure 3.
Essentially it is a rectangular waveform with a varying frequency. Determine the 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 and
 𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 by 1/𝑇1 and 1/𝑇2 respectively. Write the expression for the time domain output
assuming output is sinusoidal.
5. Also show the spectrum of your signal to the instructor.

Figure 2

Performance Exceeds Meets expectation Does not meet Marks

expectation (1)/(0.5) expectation
(2)/(1) (0)/(0)

1. Realization
of
Experiment’s
Hardware on
Breadboard.
Marks: 1
2. Knowledge
of theoretical
aspects: 1

3. Conducting
Hardware
Experiment.
Marks: 2

4. Displaying
proper results.
Marks: 1