CH-03 (Amplitude Modulation)

Communication Systems
[Ch – 03]
AMPLITUDE MODULATION
Instructor: Engr. Furqan Haider
DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

Wireless Propagation
• Ground wave propagation
• Sky wave propagation
• Line of sight propagation

(Ground Wave)
• The best-known example of ground wave communication

is AM radio.

(Sky Wave)
• Sky wave propagation is used for international broadcasts such as BBC

and Voice of America.

(Line of Sight)
• Above 30 MHz, neither ground wave nor sky wave

propagation modes operate, and communication
must be by line of sight.

Block Diagram of a Communication
System

Modulation
• MODULATION: A process by which Amplitude /
Frequency / Phase of a carrier signal are varied in
accordance with the modulating wave.
• Modulating wave: the information bearing wave, the

message wave, m(t)
• Modulated Wave: the resultant wave of the modulation
process. s(t)
• Carrier Wave: the wave, whose Amplitude / Frequency /
Phase is varied. c(t)
• s(t) = m(t)c(t)

Why Modulate?
1. Ease of Radiation (small antenna size)
2. Frequency translation to different frequency bands
for the purpose of “Multiplexing”.
3. To avoid bands with noise and interference.
4. To counter the effects of “Atmospherics”.
5. Availability of equipment in the market to operate
in some particular band.

Amplitude Modulation
• AMPLITUDE MODULATION: A process by which
Amplitude of a carrier signal is varied about a mean
value, linearly in accordance with the baseband
modulating wave.
• Modulating wave: the information bearing wave, the

message wave, m(t)
• Modulated Wave: the resultant wave of the modulation
process. s(t)
• Carrier Wave: the wave, whose Amplitude / Frequency /
Phase is varied. c(t)

Double SideBand Suppressed SideBand
Double Amplitude Single Vestigial

Sideband – Modulation Sideband Sideband
Suppressed (DSB – With Modulation Modulation
Carrier Carrier)
(DSB-SC) (DSB-AM)

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

(DSB - AM)
1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

domain Analysis) domain Analysis)
2. Frequency-Domain 2. Frequency-Domain
Analysis Analysis
3. Demodulation 3. Demodulation
4. Power Analysis 4. Power Analysis
5. Modulation Circuit – 5. Modulation Circuit –
Ring Modulator Switching Modulator
6. Demodulation Circuit 6. Demodulation Circuit –
– Coherent Detector Non-coherent Detector
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
•Message wave – m(t) = cos(2πfmt)
•Carrier Wave – c(t) = Accos(2πfct)
•Modulated Wave – s(t)
• s(t) = c(t)m(t)
• s(t) = Accos(2πfct)cos(2πfmt)

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• How s(t) looks like ?

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• Frequency Domain
• Observe – Bandwidth is now 2W (i.e. info. amount is same but doubled)

• But remember, there is no specific frequency component at ‘fc’
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
•Message wave – m(t) = cos(2πfmt)
•Carrier Wave – c(t) = Accos(2πfct)
•Modulated Wave – s(t)
• s(t) = c(t) + kam(t)c(t)

• s(t) = Accos(2πfct) + kam(t) Accos(2πfct)
• s(t) = Ac [1+kam(t)] cos(2πfct)
• ka is the ‘amplitude sensitivity’ – a constant
• Envelope
e(t)= Ac[1+kam(t)]
• Solve s(t) down to additive frequency components.

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• Envelope does not exist in reality, it is the trace of the
peaks of the periodic sinusoids of the modulated wave.
• Envelope of s(t) should have same shape as of m(t). For
this two conditions need to be satisfied.
1. |kam(t)|< 1 (this condition ensures that e(t) is always a
positive function.)
if violated, s(t) gets overmodulated.
2. fc >> W (where ‘W’ is the highest frequency component
of m(t).)
if violated, sidebands will overlap (aliasing).

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
|kam(t)|< 1 |kam(t)|> 1

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• Frequency Domain
• Observe – Bandwidth is now 2W

• But remember, there are impulses at frequency component ‘fc’
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
LowPass
X
s(t) Filter
Received
z(t) y(t) = m(t)
waveform
2cos(2πfct)
• z(t) = s(t) 2cos(2πfct) = c(t) m(t) 2cos(2πfct)

• z(t) = Ac m(t) 2cos2(2πfct)
• z(t) = Ac m(t) + Ac m(t) cos(2π2fct)
• Z(f) = Ac M(f) + (Ac/2)[M(f-2fc)+M(f+2fc)]
• 1st term is extracted by the LowPass Filter
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• During Modulation at Transmitter end, we forced the
envelope e(t) to get the shape similar to m(t).
• In DSB – WC case, we do not recover m(t), rather we
detect the envelope e(t) of the received amplitude
modulated wave s(t).
• So demodulation of DSB-WC will be studied in detail
in Envelope Detector section.

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
ST =Total Transmitted Power ST =Total Transmitted Power
Sc =Carrier Signal Power Sc =Carrier Signal Power
Sm =Message Signal Power Sm =Message Signal Power
ST = ScSm ST = Sc + ScSm
•DSB – WC shows
Power inefficiency.

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• Ring Modulator (to generate DSB – SC Modulated wave)

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• m(t)=Any message signal
• c(t) = square wave
c(t)
• s(t)= m(t) c(t)
s(t)

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• Provided that we have fc > W, we use bandpass filter of mid-
frequency ‘fc ‘ and bandwidth ‘2W’ to select the desired pair
of sidebands around the carrier frequency fc .
• The bandpass filter in the ring modulator will only allow the
spectral components around fc to pass through, and those at
odd harmonics will be removed.

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3) – Switching Modulator
s(t)
A
AM / s(t) Suppressed by
bandpass filter
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• g(t) here is a periodic pulse train of period=1/fc

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3) – Coherent Detector
• Lowpass filter here will give me the second term.

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• Output of the lowpass filter
• Constraints in Coherent Detector:

• Phase and frequency of the local oscillator (at Rx.)
should be in sync. with the phase and frequency of
the carrier used at Tx. End.
• also called Synchronous Demodulation

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)
• Phase error:
• If φ = 0, vo(t) has maximum value.
• If φ = π/2, vo(t) becomes zero, which ultimately destroys our
m(t). We call this Quadrature Null Effect of the coherent
detector.
• Thus the phase error in the Rx. local oscillator causes the
detector output to be attenuated by a factor equal to cos(φ).
• So a practical synchronous receiver system requires an
expensive equipment.
• This resulting system complexity is the price that must be paid
for suppressing the carrier wave to save transmitter power.
• Remember : for DSB – SC (ST = ScSm )
for DSB – AM (ST = Sc + ScSm )

(Article 3.2 & 3.3)

(DSB - AM)

Analysis Analysis
(Envelope Detector)
(Article 3.2 & 3.3) – Envelope Detector
rf

Amplitude Modulation (Article 3.2 & 3.3) – Envelope Detector
Input to Envelope
Detector
The Envelope
Detection Process.
The output of
Envelope Detector

1. fc should be high enough so that the next cycle of the sinusoid appears
quickly so that the capacitor ‘C’ gets charged quickly. To this thing sure we
need to keep the charging constant ‘Ƭc’ to be much much lesser than the
period ‘Tc’ of the carrier signal.
2. On the other hand, discharging of C must be slow, so that the envelope

remain smooth. This is ensured by keeping ‘Ƭd’ much much higher than
‘Tc’.

2. 2nd condition continues: Discharging should not be too slow,
that it results in clipping of the original message signal m(t).
To counter this ‘Ƭd’ should not be higher than ‘Tw – the
time period of the highest frequency component present in
the signal’. So 2nd condition for successful and smooth
envelope detection is:

VIRTUES, LIMITATIONS and MODIFICATIONS
of AMPLITUDE MODULATION
VIRTUES:
1. Easy generation & demodulation of AM signals.
2. AM system is relatively cheap to build.
LIMITATIONS:
1. Amplitude Modulation is wasteful of Power.
(sending a pilot along with the modulated wave).
2. Amplitude Modulation is wasteful of Bandwidth.
(necessary information is in a single sideband, but we
transmit both the sidebands).

VIRTUES, LIMITATIONS and MODIFICATIONS
of AMPLITUDE MODULATION
MODIFICATIONS:
1. To save Power: we have the option of using DSB-SC
technique. i.e. suppressing the carrier.
2. To save Bandwidth: we can suppress any one sideband of the
modulated signal, either USB or LSB, which results in 2 more
modulation techniques namely:
i. Single-Sideband (SSB) Modulation
ii. Vestigial-Sideband (VSB) Modulation

Costas Receiver
• Practical synchronous receiver system.
• Patented by John Costas
• This is the complex circuitry we were talking about to

retrieve our DSB – SC modulated signal. As tradeoff
to this complexity, we were saving our power by
suppressing the pilot carrier.

Costas Receiver
e1(t)
y(t)
e2(t)

Costas Receiver – Coherent Demodulator
e1(t)
y(t)
e2(t)

Costas Receiver – Phase Lock Circuit
e1(t)
y(t)
e2(t)

Costas Receiver
• Operation: Local oscillator signal is at the same
phase as the carrier wave Accos(2πfct) used to
generate the DSB – SC wave. Under these conditions,
we observe that the I – channel output contains the
desired demodulated signal m(t), whereas the Q –
channel output is zero due to the quadrature null
effect of the Q – channel.
• Error in phase: will result in Donald Duck voice effect.

Costas Receiver

3.4 Quadrature-Carrier Multiplexing
• If you recall, in DSB – SC demodulation, if your local
carrier is out-of-phase with the transmitted carrier,
we lose m(t).
• In worst case scenario, at θ=π /2, we get ‘zero’ as the
output of demodulation process.
• We convert this Disadvantage into an Advantage by
doing Quadrature –Carrier Multiplexing.

• Multiplexing: to send multiple messages simultaneously.
• Quadrature-Carrier Multiplexing: amplitude modulation

scheme that enables two DSB – SC modulated waves
with independent message signals to occupy the same
channel bandwidth (i.e. same frequency channel) yet still
be separated at the receiver.
• Possible only, if perfect synchronization is ensured
between Tx. And Rx. A disadvantage.
• But bandwidth is efficiently utilized, which is an
advantage.

• QCM Transmitter:
• spectral contents
of both the signals
m1(t) and m2(t) are
same.
• QCM represents
two waveforms
modulated onto the
same carrier.

• QCM Receiver:

3.5 Suppressed-Sideband Modulation
Double SideBand Suppressed SideBand
Double Amplitude Single Vestigial

Sideband – Modulation Sideband Sideband
Suppressed (DSB – With Modulation Modulation
Carrier Carrier)

• Motivation: same information contents are
transmitted in the lower and upper sidebands, so,
only one sideband needs to be transmitted.
• Bandwidth efficient technique: by doing so, we will

be able to save half of our bandwidth 2W.

• SSB: is for signals with energy gap at origin.
• VSB: is for signals that do not have energy gap at

origin.

Single-Sideband Modulation
• Easy to generate.
• Expensive due to equipment cost required for sharp
filters and synchronous demodulation.
• Modulation:
1. Generate a DSB-SC modulated signal.
2. Eliminate any one sideband by using band-pass
filter for the other sideband.

DSB – SC Spectrum

• Suppose, we wish to transmit USB only.

• We need band-pass filter of following characteristics:
1. The desired sideband should lie inside the passband of the filter.
2. Filter should have sharp cut-off at (fc + fa) and (fc + fb).

• SSB Spectrum (USB)

• Demodulation:
• It requires Coherent Detection / Synchronous
Demodulation, which is often obtained by one of two
methods:
1. Transmitting a low power pilot in addition to the
selected sideband.
2. Using highly stable oscillators in both Tx. And Rx.
For generating the carrier frequency.

Vestigial-Sideband Modulation
• Along with the one sideband, we transmit a vestige
or trace of the other sideband also.
• Motivation for VSB:

Separation of sidebands is feasible, as no sharp filters
are required

• VSB – Modulation:
VSB
filter
• Here u(t) is DSB – SC modulated signal.

• VSB – Demodulation:
• VSB technique requires the same DSB – SC coherent

demodulation.

• The problem, we wish to address is: What should be
the spectral characteristics of VSB filter H(f)? So that
vo(t) is proportional to m(t).
• VSB filter should satisfy the following condition:

H(f-fc) + H(f+fc) = 1
• This condition is achievable by controlling the roll-

off-factor of the VSB filter.

3.7 Frequency Translation
• Also referred as:
• Frequency changing
• Mixing
• Heterodyning

• MIXER:
• Suppose we wish to translate frequency f1 of signal

s1(t) to a new value which is f2.
• What should be the value of fl ?

• the relation among the three frequencies is set as:
• If f2 > f1 :
fl = f2 – f1
• If f1 > f2 :
fl = f1 – f2

Multiplexers
• The term multiplex has its roots in the Latin words multi
(many) and plex (fold).
• Multiplexing – simultaneous transmission of multiple signals
on a single medium
– More efficient use of transmission medium
• Traditional multiplexing comes in several varieties:
– FDM
– TDM
– CDM
– WDM

Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
• Separation of the whole spectrum into smaller frequency bands
– A channel gets a certain band of the spectrum for the whole
time
– Advantages:
• no dynamic coordination necessary
• works also for analog signals
– Disadvantages:
• waste of bandwidth if the traffic is distributed unevenly
• guard spaces

Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)
– Frequency Division Multiplexing – FDM

• Frequency is shared amongst the users sharing the link

Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
• A channel gets the whole spectrum for a certain amount of time
• Advantages:
– only one carrier in the
medium at any time
– throughput high even
for many users
• Disadvantages:
– precise
synchronization
necessary

Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
– Time Division Multiplexing – TDM

• Time is shared amongst the users sharing the link

FDM and TDM
Example:
FDM 4 users
frequency
time
TDM
frequency
time
81
End Problem

CH-03 (Amplitude Modulation)

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Communication Systems

Instructor: Engr. Furqan Haider

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

• The best-known example of ground wave communication

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

• Sky wave propagation is used for international broadcasts such as BBC

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

• Above 30 MHz, neither ground wave nor sky wave

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

• Modulating wave: the information bearing wave, the

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

• Modulating wave: the information bearing wave, the

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

Double SideBand Suppressed SideBand

Double Amplitude Single Vestigial

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

• Observe – Bandwidth is now 2W (i.e. info. amount is same but doubled)

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

• s(t) = c(t) + kam(t)c(t)

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

• Observe – Bandwidth is now 2W

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

• z(t) = s(t) 2cos(2πfct) = c(t) m(t) 2cos(2πfct)

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

• c(t) = square wave

• s(t)= m(t) c(t)

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-

DEE, NUST College of E & ME Communication Systems

3.3 DSB – SC 3.2 Amplitude Modulation

1. Modulation (Time- 1. Modulation (Time-