Digital Communications

Fundamentals of Digital Transmission

Digital Carrier Modulation

Signal Constellation
&
QAM
•OBJECTIVES:
•Signal Constellation
•QAM

Dr. Ali Hussein Muqaibel DR. ALI HUSSEIN MUQAIBEL 1

 M-ary Digital Carrier Modulation
Signal Constellation
2𝐸𝑏
sin 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
oSignal constellation is a convenient way of representing transmitted 𝑇𝑏

signals in a multi-dimensional space.

oFor ASK and PSK: Each pulse is represented by a point in a 2- 𝑝𝑖 𝑡

dimensional space. (Green dots) 𝑏𝑖
2𝐸𝑏 2𝐸𝑏
𝑝𝑖 𝑡 = 𝑎𝑖 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑏𝑖 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑐 𝑡
𝑇𝑏 𝑇𝑏 𝜃
2𝐸𝑏
cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
𝑇𝑏
𝑎𝑖
oThe square of the distance to the origin represents the pulse energy.

oThe received signals form clouds around the transmitted pulses. (Red
dots)

oA received points is decoded to the closest pulse point. (decision

boundaries) Signal Constellation (ASK, PSK)
DR. ALI HUSSEIN MUQAIBEL 2
 Note how we assign the

Multiple Amplitudes (ASK) bits to reduce the

probability of error (Gray
coding)
Find the number of symbols, bits per symbol, data rate?
2𝐸𝑏
sin 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
𝑇𝑏

0 1 00 10 11 01 000 100 110 010 011 111 101 001

2𝐸𝑏 The Constellation diagram can be used to represent

cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
𝑇𝑏 basedband signal PAM instead of ASK if we change
the bases to pulses instead of sinusoidal bases

2 Symbols 4 Symbols 8 Symbols

1 bits / symbol 2 bits / symbol 3 bits / symbol
𝐵 bits per second 2 × 𝐵 bits per second 3 × 𝐵 bits per second

DR. ALI HUSSEIN MUQAIBEL 3

Multiple Phases (MPSK)
2𝐸𝑏
sin 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
𝑇𝑏

0 1

2𝐸𝑏
cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
𝑇𝑏

4 Symbols “phases” 8 Symbols “phases” Note for the case of PSK

2 bits / symbol 3 bits / symbol two symbols (M=2). It can
2 × 𝐵 bits per second 3 × 𝐵 bits per second be considered as ASK.

DR. ALI HUSSEIN MUQAIBEL 4

 Digital Signal Transmission Using QAM
➢QAM: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation is the
general form compared to ASK and PSK.
𝑏𝑖 𝑟𝑖
➢𝑀-ary QAM constellation points may have
different amplitudes and/or phases. 𝑎𝑖

➢When M=4, QAM is equivalent to QPSK.

QAM is used for telephone line modems.

(Modulate-demodulate=(modem)

DR. ALI HUSSEIN MUQAIBEL 5

 Example: 16-ary QAM: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
16 QAM
We can use 𝑀 = 16
𝑝𝑖 𝑡 = 𝑎𝑖 𝑝 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑏𝑖 𝑝 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜔𝑐 𝑡
𝑏𝑖 𝑟𝑖
= 𝑟𝑖 𝑝 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 − 𝜽𝒊
𝑎𝑖
𝑖 = 1,2, … … . . , 16

where 𝑟𝑖 = 𝑎𝑖2 + 𝑏𝑖2 and

𝑏 16 Symbols
𝜽𝒊 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝑖 4 bits / symbol
𝑎𝑖
4 × 𝐵 bits per second

DR. ALI HUSSEIN MUQAIBEL 6

Modulation and Demodulation of QAM
Low-pass
±𝑎𝑖 filter ±𝑎𝑖
𝑏𝑖 𝑟𝑖 cos(𝜔𝑐 𝑡) 2cos(𝜔𝑐 𝑡)
𝑔𝑄𝐴𝑀 (𝑡)
𝑎𝑖
−𝜋/2 −𝜋/2
si𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡) 2si𝑛(𝜔𝑐 𝑡)
Low-pass
±𝑏𝑖 filter ±𝑏𝑖

DR. ALI HUSSEIN MUQAIBEL 7