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ECET412a

Principles of Communications Course


Resources
Course material
Course text book:
Carlson, B., Crilly P. (2010). Communications Systems: An
Introduction to Signals and Noise in Electrical
Communication. 5th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Additional recommended books


Electronic Communications Systems W. Tomasi. Prentice Hall, 4th ed
2001 (or 5th edition, 2004)

Material accessible from course yahoo group:


Message Posts
Lecture slides (.ppt, pdf)
Assignments

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 1: Introduction 2


Scope of the course …

Course Outline (May change depending on period


time constraints)

Introduction - (Prelims)
Fourier Series, Fourier Transforms and Continuous
Spectra – (Prelims)
Signal Transmission and Filtering - (Midterms)
Linear CW Modulation - (Midterms )
Exponential CW Modulation (Finals)

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE 3


Midterms

ECET412a
Principles of Communications Course
Lecture 3
Signal Transmission and Filtering

Primary Reference Book: Carlson Chapter 3


pages 112-124,126-131, 134-136, 137-140,
143-146, 147-151, 153-154,

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE


In Lec 3, we are going to talk about:

Response of LTI Systems

Signal Distortion in Transmission

Transmission Loss and Decibels

Filters and Filtering

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 5
Background
Signal transmission - process whereby an
electrical waveform gets from one location to
another, ideally arriving without distortion.
Signal filtering – operation which purposefully
distorts a waveform by altering its spectral content.
Most transmission systems and filters have in
common the properties of linearity and time
invariance (LTI).
These properties allow us to model both transmission
and filtering in the time domain in terms of the impulse
response, or in the frequency domain in terms of the
frequency response

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 6
Objectives
1. State and apply the input–output relations for an LTI system in
terms of its impulse response h(t), step response g(t), or transfer
function H(f) (Sect. 3.1)
2. Use frequency-domain analysis to obtain an exact or approximate
expression for the output of a system (Sect. 3.1).
3. Find H(f) from the block diagram of a simple system (Sect. 3.1).
4. Distinguish between amplitude distortion, delay distortion, linear
distortion, and nonlinear distortion (Sect. 3.2)
5. Identify the frequency ranges that yield distortionless transmission
for a given channel (Sect. 3.2).
6. Use dB calculations to find the signal power in a cable
transmission system with amplifiers (Sect. 3.3).
7. Discuss the characteristics of and requirements for transmission
over fiber optic and satellite systems (Sect. 3.3).
8. Identify the characteristics and sketch H(f) and h(t) for an ideal
LPF, BPF, or HPF (Sect. 3.4).
9. Find the 3 dB bandwidth of a real LPF, given H(f) (Sect. 3.4).
10. State and apply the bandwidth requirements for pulse
transmission (Sect. 3.4).

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 7
RESPONSE OF LTI SYSTEMS

Excitation-and-response relationship between input and


output
Energy storage elements and other internal effects may
cause the output waveform to look quite different from
the input

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 8
Impulse Response and Superposition

Assume: no internal stored energy so y(t) is due entirely


to x(t)

Linear (superposition principle applies):

Time-Invariant

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 9
Impulse Response and Superposition

Define: The system’s response to an impulse input

Thus, the superposition integral:

Or, the forced response y(t) is the convolution of the


input (t) and the system impulse response h(t)

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 10
Impulse Response and Superposition

System analysis in the time domain thus requires


knowledge of the impulse response along with the
ability to carry out a convolution. Alternatively, we may
calculate first the system’s step response

where

Define: unit step function

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 11
Time Response of an nth order system

The order n is equal to the number of energy-storage


elements (below is 1st order)

The step response (input is a step function)

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 12
Time Response of an 1st order system

The impulse response (when input is an impulse)

One can now find the response y(t) to an arbitrary


input x(t)

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 13
Time Response of an 1st order system

Let x(t) = A for 0 < t < τ , then the response is

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 14
System Gain and Phase Shift
Since Ay/Ax = |H(f0)| and any frequency f0, then H(f) is
the amplitude ratio as a function of frequency or the
amplitude response or gain
arg H(f) represents the system phase shift since ϕy – ϕx
= arg H(f0)
Plots of |H(f0)| and arg H(f0) versus frequency gives the
system’s frequency response

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 15
Midterms

ECET412a
Principles of Communications Course
Lecture 4
Linear Continuous-Wave Modulation

Primary Reference Book: Carlson Chapter 4

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation
In Lec 4, we are going to talk about:

Bandpass Signals and Systems

DSB Amplitude Modulation

Modulators and Transmitters

Suppressed-Sideband AM

Frequency Conversion and Demodulation

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 17
Background
Modulation - the systematic alteration of one
waveform, called the carrier, according to the
characteristics of another waveform, the modulating
signal or message, to produce an information-
bearing modulated wave with properties best suited
to the given communication task.

CW modulation systems – the carrier is a


sinusoidal wave modulated by an analog signal
(e.g. AM, FM)

Linear CW modulation involves direct frequency


translation of the message spectrum
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 18
Background - Modulation
Modulating Signal + Carrier Wave

Joel C. Delos Angeles M.S. ECE


Modulation Benefits and Applications
1) For Efficient Transmission – antennas for line-of-
sight requires at least 1/10 of signal wavelength
2) To overcome hardware limitations – minimize cost
if fractional bandwidth (absolute bandwidth /
center frequency) is kept within 1 to 10%
3) To reduce noise and interference (wideband noise
reduction – using much greater transmission
bandwidth than the bandwidth of modulating
signal)
4) For frequency assignment
5) For multiplexing / multiple access

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Lecture 1: Introduction 20
Objectives
1. Given a bandpass signal, find its envelope and
phase, in-phase and quadrature components, and
lowpass equivalent signal and spectrum (Sect. 4.1).
2. State and apply the fractional-bandwidth rule of
thumb for bandpass systems (Sect. 4.1).
3. Sketch the waveform and envelope of an AM or DSB
signal, and identify the spectral properties of AM,
DSB, SSB, and VSB (Sects. 4.2 and 4.4).
4. Construct the line spectrum, and find the sideband
power and total power of an AM, DSB, SSB or VSB
signal with tone modulation (Sects. 4.2 and 4.4).
5. Distinguish between product, power-law, and
balanced modulators, and analyze a modulation
system (Sect. 4.3).
6. Identify the characteristics of synchronous,
homodyne, and envelope detection (Sect. 4.5).

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Lecture 3: Signal Transmission and Filtering 21
BANDPASS SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS

Applying Fourier frequency translation or


modulation property:

Most long-haul transmission systems have a


bandpass frequency response.
The properties of the transmission system are
similar to those of a bandpass filter, and any signal
transmitted on such a system must have a
bandpass spectrum.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 22
Analog Message Conventions
Arbitrary message waveform x(t) with
spectrum X(f):

Fall-back position for ease of analysis is tone


modulation:

What is the spectrum of a tone message signal?


Joel C.Joel
Engr. Delos
C. Angeles M.S. ECE
Delos Angeles Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 23
Analog Message Conventions
In general, multiplying the message by cos 2πfCt in the time
domain translates its spectrum to frequency fc
Note how the shape of X(f) is preserved in the graph of
Xbp(f); the modulated signal occupies BT = 2W Hz of
spectrum.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 24
Bandpass Signals
Bandpass signal bandpass
condition

envelope

phase

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 25
Bandpass Transmission

Simplest bandpass system

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 26
Bandpass Transmission – Tuned Circuit

Voltage Transfer Function H(f)

where the resonant frequency f0 and quality factor Q


are related to the element values by

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 27
Bandpass Transmission – Tuned Circuit

3-dB (half-power) bandwidth

since practical tuned circuits typically have 10 < Q < 100


then 0.01 f0 < B < 0.10 f0

Antennas in radio systems produce considerable distortion


when the frequency range is small compared to the carrier
frequency fC.
Designing reasonably distortionless bandpass amplifier is
difficult if B is too small or too large compared to fC.
Thus rule of thumb for fractional bandwidth

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 28
Bandpass Transmission

Otherwise, the signal distortion may be beyond the scope of


practical equalizers.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 29
Bandpass Signals - Bandwidth

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 30
Bandpass Transmission - Bandwidth
1. Absolute bandwidth. This is where 100% of the energy is confined
between some frequency range of fa -> fb. (If we have ideal filters and
unlimited time signals)
2. 3 dB / half-power bandwidth. The frequency(s) where the signal power
starts to decrease by 3 dB.
3. Noise equivalent bandwidth. Equal to the total signal power over all
frequencies divided by the value of the power spectral density at fC.
4. Null-to-null bandwidth. Frequency spacing between a signal spectrum’s
first set of zero crossings.
5. Occupied bandwidth. This is an FCC definition, which states, “The
frequency bandwidth such that, below its lower and above its upper
frequency limits, the mean powers radiated are each equal to 0.5
percent of the total mean power radiated by a given emission.” In other
words, 99% of the energy is contained in the signal’s bandwidth.
6. Relative power spectrum bandwidth. This is where the level of power
outside the bandwidth limits is reduced to some value relative to its
maximum level. This is usually specified in negative decibels (dB). For
example, consider a broadcast FM signal with a maximum carrier power
of 1000 watts and relative power spectrum bandwidth of -40 dB (i.e.,
1/10,000). Thus we would expect the station’s power emission to not
exceed 0.1 W outside of fC ± 100 kHz.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 31
DOUBLE-SIDEBAND AM
Two types of DSB
Standard AM
DSB-Suppressed Carrier (DSB-SC)

AM Signals and Spectra


The envelope of the modulated carrier has the same
shape as the message or modulating signal x(t)

where AC is the unmodulated carrier amplitude


and µ is the modulation index

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 32
AM Signals and Spectra

The signal’s
envelope is then

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 33
AM Signals and Spectra
µ≤1
AC [ 1 + µ x(t) ] does not go negative

100% modulation
µ=1
Amin = 0; Amax = 2 Ac

Overmodulation (µ > 1)
causes phase reversals and envelope distortion

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 34
AM Signals and Spectra
Frequency Domain (positive-side only)

NOTE: Transmission bandwidth is twice the baseband


bandwidth. BT is an important consideration in comparing
modulation systems

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 35
AM Signals and Spectra
Average transmitted power of AM signal

from

we have 0 0

assuming the message has zero dc component, the


average of x(t) =0; carrier average is also equal to zero

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 36
AM Signals and Spectra
If the average power of the message or modulating
signal is

then

In terms of power of each sideband (upper and lower)

where

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 37
AM Signals and Spectra
PC = power of the unmodulated carrier
(note when µ = 0; no modulation)
PSB = power of each sideband

The modulation constraint |µx(t)| ≤ 1 makes


At least 50% (often
close to 2/3) of the
total transmitted
power is “wasted”
carrier power
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 38
DSB-SC Signals and Spectra
DSB-SC Signals and Spectra
The “wasted” carrier power can be eliminated by
setting µ = 1 and suppressing the unmodulated
carrier-frequency component

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 39
DSB-SC Signals and Spectra
For standard AM, xC(t) has no time-varying phase
(i.e. the value of xC(t) is always positive and ϕ(t) is
zero
It’s in-phase and quadrature components are

However for DSB-SC:

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 40
DSB-SC Signals and Spectra
The envelope takes on the form of |x(t)| rather than
x(t) – as in standard AM
Full recovery of the message requires knowledge of
the phase reversals – a simple envelope detector
will not suffice (circuit complexity)
The trade-off is that all of the average transmitted
power goes to information-bearing sidebands
(efficiency), thus

DSB conserves power but requires complicated


demodulation circuitry whereas AM requires
increased power to permit simple envelope
detection.
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 41
DSB-SC Signals and Spectra
In practice, transmitters are limited by its peak
envelope power A2max
Under maximum modulation conditions, for DSB,
Amax = AC; for AM Amax = 2AC

Thus for AM

and for DSB-SC

yields
If is Amax is fixed and other
factors are equal, a DSB
transmitter produces 4x the
sideband power of an AM
transmitter.
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 42
DSB AM : Exercises

1) Consider a radio transmitter rated for ST ≤ 3kW and


A2max ≤ 8 kW. Let the modulating signal be a tone
with so with Am = 1.
a) Find the modulating signal power Sx

b) If the modulation is DSB, find the maximum possible power


per sideband (hint: use both the formula for ST and the one
for PSB/A2max and choose the smaller value allowed for PSB

c) If the modulation is AM with 100% modulation, find the


maximum allowed PSB (again use the two specifications to
get the lower value)

d) How far will the DSB signal travel compared to the AM


signal?

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 43
DSB AM : Exercises

2) Let the modulating signal be a square wave that


switches periodically between x(t) = 1 and x(t) = -1.
a) Sketch xC(t) when the modulation is AM with µ = 0.5
b) with AM with µ = 1
c) with DSB

3) Suppose a voice signal has |x(t)|max = 1 and Sx= 1/5.


Calculate the values of ST and A2max needed to get
PSB = 10 W for
a. DSB
b. AM with µ = 1

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 44
Tone Modulation
Tone-modulated DSB waveform

Line spectra for tone-modulated DSB

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 45
Tone Modulation
Tone-modulated AM waveform

Line spectra for tone-modulated AM

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 46
DSB-AM: Exercises
1) AM DSBFC signal with carrier 100 KHz and a maximum modulating
signal frequency of 5 KHz
a. Frequency limits of upper and lower sidebands
b. Spectral Bandwidth
c. Draw frequency spectrum
d. Repeat a to c if tone input to AM modulator is 3 KHz
2) Input to a conventional AM modulator is a 500 KHz carrier with amplitude
20 V. Modulating signal input is 10 KHz that is of sufficient amplitude to
cause a change in the output wave of +/- 7.5 V, Determine
a. Upper and lower side frequencies
b. Modulation coefficient /percent modulation
c. Peak amplitude of modulated carrier
d. Upper and lower side frequency voltages
e. Maximum and Minimum amplitudes of the envelope
f. Expression for the modulated wave
g. Draw the output spectrum
h. Sketch the output envelope (i.e. time-domain)

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 47
DSB-AM: Exercises

3) AM DSBFC signal with carrier 100 KHz and a


maximum modulating signal frequency of 5 KHz with
peak unmodulated carrier of 10 volts, load resistance
of 10 ohms, and 100% modulation

a. Power of carrier, upper and lower sidebands


b. Total sideband power
c. Total power in the modulated wave if index is 0.5
d. Draw the power spectrum
e. Repeat a to d if modulation coefficient is 0.3

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 48
MODULATORS AND TRANSMITTERS

Time-varying or nonlinear systems since LTI


systems do not produce new frequency
components

Modulators
Product Modulator (low-level)
Square-law Modulator (low-level)
Switching Modulator (high-level)

A modulator is a component inside a


transmitter/transceiver

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 49
Product Modulators
Product:

Schematic Diagram with Analog Multiplier

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 50
Product Modulators
Variable Transconductance Multiplier:

Input voltage v1 is applied to a differential amplifier whose


gain depends on the transconductance of the transistors
which, in turn, varies with the total emitter current
Input v2 controls the emitter current by means of a voltage-to-
current converter, so the differential output equals Kv1v2
Most analog multipliers are limited to low power levels and
relatively low frequencies (low-level modulator)
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 51
Low-level AM Modulator
Modulation takes place prior to the output element of
the final stage of the transmitter - less modulating
signal power is required to achieve a high percentage
of modulation

Emitter
modulator

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 52
Low-level AM Modulator
The modulating signal varies the gain of the amplifier at a
sinusoidal rate equal to the frequency of the modulating signal

Coupling capacitor C2
removes the modulating
signal frequency from the
waveform, producing a
symmetrical AM envelope
at Vout

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 53
Low-level AM Modulator

For a low-level AM modulator with modulation


coefficient of 0.8, quiescent voltage gain of 100, and
an input carrier frequency of 500 KHz with an
amplitude VC = 5 mV and a 1 KHz modulating signal,
determine:

a) Maximum and minimum voltage gains


b) Maximum and minimum amplitudes for Vout
c) The output AM envelope
d) The output signal AM equation
e) The output signal spectrum

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 54
Square-law Modulators
Assume the nonlinear element
approximates the square-law
transfer curve

Can be used at higher frequencies

Field-effect transistor as the nonlinear element and a


parallel RLC circuit as the filter.
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 55
Square-law Modulators
Thus,

The last term is the desired AM wave provided it can be


separated from the rest (AC = a1 and µ = 2a2/a1)

We just need a bandpass filter (BPF) with


center frequency = ? and bandwidth = ?

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 56
Balanced Modulators: DSB-SC
Two AM modulators arranged in a balanced configuration
to cancel out the carrier.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 57
Balanced Modulators: DSB-SC
Ring Modulator

A square-wave carrier c(t) with frequency causes the


diodes to switch on and off.
Functionally, multiplying x(t) with c(t):

We just need a bandpass filter (BPF) with


center frequency = ? and bandwidth = ?
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 58
Medium-Power AM Modulator
Collector modulator

Consider: without applied


modulating signal

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 59
Medium-Power AM Modulator
When modulating
signal is applied:
1) The modulating signal
adds to and subtracts
from the DC supply
VCC and the output
voltage waveform
swings from a
maximum value
(2Vcc) to a minimum
value Vce(sat) ≈ 0
2) The operation is as
before only this time,
there is a slow time-
varying power supply
3) What is the stage after
this?
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 60
Switching Modulators
The active device, typically a
transistor, serves as a switch
driven at the carrier frequency,
closing briefly every 1/fC sec.
The RLC load, called a tank
circuit, is tuned to resonate at
fC, so the switching action
causes the tank circuit to “ring”
sinusoidally.
The steady-state load voltage
in absence of modulation is
then v(t) = V cos ωCt
Adding the message to the
supply voltage, say via
transformer, gives v(t) = [V +
Nx(t)] cos ωCt

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 61
Switching Modulators
In view of the heavy filtering required, square-law
modulators are used primarily for low-level
modulation, i.e., at power levels lower than the
transmitted value.

Substantial linear amplification becomes necessary to


bring the power up to ST

But RF power amplifiers of the required linearity are


not without problems of their own, and it often is better
to employ high-level modulation if is ST to be large

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 62
Low-level AM Transmitters

Preamplifier (linear voltage amplifier with high input


impedance) - raises source signal amplitude to a usable level
with minimum nonlinear distortion and as little thermal noise
as possible
Modulating signal driver (linear amplifier) - amplifies the
information signal to an adequate level to sufficiently drive the
modulator
RF carrier oscillator - generates stable carrier signal

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 63
Low-level AM Transmitters

Buffer amplifier (low-gain, high-input impedance linear amplifier) -


isolates the oscillator from the high-power amplifiers
Intermediate and final power amplifiers (push-pull modulators) –
requires linearity with low-level transmitters to maintain symmetry in
the AM envelope
Coupling network - matches output impedance of the final amplifier
to the transmission line/antenna
Applications in low-power, low-capacity systems: wireless
intercoms, remote-control units, pagers and short-range walkie-
talkies
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 64
High-level AM Transmitters

Addition of power amplifier (To provide higher power


modulating signal necessary to achieve 100% modulation)
The modulator circuit has three primary functions:
Provide the circuitry necessary for modulation to occur
Act as the final power amplifier
Frequency up-converter: translates low-frequency
information signals to RF signals

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 65
Midterm Recap:

Bandpass Signals and Systems

DSB Amplitude Modulation

Modulators and Transmitters

Suppressed-Sideband AM *

Frequency Conversion and Demodulation *

* Will be covered within the next 2 lecture days

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 66
SUPPRESSED SIDEBAND AM

Conventional amplitude modulation is wasteful of


both transmission power and bandwidth
Suppressing the carrier reduces the transmission
power
Either one of the sidebands contains ALL of the
message information
Suppressing one sideband, in whole or part,
reduces transmission bandwidth and leads to
single-sideband modulation (SSB) or vestigial-
sideband modulation (VSB)

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 67
SSB Signals and Spectra

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 68
SSB Signals and Spectra
Time-domain representation is not immediately
obvious – save for the special case of tone modulation

Note: Unlike AM and DSB, the amplitude of the modulated


signal is constant. So envelope (peak) detection won’t work
to demodulate SSB
For the general case where the input modulating
signal x(t) is not a tone, the modulated signal is
expressed as

where is the Hilbert transform of x(t) ☺

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 69
SSB Signals and Spectra
SSB is not appropriate for pulse transmission, digital
data, or similar applications, and more suitable
modulating signals (such as audio waveforms) should
still be lowpass filtered before modulation in order to
smooth out any abrupt transitions that might cause
excessive horns or smearing

Time-domain of modulated
output when modulating
signal input is a pulse

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 70
Exercise: SSB Transmission Power
A transmitter with a 630 KHz carrier of amplitude 5 volts is modulated
by a signal composed of tones with frequencies 2 KHz and 3 KHz and both
with amplitude of 0.2V with modulation index of 1.
a) Find the total carrier power Pc
b) Find the modulating signal power Sx. (Use either VRMS or Parseval’s
Power Theorem)
c) In the same transmitter, find the total AM power ST
d) In the same transmitter, if the modulation is converted to SSB-SC,
what is the total power?

RECALL: AM (DSB-FC) Transmitted Power

For DSB-SC:

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 71
SSB Generation
A perfect cutoff at f=fC cannot be synthesized, so a real
sideband filter will either pass a portion of the
undesired sideband or attenuate a portion of the
desired sideband (the former is Vestigial Sideband)
Fortunately, many modulating signals have little or no
frequency content – their spectra having “holes” at
zero frequency

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 72
SSB Generation
It may not be possible to obtain a sufficiently high
carrier frequency with a given message spectrum. For
these cases the modulation process can be carried
out in two (or more) steps

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 73
SSB Generation: Phase-Shift Method
An SSB signal consists of two DSB waveforms with
quadrature carriers and modulating signals x(t) and
bypassing the need for sideband filters

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 74
SSB Generation: Weaver’s Modulator
Exercise: Let x(t) = cos ωmt

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 75
Vestigial SB Signals and Spectra
Consider a modulating signal of very large bandwidth
having significant low-frequency content (analog TV
video, fax, and high-speed data signals
Bandwidth conservation argues for SSB, but practical
SSB systems have poor low-frequency response
DSB works quite well for low message frequencies but
the transmission bandwidth is twice that of SSB

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 76
Vestigial SB Signals and Spectra
Suppose an AM (DSB-FC) wave is applied to a
vestigial sideband filter – the modulation scheme is
termed VSB plus carrier (VSB + C)
Used for television video transmission (4.2 MHz video)
The unsuppressed carrier allows for envelope
detection (an approximation), as in AM while retaining
the bandwidth conservation of SSB.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 77
FREQUENCY CONVERSION AND DEMODULATION

Demodulation implies downward frequency


translation in order to recover the message from
the modulated wave.
Types of demodulators
Synchronous detectors
Envelope detectors

Frequency translation, or conversion, is also used


to shift a modulated signal to new carrier frequency
(up or down) for amplification or other processing.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 78
Frequency Conversion
Frequency conversion starts with multiplication by a
sinusoid

With appropriate filtering, the signal is up-converted or


down-converted. The operation itself is termed
heterodyning or mixing.

Frequency converter
or mixer
?? Sketch the output
spectrum
cos ω1t

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 79
Frequency Conversion
Below is a simplified transponder in a satellite relay that
provides two-way communication between two ground stations.
Different carrier frequencies, 6 GHz and 4 GHz, are used on the
uplink and downlink to prevent self-oscillation due to positive
feedback from the transmitting side to the receiving side.
A frequency converter translates the spectrum of the amplified
uplink signal to the passband of the downlink amplifier.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 80
Synchronous Detection
All types of linear modulation (AM,DSB,SSB) can be detected by
a product demodulator

Synchronous or coherent assumes that the local oscillator (LO)


is exactly synchronized (in-phase) with the carrier
General AM equation

0 0

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 81
Synchronous Detection: VSB ??
Baseband and corresponding VSB spectra

Frequency-translated signal prior to filtering shows recovery of


original baseband modulating signal

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 82
Synchronous Detection: Challenge
The crux of the problem is synchronization — synchronizing an
oscillator (LO) in the receiver that is not even present in the
incoming signal if carrier is supressed. Thus, suppressed-carrier
systems may have a small amount of carrier reinserted in xC(t) at
the transmitter
This pilot carrier is picked off at the receiver by a narrow bandpass
filter, amplified, and used in place of a LO (local oscillator)
In practice, the amplified pilot serves to synchronize a separate
oscillator rather than be used directly (using a phase-locked loop)

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 83
Envelope Detection
Synchronous detectors are best for weak signal reception
In most cases, the envelope detector is much simpler and more
suitable (if a carrier is present)

R2C2 acts as a DC block to


remove the bias of the
unmodulated carrier
component.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 84
Envelope Detection
Some DSB and SSB demodulators employ the method of
envelope reconstruction. The addition (reinsertion) of a large,
locally generated carrier to the incoming signal reconstructs the
envelope for recovery by an envelope detector.
This method eliminates signal multiplication but does not get
around the synchronization problem, for the local carrier must be
as well synchronized as the LO in a product demodulator.

Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 85
The Superheterodyne Receiver

Intermediate Freq (IF) =


455 KHz (standard for
AM)
Preselector’s function is
to reject image
frequencies
Joel
Engr.
C.Joel
Delos
C. Angeles
Delos Angeles
M.S. ECE Midterm: Linear CW Modulation 86

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