BPSK - MODULATION

modules
basic: MULTIPLIER, SEQUENCE GENERATOR
optional basic: TUNEABLE LPF
optional advanced: LINE-CODE ENCODER, 100kHz CHANNEL FILTERS

preparation
Consider a sinusoidal carrier. If it is modulated
c a rrie r B PS K
 
by a bi-polar bit stream according to the scheme
(c e n tre d o n  )
illustrated in Figure 1, its polarity will be
T reversed every time the bit stream changes
+V T = b it c lo c k p e rio d
  > > 1 /T
polarity.
0
-V
b i-p o la r b it s tre a m This, for a sinewave, is equivalent to a phase
reversal (shift). The multiplier output is a
BPSK 1 signal.
Figure 1: generation of BPSK
The information about the bit stream is contained in the changes of phase of the transmitted
signal. A synchronous demodulator would be sensitive to these phase reversals.
A snap-shot of a BPSK signal in the
time domain is shown in Figure 2
(lower trace).

The upper trace is the binary message

sequence.
Figure 2: a BPSK signal There is something special about the
waveform of Figure 2.
The wave shape is ‘symmetrical’ at each phase transition. This is because the bit rate is a
sub-multiple of the carrier frequency /(2). In addition, the message transitions have been
timed to occur at a zero-crossing of the carrier.
Whilst this is referred to as ‘special’, it is not uncommon in practice. It offers the advantage
of simplifying the bit clock recovery from a received signal. Once the carrier has been
acquired then the bit clock can be derived by division.
But what does it do to the bandwidth ?

bandlimiting
The basic BPSK generated by the simplified arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 will have a
bandwidth in excess of that considered acceptable for efficient communications.
Bandlimiting can be performed either at baseband or at carrier frequency.

1 also sometimes called PRK - phase reversal keying.

Copyright © Emona Instruments Pty Ltd 1/2

Emona-TIMS BPSK - modulation L-28 rev 1.0

demodulation
Demodulation of this signal is possible with a demodulator of the synchronous, product-
type. But there will be a phase ambiguity between the sent and received signals. One way
of overcoming this is to use a digital line code which is impervious to phase ambiguity - this
is differential phase shift keying (DPSK).
These effects are examined in the Lab Sheet entitled BPSK - demodulation.

experiment
Figure 3 shows a model of the block
diagram of Figure 1.
The bit clock is here a sub-multiple of the
carrier (1/12), so the phase reversals should
be clearly visible when the BPSK is viewed
in the time domain.
A lower (synchronous) bit rate is possible
by clocking the SEQUENCE
GENERATOR with the ‘2 kHz’ message
from MASTER SIGNALS.

Figure 3: model of Figure 1

To overcome the phase ambiguity at the receiver line coding can be instituted. For example,
selecting a differential LINE-CODE such as NRZ-M.

This should be implemented at the transmitter when attempting to demodulate with the
demodulator examined in the Lab Sheet entitled BPSK - demodulation. Select different line
codes to determine which is insensitive to phase reversals.

bandwidth
Use the SPECTRUM DISPLAY to measure the bandwidth of the BPSK signal, and
compare it with that of the message sequence alone. Where could band limiting be
introduced ? Do the different line codes have different bandwidths ?
Band limiting can be implemented with a TUNEABLE LPF at baseband, or a 100 kHz
CHANNEL FILTERS module at carrier frequency.

TIMS Lab Sheet Copyright © Emona Instruments Pty Ltd 2/2

 BPSK - DEMODULATION
modules
basic: MULTIPLIER, PHASE SHIFTER, TUNEABLE LPF
optional advanced: LINE-CODE DECODER
for the received signal: see the Lab Sheet entitled BPSK - generation.
basic: MULTIPLIER, SEQUENCE GENERATOR
optional basic: TUNEABLE LPF
optional advanced: LINE-CODE ENCODER, CHANNEL FILTERS

preparation
Demodulation of a BPSK signal can be considered a two-stage process.

1. translation back to baseband, with recovery of the bandlimited message waveform

2. regeneration from the bandlimited waveform back to the binary message bit stream.

Only the first of these will be demonstrated in this experiment. The second stage is
examined in the Lab Sheet entitled DPSK - carrier acquisition and BER.
In this experiment translation back to baseband is achieved with a ‘stolen’ local
synchronous carrier.

BPSK DETECTOR
(centred on )

carrier
  bit clock
stage 1 stage 2

Figure 1: synchronous demodulation of BPSK

The translation process does not reproduce the original binary sequence, but a bandlimited
version of it. In this experiment the received data will be compared qualitatively
(oscilloscope inspection of a short sequence) with that sent. Notice that a 180 0 phase
reversal of the local carrier will invert the received data.

phase ambiguity
Phase ambiguity must be resolved in the demodulation of a BPSK signal.
There are techniques available to overcome this. One such sends a training sequence, of
known format, to enable the receiver to select the desired phase, following which the
training sequence is replaced by the normal data (until synchronism is lost !).
An alternative technique is to use differential encoding, as in this experiment.

Copyright © Emona Instruments Pty Ltd 1/2

Emona-TIMS BPSK - demodulation L-29 rev 1.0

experiment
BPSK generator
For details see the Lab Sheet entitled BPSK - generation. Use a short sequence from the
SEQUENCE GENERATOR. This is because data integrity will be checked qualitatively
by eye.

BPSK demodulator
Figure 2 shows a model of Stage I of the
demodulator of Figure 1.
Varying the phase of the stolen carrier
will vary the amplitude of the recovered
analog waveform; this includes two
nulls, with polarity inversion on either
side. This phase ambiguity needs to be
resolved.

Figure 2

regeneration to TTL; assessment

As stated earlier, to ‘clean up’ the analog waveform from the demodulator output filter,
TIMS can offer the hard decision maker as part of the LINE-CODE DECODER module.

phase ambiguity
Phase ambiguity can be resolved with
appropriate line codes. These can be
introduced by a LINE-CODE ENCODER
at the transmitter, and a LINE-CODE
DECODER at the demodulator. The
decoder module requires a regenerated
waveform to operate reliably. A model of
a suitable arrangement is shown in
Figure 3.

Figure 3
Find the codes which are insensitive to phase reversals. Remember to re-set both modules
after a code change.
In this experiment data integrity has been checked visually (qualitatively), using a short
sequence. Instrumentation can also be modelled to confirm data integrity, and to quantify
the errors when noise is present. See the Lab Sheet entitled DPSK - carrier acquisition and
BER.

TIMS Lab Sheet Copyright © Emona Instruments Pty Ltd 2/2