Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Deemed to be University

Department of Electrical Engineering Document Number: Version: 1.2

SNU/MAN/EHS/EL/01 Effective Date: 02/01/2023
Title: Communication Engineering Lab Manuals Pages 5

LAB: 05
Pulse Modulation & Demodulation
OBJECTIVES:
1. Study of Pulse Amplitude Modulation and Demodulation (PAM).
2. Study of Pulse Width Modulation and Demodulation (PWM).
3. Study of Pulse Position Modulation and Demodulation (PPM).

MATERIALS / COMPONENTS & EQUIPMENT: DSO, Training kit and connecting patch chords.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND: Pulse modulation may be used to transmit information, such as continuous
speech or data. It is a system in which continuous waveforms are sampled at regular intervals. Information
regarding the signal is transmitted only at the sampling times, together with any synchronizing pulses that may be
required. At the receiving end, the original waveforms may be reconstituted from the information regarding the
samples, if these are taken frequently enough.
1. PAM: In pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) the amplitude of the pulses are varied in accordance with the
modulating signal. Pulse amplitude modulation is analog in nature but it forms the basis of most digital
𝟏
communication and modulation systems. BW=
𝟐𝝉
2. PWM: Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is a modulation technique, which converts an audio signal (the
amplitude-varying signal) into a sequence of pulses having a constant frequency and amplitude, but the width of
𝟎.𝟑𝟓
each pulse is proportional to the Amplitude of the audio signal. BW=
𝑻𝒓
3. PPM: In PPM System, the position of the pulse relative to the zero reference level is varied in accordance with
𝟎.𝟑𝟓
the instantaneous level of the modulating signal. BW=
𝑻𝒓

The Sampling Theorem: The Sampling Theorem states that a signal can be exactly reproduced if it is sampled at a
frequency Fs, where Fs is greater than twice the maximum frequency Fmaxin the signal.
Fs > 2· Fmax
The frequency 2·Fmax is called the Nyquist sampling rate.
Sampling Techniques:
1. Ideal sampling or Instantaneous sampling or Impulse sampling:
The concept of ‘instantaneous’ sampling is more of a mathematical abstraction as no practical sampling device can
actually generate truly instantaneous samples (a sampling pulse should have non-zero energy).

2. Natural sampling:
In the analogue-to-digital conversion process an analogue waveform is sampled to form a series of pulses whose
amplitude is the amplitude of the sampled waveform at the time the sample was taken. In natural sampling the
pulse amplitude takes the shape of the analogue waveform for the period of the sampling pulse as shown in figure.

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3. Flat top sampling:

After an analogue waveform is sampled in the analogue-to-digital conversion process, the continuous
analogue waveform is converted into a series of pulses whose amplitude is equal to the amplitude of the
analogue signal at the start of the sampling process. Since the sampled pulses have uniform amplitude, the
process is called flat top sampling as shown in figure.

Effect of Duty Cycle on Information Recovery:

The duty cycle of a signal is defined as, the ratio of pulse duration to the pulse repetition period.
a. The narrower pulses allow us to time division multiplex many such pulse amplitude modulation panels i.e. we
can send any no. of pulse amplitude modulated signals over same channel at a time. Hence lower duty cycle
beneficial in this respect.
b. The narrower pulses have wider frequency spectrum. Hence the wider bandwidth channel is required.
c. Narrower pulses have less power as the power content of a pulse depends on its amplitude and width. During
transmission and demodulation, the inherent noise can play a major havoc on the low power signal. Hence a pulse
of larger duty cycle is desirous for this sake.

Sample & Hold circuit:

The purpose of this circuit is to hold the analogue value steady for a short time while the converter or other
following system performs some operation that takes a little time.

Sampling mode: In this mode, the switch is in the closed position and the capacitor charges to the instantaneous
input voltage.
Hold mode: In this mode, the switch is in the open position. The capacitor is now disconnected from the input. As
there is no path for the capacitor to discharge, it will hold the voltage on it just before opening the switch. The
capacitor will hold this voltage till the next sampling instant.

1. PAM Exercise:
1. Connect message signal and sampling signal and set the parameters as per the given table.
2. Observe the Sample O/P (PAM) together with message signal and complete the observation table 1.
3. Observe the Sample & Hold O/P together with pulse signal and complete the observation table 2.
4. Conclude your observations for natural PAM, flat-top PAM and Sample & Hold.

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5. Vary the frequency of sampling signal (pulse) i.e. 8, 16, 32, 64 kHz. Observe the effect of sampling frequency
on reconstructed signal. Justify this effect.
6. Observe the function of amplifier with gain control.

OBSERVATION TABLE 1: Natural PAM

Sampling Message Sampled signal Reconstructed

Signal Signal Signal
FFT Time domain Mod Time FFT
index Domain
fs KHz Vs Vpp Am fm Frequ Band Width Vmax Vmin V0 f0 V0 f0
KHz encies width 𝝉
8 5 1
16 5 1t 1
32 5 o5 1
64 5 Vp- 1
8 5 p 2

OBSERVATION TABLE 2: Sample & Hold

Sampling Message Sampled signal Reconstructed
Signal Signal Signal
FFT Time domain Mod Time FFT
index Domain
fs KHz Vs Vpp Am fm Frequ Band Width Vmax Vmin V0 f0 V0 f0
KHz encies width 𝝉
8 5 1
16 5 1t 1
32 5 o5 1
64 5 Vp- 1
8 5 p 2

OBSERVATION TABLE 3: Flat Top

Sampling Message Sampled signal Reconstructed
Signal Signal Signal
FFT Time domain Mod Time FFT
index Domain
fs KHz Vs Vpp Am fm Frequ Band Width Vmax Vmin V0 f0 V0 f0
KHz encies width 𝝉
8 5 1
16 5 1t 1
32 5 o5 1
64 5 Vp- 1
8 5 p 2

Expected waveforms:

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2. PWM EXERCISE:

1) Apply 32 KHz sampling signal to PWM block. Measure the pulse width of sampling signal and record it. This is
the reference pulse width (τ).
2) Now apply 2 KHz, 4Vpp sine wave message to modulation input of PWM block. Observe the PWM output w.r.t
message.
3) Measure pulses widths (τ max & τ min) of PWM signal corresponding to +ve & -ve peaks of message signal.
4) Vary the frequency of message to 1 KHz and observe its effect on PWM output.
5) Repeat step 3 for increasing & decreasing amplitudes of message signal of 2 KHz.
6) Connect PWM signal to LPF and observe LPF O/P w.r.t. Message signal. Compare LPF O/P and Amplifier O/P.
7) Repeat the experiment for 16 KHz sampling signal.

Observation Table: PWM

Reference pulse width (τ) = ……… Rise time……….. Sampling frequency (fs) = …16KHz and 32KHz………

Modulation Reconstruction
Message PWM Pulse Band Modulation Time Domain Frequency
Signal Width Rise width Factor Domain
time
Tr
LPF Amplifier O/P Amplifier
O/P O/P

Vm fm τ max τmin (τmax - τmin)/ Vm fm Vm fm Vm fm

(KHz) ( τmax + τmin)
4Vp-p 2
4Vp-p 1
(1 to 2
3) Vp-p

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3. PPM EXERCISE:

1) Observe the output of PPM block without applying the message signal input. Measure the vertical position
(Time) between two pulses (Trailing edge to leading edge). This is the reference pulse position (Tpr).
2) Observe one complete cycle of message signal 3Vpp, 1 KHz on display of DSO Ch2. Now apply message signal
and observe the PPM O/P at ch1 of DSO. Record these observations.
3) Measure the positions of all the PPM pulses for one complete cycle of message signal on DSO ch2. Vary
frequency and amplitude of message signal as per table and record.
4) Connect PPM signal to LPF and observe LPF O/P w.r.t. Message signal. Compare LPF O/P and Amplifier O/P.

Observation Table: PPM

Reference pulse position (Tpr) = ………………… Pulse frequency (fs) = ……………………

Modulation Reconstruction
Time Domain Frequency
Domain
Message Pulse Mod index Rise Band LPF O/P Amplifier Amplifier
Signal Positions timeTr width O/P O/P

Vm fm Tpmax-Tpmin/ Vm fm Vm fm Vm fm
KHz TPmax+Tpmin
TP1 =……., TP2=……,
TP3=…….
3Vp-p 1
TP4=…….., TP5=……
TP6=…….
TP1 =……., TP2=……,
3 Vp-p 2 TP3=……. TP4=……..,
TP5=…… TP6=……..
TP1 =……., TP2=……,
5 Vp-p 2 TP3=……. TP4=……..,
TP5=…… TP6=……..

Results:

Conclusion:

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