College of Engineering – Department of Electronics Engineering

ECE 406 - ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO. 2

CHAPTER 4: AM DEMODULATOR

ARCILLAS, FRANCIS LYNDON L.

DIAZ, JOHN ALFRED P.
ESPINEDA, PHOER PAULO M.
MENDOZA, CARLIN JOSH
TENORIO, RUSSEL JOHN C.
VILLAREAL, ISAAC MIGUEL R.

ECE 3104

ENGR. MIRASOL DILAY

INSTRUCTOR

NOVEMBER 2023
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Furthermore it also requires synchronization for both carrier signal and amplitude
modulated signal (same frequency and same phase). otherwise it will affect the quality of
the output signal.

Figure 4-5 The circuit diagram of product detector

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4-1: Curriculum Objectives

1. To understand the theory of amplitude demodulation.

2. To design and implement the diode detection amplitude demodulation

3. To design and implement the product detection amplitude demodulator.

4-2: Curriculum Theory

From Chapter 3, we know that the amplitude modulation signal utilizes the

amplitude of audio signal to modulate high frequency carrier signal. Therefore,

when we receive the amplitude modulation signal. We need to restore the audio

signal. Figure 4-1 is the theory diagram of amplitude modulation. Normally

detectors can be classified as synchronous detector and asynchronous detector. We

will discuss these two types of detectors in this chapter

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1. Diode Detector for Amplitude Demodulation

Since amplitude modulation signal utilizes audio signal to modulate carrier signal, which
means the variation of carrier signal amplitude is followed by the change of audio signal
amplitude. Hence the objective of amplitude demodulator is to take out variation envelop
detection from amplitude modulation signal.

Figure 4-2 is the block diagram of the rectification demodulator. This circuit is a typical
asynchronous detector. It rectifies the amplitude modulation signal and obtains a positive half
wave signal. After that the signal will pass through a low-pass filter and obtain an envelop
detection. Then get rid of the DC signal. The audio signal will be recurred.
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Figure 4-3 is the circuit diagram of the diode detector. In which R1, R2, R3, R4, U1 and
U2 form two groups of inverting amplifiers to amplify the input signal; D1 is the rectifier diode
which can make the amplitude modulation signal become a positive half wave signal; C2, C3 and
R5 comprise a low-pass filter to remove the envelop detection signal of audio signal which
includes the DC level; then finally the objective of C4 is to block the DC level and we can obtain
a pure audio signal at output port.

2. Product Detector for Amplitude Demodulation

The amplitude demodulator can be implemented by utilizing a balanced modulator. We

call this type of modulator a synchronous detector or product detector. Figure 4-4 is the internal
structure circuit diagram of MC1496 balanced modulator (refer to chapter 3 for the circuit
description). Let xAM(t) be the amplitude modulated signal. xC(t) be the carrier signal.
i.e.:
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xAM(t) = ADC[1+m cos(2πfmt)][AC cos(2πfct)] (4-1)

xc(t) = AC cos(2πfct) (4-2)

When these two signals input into two differential ports of balanced modulator, then the
balanced modulator output is as follow

Xout(t) = kxC(t) xAM(t)

= kADCAC2 [1+m cos(2πfmt)]cos2(2πfct)

2 2 2
𝑘 𝐴𝐷𝐶𝐴𝐶 𝑘 𝐴𝐷𝐶𝐴𝐶 𝑘 𝐴𝐷𝐶𝐴𝐶
= 2
+ 2
𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2π𝑓𝑚𝑡) + 2
[1 + 𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2π𝑓𝑚𝑡)]𝑐𝑜𝑠[2(2π𝑓𝐶𝑡)]

(4-3)

Where k represents the gain of the balanced modulator. The first term is the DC signal,
second term is the audio signal and third term is the second harmonic of amplitude modulated

signal. If we can take out the second term from xout(t), then we can obtain the exact amplitude
demodulated signal or audio signal.
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Figure 4-5 is the circuit diagram of the product detector. VR1 controls the input
magnitude of the carrier signal: VR2 controls the input magnitude of the amplitude modulated
signal; then the output signal of MC1496 is located at pin 12. C7, C9 and R9 comprise a low-pass
filter which can remove the unwanted third term of equation (4-3), i.e. second harmonic of
amplitude modulated signal. The DC signal which is the first term of equation (4-3), can be
blocked by C10. Therefore the signal that we obtain at output port will be:

2
𝑘𝐴𝐷𝐶𝐴𝐶
xout(t) = 2
𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠(2π𝑓𝑚𝑡) (4-4)

Equation (4-4) represents the audio signal or in other words the original amplitude
modulated signal can be taken out via product detector.

These two types of detectors have their own advantages and disadvantages. As for the
diode detector, which is an asynchronous detector, its circuit is simple but the performances are
not as good as the product detector. which is a synchronous detector. It has good performance but
the circuit is more complicated than the diode detector.
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4-3: Experiment Items

Experiment 1: Diode detector of amplitude demodulator

1. Utilize the amplitude modulator in chapter 3 (as shown in figure 3-4) or refer to ETEK
DA-2000-02 module. produce an amplitude modulated signal as the amplitude modulated
signal source in this experiment.

2. From the input amplitude modulator. adjust the amplitude and frequency of the carrier
signal to be 600 mV and 300 kHz sine wave, and also adjust the amplitude and frequency
of audio signal to be 600 mV and 2 kHz sine wave.

3. Then adjust VR1 of the amplitude modulator to obtain the largest output amplitude
modulated signal.

4. Connect the output signal of the amplitude modulator to the input port (1/P) of the diode
detector in figure 4-3 or ETEK DA-2000-02 module.

5. By using an oscilloscope and switching to the DC channel. Observe on the amplified

signal waveform and output waveform of diode detection, then record the measured
results in table 4-1.

6. Change the frequencies of audio signal to 1 kHz and 900 Hz. the other remains the same,
and then repeat step 5.

7. From the input of the amplitude modulator, adjust the amplitude and frequency of the
carrier signal to be 300 mV and 300 kHz sine wave, and also adjust the amplitude and
frequency of the audio signal to be 500 mV and 2 kHz sine wave.
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8. Then adjust VR1 of the amplitude modulator to obtain the largest output amplitude
modulated signal.

9. By using an oscilloscope and switching to the DC channel, observe the amplified signal
wave form and output waveform of diode detection. Record the measured results in table
4-2.

10. Change the frequencies of the audio signal to 1 kHz and 900 Hz, the others remains the
same. and then repeat step 9.

Experiment 2: Product detector of amplitude demodulator

1. Utilize the amplitude modulator in chapter 3 (as shown in figure 3-4) or refer to ETEK
DA-2000-02 module. produce an amplitude modulated signal as the amplitude modulated
signal source in this experiment.

2. From the input amplitude modulator. adjust the amplitude and frequency of the carrier
signal to be 600 mV and 500 kHz sine wave, and also adjust the amplitude and frequency
of the audio signal to be 500 mV and 2 kHz sine wave.

3. Then adjust VR1 of the amplitude modulator until the modulation index reaches 50%.

4. Connect output signal of amplitude modulator to input port (1/P2) of product detector in
figure 4-5 or ETEK DA-2000-02 module. At the same time, connect the same carrier
signal from the amplitude modulator to the carrier input port (1/P1) of the product
detector.

5. By using an oscilloscope and switching to the DC channel. Observe on the output

waveform of product detection, then record the measured results in table 4-3.

6. Change the frequencies of audio signal to 1 kHz and 900 Hz. the other remains the same,
and then repeat step 5.
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7. From the input of the amplitude modulator, adjust the amplitude and frequency of the
carrier signal to be 600 mV and 1 MHz sine wave, and also adjust the amplitude and
frequency of the audio signal to be 500 mV and 2 kHz sine wave.

8. Then adjust VR1 of the amplitude modulator until the modulation index reaches 50%.

9. By using an oscilloscope and switching to the DC channel, observe the output waveform
of product detection. Then record the measured results in table 4-4.

10. Change the frequencies of the audio signal to 2 kHz and 3 MHz, the others remain the
same. and then repeat step 9.

DATA AND RESULTS

The initial variables and conditions placed in the experiment will be shown for each table

respectively.

Table 4-1: The measured results of the diode detector of amplitude demodulator
( Vc = 600 mV , Vm = 600 mV , fc = 300 kHz ).

Vc Vm fc
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Table 4-2: The measured results of the diode detector of amplitude demodulator
( Vc = 300 mV , Vm = 500 mV , fc = 300 kHz ).

Vc Vm fc

Table 4-3: The measured results of the product detector of amplitude demodulator
( Vc = 600 mV , Vm = 500 mV , fc = 500 kHz , m = 50 % ).

Vc Vm fc

Table 4-4: The measured results of the product detector of amplitude demodulator
( Vc = 600 mV , Vm = 500 mV , fc = 2 kHz , m = 50 % ).

Vc Vm fc
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4-4: Measured Results

Table 4-1: The measured results of the diode detector of amplitude demodulator
( Vc = 600 mV , Vm = 600 mV , fc = 300 kHz ).

Audio Signal Frequencies Input Signal Waveforms Detector Output Signal

Waveforms

2 kHz

1 kHz

900 Hz
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Table 4-2: The measured results of the diode detector of amplitude demodulator
( Vc = 300 mV , Vm = 500 mV , fc = 300 kHz ).

Audio Signal Frequencies Input Signal Waveforms Detector Output Signal

Waveforms

2 kHz

1 kHz

900 Hz
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Table 4-3: The measured results of the product detector of amplitude demodulator
( Vc = 600 mV , Vm = 500 mV , fc = 500 kHz , m = 50 % ).

Audio Signal Frequencies Input Signal Waveforms Detector Output Signal

Waveforms

2 kHz

1 kHz

900 Hz
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Table 4-4: The measured results of the product detector of amplitude demodulator
( Vc = 600 mV , Vm = 500 mV , fc = 2 kHz , m = 50 % ).

Audio Signal Frequencies Input Signal Waveforms Detector Output Signal

Waveforms

1 MHz

2 MHz

3 MHz
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Modulation Index Calculation for Product Detector of Amplitude Demodulator Respectively :

Modulation Index Formula:

𝐸𝑀𝐴𝑋 − 𝐸𝑀𝑖𝑛
M= 𝐸𝑀𝐴𝑋 + 𝐸𝑀𝑖𝑛
𝑥2
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CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our laboratory experiment successfully investigated the modulation and

demodulation of amplitude modulation (AM) waves. The tables provided a clear representation
of the output waveforms, illustrating the transformation from modulated to demodulated signals.

The results highlight the effectiveness of the modulation and demodulation processes
employed in our setup. The consistency in the output waveforms, as demonstrated in the tables,
signifies the reliability of the experimental approach.

This hands-on exploration not only deepened our understanding of AM wave dynamics
but also emphasized the practical applications of modulation and demodulation in real-world
communication systems. The insights gained from this laboratory exercise contribute to our
foundational knowledge of signal processing.

As we conclude, the successful modulation and demodulation of AM waves in our

experiment serve as a fundamental building block for further studies in communication
technology. This simple yet insightful laboratory exercise lays the groundwork for future
investigations and applications in the field of signal transmission.

References

Notes, E. (n.d.). What is Amplitude Modulation, AM » Electronics Notes.

https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/radio/modulation/amplitude-modulation
am.php

ECE 489 - Lab 1: Amplitude Modulation. (n.d.). https://ecelabs.njit.edu/ece489/lab1.php

Veres-Vitályos, Á. (2022, September 12). Lab 5: Amplitude Modulation and Demodulation.

Digilent reference. https://digilent.com/reference/test-and-

measurement/guides/complementary-labs/lab5/start

Bhatkar, V.V. et al. (2007). Amplitude demodulation of entrained sway to analyze human
postural control. Annual International Conference.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2261375.