Experiment No 1 AMPLITUDE MODULATION AND DEMODULATION

By Prof. R. A. Carrasco
Objectives

1) To investigate AM modulation and demodulation

2) To observe and measure the waveforms and spectra for Double sideband AM (DSBAM),
DSB Diminished Carrier and DSB Suppressed Carrier (DSBSC).

3) To measure the power in DSB amplitude modulation.

4) To investigate synchronous demodulation for DSB and SSB (Single Sideband)

modulation.

1A AMPLITUDE MODULATION

Introduction to Experiment

The schematic diagram in figure 1A below shows an amplitude modulator in which a DC

voltage is added to a message signal, and this sum is then multiplied by a carrier.

Figure 1A Amplitude Modulator

The DC voltage, VDC, is set by the balance control VR1
The signal generator at 2 kHz (2 volts peak to peak) represents the message signal, m(t) =
Vmcosωmt.
The on-board 455kHz oscillator represents the carrier, cosωct.

The output modulated signal may be represented by:

vS(t) = (VDC + m(t)) cosωct

= VDC cosωct + m(t)cosωct

Carrier Upper and Lower Sidebands

component (USB and LSB)

Alternatively, with m(t) = Vmcosωmt,

vS(t) = (VDC + Vmcosωmt) cosωct

vS(t) = VDC cosωct + Vmcosωmt cosωct

A trigonometric identity is:

cos A cos B = ½ cos (A+B) + ½ cos (A - B)

Vm V
i.e. v S (t ) = VDC cos ω c t + cos(ω c + ω m )t + m cos(ω c − ω m )t
2 2

Carrier component at fc Hz. USB at (fc + fm) Hz. LSB at (fc - fm) Hz.

2
VDC
where the total power PT = Carrier Power Pc + PUSB + PLSB. The carrier power Pc =
2
 m2 
and PT = Pc 1 +  , where m is the modulation depth
 2 

Please see website for the technical manual:

http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/r.carrasco/Mt191_b.pdf

Procedure: Amplitude Modulation/Single Sideband Modulation

1. Using the signal generator inject a 2 kHz sine wave at pin 15, the input, and adjust VR1
fully anticlockwise to achieve a clear DSBAM envelope. Observe the input signal and the
output of the balanced modulator, pin 17, on the DSO.

2. Observe and record the spectrum of the DSBAM signal on the DSO using the FFT
function. VR1 must now be adjusted for maximum carrier suppression, -35dB below the
 sideband level, prior to observing the spectrum of the SSB signal at pin 22.

DSO FFT Setup: Timebase 100 µs, Span 50 kHz, Centre 453 kHz

3. Relate what you see to the outline theory presented above.

Vm V − Vmin
4. Modulation depth in AM is defined as m = or max × 100 % , where Vmax and
VDC Vmax + Vmin
Vmin are the maximum and minimum amplitude of the envelope, hence changing the DC
offset (VDC) is one way of changing the modulation depth. Change the DC offset and
observe the effect on the waveforms and the output spectrum.

5. Keeping Vm constant, set the modulation depth to m = 0.5, m = 1, m = 2 and m = infinity.

6. For each setting of modulation depth, m, observe and record the DSB waveform and
spectrum, including the voltage amplitude in each component. For each value of
modulation depth, determine the total power for resistance load of 50 Ω .

7. Note how the waveforms, spectrum and power relate to modulation depth. Note when m
> 1, the phase of the DSB envelope alternates between 0 and 180 degrees.

8. Compare your results with what you would expect from theory, i.e. for the waveform,
spectra and power.

Experiment 1B - Demodulation
Introduction to Demodulation
The diagram in figure 1B below shows a demodulator, a switch and a synchronous
demodulator. The synchronous demodulator comprises R.F. amplifier, mixer, IF, Amplifiers
(1,2) diode detector and product detection.
 Figure 1B Demodulator

With the switch in the position shown, the DSB amplitude modulator is connected to the
demodulator. When the switch is in the other position, the oscillator, which will be used to
represent SSB, is switched to the demodulator.

The synchronous demodulator comprises a multiplier with a local oscillator, and a I.F. filter.
The local oscillator (LO) may in general be written as:

LO =cos((ωc + ∆ω)t + φc)

where ∆ω represents a frequency offset in the local oscillator and, φc represents a phase offset
in the local oscillator.

The DSB signal may be expressed by: vS(t) = VDC cosωct + m(t)cosωct

Vm V
OR v S (t ) = V DC cos ω c t + cos(ω c + ω m )t + m cos(ω c − ω m )t
2 2

The upper sideband in this signal and hence SSBSC, is given by:
 Vm
v S (t ) = cos(ω c + ω m )t
2

A coherent local oscillator, and hence coherent or synchronous demodulation, requires that
∆ω and φc are both equal to zero. Hence for an ideal coherent LO,

LO = cosωct

Given that the message is a 1 kHz signal and the carrier is at 1000 kHz, this signal may be
simply represented by a single oscillator at 1001 kHz.

Procedure: Demodulation

1. With the DSB modulator connected to the demodulator, observe and record the signals on
the oscilloscopes (Tp12, Tp20, Tp24, Tp28 and Tp31) and spectrum analyser. Note that the
demodulator LO (local oscillator) is coherent. (This ideal length for the antenna would be
0.4 m)

2. Derive an equation for the demodulated output assuming an ideal low pass filter, using:

LO = cos ((ωc + ∆ω)t + φc)

3. Compare the spectrum at the filter input (Tp29) and output (Tp31) with what you predict
from your equation, with ∆ω = 0 and φc = 0, and comment. (The receiver antenna should
normally be aligned parallel to the transmitter antenna)

4. Now set the switch to the second position so as to connect the SSBSC modulator. Adjust
VRI to suppress the carrier Tp17.

5. Observe and record the signals on ‘scopes channel 1, channel 2 and the spectrum
analyser.

6. With the modulated signal vs(t) connected to the receiver, observe the signal at the diode
envelope detector and by adjusting VR1 and monitoring TP17 (transmitter) and TP 38
(receiver), observe and record the demodulated output for m < 1, m=1, m>1 and m = ∞ ,
Discuss your results and the requirement that the modulation depth for envelope detection
is m=1. (Switch Tx to DSB, tune to 600 kHz)

7. Connect the modulator signal output vs(t) to the product detector and observe and record
the demodulated output. (Switch Tx to SSB, tune to 900 kHz and turn on BFO.)