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Digital Communications Lab Report

Digital Communications Lab Report that can help you to analyze the spectrum and understand the frequency components of a signal.

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Afsana Tasnim Bristy
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30 views7 pages

Digital Communications Lab Report

Digital Communications Lab Report that can help you to analyze the spectrum and understand the frequency components of a signal.

Uploaded by

Afsana Tasnim Bristy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Digital Communications Lab 1 Report

Sampling in Time (ADC) Setup:

a) Adjusting Voltage: We initiated our process by fine-tuning the output voltage of our signal
generator to match the optimal input range of our ADC. By establishing a peak voltage of 2.5V,
we ensured a full 5V peak-to-peak swing, capturing the entirety of our sine wave without
clipping or underrepresentation.

b) Frequency Selection: The frequency of our input signal was selected to be 1kHz which is
within the confines of the baseband bandwidth. At this chosen frequency, our signal remains
true to its original form, prepared for sampling without fear of aliasing.

1.1: Sample-and-Hold Block (S&H):

a,b) Applying Sampling Clock: We applied a square wave as our sampling clock, with a
frequency fs = 8kHz, dictating the rhythm at which our signal was sampled. The chosen
frequency of this clock was critical to ensure that the samples were taken at intervals precise
enough to allow for accurate reconstruction later.
Finally, with an oscilloscope, we captured the shape and timing of the sampled signal.

Observations on Oscilloscope

c) Measurements:

In our lab session, we captured and measured the shapes of both the input and output signals
on the oscilloscope, as well as the sampling clock. Here's what we found:

Input Signal (Yellow Trace): We observed the yellow trace, which is our analog input signal. It's
a smooth, continuous sine wave that represents the real-world signal we're working with.

Output Signal (Green Trace): Next, we examined the green trace, which is our digital output
signal. This appeared as a series of flat, horizontal lines that stepped up and down, resembling
a staircase. Each "step" corresponds to the sampled value of our input signal, showing the
levels to which the analog signal was quantized.

Sampling Clock (Orange Trace): Lastly, we checked the orange trace, our sampling clock. It’s a
series of pulses that dictate when the input signal is sampled. We used this as a precise time
reference to coordinate the sampling of the input signal.
For our oscilloscope measurements, we decided to trigger on the sampling clock, which is the
orange square wave.

As for the time base, we found it most useful to set it at 200 microseconds per division. This
setting allows us to comfortably observe the relationship between the analog input signal, its
digital representation, and the sampling clock within the same screen span.

Total time horizontally would be 200 microseconds/division * 10 divisions = 2000 microseconds


or 2 milliseconds in total horizontally.

d) Changing pulse width:


This signal shows the effect of the sample-and-hold circuit and varies with the pulse width of the
sampling clock. As the pulse width increases, the duration for which each sample is held
increases. This means that for wider pulses, the output holds each sample value for a longer
period before transitioning to the next sample value.
Here’s what we specifically notice with the changing pulse widths:

For the shorter pulse widths (3μs and 6μs), the green waveform looks more like the yellow
analog input signal because samples are taken more frequently.
As we move to wider pulse widths (30μs, 60μs, and 120μs), the green waveform starts to differ
more from the yellow analog input signal. We begin to see the "staircase" effect more
prominently as each sampled value is held longer.

e)

When we measure the spectrum using a spectrum analyzer or the FFT function of an
oscilloscope, we're looking at how the signal's energy is distributed across different frequencies.
In the provided screenshots of the spectrum analyzer, we can observe a number of distinct
peaks that represent the frequency components of the measured signal.
The dominant frequency, which is the one with the highest amplitude, appears very close to 0
Hz, often referred to as DC (Direct Current) component. This happens because our signal has a
significant average value that is not zero, or in other words, there is a constant or very
low-frequency component in our signal.

To determine the frequency of the dominant input, we can look at the frequency axis on the
spectrum analyzer display, where the peaks are marked. We see that the dominant frequency is
identified at around 8 kHz, which is a significant frequency component of the signal.

If we want to see the dominant frequency better in the FFT, we could:

- Increase the resolution bandwidth (RBW) of the spectrum analyzer, if adjustable, to get a more
refined view of the spectrum. This will reduce the width of the peaks and can make it easier to
identify the frequencies more precisely.

- Apply a high-pass filter to remove the DC component, which will center our spectrum on the
AC components and remove the large peak at DC, giving us a clearer view of the other
frequency components.

- Use a windowing function that suits our signal characteristics to minimize spectral leakage,
which can obscure the true amplitudes of the frequency components.

- If we're using an oscilloscope's FFT function, we might also adjust the number of sampling
points (increase the number of FFT points) to improve the frequency resolution.

By making these adjustments, we can better analyze the spectrum and understand the
frequency components of our signal.

References:

[1] Digital Communications Lecture Notes by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rainer Schoenen


[2] https://www.seas.upenn.edu/~ese1500/spring2020/lectures/Session02.pptx
[3] https://guitar.ucsd.edu/mauricio/courses/mae143a-W2011/lectures/8sampling.pdf

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