2024

Lab 4: Amplitude Modulation

Objective:
The objective is to analyze an Amplitude Modulated (AM) signal by examining the message
signal, carrier signal, and resulting AM modulated waveform in both time and frequency
domains. This involves visualizing the signals in the time domain to understand their behavior
over time and in the frequency domain to observe spectral components. Additionally, calculating
the modulation index of the AM signal provides insight into the extent of modulation, indicating
how much the carrier signal’s amplitude varies in response to the message signal, which is
essential for assessing signal quality and transmission efficiency.

1. Introduction:
This lab focuses on understanding and analyzing Amplitude Modulation (AM), one of the
fundamental techniques used in analog communication systems. AM is widely used in various
applications such as radio broadcasting, air-band radio, and two-way radio communications. In
AM, the amplitude of a high-frequency carrier signal is varied in proportion to the instantaneous
amplitude of a low-frequency message or information signal. This modulation process allows for
efficient transmission of information over long distances, as the high-frequency carrier enables
better propagation and reception.
In this experiment, we will study the behavior of AM by examining the message signal, the
carrier signal, and the resulting AM modulated waveform in both time and frequency domains.
Observing these signals in the time domain provides insights into how the amplitude of the
carrier varies in accordance with the message signal over.
1.1 Modulation and Amplitude modulation:
Modulation is the process of modifying a carrier signal’s characteristics, such as amplitude,
frequency, or phase, in order to encode information from a message signal for transmission over
a medium. In amplitude modulation (AM), the carrier signal’s amplitude is varied in direct
proportion to the instantaneous amplitude of the message signal, while its frequency remains
constant. This allows the message information to be embedded within the carrier wave, enabling
it to be transmitted over long distances. In AM, the resulting modulated signal consists of the
carrier frequency and two sidebands one above and one below the carrier frequency representing
the message signal’s frequency components. This lab focuses on analyzing AM signals,
examining how the message signal modulates the carrier in both the time and frequency
domains, and measuring the modulation index to assess modulation depth and
transmission efficiency.

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Code for modulation and amplitude modulation:
Code for performing Amplitude Modulation (AM) by generating a message signal, a carrier
signal, and then modulating them:
Code:

Plot/graphs:

Message Signal
1
Amplitude

-1
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Time (s) -3
x 10
Carrier Signal
10
Amplitude

-10
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Time (s) -3
x 10
AM Modulated Signal
20
Amplitude

-20
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Time (s) -3
x 10

Fig a: modulation of signal

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 Message Signal Spectrum
500
Amplitude

0
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Frequency (Hz)
Carrier Signal Spectrum
10000
Amplitude

5000

0
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Frequency (Hz)
AM Signal Spectrum
10000
Amplitude

5000

0
-100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Frequency (Hz)

Fig b: spectrum of signal

These plots demonstrates the process of generating and analyzing an amplitude-modulated (AM)
signal. By creating a message signal, a carrier signal, and combining them based on the
modulation index, the code successfully simulates the AM process. The time-domain plots
visually illustrate how the amplitude of the carrier signal changes in response to the message
signal, reflecting the core principle of amplitude modulation. Meanwhile, the frequency-domain
analysis using FFT highlights the presence of the carrier frequency and the sidebands on either
side, corresponding to the message signal’s frequency components. This visualization effectively
shows how AM modulation embeds information within the carrier, enabling efficient
transmission. Overall, the code provides a comprehensive look at AM’s functionality, reinforcing
the concepts of modulation and spectral analysis.
1.2. Depth of modulation:
The depth of modulation (also known as the modulation index in amplitude modulation) is a
measure of how much the carrier amplitude varies with the message signal. It can be calculated
as:

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 Am
modulation index ( m )=
Ac

where:

• Am is the amplitude of the message signal,

• Ac is the amplitude of the carrier signal.

Procedure:
The code effectively demonstrates the impact of different modulation indices on an Amplitude
Modulated (AM) signal by simulating under-modulation, 100% modulation, and over-
modulation. Through these simulations:

1. Under-Modulation (modulation index m < 1): The amplitude of the message signal is
lower than the carrier signal. In this scenario, the envelope of the AM signal is distinct, without
reaching the full carrier amplitude. This results in an AM signal that underutilizes the carrier’s
potential, showing lower amplitude variations, but preserves signal clarity without distortion.
2. 100% Modulation (modulation index m = 1): Here, the message signal amplitude
matches the carrier, leading to an AM signal where the envelope exactly represents the message.
This is the optimal modulation depth, balancing signal clarity and transmission power.
3. Over-Modulation (modulation index m > 1): In this case, the message signal amplitude
exceeds the carrier’s, causing the envelope to be clipped or distorted. This leads to envelope
distortion, which can cause interference and complicate demodulation, ultimately reducing the
quality and reliability of the transmitted signal.

In conclusion, this code illustrates the importance of controlling the modulation index in AM
systems to achieve high-quality transmission. Maintaining a modulation index close to 1 is
essential for achieving a clear, undistorted signal, while both under- and over-modulation have
drawbacks in signal clarity and power efficiency.

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Code:
% Parameters
fm = 500; % Message frequency (Hz)
fc = 10000; % Carrier frequency (Hz)
Ac = 10; % Carrier amplitude (V)
t = 0:1e-6:1e-3; % Time vector (1 ms duration with 1 ?s resolution)

% Message Signal (sine wave) with different amplitudes for varying modulation
depths
Am_under = 5; % Amplitude for under-modulation (m < 1)
Am_full = 10; % Amplitude for 100% modulation (m = 1)
Am_over = 15; % Amplitude for over-modulation (m > 1)

% Generate message and modulated signals for each modulation type

message_under = Am_under * cos(2 * pi * fm * t); % Under-modulated message
message_full = Am_full * cos(2 * pi * fm * t); % 100% modulation message
message_over = Am_over * cos(2 * pi * fm * t); % Over-modulated message

% Modulated Signals
AM_under = (Ac + message_under) .* cos(2 * pi * fc * t); % Under-modulated
signal
AM_full = (Ac + message_full) .* cos(2 * pi * fc * t); % 100% modulated
signal
AM_over = (Ac + message_over) .* cos(2 * pi * fc * t); % Over-modulated
signal

% Plotting the Signals

figure;

% Plot Under-Modulation
subplot(3,1,1);
plot(t, AM_under, 'b');
title('Under-Modulated Signal (m < 1)');
xlabel('Time (s)');
ylabel('Amplitude');
grid on;

% Plot 100% Modulation

subplot(3,1,2);
plot(t, AM_full, 'r');
title('100% Modulated Signal (m = 1)');
xlabel('Time (s)');
ylabel('Amplitude');
grid on;

% Plot Over-Modulation
subplot(3,1,3);
plot(t, AM_over, 'k');
title('Over-Modulated Signal (m > 1)');
xlabel('Time (s)');
ylabel('Amplitude');
grid on;

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% Displaying Modulation Indices in Command Window
fprintf('Under-Modulation Index (m < 1): %.2f\n', Am_under / Ac);
fprintf('100%% Modulation Index (m = 1): %.2f\n', Am_full / Ac);
fprintf('Over-Modulation Index (m > 1): %.2f\n', Am_over / Ac);

Graph:

Under-Modulated Signal (m < 1)

20
Amplitude

-20
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Time (s) -3
x 10
100% Modulated Signal (m = 1)
20
Amplitude

-20
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Time (s) -3
x 10
Over-Modulated Signal (m > 1)
50
Amplitude

-50
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Time (s) -3
x 10

Fig c: Depth of modulation

To simulate and visualize the frequency spectrum of an Amplitude Modulated (AM) signal in
MATLAB, you can use the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to analyze the signal. Below is a
MATLAB code that follows the procedure you provided for observing the frequency spectrum,
capturing it, and varying the amplitude of the message signal.

Code for Frequency Spectrum of AM Signal:

% Parameters
fm = 500; % Message frequency (Hz)
fc = 10000; % Carrier frequency (Hz)
Ac = 10; % Carrier amplitude (V)
t = 0:1e-6:1e-3; % Time vector (1 ms duration with 1 µs resolution)

% Amplitude of the message signal

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Am = [2, 5, 10, 15]; % Different amplitudes for observation

% Initialize figure
figure;

% Loop through different amplitudes

for i = 1:length(Am)
% Generate Message Signal (sine wave)
message_signal = Am(i) * cos(2 * pi * fm * t);

% Generate AM Signal
AM_signal = (Ac + message_signal) .* cos(2 * pi * fc * t);

% Compute the FFT

N = length(AM_signal); % Length of signal
Y = fft(AM_signal); % Compute FFT
f = (0:N-1)*(1/(t(2)-t(1)))/N; % Frequency vector

% Define frequency range for analysis

start_freq = 9000; % Start frequency (9 kHz)
end_freq = 11000; % End frequency (11 kHz)

% Plotting the Frequency Spectrum

subplot(length(Am), 1, i);
plot(f, abs(Y));
xlim([0 20000]); % Limit x-axis to visualize relevant spectrum
xlabel('Frequency (Hz)');
ylabel('Magnitude');
title(['Frequency Spectrum of AM Signal with Message Amplitude = ',
num2str(Am(i)), ' V']);
grid on;

% Highlight the carrier and sidebands

hold on;
xline(fc, 'r--', 'Carrier', 'Label', 'Carrier', 'LabelOrientation',
'horizontal');
xline(fc - fm, 'g--', 'Lower Sideband', 'Label', 'Lower Sideband',
'LabelOrientation', 'horizontal');
xline(fc + fm, 'b--', 'Upper Sideband', 'Label', 'Upper Sideband',
'LabelOrientation', 'horizontal');
hold off;
end

% Set overall figure title

sgtitle('Frequency Spectrum Analysis of AM Signal');

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Graph:

Frequency Spectrum of AM Signal with Message Amplitude = 2 V

Magnitude

10000
5000
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2
Frequency (Hz) 4
x 10

Fig: frequency spectrum of AM signal

Explanation,
1. Parameters:
• fm: Frequency of the message signal (500 Hz).
• fc: Frequency of the carrier signal (10 kHz).
• Ac: Amplitude of the carrier signal (10 V).
• t: Time vector for 1 ms with a 1 µs resolution.
2. Amplitude Variations:
• Am: An array containing different amplitudes for the message signal (2 V, 5 V,
10 V, and 15 V) to observe how the spectrum changes with varying modulation depths.
3. FFT Calculation:
• For each amplitude of the message signal, the code generates the message and
AM signals.
• It computes the FFT of the AM signal to analyze its frequency components.
4. Frequency Spectrum Plotting:
• The spectrum is plotted for each message amplitude, displaying the magnitude of
the FFT against frequency.
• The carrier frequency (10 kHz) and the corresponding lower and upper sidebands
are highlighted with dashed lines.
5. Subplot for Each Amplitude:

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 • Each subplot corresponds to a different message amplitude, allowing for easy
comparison of the frequency spectra.
This code simulates the process of analyzing the frequency spectrum of an AM signal by varying
the amplitude of the message signal. It provides a visual representation of how the modulation
affects the carrier and sidebands in the frequency domain. You can run this code in MATLAB to
observe the results and capture the frequency spectrum based on the settings you’ve provided.

Analysis and discussion:

The lab focused on the principles and effects of Amplitude Modulation (AM), with an emphasis
on the modulation index and its impact on the signal quality in both time and frequency domains.
Through generating, observing, and analyzing different modulation levels (including under-
modulation, full modulation, and over-modulation), we gained insight into the behavior of AM
signals and the importance of the modulation index in communication systems.
1. Modulation Process and Signal Behavior
• In AM, the message signal’s amplitude modulates the carrier signal’s amplitude while
maintaining the carrier’s frequency constant. This experiment involved generating a low-
frequency message signal and a high-frequency carrier signal, then combining them to produce
the AM waveform.
• By plotting the message, carrier, and modulated signals in the time domain, we
observed the characteristic AM waveform, where the carrier’s amplitude varied in proportion to
the message signal. In the frequency domain, sidebands appeared around the carrier frequency,
representing the frequency components of the message signal. This visualization illustrated how
AM works to embed information within a carrier wave, making it suitable for long-distance
transmission.
2. Modulation Index and Its Effects
• Modulation Index (m): The modulation index, calculated as , quantifies the
modulation depth and describes the degree to which the carrier signal is modulated by the
message signal.
Types of Modulation:
• Under-Modulation (m < 1): When the modulation index is less than 1, the amplitude of
the message signal is less than that of the carrier. This results in a clear AM waveform without
any distortion, but the transmission may be less efficient as it underutilizes the carrier.
• Full Modulation (m = 1): A modulation index of 1 signifies that the message signal
amplitude is exactly equal to the carrier amplitude, achieving 100% modulation. This is ideal for
maximizing the carrier’s modulation without distortion, optimizing power efficiency and signal
clarity.

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 • Over-Modulation (m > 1): When the modulation index exceeds 1, the message signal’s
amplitude is greater than that of the carrier, causing over-modulation. In this state, the carrier
signal is suppressed at certain points, resulting in waveform clipping or distortion. In practical
applications, over-modulation is undesirable as it distorts the signal, makes recovery difficult,
and increases the risk of interference with adjacent channels.
3. Observations from Frequency Domain Analysis
• The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) was applied to observe the AM signal’s frequency
components. The resulting spectrum showed the carrier frequency along with two sidebands,
located symmetrically above and below the carrier frequency by the frequency of the message
signal.
• Sidebands: The sidebands in the frequency domain reflect the information content in the
AM signal. The power contained within the sidebands is related to the message signal’s power,
while the power in the carrier is generally constant. In over-modulation scenarios, the frequency
domain plot can show additional components or spurious signals, indicating distortion that can
interfere with adjacent frequencies.
4. Implications for Signal Transmission

• The modulation index directly impacts signal quality, efficiency, and bandwidth
requirements. With under-modulation, the transmitted signal has reduced power efficiency and
might require additional amplification. Full modulation is ideal for balancing power and clarity.
Over-modulation leads to increased spectral width and potential signal distortion, which can
cause interference with other channels and result in errors during demodulation.
• This understanding of modulation depth is crucial in communication systems, as
selecting the correct modulation index helps balance the needs for efficient power usage,
minimal distortion, and signal clarity. This is especially important in broadcast applications,
where regulated transmission power and bandwidth are essential for avoiding interference.
5. Practical Applications and Limitations
• Applications: Amplitude modulation is widely used in analog broadcasting (e.g., AM
radio) due to its simplicity and ability to propagate over long distances, especially at lower
frequencies. AM is also used in other analog communication systems such as aviation radio.
• Limitations: One of the major drawbacks of AM is its susceptibility to noise, as
amplitude variations can be easily distorted by external interference. Additionally, over-
modulation in practical systems must be carefully avoided, as it leads to a degraded signal that
cannot be effectively demodulated.
6. Conclusion of Analysis
• This lab demonstrates the importance of controlling the modulation index in AM
systems. Understanding the effects of different modulation depths allows engineers to optimize

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signal transmission for efficiency and clarity. While AM is a simpler and widely used
modulation technique, especially for analog applications, its limitations in terms of noise
susceptibility and potential for distortion require careful management in practical systems.
• The simulations provided valuable insights into the behavior of AM signals under
various conditions, highlighting the need to avoid over-modulation to ensure a clean, reliable
signal. The frequency domain analysis reinforced the importance of understanding spectral
components, which is essential for designing and managing bandwidth in communication
systems.
In summary, this lab reinforced key concepts in AM, modulation depth, and spectral analysis,
providing a practical foundation for future studies in analog and digital communication.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this lab provided an in-depth exploration of Amplitude Modulation (AM), with a
focus on understanding the modulation index and its effects on signal quality. By simulating AM
with varying modulation depths—under-modulation, full modulation, and over-modulation—we
observed how the message signal modulates the carrier and influences the resulting AM
waveform in both time and frequency domains. The modulation index proved crucial for
optimizing signal clarity and power efficiency, as under-modulation underutilizes the carrier, full
modulation achieves optimal signal quality, and over-modulation cause’s distortion,
complicating demodulation and potentially causing interference.
The code allowed us to visualize these effects, offering practical insights into the benefits and
drawbacks of each modulation level. Through frequency domain analysis, we also examined the
spectral components, reinforcing the importance of managing bandwidth in communication
systems. Overall, this lab demonstrated the principles of AM, highlighting the importance of
carefully controlling the modulation index to ensure efficient, distortion-free signal transmission,
which is critical in real-world communication applications.

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