FM DEMODULATORS FOR BTSC STEREO

Luis A. Rovira

Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.

QUADRATURE DEMODULATORS
ABSTRACT
Figure la. shows a block diagram of
Of the many kinds of FM a quadrature demodulator. The name
demodulators, two types have been quadrature comes from the fact that a
commonly used to demodulate television network with a 90 degree phase shift at
aural carriers modulated with BTSC the carrier frequency is used. At the
stereo: quadrature demodulators and inp~t ~f the demodulator, the signal is
pulse-count demodulators. These two spl~t ~nto two paths. Part of the signal
types of demodulators are described. goes directly to one input of an AND gate
Waveform plots are used to illustrate the or multiplier. The rest of the signal
operation in a qualitative and intuitive passes through the phase shift network
way. The relative advantages and before getting to the other input of the
disadvantages are discussed. In AND gate. The output of the AND gate is
particular, cost/circuit complexity, passe~ through an integrator to average
noise, and sources of distortion are the s~gnal (low-pass filter it) and
considered in some detail. The effect of recover the baseband.
these parameters on BTSC stereo is
discussed. The effect of the phase shift
network is shown in Figure lb. The
signal passing through the network is
shi~ted in ph~se by an amount depending
on ~ts deviat~on (6w) from the carrier
center frequency (w 0 ) . A carrier at
INTRODUCTION center frequency (w -w 0 =0) is shifted by
90 degrees. A carrier at higher than
Through the history of FM, several center frequency is shifted by less than
different types of circuits have been 90 degrees, and so on.
used for FM demodulation. Some, like
disc:iminators and ratio detectors, were To illustrate how AND'ing the
part~cularly appropriate to times when
original signal with the phase shifted
passive circuits were less expensive than version provides FM demodulation we
active circuits. Others, such as phase- consider three separate cases. Square
locked-loops, quadrature demodulators and waves are used for clarity.
pulse-count demodulators became practical
with the availability of inexpensive - Figure lc shows the case in which the
transistors and integrated circuits. instantaneous frequency (w) is at the
carrier center frequency (w 0 ) . The
The low FM threshold of the phase- phase shift between the two AND inputs
locked-loop demodulator has made it is the nominal 90 degrees. The output
popular in applications where carrier-to- of the multiplier is HIGH whenever both
noise ratio is marginal. In television inputs are HIGH as shown in the output
transmissions, however, carrier-to-noise pulse-train. After integrating we get
ratio is limited by video quality long the average voltage of the pulse-train
before the audio approaches threshold. as shown by the dashed line in the
output waveform.
Two types of FM demodulators have
been widely used for recovering BTSC - Figure ld shows the case in which
stereo; the quadrature demodulator and the instantaneous frequency (w) has
the pulse-count (or pulse-averaging) been deviated to less than the carrier
demodulator. This paper will concentrate center frequency (w 0 ) until the phase
on these two types of demodulators. shift between the gate inputs
is > 90 degrees. The pulse-train out

1988 NCTA Technical Papers-133

 CD INTEGRATOR
AlllJGAT£
OR
PIIASE fl!tJLTIPLIER @
SHIFT ®
a) BLOC~ l)IAGRAM I

b) PIIAS£ SHIFT
YS. FREQ(J£NCY

c) (.() ... (J.)o

CD PHASE S/1/FT =90•
®

d}(JJ < lAJo

(!) PIIASE SHIFT> 90Q
®

--@ BAS£8/IND Oti!Pt/T

e) (J.) > {JJ o
Q) PHASE SIIIFT < 90•
® I
I
I
--@ BASEBIIAilJ OtJTPt/T
@

F/61/R£ I. tJt/AlJRATt/RE DEHO.[)t/LArOR

134-1988 NCTA Technical Papers

 of the gate has a duty cycle that is where
lower than the previous case, and Wo is carrier center freq.
consequently the average voltage w is instantaneous freq.
decreases. M is phase shift relative to
unshifted input
- Figure le shows the remaining case, -k is slope (units:seconds)
in which the instantaneous
frequency (w) has been deviated to This is the equation for the plot of
greater than the carrier center Figure lb.
frequency (w 0 ) , until the phase shift
is < 90 degrees. After integrating, At the multiplier, for sinusoidal inputs
the average voltage is seen to be
increased over that in the previous two Vout=Asin (wt) xAsin (wt-kllw+!!.2 )
cases. =A 2 sin(wt)xcos(wt-k~w) (2)

We see that as the carrier deviates Carrying out the multiplication yields a
below and above the carrier center baseband component
frequency the output voltage swings lower
Vout=- ~ sin(k6w)
2
and higher than the nominal value. This (3)
2
provides the frequency-to-voltage
conversion required for FM demodulation. At this point an approximation is used
sina=e for small a
Advantages
to get the ideal transfer function for an
Low cost is a major advantage of FM demodulator.
quadrature demodulators. Specialized 2
integrated circuits are available that Vout = - A k6w (4)
2
have built-in intercarrier detectors,
limiters, quadrature demodulators and Note that even if k is exactly constant,
audio amplifiers. (i.e. slope is perfectly linear) some
distortion is inherent in this technique
The output level from a quadrature due to the sine approximation.
demodulator is proportional to the
"steepness" of the phase slope, or k in But the phase slope k is not
Figure lb. This allows a high output constant, as we shall now show.
level from the demodulator itself. This Figure 2a shows a typical single-tuned 90
high demodulator output level aids in degree phase shift network. Figure 2b
overcoming device noise from the active shows the phase response of the network.
components. Thus quadrature demodulators Note the slight curvature of the phase
usually provide good output signal-to- slope. Group delay is the first
noise ratio. Passive networks can be derivative of the phase, and as such
built which can provide steep phase gives a convenient measure of phase
slopes at 4.5 MHz, making further curvature. If the phase slope were
downconversion unnecessary. Circuit perfectly linear, group delay would be a
complexity is consequently reduced even constant. Figure 2c shows the group
further when compared to most pulse-count delay of this network to have a peak-to-
demodulators. peak variation of about 280 nsec.
In order to linearize the phase,
Disadvantages improve the distortion and increase the
output level, a double-tuned network
The one significant disadvantage of could be used. Figure 3 shows one such
quadrature demodulators is their somewhat network. Note that the phase slope has
higher distortion when compared to pulse- now increased and become more linear.
count demodulators. There are two causes The group delay has been reduced to about
of this distortion. The first is less 55 nsec peak-to-peak. Inductive coupling
significant, but fundamental to the instead of capacitive coupling between
operation of the quadrature demodulator. the tanks was used to flatten the group
To show this let the phase shift at the delay.
shifted multiplier input be represented
by the slope-intercept formula for a line Equation (4) gave the ideal transfer
function of a FM demodulator. We would
L'.¢=-k(w-w 0 )+ ~ now like to examine the distortion
resulting from the phase shift network
6cp=-k6w + 1T (1) nonlinearity. An analysis will be done
2

1988 NCTA Technical Papers-135

 FIGURE 2

a) Single-Tuned Phase Shift Network

I
711

521
___________ .. _________________ _
821 -a• ------------------~-----------------~------------------~------------------ ~
858 -·--------------·-r··----------
R
0
1 l l u
p
811
------------------r---- ------------1-------------- --1------------------
p
D . _________________ ]________________ .. !. ---------------
H
A
8
-II . . .··::.:... ··:: ::__r ...::· .. ·::..j. . . . E
L
A
568

E v
588
I
-121
------------------~-----·-----------L-----------------~------
: : :
H

4&8

-151
"s
£
c
----------------+---------------+---------------+----------------
: : :
s 488

-111 : : :
351
11.5 11.8 18.7 18.8 18.9 18.8 18.9
18.& 18.6 18.7
FREQUENCY t•HZl

b) Phase Response c) Group Delay

FIGI ·..:. 3

a) Double-Tuned Phase Shift Network

• 9&·~------~------------------~--------,

521 -81
---------------r------~----------t-----------------1·-----------------
521

~
... ..
..
'
..
.. '
..
................................................................................................
.
R
0 ----~-- . '
~·-----

------------------'". ---------------:-----------------:--·--------- --- -------------r-----------------!·-----------·----l·------------- -

u
:
... -----------------r----------------r----------------r-----------------
~ p

p
-88
. . ...... . 0
H l i E
L
A
s -81 -----------------~-----------------: --------------··j··---------------- A
E
7SI ....................... ~r·················;·················· ---·······--······
1

r
I
H

: .: .: . r. -r
-128 : : :
"s 788
------~-----------~-----------------i------------------i------------------
E : : :
-158 c
s 8&8
: : :
------·----------r----------------r-----------------r----------------
-188 L...L.-L......L--..:l......L-...L.-L.....:..___iL-L-...L.-'---L--'L-.L.-J 888
11.S 11.8 lliL 7 11 .a 11.9 18.& 18.6 18.7 11.8 10.9
FREQUENCY ("HZJ FREQUENCY U•HZJ

b) Phase Response c) Group Delay

136-1988 NCTA Technical Papers

that is very similar to that in reference ~w=Acosw 3 t+Bcoswbt+Ccoswct (6)
(1]. In that paper the effect of
amplifier nonlinearity was studied in the where the term in
presence of three carriers. The input A represents a signal in the sum
was a voltage and the output was a channel,
voltage. We will generalize this B represents the pilot, and
approach to the case of a nonlinear FM c, in a simplified way, represents a
demodulator, where the input is a signal in the difference channel.
frequency deviation (~w) and the output
is a voltage. This composite input is substituted
in the transfer function in (5). The
We can express the transfer function resulting expression is expanded, and if
for the quadrature demodulator in a we collect terms by order, we get the
different way. results shown in Table 1. This table
should look somewhat familiar to CATV
(5) engineers accustomed to dealing with
distortion products in high level
where, rather than using a constant k, as distribution amplifiers.
we did in equation (4), we use a power
series expansion to model the nonlinear Note the frequency column in
phase response. Table 1. This column gives the frequency
of the distortion products. The
Now, as an input to this network, important point to be made here is that
let us use an expression for the due to nonlinearities in the FM
instantaneous frequency deviation of the demodulator transfer function, signals
carrier as a function of three individual are produced that fall in channels other
input signals.

TABLE 1
DISTORTION PRODUCTS

PEAK
ORDER FREQUENCY AMPLITUDE DESCRIPTION
1st fa k1A desired
II
fb k 1B II
II
fc k 1C II

2nd de 1/2 k2 (A2+B2+C2) de shift

" 2fa 1/2 k2A 2 2nd Harmonic
II
2fb 1/2 k2B2 II
II
2fc 1/2 k 2C 2 II
II
fa+/-fb k 2AB Beat Products
II
fa+j-fc k 2AC II
II
fb+/-fc k2BC II

3rd 3fa 1/4 k3A 3 3rd Harmonic

3fb 1/4 k3B3 "II
3fc 1/4 k3C3
2fa+j-fb 3/4 k 3A 2B Intermodulation
2fa+j-fc 3/4 k 3A2C II

2fb+/-fa 3/4 k 3 B 2A "

2fb+/-fc 3/4 k 3B2C "II
2fc+j-fa 3/4 k3C 2A
2fc+j-fb 3/4 k 3C 2B II

fa+j-fb+j-fc 3/2 k 3ABC Triple Beat Products

fa 3/4 k3A 3 Self Compression/Expansion
fb 3/4 k3B 3 II

fc 3/4 k3C3 II

fa 3/2 k 3AB 2 Crossmodulation

fa 3/2 k3AC 2 II

fb 3/2 k3BA 2 II

fb 3/2 k3BC 2 II

fc 3/2 k3CA 2 II

fc 3/2 k3CB 2 II

1988 NCTA Technical Papers-137

than those where they originated. Thus greater than the carrier center
pilot and sum frequencies can cause frequency (wa). Now after integrating
signals in the difference channel. sum the average voltage is seen to be
and difference frequencies can cause increased over that in the previous two
products in the SAP channel, and many cases.
ott-.er combinations. Dr. J. James Gibson
[2] has compiled a comprehensive table of
the possible combinations and the Advantages
channels that they affect. Suffice it to
say that distortion of a composite signal Again we see that as the carrier
such as BTSC stereo has a more convoluted deviates below and above the carrier
effect than distortion in single channel center frequency the output voltage
audio. swings lower and higher than the nominal
value, thus providing the required
This discussion on distortion due to frequency-to-voltage conversion for FM
nonlinearity of the phase shift circuit demodulation. In theory significant
applies equally to other FM demodulators distortion does not occur until the
that depend on a network to establish a carrier is deviated to twice the center
linear transfer function. This can be frequency. Effectively, all the
the frequency slope in a discriminator or distortion in a carefully designed
the frequency-vs-control voltage function demodulator using a pulse-count
in a phase-locked-loop FM demodulator. demodulator is due to group delay in the
preceding filters. This makes the pulse-
The availability of encompassing count demodulator an excellent choice for
"jungle" IC's with most of the components applications involving high percent
necessary for a full demodulator makes deviations or in very low distortion
the quadrature demodulator difficult to applications.
ignore for consumer applications, despite
the somewhat higher distortion.
Disadvantages
PULSE-COUNT DEMODULATORS Unfortunately, even with the
relatively wide deviations of BTSC
Figure 4a shows a block diagram of a stereo, the percent deviation at 4.5 MHz
pulse-count demodulator. The term pulse- is somewhat low at
count is probably a misnomer, because no
counting actually occurs. The name 100 X 73 kHz/4.5 MHZ ~ 1.6%.
"pulse-averaging demodulator" is
sometimes used and is more descriptive of This normally results in a low output
the operation of the circuit. A one-shot level from the demodulator. More
is triggered on every rising edge of the baseband gain is required, and whatever
limited FM carrier. The output of the noise accompanies the signal is also
one-shot is a pulse that lasts for one amplified.
half-cycle of the unmodulated carrier.
To illustrate the operation we again The usual solution (not the only
consider three separate cases. solution) to this problem is to further
downconvert to a lower IF frequency,
- Figure 4b shows the case in which the often about 1 MHz. This increases the
instantaneous frequency (w) is at the percent deviation to
carrier center frequency ( 1.0 a) • The
output of the one-shot is a pulse-train 100 X 73 kHz/1 MHZ = 7.3%
of 50% duty cycle. After integrating
we find that the average voltage of the which is somewhat easier to deal with.
pulse-train is halfway between the top
and the bottom. This solution is not without
- Figure 4c shows the case in which significant penalty, however. Circuit
the instantaneous frequency (w) has cost and complexity is increased by the
been deviated to less than the carrier requirements for another mixer,
center frequency (w 0 ) . The pulses out oscillator and IF bandpass filter. A
of the one-shot are the same width as less obvious problem is that the baseband
before, but now the time between them filter now has to reject the much lower
has increased. After integrating, we IF at 1 MHz while passing the composite
find the average voltage to be less BTSC waveform out to 110 kHz.
than in the previous case. Maintaining the recommended flatness of
+/- .05 dB for monitoring and measurement
- Figure 4d shows the remaining case, equipment through such a filter becomes a
in which the instantaneous more difficult task than with a final IF
frequency (w) has been deviated to at 4.5 MHZ.

138-1988 NCTA Technical Papers

 I#TEORATOR
0/VE- BASEB4J.I.D OliTPtJT
SIIOT @
L.....-------'2 ®
I
o) BLOCK lJIAGRAN

b)CV"'Wo
Q)
-@ B4S£BA#.l) OtiTPOT

c)w < Wo

@ --- ---- -------@BAS£8/INOot/TPtiT

--Jz-k-
Q) ~w>~
I
I
- @ BASEBA#LJ Ot/7Pt1T

F/GURE 4. Pt/LSE-COC/!1/T.DEt?fo.!X/LA70R

1988 NCTA Technical Papers-139

 The very low distortion but higher CONCLUSION
cost and complexity of the pulse-count
demodulator makes it better suited for Quadrature demodulators and pulse-
applications in professional monitoring count demodulators are commonly used to
and measurement, as opposed to consumer demodulate BTSC stereo carriers. These
equipment. two types of demodulators were described.
waveform plots were used to illustrate
their operation. The effect of different
FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS performance parameters on BTSC stereo was
discussed.
Although noise is always an
important consideration, two factors LOw cost, good noise performance and
combine to make it less significant in integrated circuit availability combine
BTSC stereo than one might expect. The to make the quadrature demodulator a good
carrier to noise ratio required for the choice for consumer products, despite its
video usually puts the audio well above somewhat higher distortion. For the
FM threshold. Also, the dbx 1 noise ultimate in low distortion at the price
reduction used in the difference channel of increased circuit complexity and cost,
effectively masks an otherwise the pulse-count demodulator is difficult
objectionable noise floor in marginal to equal. For this reason pulse-count
reception conditions. demodulators are found in professional
monitoring and measurement equipment.
Buzz is normally a much more
significant concern in BTSC stereo than
noise. Sources of buzz in television
audio have been covered in the literature REFERENCES
(2],(3]. This paper has concentrated on
the FM demodulator itself and not on the [1) Simons, Keneth A., "The Decibel
associated circuitry and receiver Relationships Between Amplifier
architecture. It is mostly up to the Distortion Products", Proceedings of the
associated circuitry and system and IEEE, Vol. 58, No. 7, July 1970.
architecture choices to reject buzz and
phase noise. [2) Gibson, J. James, "Effects of
Receiver Design and Transmission
But it is also important that the FM Impairments on Audio Signal Quality in
demodulator not contribute to the buzz the BTSC System for Multichannel
problem. Good AM rejection in the Television sound", Journal of the Audio
limiter and demodulator is important Engineering Society, Vol. 34, No. 9,
here, particularly in the presence of September 1986.
audio carrier tag and timing pulses often
used in cable security systems. The (3] Robbins, Clyde, "BTSC: The Stereo For
pulse-count demodulator, being Cable", 1986 NCTA Technical Papers.
essentially a digital circuit, has
inherently good AM rejection. Phase- (4] "BTSC system Recommended Practices",
locked-loop demodulators can also provide EIA Television Systems Bulletin No. 5.
good protection against AM.
The importance of maintaining good
frequency response flatness and good
phase linearity in the demodulator and
subsequent circuits cannot be overstated.
For monitoring and measurement
applications a flatness of +/- .05 dB and
phase deviation < +/- .5 degree from
linear is required to maintain sufficient
stereo separation in the system [4). In
some cases the internal audio amplifier
in an IC may limit the achievable
response.

1. dbx is a registered trademark of

dbx inc.

140-1988 NCTA Technical Papers