Carrier signal

1
Carrier signal
In telecommunications, a carrier signal, carrier wave, or just carrier, is a waveform (usually sinusoidal) or sine
wave that is modulated (modified) with an input signal for the purpose of conveying information.
[1]
This carrier
wave is usually a much higher frequency than the input signal. The purpose of the carrier is usually either to transmit
the information through space as an electromagnetic wave (as in radio communication), or to allow several carriers
at different frequencies to share a common physical transmission medium by frequency division multiplexing (as, for
example, a cable television system). The term is also used for an unmodulated emission in the absence of any
modulating signal.
[2]
Frequency modulation (FM) and amplitude modulation (AM) are common modes of modulating the carrier. In the
case of single-sideband modulation (SSB), the carrier is suppressed (and in some forms of SSB, eliminated). The
carrier must be reintroduced at the receiver by a beat frequency oscillator (BFO). The frequency of a radio or
television station is actually the carrier wave's center frequency.
Carrierless modulation systems
Newer forms of radio communication (such as spread spectrum and ultra-wideband) do not transmit a conventional
carrier wave, nor does OFDM (which is used in DSL and in the European standard for HDTV).
OFDM may be thought of as an array of symmetrical carrier waves. The rules governing carrier-wave
propagation affect OFDM differently than 8VSB.
Some forms of spread spectrum transmission (and most forms of ultra-wideband) are mathematically defined as
being devoid of carrier waves. Transmitter implementations typically produce residual carriers which may (or
may not) be detectable or transmitted.
Carrier leakage
Carrier leakage is interference caused by cross-talk or a DC offset. It is present as an unmodulated sine wave within
the signal's bandwidth, whose amplitude is independent of the signal's amplitude. See frequency mixers, to read
further about carrier leakage or local oscillator feedthrough.
References
[2] Federal Standard 1037C and MIL-STD-188
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Carrier signal Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=557831889 Contributors: *drew, 16@r, Alvis, Amikake3, Angela, ArnoldReinhold, Athaenara, Chetvorno, Christian List,
Cybercobra, DVdm, Dawnseeker2000, Deineka, Deville, Dorftrottel, Dravecky, Edcolins, ElectronicsEnthusiast, Eyreland, Fernblatt, Furrykef, Geimas5, Geof, Graeme Bartlett, Harryzilber,
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