Experiment 3

DSB-SC MODULATION AND DEMODULATION

Nikhil Gupta 2015eeb1066

Pratyush Singh 2015eeb1070
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IIT ROPAR
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Experiment-3

Contents
1. Aim of the experiment .................................................................................................................... 2
2. Theory ............................................................................................................................................. 2
a) Diode Ring Modulator ................................................................................................................. 2
b) Envelope Detector ...................................................................................................................... 3
3. Observation................................................................................................................................. 3
4. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 5
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1. Aim of the experiment

In this experiment we will learn one method for generating an AM signal through a switching
modulator. The switching modulator essentially multiplies a switching function with the
modulating signal producing a DSB-SC (double-sideband suppressed-carrier transmission)
signal with sidebands.
The experiment has two main parts:
1. Implementing the switching function with the help of the diode based ring modulator shown
in (Fig. 1: AM Generation)
2. Demodulation of the AM signal using an envelope detector (Fig. 2).

2. Theory
a) Diode Ring Modulator
The diode ring modulator as shown in figure 1, serves the purpose of giving a DSB-SC wave.
Consider the part of the circuit, which precedes the tank circuit (labelled). This part of the
circuit, by virtue of the positioning of the 4 diodes produces a DSB signal (Dual Side Band).
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The working of the ring modulator has been explained in detail in the pre-lab questions. But
still, the signal retains its carrier and is to be removed to make the signal DSB-SC.
This is achieved with the help of the LC circuit (the tank circuit), whose sole function is to
filter out the carrier signal and give a DSB-SC signal. This is achieved by tuning the LC
circuit to the frequency of the carrier wave.
The formula which is used here for achieving the desired frequency is
2
=
()0.5
Once this is done, we get the DSB-SC signal.

b) Envelope Detector
The demodulator now needs to perform the following two functions for getting the message:

1. It needs to rectify the DSB-SC signal.

2. Envelope detection on the rectified signal.
The former is achieved using the precision diode rectifier circuit as show in figure 2.
For the latter, again the circuit needs to tune so that the final output is as smooth as
possible. Note that if the time constant is comparable to 1/fc (f c = 5kHz ), then you
will be many spikes in the demodulated output. On the other hand if the time constant
is too large, it will not be possible for the filter to track the modulating signal. In other
words, for best operation of this demodulator the discharge time constant RC is
adjusted such that the negative rate of the envelope never exceeds the exponential
discharge rate of the RC network.

3. Observation

Output waveform after the 1st phase of modulation i.e. after diode ring modulator (without the tank
circuit)
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Final output waveform (after the tank circuit)

The output waveform after 1st stage of demodulation(after the precision diode rectifier)
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Final demodulated output signal after passing it through rectifier and RC filter

Note: The final demodulated signal is same as the input signal as has been compared in the figure

4. Conclusion
1. The process has some major drawbacks. Some of them being:
a. DSB-SC uses reasonable enough bandwidth when compared to SSB and VSB. Therefore
it fails when compared with the other 2in terms of power required to transmit the signal
b.It was quite a task to tune the LC circuit according to the carrier frequency because of the
non-idealities of the components.
c. It was still more laborious to select suitable values of R&C to tune the demodulator
circuit for getting a smooth output.
2. There can be two types of switching modulators:
a. Unipolar
b. Bipolar
The latter one was what we used in our experiment. Therefore the other one is what could
be the other type of switching modulator.
Unipolar Switching Modulator
As previously mentioned, an AM signal can be created by multiplying a dc modulation
signal by 0 & 1.
Physically this is done by turning the modulation signal on and off at the carrier rate:
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A high amplitude carrier can be used to turn a diode on and off. A dc bias is placed on the
modulation signal to make certain that only the carrier (not the modulation signal) can
reverse bias the diode.
It may not seem obvious, but the output of this circuit contains a series of AM signals. A
bandpass filter is needed to extract the desired one. Normally it is the 1st or 3rd harmonic
of the fundamental. (The 1st harmonic is the fundamental.)