Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET)

Course No.: EE 3206
Exp. No. 1
STUDY ON AMPLITUDE MODULATION (AM)
OBJECTIVES
After completion of this experiment, the students will be able to-
1. Know about modulation, amplitude modulation, carrier signal, modulating signal, modulated
signal, upper side band and lower side band.
2. Explain the function of AM transmitter and receiver.
3. Determine the transmitted and received power by amplitude modulation technique.
INTRODUCTION
Modulation: Modulation means to “change”. The process of changing some characteristic (e.g.
amplitude, frequency or phase) of a carrier wave in accordance with the intensity of the signal is known
as modulation. In electronics and telecommunications, modulation is the process of varying one or more
properties of a periodic waveform, called the carrier signal, with a modulating signal that typically
contains information to be transmitted. Most radio systems in the 20th century used frequency
modulation (FM) or amplitude modulation (AM) to make the carrier carry the radio broadcast.
In modulation process, modulating signal changes amplitude or frequency or phase of the RF carrier
signal.

Analog modulation techniques: a) Amplitude modulation (AM), b) Frequency modulation (FM)

and c) Phase modulation (PM)

NEED OF MODULATION
a) Smaller antenna size (antenna height~𝜆⁄4).
b) To increase efficiency of radiation.
c) To separate out individual signal from complex form (multiplexed form).

AMPLITUDE MODULATION
When the amplitude of high frequency carrier wave is changed in accordance with the intensity of the
signal, it is called amplitude modulation. In amplitude modulation, only the amplitude of the carrier
wave is changed in accordance with the intensity of the AF signal. However, the frequency of the
modulated wave remains the same i.e. carrier frequency. Fig. 1 shows the principle of amplitude
modulation. Note that the amplitudes of both positive and negative half-cycles of carrier wave are
changed in accordance with the signal. For instance, when the signal is increasing in the positive sense,
the amplitude of carrier wave also increases. On the other hand, during negative half-cycle of the signal,
the amplitude of carrier wave decreases. Amplitude modulation is done by an electronic circuit called
modulator.
 Modulator

Fig. 1 Amplitude modulation process.

In a nutshell,
a. The amplitude of the carrier wave changes according to the intensity of the information
signal (AF).
b. The amplitude variations of the carrier wave is at the information signal (AF)
Frequency.
c. The frequency of the amplitude modulated wave remains the same i.e. carrier frequency
f c.

Fig. 2 Amplitude modulated carrier wave.

MODULATION FACTOR:
The ratio of change of amplitude of carrier wave to the amplitude of normal carrier wave is called the
modulation factor, m i.e.
𝐴𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒
Modulation factor, m =𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 (𝑢𝑛𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑)
If the maximum and minimum voltage of an AM wave are Vmax and Vmin respectively, then show that
modulation factor m is given by:
𝑉 −𝑉
m = 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 +𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑚𝑖𝑛

The greater degree of modulation, the stronger and clearer will be the audio signal.
m=1 or 100% is called 100% modulation.
m>1 or >100% is called over modulation.
m<1 called under modulation.
POWER IN AM WAVE
The amplitude of the carrier wave varies at signal frequency fs as shown in fig. 2. Therefore, the
amplitude of AM wave is given by:
Amplitude of AM wave = 𝐸𝐶 + 𝑚𝐸𝐶 cos 𝜔𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐸𝐶 (1 + 𝑚 cos 𝜔𝑠 𝑡) [from fig. 02]
The instantaneous voltage of AM wave is:
𝑒 = 𝐴𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 × cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡
After some algebraic manipulations, the final form is:
𝑚𝐸𝐶 𝑚𝐸𝐶
𝑒 = 𝐸𝐶 cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 + 2
cos(𝜔𝑐 + 𝜔𝑠 )𝑡 + 2
cos( 𝜔𝑐 − 𝜔𝑠 )𝑡 ……… (1)

UPPER AND LOWER SIDE FREQUENCIES

An unmodulated carrier wave consists of only one-single frequency component of frequency fc when it
is combined with a modulating signal frequency fm (information signal/modulating signal/ AF signal all
are same) heterodyning action takes place. As a result two additional frequencies called side frequencies
are produced which can also be seen from equation (1). The amplitude modulated wave is found to
consist of three frequency components:
a) Carrier frequency component, fc
b) Higher frequency component (fc + fm) called upper side frequency (USF).
c) Lower frequency component (fc - fm) called lower side frequency (LSF).

These two are symmetrically located around the carrier frequency as shown in Fig. 3.
CW

LSF USF

fc -fm fc fc +fm
Fig.3 Upper and lower side frequencies.
The power dissipated in any circuit is a function of the square of the voltage across the circuit and the
effective resistance of the circuit. Equation of AM wave reveals that it has three components of the
amplitude EC, mEC/2 and mEC/2. Clearly, power output must be distributed among these components.
2
(𝐸𝐶 ⁄√2) 𝐸2
Carrier power, 𝑃𝐶 = 𝑅
= 2𝑅𝐶
2 2
(𝑚𝐸𝐶 ⁄2√2) (𝑚𝐸𝐶 ⁄√2) 𝑚2 𝐸𝐶2 𝑚2 𝐸𝐶2 𝑚2 𝐸𝐶2
Total power in side bands, 𝑃𝑠 = + = + =
𝑅 𝑅 8𝑅 8𝑅 4𝑅

𝐸2 𝑚2 𝐸𝐶2 𝐸2 𝑚2 𝑚2
Total power of AM wave, 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝑆 = 2𝑅𝐶 + 4𝑅
= 2𝑅𝐶 (1 + 2
) = 𝑃𝐶 (1 + 2
) [for double side
band]
𝑚2
For single side band, 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝐶 (1 + 4
)

BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AM TRANSMITTER

RF Buffer RF power Antenna

Oscillator Amplifier Amplifier

(Carrier wave) (Multiplier)

Audio Audio
MODULATOR
signal amplifier
Fig. 4. Schematic block diagram of AM transmitter.

FUNCTION OF THE COMPONENTS OF AM TRANSMITTER

1) RF oscillator generates an RF signal that is modulated. It is also called carrier signal.
2) The audio signal, which can be produced by a function generator or a microphone, is amplified
by an audio amplifier and further amplified by a modulator prior to modulating the carrier, at
an appropriate power level.
3) An RF amplifier can be used as a buffer (isolation between RF oscillator and power amplifier),
a frequency multiplier, or a straight amplifier.
4) The radio signals provided to the antenna by the RF power amplifier contains a carrier
frequency and two audio sidebands.
5) The antenna converts these high current signals into an electromagnetic wave for transmission
by the ether.

BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AM RECEIVER

Antenna RF Mixer IF Detector

amplifier amplifier

Local
oscillator Power
AF
Speaker Amplifier
amplifier

Fig. 5 Block diagram of AM receiver

FUNCTION OF AM RECEIVER
a) The receiver's antenna intercepts the many electromagnetic waves and converts them into RF
currents.
b) An RF amplifier selects the desired RF signal from among the signals which strike the antenna,
amplifies it, couples it to a frequency converter which converts ii into an intermediate radio
frequency (IF). (frequency converter consists of mixer and local oscillator)
c) The IF (difference) signal is selected and amplified by the IF amplifiers and then coupled to an
AM detector.
d) The detector separates the audio signal from the IF carrier signal, sends the audio signal to the
audio and power amplifiers.
e) Finally, reproduction of the original bound occurs in the speaker.

EXPERIMENTAL DATA
Table 01: Data for this experiment:
Sl. Em Ec Vmax Vmin VR f Δt T=1/f %m Pc Pr Pt
No. (V) (V) (mV) (V) (KHz) (uS) (ms) (mW) (mW) (mW)

CALCULATION
𝐸2
Pc=2𝑅𝑐 R=1;

𝑉2
𝑟
Pr=2𝑅

Pt=Pc*(1+m2/2);

GRAPHS
i. Plot % of modulation Vs peak value of modulating signal.
ii. Plot Pr Vs % of modulation.
iii. Plot Pt Vs % of modulation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

CONCLUSION:
REFERENCE: Chapter 16, Principle of electronics by V. K. Mehta; Lab manual.
QUESTION: