Topic 4.3.

2 – Amplitude Modulation

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this topic you will be able to;

 sketch and recognise the resulting waveforms for a sinusoidal carrier

being amplitude modulated by a single frequency audio signal;
 draw and analyse graphs to show the resulting waveform, and
frequency spectrum for a sinusoidal carrier amplitude modulated by
an audio signal, to a given depth of modulation, m;
 select and use the formula:

Vmax  Vmin 
m  100%
Vmax  Vmin 

to calculate the depth of modulation for a given amplitude modulated

RF signal.

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requires the availability of the carrier signal in the demodulator. This was assumed in our previous
discussion without giving any method for obtaining this carrier from the received signal at the
demodulator. Notice that the carrier at the demodulator must have the same frequency and phase of the
carrier at the transmitter or some parts of the message signal will be lost (try the Matlab program named
“DSBSC” on WebCT). In fact, the generation of the carrier signal at EXACTLY the same frequency and
phase of the carrier at the modulation is relatively expensive and may drive the cost of the demodulator to
be higher (you will study later in the course methods for obtaining the carrier frequency from a received
signal).

Conclusion: For applications where ONLY ONE modulator but MANY demodulators are required, as it
is the case for radio broadcasting, use any method for modulation even if it relatively expensive if it will
reduce the cost of the demodulator. This will save a lot of money for many people at the expense of
increasing the cost for the broadcasting entity.

Solution 1: The cost of the demodulator can be significantly reduced by using a modulator that DOES
NOT require the generation of the carrier at the demodulator but uses what is called an ENVELOPE
DETECTOR method to demodulate the amplitude modulated signal.

In Amplitude Modulation (AM) as its name suggests, it is the amplitude of the

carrier wave which becomes altered by the instantaneous value of the
information signal. The following diagram illustrates this effect.

Diagram ‘a’ shows the information signal.

Diagram ‘b’ shows the unmodulated carrier signal.

Diagram ‘c’ shows the modulated carrier signal.

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 Topic 4.3.2 – Amplitude Modulation

For the Enthusiast !

The exact way in which the amplitude modulated carrier is produced is quite complex and
involves some advanced mathematics. The solution is provided here for those who are
enthusiastic about such things – but you will not be required to reproduce this analysis in
the examination.

The general mathematical formula for a sinusoidal wave is :

V  Vmax sin 2ft

Where V = instantaneous value of voltage, Vmax = maximum amplitude of the wave, f =

frequency of wave and t = time.

The first term represents the carrier frequency, the second is the lower side frequency
and the third is the upper side frequency.

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True / False Questions

1. In the modulation process, the baseband voice, or digital signal modifies another, higher­frequency signal called the 
carrier. 

True    False
 
2. With amplitude modulation, the instantaneous value of the carrier amplitude changes in accordance with the amplitude 
and frequency variations of the modulating signal. 

True    False
 
3. In amplitude modulation is does not matter if the peak value of the modulating signal is greater than the peak value of 
the carrier. 

True    False
 
4. The circuit used for producing AM is called a demodulator. 

True    False
 
5. When the modulating voltage is much greater than the carrier voltage, a condition called overmodulation results. 

True    False
 
6. Sidebands occur at frequencies that are the sum and difference of the carrier and modulating

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 Topic 4.3.2 – Amplitude Modulation

Depth of Modulation.

Depth of modulation is the term given to how much the amplitude of the
carrier wave is affected by the information signal. This is best illustrated by
considering some examples.

To demonstrate the effect the same carrier signal will be used as shown in
the following diagram. The amplitude of the carrier is 8V, and is of high
frequency, no units have been added to the time axis as these are illustrative
diagrams only.

We will now add a number of different information signals, of lower

frequency but with amplitudes of 2V, 4V, 6V, 8V and 10V to see the effect on
the modulated signal.

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Example 1.
In this example, the information signal has an amplitude of 2V.

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 Topic 4.3.2 – Amplitude Modulation

Example 2.
In this example, the information signal has an amplitude of 4V.

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