CHAPTER 2: AMPLITUDE MODULATION (AM)

Chapter 2/AM 2
A communication channel can be almost anything, a pair of conductors or
an optical fiber.
Sometimes a channel can carry information signal directly and it would not
be possible to transmit more than one signal without interference. Such
situation require the use of a carrier signal whose frequency will propagate
through the channel.
This carrier wave will be altered or modulated by the information signal.
When a carrier is used, the information signal is also known as the
modulating signal.
In an amplitude modulation technique, the base band information which
is to be conveyed is impressed on to the carrier by varying its
instantaneous amplitude.
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 2/AM 3
There are three types of AM:
Full Amplitude Modulation ( AM )
Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSBSC)
Single Sideband ( SSB )
Amplitude modulation is relatively inexpensive, low-quality form of
modulation that is used for commercial broadcasting of both audio
and video signal.
Also used for two-way mobile radio communications such as citizens
band (CB) radio.
AM modulators are nonlinear devices with two inputs and one
output.
TYPES OF AMPLITUDE MODULATION
Chapter 2/AM 4
This type of modulation was the first one in use in the very early
days of broadcasting in the 1920s and has developed several
names in the course of time.
It is often called just simply amplitude modulation (AM) but
sometimes envelope modulation or even double sideband with
carrier (DSBWC).
Also the term full AM is often to mean maximum amplitude
modulation (index modulation, m=1).
It is obtained by taking a single frequency carrier and altering its
amplitude instantaneously in proportion to the instantaneous
magnitude of a baseband signal.
FULL AM
Chapter 2/AM 5
The carrier is almost always a sine wave and the modulating signal
can be a sine wave but is more often arbitrary waveform, such as an
audio signal.
Amplitude modulation is created by using the instantaneous
modulating signal voltage to vary the amplitude of the modulated
signal.Thus,
AM IN GENERAL
t E t v
t E t v
c c c
m m m

cos ) ( : signal Carrier

cos ) ( : signal Baseband
=
=
t E E
t v E v
m m c
m c c
cos
) (
'
+ =
+ =
Chapter 2/AM 6
The modulation index for AM is often quoted as a percentage and it
is given by:
For full AM, and normally
Therefore, the modulated signal for AM is:
AM: TIME DOMAIN
1 0 where, = m
E
E
m
c
m
m c m c
f f >> >> and
1 = m
t t m E
t t
E
E
E
t t E E
t v v
c m c
c m
c
m
c
c m m c
c c AM

cos ) cos 1 (
cos ) cos 1 (
cos ) cos (
cos
'
+ =
+ =
+ =
=
Chapter 2/AM Prepared By: Pn.Norliza Mohamed 7
AM WAVEFORM
Chapter 2/AM 8
EXAMPLE
A carrier wave with an rms voltage of 2V and a frequency of 1.5MHz is modulated
by a sine wave with a frequency of 500Hz and amplitude of 1 V
rms
. Write an
equation for the resulting signal.
Solution:
V 10 x 42 . 9 sin ) 10 x 14 . 3 sin 41 . 1 83 . 2 (
Thus,
sin ) sin (
know, We
rad/s 10 x 14 . 3 500 x 2
rad/s 10 x 42 . 9 10 x 5 . 1 x 2
V 41 . 1 1 x 2
V 83 . 2 2 x 2
6 3
3
6 6
t t v
t t E E v
E
E
AM
c m m c AM
m
c
m
c
+ =
+ =
= =
= =
= =
= =

x
x
Chapter 2/AM 9
MODULATION INDEX
The amount by which the signal amplitude is changed in modulation
depends on the ratio between the amplitudes of the modulating
signal and the carrier and it is given by:
Modulation can also be expressed as a percentage, with percent
modulation found by multiplying m by 100. For example, m = 0.5
correspond to 50% modulation.
m also can be measured directly from AM waveform by measuring
the peak-to-peak voltages A and B as shown.
1 0 where, = m
E
E
m
c
m
Chapter 2/AM 10
MODULATION INDEX
AM waveform
with m factor
B A
B A
m
+

=
Chapter 2/AM 11
max
+
E
min

E
min
+
E
max

E
c
E +
c
E
m
E
m
E
m
E
m
E
) . J t m E Envelope
m c
cos 1+ =
+
) . J t m E Envelope
m c
cos 1+ =

MODULATION INDEX CALCULATIONS

Chapter 2/AM 12
If the modulating signal is pure, single-frequency sine wave and the modulation
process is symmetrical.
Then percent modulation can be derived as follows:
% 100 x
) (
) (

, percentage In
) ( 2 1
) ( 2 1

Therefore,
and Where,
2
and
2
min max
min max
min max
min max
min max
min max min max
E E
E E
m
E E
E E
E
E
m
E E E E E E
E E
E
E E
E
c
m
m c m c
c m
+

=
+

=
=
= + =
+
=

=
MODULATION INDEX CALCULATIONS
Chapter 2/AM 13
MODULATION INDEX
Percent modulation
of AM envelope:
(a) modulating
signal
(b) unmodulated
carrier
(c) 50% modulated
wave
(d) 100%
modulated wave.
Chapter 2/AM 14
MODULATION INDEX
The peak change in the amplitude of the output wave, E
m
is the sum of the
voltages from the upper and lower side frequencies.
Therefore:
4 2
) ( 2 1

2

know, We
2
or
2

2
Thus,
since but
min max min max
min max
E E E E
E E
E E
E
E
E
E
E
E E E E E E
E E E E E
lsf usf
m
m
usf
m
lsf
lsf lsf lsf lsf usf m
lsf usf lsf usf m

= =

=
= =
= + = + =
= + =
Chapter 2/AM 15
EXAMPLE
From the AM waveform shown,
determine:
(a) Peak amplitude of the lower and
upper side frequencies
(b) Peak amplitude of the unmodulated
carrier
(c )Peak change in the amplitude of the
envelope
(d) Index of modulation
(e) Percent modulation
Answer:
(a) 4V (b) 10V (c) 8V (d) 0.8 (e) 80%
Chapter 2/AM 16
EFFECT OF MODULATION INDEX
c m
E E m where, 1
c m
E E m > > where, 1
c m
E E m = = where, 1
Chapter 2/AM 17
OVERMODULATION
When the modulation index is greater than 1, overmodulation is said to be
present.
It creates distortion in demodulated signal and may result in the signal occupying
a larger bandwidth than normal.
Since spectrum space is tightly controlled by law, overmodulation of an AM
transmitter is actually illegal, so it must be prevented.
180
o
phase change
Chapter 2/AM 18
From the general expression of the modulated signal for AM, we can expand it
by using a trigonometric rules. Thus,
Hence, three different frequencies can be obtained.
t
mE
t
mE
t E
t t mE t E
t t m E v
m c
c
m c
c
c c
c m c c c
c m c AM
) cos(
2
) cos(
2
cos
cos cos cos
cos ) cos 1 (



+ + + =
+ =
+ =
x

x

x

2
frequency, sideband Upper
2
frequency, sideband Lower
2
frequency, carrier Original
m c
m c USB
m c
m c LSB
c
c
f f f
f f f
f
+
= + =

= =
=
FREQUENCY DOMAIN
Chapter 2/AM 19
AM FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
Chapter 2/AM 20
EXAMPLE
1. Calculate the modulation index for the E
max
= 150mV and E
min
= 70mV
2. a) A 1 MHz carrier with an amplitude of 1V peak is modulated by a 1 kHz signal
with m = 0.5. Sketch the voltage spectrum
b) If an additional 2 kHz signal modulates the carrier with m = 0.2. Sketch the
voltage spectrum
3. CB radio channels are 10 kHz apart. What is the maximum modulation
frequency that can be used if a signal is to remain entirely within its assigned
channel?
Answer:
(a) 0.364 (c) 10kHz
Chapter 2/AM 21
AM BANDWIDTH
The bandwidth needed to transmit a full AM signal can be seen from the
spectrum.
In general, a narrow bandwidth is desirable.
In any situation where spectrum space is limited, a narrow bandwidth allows more
signals to be transmitted simultaneously than does a wider bandwidth, beside
give less noise thereby increasing signal-to-noise ratio.
The bandwidth calculation consists of the signals extends from the lower side
frequency to the upper side frequency. The difference between these is simply
twice the modulation frequency.
Therefore, the bandwidth for AM is simply:
m
m c m c LSB USB AM
f
f f f f f f BW
2
) ( ) (
=
+ = =
Chapter 2/AM 22
POWER IN AM
In any electrical circuit, the power dissipated in a load by an unmodulated
carrier is equal to the rms carrier voltage squared divided by the load
resistance as follow:
It is not a total signal power but only that portion that is used to transmit
information.
Since the carrier in an AM signal remains unchanged with modulation, it
contains no information.
Its only function is to aid in demodulating the signal at the receiver.
This makes AM inherently wasteful of power.
R
P
rms
2
) (V
=
Chapter 2/AM 23
POWER IN AM
Power in an unmodulated carrier is given by:
Since the two sideband frequencies have the same amplitude so the power in
both sidebands are equal. Therefore,
) ( resistance load
(V) ltage carrier vo peak
(W) carrier the of power
Where,
2
707 0
2
2
; =
=
=
= =
R
E
P
R
E
R
) E . (
P
c
c
c c
c
USB LSB
c
USB LSB
P P
mE
E E
=
= =
2
Chapter 2/AM 24
POWER IN AM
Power in each sideband can be found by:
c
c
USB LSB
c
c
c
c
c
USB LSB
P
m
R
E m
P P
R
E
P
R
E m
R
E m
R
mE
P P
4 2 4
2
since
) 2 )( 4 (
1
x
2
4
1
x
2
2
2
2
2
2 2 2
2
2
2
=

'
+

'

= =
= =
=

'
+

'

= =
Chapter 2/AM 25
The total sideband power is
given by:
The total power in AM is:
c
c
c c
USB LSB SB
P
m
P
m
P
m
P
m
P P P
2
4
2
4 4
2
2
2 2
=
=
+ =
+ =
c
c c
USB LSB c
SB c T
P
m
P
m
P
P P P
P P P

'
+

'

+ =
+ =
+ + =
+ =
2
1
2
2
2
TOTAL POWER IN AM
Chapter 2/AM 26
IMPORTANT INFORMATION OF AM
The total power in an AM signal increase with modulation, reaching
a value 50%, greater than that of the unmodulated carrier for 100%
modulation.
The extra power with modulation goes into the sidebands; the
carrier power does not change with modulation.
The useful power,that is the power that carries information, is rather
small reaching a maximum of one-third of the total signal power for
100% modulation and much less at lower modulation indices. For
this reason, AM transmission is more efficient when the modulation
index is as close to 1 as practicable.
Chapter 2/AM 27
DSBSC
Obviously that full AM is an efficient and wasteful method of communications.
Two-third of the transmitted power appears in the carrier which conveys no
information.
One way to overcome this problem is simply to suppress the carrier where the
resulting signal is only the upper and lower sidebands.
Such a signal is referred to as a double-sideband suppressed carrier (DSBSC)
signal.
The benefit is that no power is wasted on the carrier and the power saved can be
put into the sidebands for stronger signals over longer distances.
DSB signal is rarely used because the signal is difficult to recover at the receiver.
It can be obtained by multiplying the carrier and the baseband signal together in a
balanced modulator.
Chapter 2/AM 28
DSBSC GENERATION
Thus, the DSBSC expression can be shown as:
t E t E
t
E E
t
E E
t t E E
t E t E
t v t v v
m c D m c D
m c
c m
m c
c m
c m c m
c c m m
c m DSBSC
) cos( ) cos(
) cos(
2
) cos(
2
cos cos
cos cos
) ( ) (




+ + =
+ + =
=
- =
- =
t E t v
m m m
cos ) ( =
t E t v
c c c
cos ) ( =
DSBSC
v
Chapter 2/AM 29
DSBSC FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
Chapter 2/AM 30
DSBSC BANDWIDTH
From the frequency spectrum, the bandwidth of a DSBSC signal is exactly
the same as that for a full AM which is:
One familiar use of this method of modulation is in subcarrier modulation
of the L-R signal in stereo VHF FM radio.
DSBSC is not often found on its own as a modulation scheme. It is used
as the basis for generating single-sideband suppressed-carrier
(SSBSC).
m
m c m c LSB USB DSBSC
f
f f f f f f BW
2
) ( ) (
=
+ = =
Chapter 2/AM 31
DSBSC vs. FULL AM
Both that full AM and the
DSBSC signals are very
similar in appearance but
with two important
differences:
There are 180
o
phase
change at the nodes for
DSBSC and no phase
change for full AM.
Envelope lines actually cross
for DSBSC but touch
asymptotically for full AM.
Chapter 2/AM 32
DSBSC vs. FULL AM
Chapter 2/AM 33
SSB
Full AM or DSBSC generates two sets of sidebands, each
containing the same information.
The information is redundant therefore all the information can be
conveyed in just one sideband.
By eliminating one sideband produces a single-sideband (SSB)
signal and can produce more efficient AM signal.
SSB signal offers four major benefits:
The spectrum space is less where it occupied only half of full AM and DSB
signals. It allows more signals to be transmitted in the same frequency range
less interference between signals.
All the power previously devoted to the carrier and other sideband can be
channeled into the single sideband. This produces a stronger signal and
more reliably received at greater distances and greater efficiency.
Chapter 2/AM 34
SSB
Four major benefits (cont.):
There is less noise on the signal. Since SSB signal has less bandwidth
than full AM or a DSB signal, thus there will be less noise on it. This is a
major advantage in weak signal long-distance communications. Therefore,
SNR can be improved.
SSB signals experience less or no fading than an AM signal. Fading means
that a signal alternately increases and decreases in strength as it picked up
by the receiver. It occurs because the carrier and sidebands may reach the
receiver shifted in time and phase with respect to one another.
SSB is widely used in two-way radio communications such as in
military, in Citizens Bands radio as well as in telephone system.
Chapter 2/AM 35
SSB GENERATION
The simplest way to obtain an SSB signal is to take a DSBSC signal and remove
one sideband by filtering.
This leaves the other sideband only either the upper or lower sideband.
After LPF only the lower sideband will remain:
After HPF only the upper sideband will remain:
t E t v
m m m
cos ) ( =
t E t v
c c c
cos ) ( =
SSB
v LPF/HPF
DSBSC
v
t
E E
v
m c
c m
SSB
) cos(
2
=
t
E E
v
m c
c m
SSB
) cos(
2
+ =
Chapter 2/AM 36
SSB FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
If only the lower sideband remain:
Chapter 2/AM 37
SSB FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
If only the upper sideband remain:
Chapter 2/AM 38
SSB BANDWIDTH
The two sidebands of an AM signal are mirror to each other, so it is
not necessary to transmit both in order to communicate.
Removing one sideband obviously reduces the bandwidth by at
least a factor of two.
m
c m c SSB
m
m c c SSB
f
f f f BW
f
f f f BW
=
+ =
=
=
) ( or
) (
Chapter 2/AM 39
AM WAVEFORMS AS COMPARISONS
Chapter 2/AM 40
AM radio broadcasting
TV picture (video)
Two-way radio
Air craft
Amateur radio
Citizens Band (CB) radio
Military
Digital data transmission
Computer modem
COMMON AM APPLICATIONS
AM Example
Q1. Given that V
AM
(t) = 35 cos (2 x 10
6
)t + 15 cos (1.97 x 10
6
)t + 15 cos (2.03 x
10
6
)t V. Calculate:
a) Modulation index, m
b) Peak modulating voltage, E
m
c) The frequencies of the modulating signals and carrier.
d) Frequency spectrum and its amplitude
e) Bandwidth of the AM signal.
Q2) An AM signal in which the carrier is modulated by 90% contains 2.5 kW at the carrier
frequency.
a) Calculate the power content of the upper and lower sidebands
b) if the percent modulation drops to 50%, find the power at the carrier and the power
content of each of the sidebands.
Chapter 2/AM 41
AM Example
Q3. Given an AM signal as follows:
V
AM
(t) = 10 cos (4x x 10
6
)t + 4.75 cos (3.99x x 10
6
)t + 4.75 cos (4.01x x 10
6
)t V.
By assuming that the load resistance, R
L
= 10 ;, calculate:
a) the modulation index, m
b) the carrier frequency, f
c
and the modulating frequency, f
m
.
c) the AM bandwidth.
d) the power of carrier that being transmitted, P
C
.
e) the power content at lower sideband, P
LSB
and upper sideband, P
USB
.
f) the total power, P
T
.
Chapter 2/AM 42