LABORATORY

1.0 TITLE
GENERATION OF AM SIGNALS.

2.0 OBJECTIVE
1. To understand the characteristics of amplitude modulation (AM). 2. To study AM modulation index and its effect on the system performance.

3.0 INTRODUCTION
For Amplitude Modulation (AM) is a technique used in electronic communication. Its more used for transmitting information via a radio carrier wave. AM works by varying the strength of the transmitted signal in relation to the information being sent. For example, changes in signal strength may be used to specify the sounds to be reproduced by a loudspeaker, or the light intensity of television pixels. Contrast this with frequency modulation, in which the frequency is varied, and phase modulation, in which the phase is varied. Modulation is a process of translating information signal from low band frequency to high band frequency that is suits the transmission medium. Information signal is usually of low frequency, so it cannot travel fat and needs a carrier signal of higher frequency for long distance destination. Carrier and information(modulating) are the input while the output is called the modulated signal.

Figure 1: Basic Block Diagram of A Modulator There are several type of amplitude modulation such as Conventional Amplitude Modulation (AM), AM-Double Side Band (AM-DSB) or Suppressed Carrier AM (SCAM) and Single Side Band Modulation (SSB). Figure 2 show the different type of amplitude modulation (AM). The top diagrams show the conventional AM which the frequency spectrum is composed of the carrier frequency (fc), upper sideband (fc + fm), lower sideband (fc fm).

3.1 Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSBSC) AM

An amplitude modulation with suppressed carrier is generated if the carrier amplitude is influenced in a multiplier with a message signal without DC offset. This method used when for example as an intermediate form for single sideband amplitude modulation or for the stereo supplementary signal in FM broadcasting.

3.2 Single Sideband Suppressed Carrier AM (SSBSC)

Power and bandwidth can saved by filtering one sideband and suppressing the carrier when both sidebands contain the information. This method widely used for communications applications, particularly within the HF portion of the radio spectrum.

Remarks : LSB = Lower Side Band USB = Upper Side Band fc = Carrier Frequency fm = Information Frequency Figure 2: Spectrum and Waveforms of Conventional-AM, DSBSC-AM and SSBSC-AM Signals

3.3 Modulation Factor, m

The change in the carrier amplitude is proportional to the change in the modulation signal amplitude Modulation factor (m) is known as the ratio of the change to the unmodulated carrier amplitude. The highest value of m under ideal scenario is m = 1.

3.4 AM Power Performance and Efficiency

3.4.1 Full AM Total transmitted power for full AM signal is combine from all three frequency components such as carrier, upper and lower sideband. Its efficiency, is equal to the ratio between the power to transmit useful information signal, PSB to the total transmitted power, PT .

Figure 3: Equation for Total Power Transmitted,PT and Efficiency, 3.4.2 DSBSC-AM and SSBSC-AM Power efficiency is equal to 100% where all the transmitted power used to carry the information signal. The SSBSC more improves AM bandwidth efficiency as both sidebands carry similar information signal where one sideband is just the mirror image of the other.

Figure 4: Equation for Total Power Transmitted,PT DSBSC-AM and SSBSC-AM

4.0 METHOD
4.1 INSTRUMENTS AND COMPONENTS i. ii. iii. iv. v.
Modulation Board Type 4280 Demodulation Board Type 4281 Pico Scope Oscilloscope Spectrum Analyzer

4.2 PROCEDURE

There are two procedures to perform in this laboratory. There are: 4.2.1 4.2.2 Modulator Demodulator

Figure 5: Circuit of modulator for amplitude-modulated signals

Figure 6: Circuit of a single sideband modulator (SSB)

Figure 7: Circuit of demodulator by plugging the 2mm connecting plug

4.2.1 MODULATOR
Modulator for amplitude-modulated signals already assemble by refers (see Figure 5). Modulation factor of an AM modulator will determine. After that, the line diagrams (scope), modulation trapezium and the frequency spectrum will appear in the software Pico scope and then save the result in the computer. Make a folder to make sure its is easy to arrange back for the result later. Change the VDC as shown in Table 1 for the following values, +1V and +0.5V. The results for the output were recorded.

Then change the VDC to zero. The waveform, trapezoid and spectrum will sketch and explain about the result. Compare the current findings to results for m=1. After that, assemble a single sideband modulator (SSB) according to the filter method (see Figure 6). Output signal with the oscilloscope at different information frequencies are examined and the frequency of the sidebands are measured and the results are shown in Table 2.

4.2.2 DEMODULATOR
Continue the experimental setup by plugging the 2mm connecting plug (see Figure 7) and the voltages asked are measured and draw the results in the Table 3.

5.0 RESULTS
Table 1
Vdc=+2V Waveform

Spectrum

Trapezoid

Vdc=+1V Waveform

Spectrum

Trapezoid

Vdc=+0.5V Waveform

Spectrum

Trapezoid

10

Vdc=+0V Waveform

Spectrum

Trapezoid

11

Table 2
fm=2kHz Em=2V Waveform

Spectrum

12

fm=1kHz Em=2V Waveform

Spectrum

13

fm=500Hz Em=2V Waveform

Spectrum

14

Table 3

Vam

V1

V2

15

Vdem

Vout

16

6.0 DISCUSSION
MODULATION
1. On what variable does the shape envelope curve depends? By refer to the modulation frequency V peak-peak voltage

2. How are different amplitudes of the message signal represented in the output signal? The change in the carrier amplitude is proportional to the change in the modulation signal amplitude. M=Em Ec By method measuring modulation factor, sine wave display voltage with constant amplitude is very rarely transmitted.

3. How can the modulation factor be determined from the frequency spectrum? By calculate the bandwidth of the sideband to the carrier frequency.

4. How great is the amplitude of the lower sideband oscillation when the modulation factor is 60% and the carrier has an amplitude of 10V?

0.6 6+

= = 10 6 = = 2.5V

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DEMODULATION

1. Compare the waveform of VDEM and VOUT. VDEM -Combine with demodulation -Vpeak more than Vout VOUT - Only information signal - Vpeak less than VDEM

2. In your opinion, can AM techniques in which the carrier is suppressed (DSBSC and SSBSC) being demodulated using the above technique. In my opinion, Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSBSC) is being demodulated because in DSBSC, the signal is mirror. It is similar or same to the experiment that we done.

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7.0 CONCLUSION
In a conclusion, the objective of this experiment were fulfilled. The amplitude modulation is reliable, important and popular used in the industry. Amplitude modulation(AM) also is one of the most straightforward ways of modulating a radio signal or carrier. The process of demodulation, where the audio signal is removed from the radio carrier in the receiver is also quite simple as well. The easiest method of achieving amplitude demodulation is to use a simple diode detector. This consists of just a handful of components such as a diode, resistor and a capacitor. The advantages of amplitude modulation (AM) are it is simple to implement, it can be demodulated using a circuit consisting of very few components and AM receivers are very cheap as no specialised components are needed.

The disadvantages are it is not efficient in terms of its power usage, not efficient in terms of its use of bandwidth, requiring a bandwidth equal to twice that of the highest audio frequency and is prone to high levels of noise because most noise is amplitude based and obviously AM detectors are sensitive to it. The important part of amplitude modulation (AM) is the measuring of the modulation depth, double sideband, single sideband, and the carrier signal. The trapezoid display is more exactly, it is because the modulation depth is directly readable from the oscilloscopes screen.

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8.0 REFERENCES
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplitude_modulation 2. http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/definition/amplitude-modulation 3. http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/rf-technology-design/am-amplitudemodulation/single-sideband-suppressed-carrier-ssbsc.php

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6.6 GHz RF Instrumentation for PXI

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Amplitude Modulation
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This tutorial is part of the National Instruments Measurement Fundamentals series. Each tutorial in this series teaches you a specific topic of common measurement applications by explaining the theory and giving practical examples. This tutorial covers an introduction to RF, wireless, and high-frequency signals and systems. For the complete list of tutorials, return to the NI Measurement Fundamentals main page, or for more RF tutorials, refer to the NI RF Fundamentals main subpage. For more information about National Instruments RF products, visit www.ni.com/rf. Table of Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Amplitude Modulation Mathematical Background Types of AM Modulation Reality Check Related Products Conclusion

Amplitude Modulation Modulation is the process of varying a higher frequency carrier wave to transmit information. Though it is theoretically possible to transmit baseband signals (or information) without modulating it, it is far more efficient to send data by modulating it onto a higher frequency "carrier wave." Higher frequency waves require smaller antennas, use the available bandwidth more efficiently, and are flexible enough to carry different types of data. AM radio stations transmit audio signals, which range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, using carrier waves that range from 500 kHz to 1.7 MHz. If we were to transmit audio signals directly we would need an antenna that is around 10,000 km! Modulation techniques can be broadly divided into analog modulation and digital modulation. Amplitude modulation (AM) is one form of analog modulation.

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Figure 1. Basic Stages of AM Mathematical Background The carrier signal is generally a high-frequency sine wave. There are three parameters of a sine wave that can be varied: amplitude, frequency, and phase. Any of these can be modulated, or varied, to transmit information. A sine wave can be mathematically described by a sine or cosine function with amplitude Ac, frequency fc, and phase .

Figure 2. Carrier Wave The carrier signal is modulated by varying its amplitude in proportion to the message, or baseband, signal. The message signal can be represented by

and the carrier signal can be represented by

To make the equations simpler, assume that there is no phase difference between the carrier signal and the message signal and thus = 0. The modulated signal can be represented by multiplying the carrier signal and the summation of 1 and the message signal, as shown below.

With some basic trigonometric manipulation, the above waveform can be written as

Types of AM Modulation

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As described in the previous section, the modulated signal has waves at three frequencies: f c, fc fb and fc + fb. Transmitting at all three frequencies wastes power and bandwidth. To avoid that problem use a filter to remove one of the sidebands (usually the lower sideband, f c fb). Use a highpass filter to remove the lower sideband signal; this process is single sideband (SSB) modulation. However, by removing one of the sidebands we lose some of the original power of the modulated signal. To maximize the power transmitted, transmit both the lower and the upper sideband. This process is double sideband (DSB) modulation. The following figure illustrates DSB.

Figure 3. Frequency Domain View of Double Sideband Full Carrier One of the components of the modulated signal is the pure carrier wave. Because the carrier wave does not have any information, we can remove the carrier wave component from the signal before we transmit it. This process is called single sideband/double sideband suppressed carrier (SSB-SC, DSB-SC) modulation. However, we need the carrier when demodulating the signal. Special circuits can extract information about the carrier from one of the sidebands; these circuits are used when demodulating SSB-SC or DSB-SC signals. We can also use amplitude modulation to send digital data. Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) uses four predetermined amplitude levels to determine digital bits. Reality Check Although understanding AM is helpful to understand modulation, it is not the most efficient or useful way to modulate a signal. Simple AM is slow and requires too much power. Because most communication today is digital, far more complex methods are used. Generally, phase shift keying (PSK) a type of phase modulation is used to transmit digital data. Related Products NI PXIe-5663 6.6 GHz RF Vector Signal Analyzer The National Instruments PXIe-5663 is a modular 6.6 GHz RF vector signal analyzer with 50 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth optimized for automated test. NI PXIe-5673 6.6 GHz RF Vector Signal Generator The National Instruments PXIe-5673 is a 4-slot 6.6 GHz RF vector signal generator that delivers signal generation from 85 MHz to 6.6 GHz, 100 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth, and up to 512 MB of memory. NI PXI-5660 2.7 GHz RF Vector Signal Analyzer The National Instruments PXI-5660 is a modular 2.7 GHz RF vector signal analyzer with 20 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth optimized for automated test. NI PXI-5671 2.7 GHz RF Vector Signal Generator The National Instruments PXI-5671 module is a 3-slot RF vector signal generator that delivers signal generation from 250 kHz to 2.7 GHz, 20 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth, and up to 512 MB of memory.

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NI PXI-5652 6.6 GHz RF and Microwave Signal Generator The National Instruments PXI-5652 6.6 GHz RF and microwave signal generator is continuous-wave with modulation capability. It is excellent for setting up stimulus response applications with RF signal analyzers. NI RF Switches The National Instruments RF switch modules are ideal for expanding the channel count or increasing the flexibility of systems with signal bandwidths greater than 10 MHz to bandwidths as high as 26.5 GHz. NI LabVIEW National Instruments LabVIEW is an industry-leading graphical software tool for designing test, measurement, and automation systems. NI Modulation Toolkit The National Instruments Modulation Toolkit extends the built-in analysis capability of LabVIEW with functions and tools for signal generation, analysis, visualization, and processing of standard and custom digital and analog modulation formats. Conclusion

For the complete list of tutorials, return to the NI Measurement Fundamentals main page, or for more RF tutorials, refer to the NI RF Fundamentals main subpage. For more information about National Instruments RF products, visit www.ni.com/rf. 17 Ratings | 4.00 out of 5
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In the amplitude modulation section, the time parameter has been omitted. Please correct it - manohjsv@gmail.com - Oct 28, 2010 Great Nice revision to communication systems theory for any Engineer who would want some quick learning for his/her project needs. - Apr 04, 2010 Recognition Excellent brief introduction. NI taking care of the students, as always. - Carlos Cristiano Nunes, Ph.D.,Microserv. anon14215267 - Mar 05, 2010 BASIC VIEW VERY NICE INTRODUCTION - SHANMUGAM,STUDENT. SHANARAYANA@YAHOO.CO.IN - Jan 16, 2009

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Modulation is the process of varying a higher frequency carrier wave to transmit information. Though it is theoretically possible to transmit baseband signals (or information) without modulating it, it is far more efficient to send data by modulating it onto a higher frequency "carrier wave."

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