6.

003: Signals and Systems Lecture 24 May 6, 2010

6.003: Signals and Systems Course VI Underground Guide

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May 6, 2010

Communications Systems Amplitude Modulation

Signals are not always well matched to the media through which we Amplitude modulation can be used to match audio frequencies to
wish to transmit them. radio frequencies. It allows parallel transmission of multiple channels.

signal applications
audio telephone, radio, phonograph, CD, cell phone, MP3 z1(t)
x1(t)
video television, cinema, HDTV, DVD
internet coax, twisted pair, cable TV, DSL, optical fiber, E/M cos 1t

z2(t) z(t)
x2(t) LPF y(t)

cos 2t cos ct

z3(t)
x3(t)

cos 3t

Superheterodyne Receiver Amplitude, Phase, and Frequency Modulation

Edwin Howard Armstrong invented the superheterodyne receiver, There are many ways to embed a “message” in a carrier. Here are
which made broadcast AM practical. three.

Amplitude Modulation (AM): y1 (t) = x(t) cos(ωc t)

Phase Modulation (PM): y2 (t) = cos(ωc t + kx(t))
� �t �
Frequency Modulation (FM): y3 (t) = cos ωc t + k −∞ x(τ )dτ

Edwin Howard Armstrong also invented and

patented the “regenerative” (positive feedback)
circuit for amplifying radio signals (while he was
a junior at Columbia University). He also in­
vented wide-band FM.

6.003: Signals and Systems Lecture 24 May 6, 2010

Frequency Modulation Frequency Modulation

In FM, the signal modulates the instantaneous carrier frequency. Compare AM to FM for x(t) = cos(ωm t).

� � t � AM: y1 (t) = (cos(ωm t) + 1.1) cos(ωc t)

y3 (t) = cos ωc t + k x(τ )dτ
� −∞�� �
φ(t) t
d
ωi (t) = ωc + φ(t) = ωc + kx(t)
dt
FM: y3 (t) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))

Advantages of FM:
• constant power
• no need to transmit carrier (unless DC important)
• bandwidth?

Frequency Modulation Phase/Frequency Modulation

Early investigators thought that narrowband FM could have arbitrar­ Find the Fourier transform of a PM signal.
ily narrow bandwidth, allowing more channels than AM. Wrong! x(t) = sin(ωm t)
� � t �
y(t) = cos(ωc t + mx(t)) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))
y3 (t) = cos ωc t + k x(τ )dτ
−∞ = cos(ωc t) cos(m sin(ωm t))) − sin(ωc t) sin(m sin(ωm t)))
� � t � � � t �
= cos(ωc t) × cos k x(τ )dτ − sin(ωc t) × sin k x(τ )dτ x(t) is periodic in T = ω2π
m
, therefore cos(m sin(ωm t)) is periodic in T .
−∞ −∞
If k → 0 then m sin(ωm t)
� � t � m
cos k x(τ )dτ → 1
−∞ 0 t
� � t � � t
sin k x(τ )dτ → k x(τ )dτ
−∞ −∞ −m
� � t �
y3 (t) ≈ cos(ωc t) − sin(ωc t) × k x(τ )dτ cos(m sin(ωm t))
−∞ 1

Bandwidth of narrowband FM is the same as that of AM!

0 t
(integration does not change bandwidth) increasing m
−1

Phase/Frequency Modulation Phase/Frequency Modulation

Find the Fourier transform of a PM signal.
x(t) = sin(ωm t)
y(t) = cos(ωc t + mx(t)) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))
= cos(ωc t) cos(m sin(ωm t))) − sin(ωc t) sin(m sin(ωm t)))
x(t) is periodic in T = ω2π
m
, therefore cos(m sin(ωm t)) is periodic in T .
Find the Fourier transform of a PM signal.
x(t) = sin(ωm t)
y(t) = cos(ωc t + mx(t)) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))
= cos(ωc t) cos(m sin(ωm t))) − sin(ωc t) sin(m sin(ωm t)))
x(t) is periodic in T = ω2π
m
, therefore cos(m sin(ωm t)) is periodic in T .

cos(m sin(ωm t)) cos(m sin(ωm t))

1 1

0 t 0 t

−1 −1
m=5 m = 50

|ak | |ak |

k k
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

6.003: Signals and Systems

Lecture 24 May 6, 2010

Phase/Frequency Modulation Phase/Frequency Modulation

Fourier transform of first part. Find the Fourier transform of a PM signal.

x(t) = sin(ωm t)
x(t) = sin(ωm t)
y(t) = cos(ωc t + mx(t)) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))
y(t) = cos(ωc t + mx(t)) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))

= cos(ωc t) cos(m sin(ωm t))) − sin(ωc t) sin(m sin(ωm t)))

= cos(ωc t) cos(m sin(ωm t))) − sin(ωc t) sin(m sin(ωm t)))

� �� �
ya (t)
x(t) is periodic in T = ω2π
m
, therefore sin(m sin(ωm t)) is periodic in T .

m sin(ωm t)

|Ya (jω)| m = 50 m

0 t
ω
ωc ωc −m
sin(m sin(ωm t))
50ωm 1 increasing m

0 t
increasing m
−1

Phase/Frequency Modulation Phase/Frequency Modulation

Find the Fourier transform of a PM signal. Find the Fourier transform of a PM signal.
x(t) = sin(ωm t)
x(t) = sin(ωm t)

y(t) = cos(ωc t + mx(t)) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))

y(t) = cos(ωc t + mx(t)) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))

= cos(ωc t) cos(m sin(ωm t))) − sin(ωc t) sin(m sin(ωm t)))

= cos(ωc t) cos(m sin(ωm t))) − sin(ωc t) sin(m sin(ωm t)))

x(t) is periodic in T = ω2π

m
, therefore sin(m sin(ωm t)) is periodic in T . x(t) is periodic in T = ω2π

m
, therefore sin(m sin(ωm t)) is periodic in T .

sin(m sin(ωm t)) sin(m sin(ωm t))

1 1

0 t 0 t

−1 −1
m=5 m = 50

|bk | |bk |

k k
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Phase/Frequency Modulation Phase/Frequency Modulation

Fourier transform of second part. Fourier transform.

x(t) = sin(ωm t)
x(t) = sin(ωm t)

y(t) = cos(ωc t + mx(t)) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))

y(t) = cos(ωc t + mx(t)) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))

= cos(ωc t) cos(m sin(ωm t))) − sin(ωc t) sin(m sin(ωm t)))

= cos(ωc t) cos(m sin(ωm t))) − sin(ωc t) sin(m sin(ωm t)))

� �� � � �� � � �� �
yb (t) ya (t) yb (t)

|Yb (jω)| m = 50 |Y (jω)| m = 50

ω ω
ωc ωc ωc ωc
50ωm 50ωm

6.003: Signals and Systems Lecture 24 May 6, 2010

Frequency Modulation Summary

Wideband FM is useful because it is robust to noise. Modulation is useful for matching signals to media.

AM: y1 (t) = (cos(ωm t) + 1.1) cos(ωc t)

Examples: commercial radio (AM and FM)

t
Close with unconventional application of modulation – in microscopy.

FM: y3 (t) = cos(ωc t + m sin(ωm t))

FM generates a very redundant signal, which is resilient to additive

noise.

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6.003 Signals and Systems

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