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LAB 6. FM Modulation: S (T) A Cos (And
LAB 6. FM Modulation: S (T) A Cos (And
LAB 6. FM Modulation: S (T) A Cos (And
FM Modulation
Introduction
In this lab, you will investigate frequency modulation (FM) and its properties. During
this lab you will
• Create an FM signal by modulating an audio waveform onto a carrier,
• Examine the spectrum of the modulated carrier,
• Evaluate the modulated carrier when the modulation index is varied and
• Demodulate the signal and recover the original modulating waveform using
two methods for demodulation.
In your report you will compare the properties of the FM signal you created
experimentally with those suggested by theory.
The IC used for this experiment is the MC14046. The data sheet for the MC14046 can be
obtained from Motorola at their web site:
http://mot-sps.com/books/dl131/pdf/mc14046brev4.pdf
In this modulation scheme, the frequency of carrier is varied in time based upon a
modulating signal. This modulation method is, therefore, referred to as FM or frequency
modulation. Since the frequency change of a sinusoid in time results in alternation of
phase in time, FM may also be referred to as phase modulation, or PM, as well.
Theory
Consider a carrier signal,
S(t) = A cos (ω c t + θ ) (6.1)
where A, ϖc, and θ denote the amplitude, frequency, and phase of the carrier signal
respectively.
Now consider a situation where the frequency of this signal changes in accordance with a
modulating signal, f(t). The resulting signal can be expressed as
t
S FM (t ) = A cos[φFM (t )] = A cos ω c t + k f
∫ f (τ )dτ + θ
0
(6.2)
where the instantaneous frequency (in radians per second) of the signal is
dφFM (t )
= ω c + k f f (t ) . Observe that the frequency of this signal is directly proportional
dt
to the modulating signal. Also, kf denotes a scaling factor, limiting the maximum
frequency deviation of signal ∆ω,
∆ω = kf |f(t)|max (6.3)
Because FM is a nonlinear modulation it is highly sensitive to the frequency content of
modulating signal. To see this, start with a sinusoidal modulating signal,
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f(t) = a cos (ωm t). (6.4)
This results in
∆ω = kf |f(t)|max = kf a, (6.5)
which in turn yields
t
S FM (t ) = A cos[φFM (t )] = A cos ω c t + k f
∫
0
f (τ )dτ + θ
(6.6)
= A cos(ω c t + β sin(ω m t ) + θ )
with β given by
∆ω
β= = Modulation index. (6.7)
ωm
An FM signal can be represented using the Bessel function
∞
S FM (t ) = A ∑ J n ( β ) cos[(ω c + nω m )t + θ ] (6.8)
n =−∞
where Jn(.) is an nth order Bessel function. Note that the spectrum of the FM signal in this
case consists of an infinite sum of delta functions. Realizing that Jn(β) ≈ 0 for n > β, the
bandwidth of the above FM signal may be shown to be
BW ≈ 2( β + 1)ω m radians per second, (6.9)
based on Carson’s rule.
The MC14046 Integrated Circuit is a Phase Locked Loop, which can be used as both an
FM modulator and demodulator. In figure 1 below, when the input signal is the
modulated carrier, the error voltage at the output of the low-pass filter represents the
modulating signal.
Phase Comparator
Input
Phase
SFOUT
Signal
Errors
LPF
Reference
Signal
VCO Control
Voltage
Controlled Voltage
Oscillator
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Prelab 6.1 Generation of the normalized FM signal
1) Create an FM signal using MatLab using the following parameters:
Modulating frequency, fm 1 kHz
Amplitude of fm 2.5 Vpp
Carrier frequency, fc 10 kHz
Amplitude of fc 2.5 Vpp
Sampling rate 1 MHz
You can make use of the m-file Pre6_1.m.
2) Generate plots of the FM signals created when the modulating signals are sine,
triangle, and square waves using the same settings for frequency and amplitude.
Make sure that the triangle and square waves are both antipodal (waveforms balanced
above and below 0 volts).
The FM output for a square wave looks like Frequency Shift Keying (FSK). The m-
file pre6_1.m is designed to show the frequency variation more clearly in the time
domain. Note: The m-file uses the function cumsum of MatLab for FM modulation.
Cumsum models the integration operation for a digital signal, which means that the
output of cumsum is not exactly same as the mathematical modeling for the analog
signal. As a result, the value of the modulation index will differ somewhat from the
actual result of mathematical calculation. To correct this, use integral-based
equations to model FM.
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Table 1
Modulation index β ∆ω kf
0.01
1.0
2.4
10.0
50.0
When β is 2.4, you will observe a carrier null in the frequency spectrum. Explain the
relationship of this carrier null and the value of the modulation index.
4) Complete Table 2 when kf = 1.2 ∗104 ∗ π radians per second per volt, the modulating
signal frequency is 6 kHz, and the amplitude of the modulating signal is as given in
the table.
Table 2
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Figure 2. FM Modulator
1
The MC14046 requires pin 16 to be connected to VDD and pin 8 to be connected to ground. The
schematics given in Figure 2 and Figure 4 follow the convention of not showing these connections. The
omission is deliberate, not accidental.
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Figure 3. FM Modulator
1. Determine which of the two circuits to use as the modulator and which to use as the
demodulator by comparing the respective Fmin and Fmax values. The demodulator
must be able to lock onto any frequency deviation produced by the modulator.
Therefore, choose as the demodulator the circuit with the lowest frequency for Fmin
and the highest frequency for Fmax.
If neither circuit meets both criteria, modify one of them by changing the values for R11
and/or R12, using the formulas for VCO output frequency given in the data sheet on
page 4, Figure 2. Notice that Fmax depends on Fmin. Record the final values:
Fmin1 = Fmax1 =
Fmin2 = Fmax2 =
2. Once the demodulator stage has been selected, add the low pass filter and connect the
VCO output (pin 4) to the B input of the phase comparator (pin 3) as is shown in
Figure 4. Cascade the stages by connecting VCO output of modulator (pin 4) to the
input of the phase comparator of the demodulator (pin 14).
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Figure 4. FM Demodulator
1. Measure the output frequencies of both stages (at pin 4) when the VCO input of the
modulator is connected to VDD. Use channel 2 and 1 of the oscilloscope to observe
the output waveforms of modulator and demodulator respectively. Is the
demodulator’s VCO phase-locked to the modulator’s VCO? Measure the output
frequencies of both stages again when the VCO input is connected to ground. Is the
demodulator’s VCO still phase-locked to the modulator’s VCO? [If phase-lock did
not occur, return to step 3 and modify the demodulator so that its Fmin is at least 10%
below the modulator’s Fmin, and its Fmax is 10% above the modulator’s Fmax.]
VCO input to VDD: VCO input to ground:
Fmod = Fmod =
Fdem = Fdem =
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Modulator Demodulator
Fmax = Fmax =
Fmin = Fmin =
5. Compute the peak frequency deviation of the modulator using
∆ F = (Fmax-Fmin)/2
and the center frequency (the carrier frequency) by
fc = Fmin + ∆ F
6. Compute the frequency of the modulating signal (the signal being applied by the
function generator) to attain the following values of the modulation index:
β = ∆ F/fm
β= 0.2; fm =
β= 1.0; fm =
β= 2.4; fm =
For β = 0.2, set the corresponding fm frequency as the output of the function generator
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1. As β increases the number of significant spectral components also increases. Repeat
the measurements in (10) for the remainder values of β and fm, measuring
frequencies and amplitudes of the added components. Then compute the bandwidth.
If necessary, decrease the "Freq Span" to better display the spectrum for the highest
values of β. Pay special attention to the amplitude of the carrier frequency
component. Note: Do not change the "Center Freq" setting.
Lab Report
1. Compare the Fmin and Fmax frequencies produced by the two configurations built in
steps 1 and 2 of the lab with the theoretical values given for the MC14046. How
close were the calculated values to the theoretical values? The formulas for these
values may be located on page 4, Figure 2 of the data sheet as the VCO output
frequency.
2. How would the system composed of a modulator and a demodulator function if the
circuit you used as the demodulator was used as the modulator, and the circuit used as
the modulator was used as the demodulator? Why?
3. Compare the theoretical spectra of the FM signals with the results obtained in the
experiment for each value of Beta. Comment your results.
4. Verify Carson's rule for each value of Beta.
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