Appendix B

Signal to Noise Ratio in

Angle Modulation

B.1 INTRODUCTION

In this annex we derive the output signal-to-noise ratio for frequence and
phase modulation, as a function of the input carrier to noise ratio and the
modulation parameters. Following we compare these two modulation tech-
niques under different view points. In the derivation we follow closely Brown
and Glazier [1].

B.2 SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO IN FREQUENCY AND PHASE

MODULATION

Take a cosine carrier uc , with unit amplitude and frequency fc

uc = cos(ωc t), (B.1)

ωc = 2πfc (B.2)
447
448 SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO IN ANGLE MODULATION

and a modulating signal um , also a cosine, with amplitude am and frequency

fm

um = am cos(ωm t), (B.3)

ωm = 2πfm . (B.4)

In phase modulation, carrier phase θi varies linearly with the modulating

signal. If ∆p is the phase change for a modulating signal with unity amplitude
we have
θi = ωc t + ∆p am cos(ωm t), (B.5)
thus, the modulated signal becomes

ui = cos[ωc t + ∆p am cos(ωm t)]. (B.6)

The phase demodulator outputs a signal uo whose amplitude is proportional

to the instantaneous difference between the modulated signal phase and the
carrier phase
uo = kp (θi − ωc t). (B.7)
Substituting (B.5) in (B.7), we get

uo = kp ∆p am cos(ωm t), (B.8)

which, applied to a load resistor Ro , corresponds to a power so given by

1 2 2 2
so = k ∆p am . (B.9)
2Ro p
In frequency modulation it is the instantaneous frequency, the derivative
of phase with respect to time, that varies linearly with the modulating signal.
If ∆ω is the change of the angular frequency ωc for a modulating signal with
unity amplitude we get

ωi = ωc + ∆ω am cos(ωm t). (B.10)

Since
dθi
wi = ,
dt
we get Z t
θi = ωi dt, (B.11)
0
hence, substituting (B.10) in (B.11), yields
Z t
θi = ωc t + ∆ω am cos(ωm t)dt,
0

or
∆ω
θi = ωc t + am sin(ωm t), (B.12)
ωm
 SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO IN FREQUENCY AND PHASE MODULATION 449

and thus the modulating signal ui may be written as

 
∆ω
ui = cos ωc t + am sin(ωc t) . (B.13)
ωm

The frequency demodulator, also known as the discriminator, outputs a

signal uo proportional to the difference between the instantaneous input signal
frequency and the unmodulated carrier frequency

uo = kf (ωi − ωc ). (B.14)

Substituting (B.10) in(B.14), we get

uo = kf ∆ω am cos(ωm t), (B.15)

which corresponds, to a power so , on a a load Ro , given by

1 2
so = k ∆ω 2 a2m . (B.16)
2Ro f

Recalling that the radio frequency bandwidth brf for frequency modulation
is approximately given by Carson’s formula
 
∆ω am
brf = 2 + fm , (B.17)
2

and comparing the modulated signal for phase modulation (B.6) and for fre-
quency modulation (B.13) we may write a similar expression for the radio
frequency bandwidth in phase modulation
 
∆p am ωm
brf = 2 + fm , (B.18)
2
or
brf = 2(∆p am + 1)fm . (B.19)
For equal bandwidths we get, equating (B.17) and (B.18),

∆ω
∆p = . (B.20)
wm

After having looked into the output of phase and frequency demodulators,
we will now look into the response of these devices to noise in the presence of
a non modulated carrier. We will assume that noise at the demodulator input
is white, narrow band, Gaussian, centered at angular frequency ωc . Noise
voltage un may be written as

un = x(t) cos(ωc t) + y(t) sin(ωc t), (B.21)

450 SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO IN ANGLE MODULATION

where x(t) e y(t) are two independent random functions with zero average
and equal standard deviation

x2 (t) = σ2 , (B.22)
y 2 (t) = σ2 , (B.23)

and probability density functions given by

x2
 
1
f (x) = √ exp − 2 , (B.24)
2πσ 2σ
y2
 
1
f (y) = √ exp − 2 . (B.25)
2πσ 2σ

Considering, at the demodulator input, the simultaneous presence of a non

modulated cosine carrier, with amplitude uc , and noise

ui = uc cos(ωc t) + x(t) cos(ωc t) + y(t) sin(ωc t), (B.26)

manipulating (B.26) we get

ui = a(t) cos[ωc t + θ(t)], (B.27)

where
p
a(t) [uc + x(t)]2 + y 2 (t),
= (B.28)
 
y(t)
θ(t) = arctan . (B.29)
uc + x(t)

If the demodulator is preceded by a limiter (as is usually the case):

a(t) = a(constant).

If, on the other hand, most of the time the input signal-to-noise ratio is much
higher than unity
uc  x(t), (B.30)
we may simplify (B.29) into
y(t)
θ(t) = . (B.31)
uc
If the passband at the demodulator input is centered about fc and has a
bandwidth brf , then y(t), responsible for the noise component y(t) sin(ωc t),
has a spectrum between 0 and brf /2. We may then consider that y(t) is the
result of a sum of m sinewaves
m
X
y(t) = aj sin(ωj t + φj ), (B.32)
j=1
 SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO IN FREQUENCY AND PHASE MODULATION 451

with amplitude, angular frequency and phase given by

a2j y 2 (t)
= , (B.33)
2 m
∆f
ωj = 2π(j − 1)∆f + 2π , (B.34)
2
brf
m∆f = , (B.35)
2
φj = any between 0 e 2π. (B.36)
This approximation is equivalent to considering that the noise y(t) is peri-
odic with period 1/∆f as large as ∆f is small or when m is large.
The voltage at the phase demodulator output will be proportional to the
phase difference between the input signal and the phase, at the same instant
of time, of the unmodulated carrier. Thus, from (B.7), taking into account
(B.27) and (B.31), we get
y(t)
uo = kp . (B.37)
uc
Substituting the value of y(t) given in (B.32) in (B.37), we get
m
kp X
uo = aj sin(ωj t + φj ), (B.38)
uc j=1

which shows that the output spectrum is constant with frequency.

The output noise power no , on a resistor R, within the signal bandwidth
bs may be calculated from (B.38)
ms 2
kp2 X aj
no = 2
, (B.39)
Ruc j=1 2

where
bs
ms = . (B.40)
∆f
But, from (B.32), we get
m
1X 2
y 2 (t) = a . (B.41)
2 j=1 j

Considering that the energies (or the average square values of the associated
voltages) of the elementary oscillators, that make up the noise voltage y(t),
are equal:
   
ms m
1 X 1 X ms
a2  =  a2 
2 j=1 j 2 j=1 j m
ms 2
= y (t),
m
452 SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO IN ANGLE MODULATION

and, substituting in (B.39)

kp2 2 ms
no = 2
y (t) ,
Ruc m

and recalling (B.35) and (B.40)

kp2 2 2bs
no = 2
y (t) . (B.42)
Ruc brf

Since the output signal power of a phase demodulator is given in (B.9), the
signal-to-noise ratio s/no becomes

s u2c ∆p2 a2m brf

= . (B.43)
no 2 y 2 (t) 2 bs

The (modulated or unmodulated) carrier power c, with amplitude uc, on

a resistor R, is
u2
c= c, (B.44)
2R
and the narrow band noise power taken in (B.21) on the same resistor R

x2 (t) + y 2 (t)
n= , (B.45)
2R
then, taking into account (B.23) and (B.44), the carrier to noise ratio c/n is:

c u2c
= . (B.46)
n 2 y 2 (t)

Substituting (B.46) in(B.43), we arrive at an expression that will enable us

to calculate the output signal to noise ratio, for a phase demodulator, from
the input carrier to noise ratio and the modulation parameters

s c ∆p2 a2m brf

= . (B.47)
no n 2 bs
Take now the frequency demodulator. As we have seen the output volt-
age is proportional to instantaneous angular frequency difference between the
modulated and the unmodulated carrier. Just as we did for the phase demod-
ulator, we will apply at the demodulator input an un modulated cosine carrier
with amplitude uc and frequency fc and narrow band, white, Gaussian noise.
From (B.12) and (B.31) the instantaneous frequency becomes

d[ωc t + θ(t)]
ωi =
dt
dθ
= ωc + . (B.48)
dt
 SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO IN FREQUENCY AND PHASE MODULATION 453

Introducing the approximation I (B.29) in (B.46), we get

1 dy
ωi = ωc + ,
uc dt
hence, at the demodulator output we get, from (B.14)
1 dy
uo = kf . (B.49)
uc dt
If the demodulator input has a band width brf and is centered at fc then
y(t), responsible for the noise component y(t) sin(ωc t), has a frequency spec-
trum within 0 and brf /2. Assuming again that y(t) is the sum of m sinewaves
(B.32), we get
m
kf X
uo = [ωj aj cos(ωj t + φj )]. (B.50)
uc j=1
For the j elementary oscillator, the power on a resistor R is:
1 kf2 2 2
noj = ω a
2R u2c j j
Considering (B.33) and (B.35), we get:
1 kf2 2 y 2 (t)
noj = ω
R u2c j n
2 (2π)2 kf2 y 2 (t) 2
= fj df.
R u2c brf
When df tends to zero, the power noj of the j oscillator tends to the noise
power density go (f )
8π 2 kf2 y 2 (t) 2
go (f ) = f . (B.51)
Ru2c brf
Now the demodulator output noise power is frequency dependent and varies
with the square of the frequency. Had we considered the noise voltage instead
of the noise power and we would have found that it increases linearly with
frequency. That is why the output noise in frequency modulation is said to
have a triangular spectrum.
The noise power inside the modulating signal band width, from fm to fM ,
will be given by the integral of the noise power density
Z fM
no = go (f )df
fm

8π 2 kf2 y 2 (t) 2 fM
Z
= f f 2 df
R u2c brf fm

8π 2 kf2 y 2 (t) 2 fM
3 3
− fm
= f . (B.52)
R u2c brf 3
454 SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO IN ANGLE MODULATION

Since the signal power at the demodulator output is given by (B.16), the
signal-to-noise ratio at that point is
s 3∆ω 2 a2m brf u2c
= .
no 3 − f3 )
16π 2 y 2 (t)(fM m

Recalling (B.46) and the relation between frequency and angular frequency,
the previous expression may be written, in terms of the carrier-to-noise ratio
at the frequency demodulator input, as
s 3∆f 2 a2m brf c
= 3 − f3 ) n. (B.53)
no 2(fM m

Since
3 3 2 2
fM − fm = (fM − fm )(fM + fM fm + fm ),
or
3 3 2 2
fM − fm = bs (fM + fM fm + fm ), (B.54)
from (B.51) and (B.52)

s 3 ∆f 2 a2m brf c
= 2 2
. (B.55)
no 2 fM + fM fm + fm bs n
When fM  fm (B.53) may be simplified as follows

s 3 c ∆f 2 a2m brf
= 2 . (B.56)
no 2 n fM bs

B.3 COMPARING FREQUENCY AND PHASE MODULATION

After deriving the output signal-to-noise ratio as a function of the input carrier
to noise ratio we may compare frequency and phase modulation.
From (B.47) and (B.56) for equal:
• carrier-to-noise ratio at the demodulator input,
• modulating signal input,
• modulated signal input,
• modulating signal band width,
• modulated signal band width,
we find out that frequency modulation compared with phase modulation offers
a signal-to-noise improvement m given by
3∆f 2
m= 2 ∆p2 .
fM
 COMPARING FREQUENCY AND PHASE MODULATION 455

Since to get equal modulated signal band widths, we have from (B.20)
∆f
∆p = ,
fM
hence m = 3 (or 4.8 dB).
This improvement justifies the choice of frequency modulation over phase
modulation, notwithstanding the unevenness with which the modulating sig-
nal frequencies are dealt with.
Another possible way to compare frequency and phase modulation is on
the basis of the noise power in the upper channel of the baseband, for equal:
• noise power in the whole of the baseband,
• modulating signal input,
• modulated signal input,
• modulating signal band width.
Equalizing the baseband noise power in phase modulation (B.40) and in
frequency modulation (B.50), we get

kp2 2 2bs 8π 2 kf2 y 2 (t) fM

3 3
− fm
y (t) = . (B.57)
Ru2c brfP M R u2c brfF M 3
Assuming that in the base band we have fM  fm , from (B.54) we get
3 3 2
fM − fm = bs fM . (B.58)

Substituting (B.58) in (B.57), we get

4π 2 kf2 fm
2
brfP M
kp2 = . (B.59)
3 brfF M
Consider now the baseband upper channel with bandwidth bs and center
frequency fc , which is approximately equal to the highest baseband frequency
fM . In phase modulation the noise power in this channel will be, from (B.40)

kp2 2 2bs
noP M = y (t) .
Ru2c brfP M
Substituting in the previous expression the value of kp given in (B.59) we
get
4π 2 kf2 fM
2
2bs
noP M = y 2 (t) ,
3Ru2c brfF M
which, recalling (B.50), may be rewritten as
noF M
noP M = .
3
456 SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO IN ANGLE MODULATION

Taking again the concept of improvement m of frequency modulation over

phase modulation we get now
1
m= ,
3
which shows that, under these conditions, and unlike the previous case, phase
modulation is to be preferred to frequency modulation. We should note,
however, that the bandwidth of the modulated signal brf is not the same in
both modulations.
Yet another possible way of comparing frequency and phase modulation
is on the basis of the noise in the least favorable channel (the highest) of a
frequency division multiplex modulating signal, for the same radio frequency
bandwidth.
In phase modulation, the signal-to-noise ratio in any channel, and obviously
also in the least favorable channel, is the same, given by (B.47)

s c ∆p2 a2m brf

( )P M = .
no n 2 bs
For frequency modulation, we have from (B.55)

s 3 ∆f 2 a2m brf c
( )F M = 2 2
.
no 2 fM + fM fm + fm bs n

Noting that in the highest channel of a frequency division multiplex signal

we have fM ≈ fm , we get

s 1 ∆f 2 a2m brf c
( )F M = 2 .
no 2 fM bs n

From (B.20) we get for equal radio frequency band width

∆f
∆p =
fM
hence:
s ∆p2 a2m brf c
(
)F M =
no 2 bs n
which shows that, under these conditions, both types of modulation are equiv-
alent.
This conclusion remains the same even when the amplitudes of the mod-
ulating signals are different, provided that phase and frequency deviations
caused by the test signal in the upper channel are related through (B.20),
that is
∆f am
(∆pam )P M = ( )F M . (B.60)
fM
In frequency modulation, where the noise in the demodulated signal is fre-
quency dependent, there may be an improvement if we modify the amplitude
 COMPARING FREQUENCY AND PHASE MODULATION 457

of the modulating signal – pre-emphasis – and correct it after demodulation

– de-emphasis. Obviously both operations should not alter the demodulat-
ing signal power. The noise power after demodulation is however modified
because noise is affected only by de-emphasis.
Let a(f ) be the pre-emphasis curve (in voltage). The de-emphasis obeys:
1
b(f ) =
a(f )

From (B.51) the output noise power in the channel with center frequency
fc and bandwidth bs becomes:

8π 2 kf2 y 2 (t) f2
f2
Z
no = df, (B.61)
R u2c brf f1 a2 (f )

where:
bs
f1 = fc − , (B.62)
2
bs
f2 = fc + . (B.63)
2
The improvement m brought about by the ensemble of pre-emphasis and
de-emphasis (in short emphasis) will be the ratio of the signal-to-noise ratios
with and without emphasis. Since the signal is not affected by emphasis,
the improvement may be calculated simply by the ratio of the noise powers
without and with emphasis
R f2 2
f
f df
m = R f2 1 f 2
f1 a2 (f )
df
f23 − f13
= R f2 f 2 . (B.64)
3 f1 a2 (f )
df

In order not to modify the base band signal power, the pre-emphasis curve
must obey
Z fM
a2 (f )df = fM − fm (B.65)
fm

Phase modulation may be obtained from frequency modulation using the

following pre-emphasis
a(f ) = kf, (B.66)
where the constant k is chosen taking into consideration the condition (B.65).
Substituting (B.66) in (B.65), we get

3(fM − fm )
k2 = 3 − f3 ,
fM m
458 SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO IN ANGLE MODULATION

and recalling (B.66)

s
3
a(f ) = 2 2
f. (B.67)
fM + fM fm + fm

Substituting a(f ) given in (B.67) in (B.64) the improvement factor m be-

comes
f 2 + f1 f2 + f12
m = 22 2
, (B.68)
fM + fM fm + fm
which, recalling (B.62) and (B.63), may be written as
b2
3fc2 + 4s
m= 2 2
. (B.69)
fM + fM fm + fm

If we accept the following simplifications for the upper channel

fc  bs ,
fc ≈ fM ,

and, noting that for a large number of telephone channels we always have
fM  fm , from (B.69) we get the improvement factor m

m = 3( or 4.8 dB).

Note that the improvement factor for the upper channel in the base band
resulting from the ITU-R Recommended emphasis equals 4 dB, very close to
the theoretical maximum.

REFERENCES

1. Brown, J. e Glazier E., Telecommunications, Chapman and Hall Ltd.,

Edinburgh, 1969.