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Pulse Amplitude Modulation

Today communication is the heart of technology. Communication is achieved over a transm
through signals. These signals carry the information through modulation. Pulse Amplitude M
the kinds of modulation techniques used in signal transmission. Pulse amplitude modulation is
of modulation. It is an Analog to digital conversion method where the message information
amplitude of the series of signal pulses. This article discusses an overview of pulse am
which is known as PAM.

What is Pulse Amplitude Modulation?

Pulse amplitude modulation is the basic form of pulse modulation. In this modulation, the s
regular intervals and each sample is made proportional to the amplitude of the modulating
study in detail PAM lets us know the concepts of modulation.

What is Modulation?

Modulation is a process of changing the characteristics of a carrier signal like amplitude, fre
etc. It is the process of adding information to the carrier signal. A carrier signal is a stea
constant amplitude and frequency.

Modulation

Modulation is normally applied to electromagnetic signals like radio laser and optical signals
images, and text data are added to the carrier signal for transmission over telecommunicatio

Types of Modulation

Modulation is categorized into two types depending on the type of signal.

Continuous-wave Modulation
Pulse Modulation

Continuous-wave modulation and Pulse modulation are further categorized as shown below.
 Types of Modulations

Continuous-wave Modulation

In continuous wave modulation signal is used as a carrier signal which modulates the messag
three parameters that can be altered to achieve modulation namely, frequency, amplitude
there are three types of modulations.

1. Amplitude Modulation
2. Frequency Modulation
3. Phase Modulation
 Types of Analog Modulation

Pulse Modulation

Pulse modulation is a technique in which the signal is transmitted with the information by pu
into Analog Pulse Modulation and Digital Pulse Modulation.

Analog pulse modulation is classified as

Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM)

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
Pulse Position Modulation (PPM)

Digital modulation is classified as

 Pulse Code Modulation
Delta Modulation

Pulse Amplitude Modulation

Pulse amplitude modulation is a technique in which the amplitude of each pulse is
instantaneous amplitude of the modulation signal. It is a modulation system in which the s
regular intervals and each sample is made proportional to the amplitude of the signal at the
This technique transmits the data by encoding in the amplitude of a series of signal pulses.

Pulse Amplitude Modulation Signal

There are two types of sampling techniques for transmitting a signal using PAM. They are:

1. Flat Top PAM

2. Natural PAM

Flat Top PAM

  The amplitude of each pulse is directly proportional to modulating signal amplitude at

occurrence. The amplitude of the signal cannot be changed with respect to the analog sig
The tops of the amplitude remain flat.
 Flat Top Pulse Amplitude Modulation

Natural PAM

The amplitude of each pulse is directly proportional to modulating signal amplitude at

occurrence. Then follows the amplitude of the pulse for the rest of the half-cycle.

Natural Pulse Amplitude Modulation

In Pulse modulation, the unmodulated carrier signal is a periodic train of signals. So the pulse
described like the following.

Pulse Train
Where ‘A’ is the unmodulated pulse amplitude

‘τ’ is pulse width

The pulse trains periodic time can be denoted as ‘Ts’

In PAM, the signal amplitudes can be changed based on the modulating signal. Here, the mod
m(t), PAM can be achieved through multiplying the carrier signal with the modulating signal. T
pulses, where the amplitudes of signals can be changed on the modulating signal.

The specific type of PAM can be referred to as normal PAM, as the pulses follow the outline
signal. The pulse train works like a periodic switching signal toward the modulator. Once it is s
then allows the samples of modulating signals to supply toward the output. The pulse train’s
called the sampling period.

Fs = 1/Ts

The natural pulse amplit ude modulat ion equat ion can be described as the following.

PAM Equation

The modulated pulse train can be described like

E(t ) = m(t ) +Up(t )

= a0 m(t ) + a1 m(t ) cos2πnt /Ts + a2 m(t ) cos4πnt /Ts+….

In the above equation, the modulated signal includes modulating signal that is multiplied throu
like ‘a0’a sequence of DSBSC based components which results from the harmonics within th
To stop the low-edge of the DSBSC range from overlapping through the less frequency rang
among these should not below zero. So

W + ∆ = fs – W, wit h ∆ ≥ 0

fs ≥ 2W

This statement is compulsory on the sampling frequency which states that the sampling freq
as a minimum double the maximum frequency within the modulating signal.

If the sampling state is not met the spectra overlap parts, then such overlap is permitted to a
can no longer be divided through filtering. As the maximum frequency components within the
come out within the less frequency fraction of the spectrum, so this effect is known as aliasi

To evade aliasing, first, the modulation signal can be passed throughout an anti-aliasing filter t
spectrum at W value.

The ‘fs’ (sampling frequency) = 2W which is called the Nyquist Frequency due to its wideban
amplitude modulation includes an extremely limited range of applications for direct signal tra
used in instrumentation systems & in ADC for computer interfacing.

How PAM Signal is generated?

The generation of PAM can be done based on the following block diagram of pulse amplitude

The basic type of pulse modulation is known as PAM or Pulse amplitude modulation, where t
sampled at regular intervals & every sample can be made relative to the modulating signal’s
sampling moment.

The above block diagram of PAM shows the PAM signal generation from the sampler where
includes two inputs namely sampling/carrier signal and modulating signal. Therefore the sign
relative to the modulating signal through where the data can be carried. So, this is the PAM si
spectrum of the PAM signal is shown in the above waveforms which include the message &
signals where the carrier train of signals using the waveform plotted within the time field.

Pulse Modulation is mainly used for transmitting analog data like data otherwise continuous s

Circuit Design of Pulse Amplit ude Modulat ion

A PAM is generated from a pure sine wave modulating signal and a square wave generator w
carrier pulse and a PAM modulator circuit.

A sine wave generator is used which is based on the Wien Bridge Oscillator circuit. This can
less sine wave at the output. The circuit is designed such that the amplitude and the frequen
can be adjusted using a potentiometer.

Sine Wave Generator

The frequency can be varied by varying the potentiometer R2 and the amplitude of the
potentiometer R. The frequency of the sine wave generated is given by

F = 1/(2π√R1R2C1C2)

The square wave is generated using op-amp based astable circuit. The op-amp is us
complexity of generating the square wave. The ON time and the OFF time of the pulse can
and the frequency can be adjusted without changing them.
 Square Wave Generator

The time period of the pulses generated depends on the value of the resistance R and the c
period of the op-amp astable circuit is given by

T = 2.2RC

Types of Pulse Amplitude Modulation

Pulse amplitude modulation is categorized into two types

1. Single Polarity PAM

2. Double Polarity PAM

Single polarity PAM is a situation where a suitable fixed DC bias is added to the signal to
pulses are positive.

Double polarity PAM is a situation where the pulses are both positive and negative.

In some pulse amplitude modulations, the amplitude of each pulse can be directly proportion
modulating amplitude once the pulse takes place. In another type of PAM, each signal’s amp
inversely proportional toward instant modulating amplitude once a pulse occurs.
In other systems, every pulse’s intensity mainly depends on specific modulating signal charac
excluding strength like instant phase otherwise frequency.

The capability of using stable amplitude pulses is the main benefit of pulse modulation. As PA
stable amplitude signals, it is not frequently used. Once it is used, then the frequency of pulse
carrier.

It is very simple to produce & demodulate a pulse amplitude modulation. The signal conversi
that can be done toward PAM that is fed to a single input of an AND-gate.

Signals at the sampling frequency are given toward the other i/p of the AND gate, to open it t
required time intervals. After that, the output of the logic gate includes pulses at the sampling
equivalent in amplitude toward the signal voltage at every second, then the signals are passe
network that is in pulse shape, which provides them a plane top.

Demodulation of PAM

For the demodulation of the PAM signal, the PAM signal is fed to the low pass filter. T
eliminates the high-frequency ripples and generates the demodulated signal. This signal is t
inverting amplifier to amplify its signal level to have the demodulated output with almost eq
the modulating signal.

Demodulation of PAM signal

Pulse Amplitude Modulation Circuit using 555 Timer
The pulse amplitude modulation circuit using a 555 timer is shown below. The pulse amplitud
be generated through 555IC by connecting one NPN transistor at the output. The connection
done in the astable mode for producing a pulse train so that samples of the audio signal can b

Pulse Amplitude Modulation Circuit using 555IC

The frequency of this must be a minimum double to the audio signal. Generally, it is 8 KHz as
equal to 3.4 KHz however for enhanced quality this circuit uses 32 KHz. The output of the pu
given to the base terminal of the NPN transistor. This transistors collector terminal is connec
frequency audio signal using a positive clamper that is connected with the C1 capacitor & D1

The level of the audio signal can be shifted with a positive clamper above 0V, So the o/p at th
terminal of the transistor is the pulse amplitude modulation signal. The signal amplitude which
through IC555 changes in accordance with the instant amplitude of the data signal.

Advant ages

The advantages of pulse amplitude modulation include the following.

It is a simple process for both modulation and demodulation.

Transmitter and receiver circuits are simple and easy to construct.
PAM can generate other pulse modulation signals and can carry the message at the same
The data can be transmitted quickly, efficiently, and effectively through usual copper wires
 The FM available is infinite; therefore the development of PAM can be done frequently t
data throughput over accessible networks.
It is the simplest type of modulation
For all types of digital modulation methods, it is the base and simple method for b
demodulation.
For both the transmission as well as reception, it doesn’t require complex circuitry. The c
Transmitter & receiver is very simple.
This modulation can generate other types of pulse modulation signals & also carries th
same time.

Disadvant ages

The disadvantages of pulse amplitude modulation include the following.

Bandwidth should be large for transmission PAM modulation.

Noise will be great.
Pulse amplitude signal varies so the power required for transmission will be more.
For transmitting PAM signal, BW must be large
The frequency changes based on the message or modulating signal because of these
frequency of the signal, intrusions will be there.
For this modulation, noise immunity is low as compared to other types. So it is nearly equiv
Once pulse amplitude signal changes then the required power for transmission is high a
PAM, more power is necessary.

Applicat ions of PAM

It is used in Ethernet communication.

It is used in many micro-controllers for generating control signals.
It is used in Photo-biology.
It is used as an electronic driver for LED lighting.
PAM is used in the Ethernet network which is used to connect two systems & used to tr
these systems. So PAM is used in Ethernet communications.
The control signals can be generated in various microcontrollers by using PAM
This modulation technique is mostly used in digital data transmission & applications chang
Mostly all phone modems which are faster above 300 bit/s utilize QAM (quadrature amplit
This article is all about an overview of pulse amplitude modulation. Furthermore, for any help
projects or doubts regarding this article, you can contact us by commenting in the comment
below.

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One Comment

Mohit Says:
at

Thanks for posting this article. This is very useful for me to understand PAM completely.

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