Amplitude Modulation

Kamanashis Saha
L e c t u r e r, D e p a r t m e n t o f E E E ,
E a s t We s t U n i v e r s i t y, B a n g l a d e s h
 Content
• Continuous Wave Modulation
• Amplitude Modulation
• Double Sideband Full Carrier Modulation (Conventional AM)
• Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSB-SC) Modulation
• Single Sideband Modulation (DSB)
• Demodulation – Envelope and Coherent Detection
• COSTAS Receiver
• Vestigial Sideband Modulation

Amplitude Modulation 2
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Introduction
❑ Information bearing signal is referred to as baseband signal. The term baseband used to
designate the frequencies band representing the original signal as delivered by a source of
information.
❑ The proper use of transmission channel requires need a shift of the range of baseband
frequencies into other frequency ranges suitable for transmission and a corresponding shift
back to original frequency range after reception.
❑ As example, A radio system must operate with frequencies of 30KHz or upwards, whereas the
baseband signal usually contains the frequencies in the audio frequency range.
❑ A shift of the range of frequencies in signal is accomplished by Modulation, which is defined
as the process by which some characteristics of the carrier signal vary in accordance with a
modulating wave(signal).
❑ The baseband signal is referred to as modulating wave and the result of the modulation
process is referred to as modulated wave.
❑ A common form of carrier signal is sinusoidal waves – Continuous-Wave Modulation Process.
3
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Continuous Wave Modulation

▪ Amplitude Modulation: The amplitude of the sinusoidal
carrier signal is varied in proportion to the amplitude of
the incoming message signal.
▪ Angle Modulation: The angle of the sinusoidal carrier
signal is varied in accordance to the incoming message
signal.

Components of Continuous Wave

Modulation systems: (a) Transmitter
(b) Reciever
4
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Amplitude Modulation
Amplitude Modulation (AM) is defined as a process
in which the amplitude of the carrier wave c(t) is
varied about a mean value, linearly with the
baseband signal m(t).

Illustrating Amplitude Modulation Process (a)

Baseband Signal m(t) (b) AM wave for 𝑘𝑎 𝑚 𝑡 < 1 for
all t (c) AM wave for 𝑘𝑎 𝑚 𝑡 > 1 for some t

An amplitude modulated (AM) wave in it’s most general form:

𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 1 + 𝑘𝑎 𝑚 𝑡 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑘𝑎 𝑚 𝑡 𝐴𝑐 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡

▪ A sinusoidal carrier wave 𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 [𝐴𝑐 = 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒, 𝑓𝑐 = Carrier frequency]
▪ Information bearing message signal = 𝑚 𝑡 [Baseband Signal]
▪ 𝑘𝑎 = A constant = Amplitude sensitivity of modulator [unit volt-1]
5

Requirements of Envelope Matching
𝐤𝐚𝐦 𝐭 < 𝟏 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭
• The amplitude of k a m t must be less than unity for
all values of t.
• It ensures the value of 1 + k a m t always positive.
• As envelope is a positive function, we can express the
envelope the AM signal s(t) as 1 + k a m t .
• When amplitude sensitivity k a of the modulator is
large enough to make the 𝑘𝑎 m t > 1 for any t, the
carrier becomes overmodulated, results a phase
reversal whenever 1 + k a m t crosses zero and
modulated signal exhibits envelope distortion.
• The absolute maximum value of k a m t multiplied by
100 is referred to as Percentage Modulation.
Amplitude Modulation
FR
𝒇𝑪 ≫ 𝐖
• The frequency carrier 𝑓𝑐 is much greater than the
highest frequency component W of message signal
m(t).
• W is called message bandwidth.
• If this condition is not satisfied, the envelope can not
be visualized and detected satisfactorily.
The power of AM Radio signal
plotted against frequency. 𝑓𝑐 is
the carrier frequency and 𝑓𝑚 is
the maximum modulating
frequency. If a 900 kHz carrier
signal is modulated by a 1 kHz
audio signal, there will be
components at 899 kHz and 901
kHz as well as 900 kHz in the
generated frequency spectrum.
6
 Fourier Transform of For Positive frequencies, the For Negative frequencies,
the Amplitude spectrum of AM lying above the the upper sideband is
carrier frequency 𝑓𝑐 is referred represented by the portion
Modulated (AM) The transmission to as upper sideband, whereas below −𝑓𝑐 and the lower
Wave Bandwidth 𝐵𝑇 for the symmetric portion below 𝑓𝑐 sideband by the portion
each sideband of is referred to as lower sideband. above −𝑓𝑐 .
AM wave is,
𝐵𝑇 = 2𝑊 The condition 𝑓𝑐 > 𝑊 ensures that both sidebands don’t overlap.
𝐴𝑐 𝑘 𝑎 𝐴𝑐
𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑀 𝑊𝑎𝑣𝑒, 𝑆 𝑓 = 𝛿 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 + 𝛿 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐
2 2

The spectrum of the

message signal m(t) for
the negative frequencies
extending from 0 to –W
become visible and
measurable for positive
frequencies.

The baseband signal m(t) is band-limited to the interval −W < f < W. The figure shows the spectrum of Baseband Signal and AM wave for
the case fc > W. This spectrum consists of two delta function weighted by the factor Ac /2 and occurring at ∓fc and two versions of baseband
signal shifted by ∓fc frequency and scaled by Ac .k a /2 in amplitude. AM produces a signal with power concentrated at the carrier frequency
and two adjacent sidebands. Each sideband is equal in bandwidth to that of the modulating signal, and is a mirror image of the other.

Modulation Index,
Sideband and
Carrier
Power
▪ In conventional AM, carrier signal does not carry
any information. So, the carrier power is wasted.
▪ The total power is the sum of carrier power
(wasted) and sideband power (useful). Hence,
the power efficiency, 𝜂 is:
𝑃𝑐 = 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐴cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐴2 Τ2
𝑃𝑠 = 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑚(𝑡) cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 =
▪ For special case of tone modulation (one single-
frequency component exists in m(t)),
Modulation Index
▪ Modulation index is defined as : 𝜇 = 𝐴𝑚 Τ𝐴 , where 𝐴𝑚 is peak
amplitude (positive or negative) of message signal m(t) and 𝐴 is
the carrier amplitude after amplitude modulation.
▪ For the viability of demodulation of AM by an envelope detector
▪
(no phase reversal occurs), 0 ≤ 𝜇 ≤ 1 is must required.
The minimum carrier amplitude required for the viability of
envelope detection is 𝐴𝑚 .
▪ When 𝐴𝑚 > 𝐴 means 𝜇 > 1, overmodulation occurs and the option
of envelope detection is not viable anymore.
▪ Synchronous or coherent detection is required for overmodulation.
𝜇2
▪ Hence, 𝜂 = × 100% with the condition 0 ≤ 𝜇 ≤ 1 .
2+𝜇2
▪ 𝜂 increases monotonically with 𝜇 and 𝜂𝑚𝑎𝑥 occurs at 𝜇=1, for which
𝜂𝑚𝑎𝑥 =33%.
▪ For tone modulation, only one-third of the transmitted power is used
for carrying message, even for best condition. For practical signals,
efficiency is worse – 25% or lower than that.

Virtues and Limitations of AM
Virtues
• AM is the oldest and simplest method of performing
modulation.
• In transmitter: A switching modulator is a simple
nonlinear device which applies the combined sum of
message signal and carrier wave to a diode, with the
carrier amplitude large enough to swing across the
characteristic curve of the diode. The AM could is
extracted by using a band-pass filter.
• In receiver: Envelope detector is a simple, but highly
efficient demodulator, consists of a diode connected
in series with the parallel combination of capacitor
and resistive load. The demodulator output developed
across the load resistor is nearly the same as the
envelope of the incoming AM wave.
Amplitude Modulation
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Limitations
• AM is wasteful of power.
• The carrier signal is totally independent of the
information-bearing message signal. So, the carrier
wave transmission results in waste of power. Only a
fraction of total transmitted power is affected by m(t).
• AM is wasteful of bandwidth.
• The upper and lower sidebands are uniquely related
to each other by virtue of their symmetry about the
carrier frequency. So, transmission of only one
sideband is enough to detect the magnitude and
phase spectra of either of them.
• AM requires a transmission bandwidth equal to twice
the message bandwidth.
9
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Demodulation of AM Signals
Rectifier Detector ▪ The DC term 𝐴Τ𝜋 is blocked by a capacitor to give the
desired output 𝑚(𝑡)Τ𝜋
▪ If an AM signal is applied to a diode and a resistor ▪ The output is doubled by using a full-wave rectifier.
circuit, the negative part of the AM wave will be
suppressed.
▪ The output across the resistor is a half-wave rectified
version of the AM wave. The rectified output 𝑣𝑅 is:

▪ When 𝑣𝑅 is applied across a low-pass filter of cut-off

frequency B Hz, the output signal is (𝐴 + 𝑚(𝑡))Τ𝜋 and
all other frequencies in 𝑣𝑅 higher than B Hz are
suppressed.
Rectifier Detector for AM
Amplitude Modulation 10

Envelope
Detector
During each positive cycle, the capacitor
charges up to the peak voltage of the input
signal and then decays slowly with the time
constant RC till the next positive cycle.
Figure: Envelope Detector for AM
▪ Envelope detector’s output follows the envelope of the modulated wave.
▪ On the positive cycle of the input signal, the diode conducts and the
capacitor charges up to the peak voltage of the input signal.
▪ As the input signal falls below this peak value, the diode is cut-off, as the
capacitor voltage (which is very nearly to the peak voltage) is greater than
input signal voltage, causing the diode to open.
▪ The capacitor now discharges through the resistor R at a slow rate with a
time constant RC.
▪ During the next positive cycle, the same pattern repeats.
▪ When the input signal voltage becomes greater than capacitor voltage, the
diode conducts again. The capacitor charges up to the peak of this new
cycle. The capacitor discharges slowly during the cut-off period, thus
changing the capacitor voltage very slightly.
▪ The output voltage thus closely follows envelope of the input signal.
▪ Capacitor discharge between two successive positive peaks cause a ripple
of frequency 𝜔𝑐 in the output. This ripple can be reduced by increasing
time constant RC so that capacitor discharges very little between two
positive peaks (𝑅𝐶 ≫ 1Τ𝜔𝑐 ). On the other hand, capacitor voltage can’t
follow the envelope of RC becomes too large.
▪ Thus RC should be large enough compared to 1Τ𝜔𝑐 , but should be small
compared to 1Τ2𝜋𝐵 , where B is the highest frequency component in m(t).
▪ The envelope-detector output is 𝑣𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐴 + 𝑚 𝑡 with a ripple of
frequency 𝜔𝑐 .
▪ The dc term A is blocked by a capacitor or a RC high-pass filter
▪ The ripple can be reduced further by another low-pass RC filter..
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Linear Modulation Schemes

Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSBSC) Modulation

• Only the upper and lower sidebands are transmitted, no carrier signal is
transmitted
• Suppressing the carrier signal to save transmitter power.
Linear modulation is defined by:
Single Sideband (DSB) Modulation 𝑠 𝑡 = 𝑠𝐼 𝑡 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 − 𝑠𝑄 𝑡 sin 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
• No carrier frequency is transmitted
• Either upper or lower sideband is transmitted
𝑠𝐼 𝑡 = In-phase component of modulated wave
𝑠𝑄 𝑡 = Quadrature component of modulated
Vestigial Sideband (VSB) Modulation wave
• Only a vestige (trace) of one sideband and a corresponding modified 𝑠𝐼 𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑄 𝑡 are low-pass signals that are
version of the other sideband are transmitted
linearly related to the message signal m(t).

Amplitude Modulation 12
Double Sideband Suppressed General form of DSBSC modulated wave is:
The carrier in AM
Carrier (DSBSC) 𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐴𝑐 𝑚(𝑡)cos(2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡) makes up at least 66%
Modulation 𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝐷𝑆𝐵𝑆𝐶 𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑊𝑎𝑣𝑒: of the signal’s power but
𝐴𝑐 it doesn’t contain any
𝑆 𝑓 = 𝑀 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑀 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 part of the original
2
message and is
Figure: Spectrum of only needed for
baseband signal and tuning. So, DSBSC
DSBSC modulated offers a substantial
wave. The transmission power saving over
bandwidth required by AM by not sending
DSBSC modulation is the carrier wave
When the message the same as the AM which is it’s
signal is a simple which is 2W. main advantage.
sinewave, DSBSC wave
consists of two
sinewaves: One is with
a frequency equal to the
sum of the carrier and
message frequencies
and other one is with a
frequency equal to the
difference between the Figure: Baseband signal, DSBSC modulated wave and block diagram of product modulator. The modulated signal
carrier and message undergoes a phase reversal whenever the message signal crosses zero. Therefore, the envelope of modulated
frequencies signal is different than the message signal unlike the case of AM.
Coherent Coherent Detection/ Synchronous Demodulation
Recovery of baseband signal m(t) from DSBSC wave s(t):

Detection ▪ Multiplying s(t) with a locally generated sinusoidal

signal, which is exactly coherent/synchronous, in both
frequency and phase, with carrier c(t) used in product
modulator to generate s(t).
▪ The low-pass filtering the product.
Figure: Coherent detector for demodulating DSB-SC modulated wave

Coherent Detection Method:

❑ Consider a local oscillator signal of the same frequency but
an arbitrary phase difference ∅, w.r.t. c(t).
❑ If the oscillation signal is 𝐴′𝑐 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝜑), then the output
of the product modulator is :
𝑣 𝑡 = 𝐴′𝑐 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝜑 𝑠(𝑡)
= 𝐴′𝑐 𝐴𝑐 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝜑 𝑚 𝑡 ❑ In the spectrum V(f) of product modulator output, m(t)
1 1 is bandlimited in the interval −𝑊 ≤ 𝑓 ≤ 𝑊. So, 1st term
= 𝐴′𝑐 𝐴𝑐 cos 4𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝜑 𝑚 𝑡 + 𝐴′𝑐 𝐴𝑐 cos 𝜑 𝑚 𝑡 is removed by applying a low-pass filter with the cut-off
2 2
❑ In the above equation, the 1st term represents a DSB-SC wave frequency greater than W, but less than 2𝑓𝑐 − 𝑊.
1
with frequency 2𝑓𝑐 and the 2nd term is proportional to m(t). ❑ At the filter’s output: 𝑣𝑜 (𝑡) = 𝐴′𝑐 𝐴𝑐 cos 𝜑 𝑚 𝑡 .
2
Coherent
Detection
(contd.)
In practice, phase error varies
randomly with time, due to
random variation in
communication channel which is
undesirable. So, provision must
be made to maintain local
oscillator in the receiver in
perfect synchronous, in both
frequency and phase, with the
carrier signal at the transmitter.
Variation of Demodulated Signal with Phase Error
▪ The demodulated signal 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 is proportional to message signal, m(t)
when phase error ∅ is constant.
▪ The amplitude of the demodulated signal is maximum when 𝜑 = 0, and it
𝜋
is minimum (zero) when 𝜑 = ± 2 .
𝜋
▪ The zero modulated signal, which occurs at 𝜑 = ± 2 , represents
quadrature null effect of the coherent detector.
▪ Thus phase error ∅ in local oscillator causes the detector’s output
attenuated by a factor cos 𝜑. As long as ∅ is constant, the detector
provides an undistorted version of original message signal m(t).
COSTAS receiver is a practical
synchronous receiver, suitable
for demodulating DSB-SC
modulated wave.
The system complexity is the price must be paid for
suppressing carrier to save the transmitter power.
Costas A COSTAS receiver consists of two coherent detectors supplied with same input
signal, namely, the incoming DSB-SC wave 𝐴𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 𝑚(𝑡) but with individual
Receiver local oscillator signals that are in phase quadrature with respect to each other.

▪ The local oscillator frequency is adjusted to the same as the carrier frequency
▪ The detector in the upper path is referred to as the In-phase coherent detector or I-channel.
▪ The lower path detector is referred to as Quadrature-phase coherent detector or Q-channel.
▪ Two detectors are coupled together to form a negative feedback system designed in such a
way that the local oscillator remains synchronous with carrier wave.

➢ Consider the local oscillator signal is of the same phase of carrier

wave 𝐴𝑐 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 . Under this condition, the I-channel contains the
desired demodulated signal m(t), whereas Q-channel output is zero.
➢ Suppose the local oscillator phase drifts a bit from it’s proper value by
a small angle ∅ radians. In this situation, I-channel output will
remain unchanged but there will some signal appears at Q-channel
proportional to 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑 ≅ 𝜑 for small ∅.
➢ The I and Q channel outputs will have the same polarity for one
direction of local oscillator phase drift and opposite polarity for
opposite direction of phase drift.
➢ Thus, by combining the I and Q- outputs in a phase discriminator, a
DC control signal is obtained that automatically corrects for local
phase errors in a voltage-control-oscillator (VCO).
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Single Sideband Modulation

❑ In single sideband modulation, only the upper or lower sideband
is transmitted.
❑ Such SSM wave can be generated by two stages:
▪ The first stage is product modulator, which generates a DSB-SC modulated wave.
▪ The second stage is a band-pass filter, which is designed to pass one of the sidebands of this modulated signal
and suppress the other.
Implication of the SSB modulated
wave generation is possible if the
message signal has a energy gap
centered at the origin, shown is Fig:
(a). The spectrum of message
signal m(t) with energy gap of
width 2𝑓𝑎 . This requirement is
naturally satisfied by the voice
signals whose energy gap is about
600 Hz wide (extending from -300
Hz to 300 Hz). Thus, assuming that
the upper sideband is retained, the
spectrum of SSB modulated wave is
shown in Fig: (b). 17

Single sideband Modulation (SSB)
The design of Band-pass Filter
• The desired sideband lies inside the passband of filter.
• The unwanted sideband lies inside the stopband of the
filter.
• The filter’s transition band, which separates the passband
from the stopband, must be twice the lowest frequency
component of the message signal.
• This kind of frequency discrimination usually requires
highly selective filters, which can be realized by crystal
resonators in practice.
Phase distortion is tolerable in voice communication,
cause human ears are relatively insensitive to phase
distortion. But this kind of waveform distortion is
totally unacceptable in the transmission of music
and video signals.
FR
Demodulation of SSB Wave
• A coherent detector is used which multiplies the SSB
modulated wave by a locally generated carrier and then
low-pass filters the product.
• This demodulation method requires the perfect
synchronism between the oscillator in the coherent
detector and the oscillator used to supply the carrier
wave in the transmitter.
• This requirement is fulfilled in one of following two ways:
❖ A low power pilot carrier is sent in addition to selected
sideband.
❖ A highly stable oscillator, tuned to the same frequency
as the carrier frequency, is used in the receiver.
• In the second method, phase error ∅ is inevitable in the
local oscillator output w.r.t. the carrier frequency used to
generate the incoming SSB wave which cause a phase
distortion in the demodulated signal.
18
 FR
Vestigial Sideband (VSB) Modulation
Vestigial sideband modulation (VSB), which is also known as asymmetric sideband
system, is a compromise between DSB and SSB. It inherits the advantages of both
SSB and DSB, but avoids their disadvantages at a low cost.
▪ In VSB, one of the sidebands is partially suppressed and a vestige of the other
sideband is transmitted to compensate for that suppression.
▪ First, a DSB-SC modulated wave is generated and it is passed through a band-pass
filter.

▪ The band-pass filter is designed

in a special way that distinguishes
the VSB from SSB modulation.

▪ Assuming a vestige of lower sideband is transmitted, the frequency response H(f)

of the band-pass filter is normalized so that we have 𝐻 𝑓 = 1Τ2 at the carrier
frequency 𝑓𝑐 .
▪ As the cut-off portion of H(f) around the 𝑓𝑐 is showing odd symmetry, following
two conditions are satisfied inside the transition interval 𝑓𝑐 − 𝑓𝑣 ≤ 𝑓 ≤ 𝑓𝑐 + 𝑓𝑣 .
1. The sum of the magnitude responses 𝐻(𝑓) at any two frequencies equally
distanced from 𝑓𝑐 is unity.
Magnitude Response of VSB Filter H(f), only
2. The phase responses arg(H(f)) is linear. the positive frequency-portion is shown
𝐻 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 + 𝐻 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 = 1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 − 𝑊 ≤ 𝑓 ≤ 𝑊 19
VSB Modulation The VSB modulated wave is expressed in time domain:

(Contd.) The role of the quadrature

where the plus sign corresponds to the transmission of vestige component 𝑚′ 𝑡 determined
of the upper sideband and the minus sign corresponds the by 𝐻𝑄 (𝑓) is to interfere the
transmission of vestige of the lower sideband with the in-phase component
The signal 𝑚′ 𝑡 in the quadrature component of the s(t) is obtained by passing m(t) so as to partially reduce
the message signal m(t) through a filter whose frequency response 𝐻𝑄 (𝑓) satisfies power in one of the sidebands
the following requirement: and retail simply the vestige
of other sideband, as desired.
𝐻𝑄 𝑓 = 𝑗[𝐻 𝑓 − 𝑓𝑐 − 𝐻 𝑓 + 𝑓𝑐 ] 𝑓𝑜𝑟 − 𝑊 ≤ 𝑓 ≤ 𝑊

▪ The baseband signal can be recovered exactly by a synchronous detector in conjunction

The bandwidth with an appropriate equalizer filter 𝐻0 𝑓 .
of the VSB signal ▪ If a large carrier is transmitted along with the VSB signal, the baseband signal
is typically 25 to can be recovered by an envelope (rectifier) detector.
33% higher than
that of the SSB Transmission bandwidth for each VSB modulation sideband is: Homework: Study of
signals. Equalizer Filter for the
𝐵𝑇 = 𝑊 + 𝑓𝑣 Synchronous
where 𝑊 is the message bandwidth and 𝑓𝑣 is the width of vestige sideband. demodulation of VSB
modulated wave and
Example: 4.8
 Television Signals
The modulation format used to transmit the video signals characterized by a TV system are
influenced by two factors:
▪ The video signal exhibits a large bandwidth and significant low-frequency content that suggest
the use of VSB modulation.
▪ The circuitry used in the receiver end should be simple and inexpensive which suggest the use
of envelope detection and requires the addition of a carrier to the VSB modulated wave.

The transmitted signal not quite VSB modulated in a
commercial TV broadcasting. The reason is that the
power level is high at the transmitter and a VSB filter
is inserted in each receiver, where the power levels are
low. The overall performance is the same as
conventional VSB modulation, except for some wasted
power and bandwidth.
The figure (a) shows the idealized
spectrum of transmitted tv signal.
The upper sideband, 25% of lower
sideband and the picture carrier are
transmitted. The frequency response
of VSB filter to do the required
spectrum shaping is shown in fig. (b).

The channel bandwidth used for TV broadcasting in North America is 6 MHz. According to figure, the picture
and sound carrier frequencies are at 55.25 MHz and 59.75 MHz respectively. The information content of the tv
signal lies in the baseband spectrum extending from 1.25 MHz below the picture carrier to 4.5 MHz above it.
Waveform Distortion ▪ If an envelope detection is applied to a VSB modulated wave plus carrier
due to Envelope signal, it originates waveform distortion in the video signal recovered at
the detector’s output.
Detection ▪ This distortion is produced due to the quadrature component of VSB
modulated wave.

If a carrier signal 𝐴𝑐 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 and a modulation percentage 𝑘𝑎 is added to a VSB modulated wave,
1 1 1 1
𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐴𝐶 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝐴𝑐 𝑘𝑎 𝑚 𝑡 cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝐴𝑐 𝑘𝑎 𝑚′ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 = 𝐴𝐶 (1 + 𝑘𝑎 𝑚 𝑡 ) cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝐴𝑐 𝑘𝑎 𝑚′ 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡
2 2 2 2

Then the envelope detector’s output a(t) is expressed as:

The distortion is contributed by m’(t), which is

responsible for the quadrature component of thee
incoming VSB modulated wave. The distortion can
be reduced by two methods:
▪ Reducing the percentage modulation to reduce the
amplitude sensitivity/modulation index.
▪ Increasing the width of vestigial sideband to
reduce m’(t).
In commercial TV broadcasting, the
width of vestigial sideband is maintained
to 0.75 MHz or one-sixth of the full
sideband to keep the distortion within
tolerable limit when the percentage
modulation is nearly 100.
Thank You.
Kamanashis Saha

Kamanashis.saha@ewubd.edu
https://www.ewubd.edu/