What is Modulation?

• Basically, it is a process in a communication system. For

communication, we need some fundamental elements. One is the
high-frequency carrier wave and the other is the information that has
to be transmitted (modulating signal) (or) input signal. These are
essential for communication which is done using a device from one
place to another. All in all, we need the help of the communication
system.
• An electronic communication system converts our message
(information) into an electronic signal and the electronic signal carried
out by carrier waves to the destination.
C(t) = Ac sin wct

m(t) = Am sin wmt

Applications of Amplitude Modulation

• Broadcast Transmissions:
• Air-band radio:
• Single sideband:
• Quadrature amplitude modulation:
Amplitude modulation
• Amplitude modulation is a process by which the wave signal is
transmitted by modulating the amplitude of the signal. It is often
called AM and is commonly used in transmitting a piece of
information through a radio carrier wave. Amplitude modulation is
mostly used in the form of electronic communication.
• Currently, this technique is used in many areas of communication
such as in portable two-way radios; citizens band radio, VHF aircraft
radio and in modems for computers. Amplitude modulation is also
used to mention the mediumwave AM radio broadcasting.
Types of Amplitude Modulation

• Types of Amplitude Modulation

• There are three main types of amplitude modulation. They are;
• Double sideband-suppressed carrier modulation (DSB-SC).
• Single Sideband Modulation (SSB).
• Vestigial Sideband Modulation (VSB).
Double-sideband suppressed-carrier
transmission (DSB-SC)
• DSB-SC is transmission in which frequencies produced by amplitude
modulation(AM) are symmetrically spaced above and below the carrier
frequency and the carrier level is reduced to the lowest practical level,
ideally being completely suppressed.
• In the DSB-SC modulation, unlike in AM, the wave carrier is not
transmitted; thus, much of the power is distributed between the side
bands, which implies an increase of the cover in DSB-SC, compared to
AM, for the same power use.
• DSB-SC transmission is a special case of double-sideband reduced carrier
transmission. It is used for radio data systems. This mode is frequently
used in voice communications, especially on High-Frequency bands.
• DSB-SC is basically an amplitude modulation wave without the carrier,
therefore reducing power waste, giving it a 50% efficiency. This is an
increase compared to normal AM transmission (DSB) that has a
maximum efficiency of 33.333%, since 2/3 of the power is in the
carrier which conveys no useful information and both sidebands
containing identical copies of the same information. Single Side Band
Suppressed Carrier (SSB-SC) is 100% efficient.
• The process of suppressing one of the sidebands, along with the
carrier and transmitting a single sideband is called as Single Sideband
Suppressed Carrier system, or simply SSB-SC or SSB. It is plotted as
shown in the following figu
• This SSB-SC or SSB system, which transmits a single sideband has high power, as
the power allotted for both the carrier and the other sideband is utilized in
transmitting this Single Sideband (SSB).
• Hence, the modulation done using this SSB technique is called as SSB Modulation.
• The advantages of SSB modulation are −
• Bandwidth or spectrum space occupied is lesser than AM and DSB signals.
• Transmission of more number of signals is allowed.
• Power is saved.
• High power signal can be transmitted.
• Less amount of noise is present.
• Signal fading is less likely to occur.
• In case of SSB modulation, when a sideband is passed through the
filters, the band pass filter may not work perfectly in practice. As a
result of which, some of the information may get lost.
• Hence to avoid this loss, a technique is chosen, which is a
compromise between DSB-SC and SSB, called as Vestigial Sideband
(VSB) technique. The word vestige which means “a part” from which
the name is derived.
Vestigial Sideband

• Both of the sidebands are not required for the transmission, as it is a

waste. But a single band if transmitted, leads to loss of information.
Hence, this technique has evolved.
• Vestigial Sideband Modulation or VSB Modulation is the process where
a part of the signal called as vestige is modulated, along with one
sideband. A VSB signal can be plotted as shown in the following figure.
•
Along with the upper sideband, a part of the lower sideband is also being
transmitted in this technique. A guard band of very small width is laid on
either side of VSB in order to avoid the interferences. VSB modulation is
mostly used in television transmissions
• Transmission Bandwidth
The transmission bandwidth of VSB modulated wave is represented as −
$$B=( f_{m}+ f_{v}) Hz$$
Where,
fm = Message bandwidth
fv = Width of the vestigial sideband

VSB Modulation − Advantages

• Following are the advantages of VSB −
• Highly efficient.
• Reduction in bandwidth.
• Filter design is easy as high accuracy is not needed.
• The transmission of low frequency components is possible, without difficulty.
• Possesses good phase characteristics
 Disadvantages
• Following are the disadvantages of VSB −
• Bandwidth when compared to SSB is greater.
• Demodulation is complex.
Application
• The most prominent and standard application of VSB is for the
transmission of television signals. Also, this is the most convenient
and efficient technique when bandwidth usage is considered.
Square law detector
• The circuit that generates the AM waves is called as amplitude modulator
and in this post we will discuss two such modulator circuits namely :
• Square Law Modulator
• Switching Modulator
• Both of these circuits use a non-linear elements such as a diode for their
implementation . Both these modulators are low power modulator circuits .
• Square Law Modulator
• Generation of AM Waves using the square law modulator could be
understood in a better way by observing the square law modulator circuit
shown in fig.1 .
• It consists of the following :
• A non-linear device
• A bandpass filter
• A carrier source and modulating signal
• The modulating signal and carrier are connected in series with each
other and their sum V1(t) is applied at the input of the non-linear
device, such as diode, transistor etc.
• Thus,
Switching Modulator
AM demodulator
• The process of extracting an original message signal from the
modulated wave is known as detection or demodulation. The circuit,
which demodulates the modulated wave is known as
the demodulator. The following demodulators (detectors) are used
for demodulating AM wave.
• Square Law Demodulator
• Envelope Detector
Envelope Detector

• Envelope detector is used to detect (demodulate) high level AM wave.

Following is the block diagram of the envelope detector.
Square Law Demodulator
Synchronous Detection of AM
synchronisation techniques
pilot carrier
costa receiver
Product modulator
balance modulator
ring modulator
Synchronous Detection of AM
AM transmitter
• Increase the power level
• Modulation process
• Types of AM Transmitter
• 1) High level Transmitter
• 2)low level Transmitter
AM Receiver

• Requirements of a Receiver
• AM receiver receives AM wave and demodulates it by using the envelope
detector. Similarly, FM receiver receives FM wave and demodulates it by using
the Frequency Discrimination method. Following are the requirements of both
AM and FM receiver.
• It should be cost-effective.
• It should receive the corresponding modulated waves.
• The receiver should be able to tune and amplify the desired station.
• It should have an ability to reject the unwanted stations.
• Demodulation has to be done to all the station signals, irrespective of the
carrier signal frequency.
• AM Receiver
• The AM super heterodyne receiver takes the amplitude modulated wave as an
input and produces the original audio signal as an output. Selectivity is the
ability of selecting a particular signal, while rejecting the others. Sensitivity is
the capacity of detecting RF signal and demodulating it, while at the lowest
power level.
• Radio amateurs are the initial radio receivers. However, they have drawbacks
such as poor sensitivity and selectivity. To overcome these drawbacks, super
heterodyne receiver was invented. The block diagram of AM receiver is shown
in the following figure.
• RF Tuner Section
• The amplitude modulated wave received by the antenna is first
passed to the tuner circuit through a transformer. The tuner circuit is
nothing but a LC circuit, which is also called as resonant or tank
circuit. It selects the frequency, desired by the AM receiver. It also
tunes the local oscillator and the RF filter at the same time.
TRF (tuned radio frequency)receiver