R19EC205 –

ANALOG AND DIGITAL

COMMUNICATION
MODULE 2 FREQUENCY MODULATION

• Introduction: Single tone Frequency Modulation, Narrow

Band Frequency Modulation, Wide Band Frequency
Modulation; FM generation: Direct Method: Varactor Diode;
Indirect Method: Armstrong Method; FM detection: Balanced
Slope Detector, Foster Seeley Method; Comparison of FM &
AM.
ANGLE MODULATION
 FREQUENCY MODULATION
• In amplitude modulation, the amplitude of the carrier signal
varies. Whereas, in Frequency Modulation (FM), the
frequency of the carrier signal varies in accordance with the
instantaneous amplitude of the modulating signal.
• Hence, in frequency modulation, the amplitude and the phase
of the carrier signal remains constant. This can be better
understood by observing the following figures.
• The frequency of the modulated wave increases, when the
amplitude of the modulating or message signal increases.
• Similarly, the frequency of the modulated wave decreases,
when the amplitude of the modulating signal decreases.
• Note that, the frequency of the modulated wave remains
constant and it is equal to the frequency of the carrier signal,
when the amplitude of the modulating signal is zero.
 Carson's bandwidth rule

• Carson's bandwidth rule is often applied to

• transmitters,

• antennas,

• optical sources,

• receivers,

• photodetectors, and other communications system components.

• Carson's rule states that the bandwidth required to transmit an angle
modulated wave is twice the sum of the peak frequency deviation and
highest modulating signal frequency.
Narrow Band Frequency Modulation
Classification of FM generation methods
 Varactor Diode Modulator
• VDM is used for the direct method of FM generation where the carrier
signal is directly varied by the modulating signal.
• A varactor diode is a semiconductor diode whose junction capacitance
varies linearly with the applied bias and the varactor diode must be
reverse biased.
• The varactor diode is reverse biased by the negative dc source –Vb.
• The modulating AF voltage appears in series with the negative supply
voltage. Hence, the voltage applied across the varactor diode varies
proportionately with the modulating voltage.
• This will vary the junction capacitance of the varactor diode.
• So when the capacitance of diode changes, a corresponding change
will occur in the frequency of oscillation also.
• RFC and Capacitor Cb act as filters which transmit only AF variation
to the varactor diode and block HFRF voltage from reaching the AF
stage.
• This method of FM generation is direct because the oscillator
frequency will vary directly by the modulating signal and the
magnitude of the frequency changes is proportional to the amplitude
of the modulating signal voltage.
• It is used for automatic frequency control and remote tuning.
• The varactor diode appears in parallel with the oscillator tuned circuit.
• Hence the oscillator frequency will change with change in varactor
diode capacitance and FM wave is produced.
• The RFC will connect the dc and modulating signal to the varactor
diode but it offers a very high impedance at high oscillator frequency.
• Therefore, the oscillator circuit is isolated from the dc bias and
modulating signal.
• Direct FM - in this type of angle modulation, the frequency
of the carrier is varied directly by the modulating signal. This
means, an instantaneous frequency deviation is directly
proportional to amplitude of the modulating signal.
• Indirect FM - in this type of angle modulation, FM is
obtained by phase modulation of the carrier. Instantaneous
phase of the carrier is directly proportional to the amplitude
of the modulating signal.
 Armstrong method (indirect)
• The main drawback of direct method is that higher order stability in carrier
frequency is difficult because carrier generation is directly affected by message
signal.
• The direct methods of generation of FM, LC oscillators are to be used. The crystal
oscillator cannot be used. The LC oscillators are not stable enough for the
communication or broadcast purpose. Thus, the direct methods cannot be used for
the broadcast applications.
• In FM, β<<1 - NBFM; β>>1 - WBFM
• In Indirect method, to overcome the above drawback, Crystal oscillator is used for
getting higher order stability of carrier signal with high frequency.
coswct 1 MHz
100MHz

1.7 MHz

sinwct
Buffer amplifier provides electrical impedance transformation from one circuit to another and helps
to prevent the signal source from being affected by whatever currents that the load may be
produced with.
Foster Seeley Method
Balanced Slope Detector