Chapter-Two

Amplitude Modulation
Objectives
After completing this chapter, the student will be able to:
⮚ Describe the theory of amplitude modulation techniques
⮚ Compute the modulation index of AM
⮚ Draw an AM, DSBSC, SSB and VSB signals
⮚ Analyze and determine through computation the carrier power and sideband
power in AM and its variants
⮚Solve problems involving frequency components, power, current and bandwidth
calculations
⮚ Understand the differences between AM and its variants
⮚ Explain different approaches for the generation of AM, DSBSC, SSB and VSB
signals.
 Modulation is the process of varying any of
the three characteristics as the Amplitude,
Frequency or the Phase of a carrier signal
with respect to the modulating signal.

Every electrical signal possesses basic

characteristics such as Amplitude, Frequency,
and Phase. We need to change the characteristics of
the signal to make it more appropriate for the
transmission
Types of Modulation
Modulation is divided into two types:
•Analog Modulation
•Digital modulation
Analog modulation is further divided into three types:
•Amplitude modulation
•Frequency modulation
•Phase modulation
Whereas, Digital modulation is further divided into three types:
Pulse Amplitude modulation (PAM)
Pulse width modulation (PWM)
Pulse code modulation (PCM)
 Block Diagram of Modulation

Need of Modulation
We need modulation because of the following reasons:
• It reduces the height of the antenna used for the transmission.
• It increases the range of communication.
• Using Modulation avoids the mixing of the signal.
• Modulation makes multiplexing of the signal possible.
Amplitude Modulation
Amplitude modulation is a type of analog modulation in which the
amplitude of the high-frequency carrier signal is changing with
respect to the instantaneous amplitude of the modulating signal.
V
m(t) = Vmsinωmt

c(t) = Vcsinωc t

mam(t) = Vc + m(t)
Mathematical Representation
Suppose the modulating signal is a sinusoidal signal, it can be
represented as:
m(t) = Vmsinωmt
where:
Vm = Peak amplitude of the modulating signal
ωm = 2πfm
fm = Frequency of modulating signal
Similarly, the carrier signal is represented as;
c(t) = Vc sinωct
Where:
Vc = Peak amplitude of the carrier signal
ωc = 2πfc
fc = Frequency of carrier signal
The Amplitude modulated voltage is represented as:
mam(t) = Vc + m(t)
= Vc + Vm sinωmt
= Vc + mVc sinωmt [Modulation index m = Vm/Vc ]
mam(t) = Vc(1+ msinωmt)
 
The instantaneous voltage of the resulting amplitude modulated
wave is
VAM = mam(t)sinθ = mam(t)sinωct = Vc(1+ msinωmt) sinωct
= Vc sinωc t + (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t

Using trigonometric identity 2 sinA sinB = cos (A-B) - cos (A+B)

Amplitude of an AM wave
Frequency Spectrum of the AM Wave
The representation of frequency content of a signal using a graph is called spectrum.
The mathematical equation of AM modulated wave;
VAM = mam(t)sinθ = mam(t)sinωct = Vc(1+ msinωmt) sinωct
= Vc sinωc t + (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t
Where:
Vc sinωct  = Carrier signal
(mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t  = Message spectrum shifted ωc to the left.
(mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t  = Message spectrum shifted ωc to the right.
Thus we get the spectrum of AM as follows:

Frequency spectrum of an AM wave

Bandwidth = (fc + fm) – (fc - fm)

Bandwidth = 2fm
Time Domain Representation of the AM Wave

To calculate the index of modulation from the above waveform:

Vm = (Vmax - Vmin)/2
Vc = Vmax - Vm = Vmax - (Vmax - Vmin)/2
= (Vmax + Vmin)/2
We know that modulation index
m = Vm/Vc
= ((Vmax - Vmin)/2)/ ((Vmax + Vmin)/2)
= (Vmax - Vmin)/ (Vmax + Vmin)
It is necessary to understand and use the power relations in the AM wave.
Power Relations in the AM Wave
The mathematical equation of AM modulated wave is:
VAM = Vc sinωc t + (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t
So the total power in the modulated wave will be
PAM = (V2carr/R + V2LSB/R + V2USB/R)rms
Where all three voltages are rms values and can be expressed in terms of their
peak values using √2 factor,
Pc = V2carr/R= (Vc /√2)2/R = V2c /2R

PLSB = PUSB = V2SB/R = ((mVc /2)√2))2/R = m2/4. V2c /2R

PAM = V2c /2R + m2/4. V2c /2R + m2/4. V2c /2R

= V2c /2R (1 + m2/2)

= Pc (1 + m2/2)
PAM /Pc = 1 + m2/2 [ when m = 1]
Pc = PAM / (1 + m2/2) = 2/3xPAM
 Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSBSC) Technique
The AM signal is given by
VAM = Vc sinωc t + (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t
Thus the AM signal has three components, namely, unmodulated carrier, LSB and
USB. The message to be transmitted is present only in LSB and USB. Further, if we
consider the power relation given by
PAM /Pc = 1 + m2/2
PAM = Pc (1 + m2/2)
Pc = PAM / (1 + m2/2)
Let the modulation index be unity i.e., m = 1.
Pc = 2/3xPAM
Thus two-third of total AM power is utilized for the transmission of carrier
component
A significant saving in power requirement can achieved by suppressing the carrier
before transmission.
This thought process led to the first variant of basic AM termed as Double Sideband
Suppressed Carrier (DSBSC) technique.
The instantaneous voltage of DSBSC may be related to that of AM as
VDSBSC = VAM -Vc sinωc t = (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t
Frequency Spectrum and Power Relation in the DSBSC Wave
The instantaneous voltage of DSBSC may be related to that of AM as
VDSBSC = (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t
Thus, the equation of DSBSC wave contains two terms, namely, LSB and USB.
The bandwidth required for DSBSC is LSB USB
BDSBSC = (fc + fm) – (fc - fm) = 2fm
fm fm  
The total power in the DSBSC modulated wave fc - fm fc   fc +fm
will be
PDSBSC = V2LSB/R + V2USB/R

PLSB = PUSB = V2SB/R = ((mVc /2)√2))2/R = m2/4. V2c /2R

PDSBSC = m2/4. V2c /2R + m2/4. V2c /2R

= Pc (m2/2) [Pc = V2c /2R]

This equation relates the total power in the DSBSC modulated wave to the
unmodulated carrier power.
 Single Sideband (SSB/SSBSC) Technique

The basic version of AM is modulated by suppressing the carrier component to

yield DSBSC technique. From this technique, we find
⮚ The BW requirement of DSBSC is still same as that of AM.
⮚Both the sidebands, namely, LSB and USB carry the same information.
Hence saving in BW can be achieved by suppressing one of the sideband, this
technique is called the SSBSC or refers to SSB.
Since only one of the sidebands is selected for transmission, SSB needs a BW equal
to that of message. That is,
BSSB = fm 
Where fm is maximum frequency component in the message.
The DSBSC signal is given by
VDSBSC = (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t
If LSB is chosen for transmission in case of SSB, then
VSSB = (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t
Alternatively, if USB is chosen for transmission, then
VSSB = - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm)t
Compared to AM and DSBSC, SSB significantly saves power, since carrier and
one sideband are suppressed and saves BW.
 Frequency Spectrum in the SSB Wave

One way of viewing SSB is DSBSC followed by band pass filtering, as illustrated in
bellow Figure:

VAM DSBSC Modulation Bandpass Filter

DSBSC SSB
Vc

We have, VDSBSC = (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t
Now for generating the SSB, the DSBSC is passed through the bandpass filter.
Depending the cut-ff frequencies, either LSB or USB comes out of the
bandpass filter. So instantaneous voltage of SSB is given by
VSSB = (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t = - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm)t

SSB=USB SSB=LSB

fc - fm fc  fc + fm fc - fm fc   fc - fm

The BW required for SSB is : BSSB = (fc + fm) – fc = fc – (fc - fm) = fm
 Power Relation in the SSB Wave

The total power in the SSB modulated wave will be

PSSB = V2LSB/R = V2USB/R
Where all the voltages are rms values and R is the resistance in which the power is
dissipated.
PLSB = PUSB = V2SB/R = ((mVc /2)√2))2/R = m2/4. V2c /2R
Substituting the value in above equation, we have
PSSB = m2/4. V2c /2R

= Pc (m2/4) [Pc = V2c /2R]

This equation relates the total power in the SSB modulated wave to the
unmodulated carrier power.
 Vestigial Sideband (VSB) Modulation Technique
To overcome the limitations associated with SSB, we use VSB modulation
technique. The limitations are:
⮚ Practical difficulty in suppressing
⮚ In many cases the message has information starting from zero frequency and
spread up to a maximum of Hz.

SSB=USB SSB=LSB

fc - fm fc  fc + fm fc - fm fc   fc + fm

The DSBSC signal is given by

VDSBSC = (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t
If LSB is wanted sideband in case of VSB, the instantaneous voltage of the VSB signal
may be expressed as
VVSB = (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t + F( - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t)
Alternatively, If USB is wanted sideband in case of VSB, the instantaneous voltage of the
VSB signal may be given by
VVSB = - (mVc/2) cos (ωc + ωm )t + F (mVc/2) cos (ωc - ωm)t
Where F represents the fraction. The power and BW requirements in case of VSB will
be slightly more than SSB, but less than DSB.
Advantages of AM 
•AM transmitters have a simple design.
•AM receivers are also simple. Envelope detectors are the simplest
receivers.
•Due to high power, AM signals have a long range of transmission.
•The AM signal has low Bandwidth.
Disadvantages of AM
•Because the information is stored in the amplitude of the modulated
signal, which is affected by the noise in the medium.
•AM need high power for its transmission.
Applications of AM
•Because of its long range, it can be used for Radio broadcasting.
•It can be used for Television broadcasting.
AM Modulators/Demodulators
 AM Modulators
Let the modulating and carrier signals be denoted as m(t) and c(t) respectively. These
two signals are applied as inputs to the summer (adder) block. This summer block
produces an output, which is the addition of the modulating and the carrier signal.
Mathematically, we can write it as
V1 (t)=m(t)+ AC cos(2π fc t)

This signal V1 (t) is applied as an input to a nonlinear device like diode.

 AM Demodulators
Envelope detector is used to detect (demodulate) high level AM wave. Following is the block
diagram of the envelope detector. This envelope detector consists of a diode and low pass
filter. Here, the diode is the main detecting element. Hence, the envelope detector is also
called as the diode detector. The low pass filter contains a parallel combination of the
resistor and the capacitor. The AM wave is applied as an input to this detector.We know the
standard form of AM wave is
mam(t) = Vc(1+ msinωmt)
In the positive half cycle of AM wave, the diode conducts and the capacitor charges to the
peak value of AM wave. When the value of AM wave is less than this value, the diode will
be reverse biased. Thus, the capacitor will discharge through resistor R till the next positive
half cycle of AM wave. When the value of AM wave is greater than the capacitor voltage, the
diode conducts and the process will be repeated.
We should select the component values in such a way that the capacitor charges very quickly
and discharges very slowly. As a result, we will get the capacitor voltage waveform same as
that of the envelope of AM wave, which is almost similar to the modulating signal.
Any Question?