UNIT-2

AMPLITUDE MODULATION

CSVTU Apr-May 2024// Apr-May 2022 : Derive equations for Amplitude

Modulation // Define Amplitude Modulation (4Marks)

Amplitude Modulation : Introduction

 Amplitude modulation is defined as a technique in which the maximum amplitude of carrier signal is made
proportional to the instantaneous value (amplitude) of modulating signal or baseband signal.
 Let us consider a sinusoidal carrier wave c(t) is given as

----- (1)

Here A is maximum amplitude of carrier wave and wc is the carrier frequency. For simplicity, we have assumed
that the phase of the carrier wave is 0 in equation (1).

 Let x(t) is modulating signal, then according to amplitude modulation, the maximum amplitude A of carrier
will have to be made proportional to the instantaneous amplitude of modulating signal x(t).

The standard equation for amplitude modulated (AM) signal may be expressed as

----- (2)

---- (3)

The resulting signal s(t) from the process of amplitude modulation is called amplitude modulated signal or
simply AM wave . The above two equations describe the time domain behavior of amplitude modulated signal.
This wave s(t) has constant frequency w c and amplitude A + x(t). This implies that amplitude of wave is
changing around A in accordance with the value of message signal x(t).

 It may be noted that the carrier signal c(t) is fixed frequency signal and modulating signal x(t) contains the
information to be transmitted. In the process of amplitude modulation, this information is superimposed
upon the carrier signal in the form of amplitude variations of carrier signal.
 In the process of amplitude modulation, the frequency and phase of the carrier signal remains constant
while the maximum amplitude varies in accordance with the instantaneous value of message signal.

 Figure shows modulating signal x(t), carrier signal c(t) and amplitude modulated signal s(t). It may be
observed that upto point P modulating signal is not applied so there is no modulation and maximum
amplitude of carrier is remains constant at A. Now, at point P, modulating signal is applied. Therefore,
 after point P, the amplitude modulation occurs. This means that the maximum amplitude A of carrier now
varies in accordance with the instantaneous value of modulating signal x(t).

 The final AM wave s(t) has time varying amplitude called as envelope.

E(t) is called the envelope of AM wave. This envelope consists of the baseband signal x(t). Hence the
modulating signal or baseband signal may be recovered from an AM wave by detecting the envelope.

Spectrum of AM wave/ Frequency Domain Representation

 If x(t) is modulating signal and c(t) is carrier signal which is given

Then the equation of AM wave will be

This equation describes the wave in time domain. However if we want to know the frequency description
or frequency components present in AM wave then we have to find its spectrum. And for this purpose we
have to take the Fourier Transform of AM wave.

 Let S(w) denotes the fourier transform of s(t), C(w) denotes the fourier transform of c(t) and X(w) denotes
the fourier transform of x(t).

 Let the modulating signal is x(t) which is band limited to the interval . That means the
modulating signal does not have any frequency component outside the interval .
Figure (a) shows the modulating signal x(t) and its fourier transform X(w).

 The carrier signal is c(t) = and its fourier transform consists of two impulses at

Figure (b) shows the carrier signal and its fourier transform.

 Now, the AM wave is given as

The fourier transform of s(t) may be found by considering the two factors and
separately as follows :

Fourier Transform of

By using the property

The fourier transform of will be given as

 ------------------- (1)

Fourier Transform of

-------------------- (2)

Therefore fourier transform of AM wave s(t) will be sum of equations (1) and (2)

Figure (c) shows the spectrum of modulated signal.

 Below figures show the fourier transform of modulating signal, carrier signal and modulated signal.

Figure (a) : Modulating Signal and its Fourier Transform

Figure (b) : Carrier Signal and its Fourier Transform

 Figure (c) : Modulated Signal and its Fourier Transform

 For positive frequencies : The band which is lying above the carrier frequency is known as Upper Side
Band (USB) and the band which is lying below the carrier frequency is known as Lower Side Band (LSB).
 For negative frequencies : The band which is lying below the carrier frequency is known as Upper Side
Band (USB) and the band which is lying above the carrier frequency is known as Lower Side Band (LSB).
 From figure, it is obvious for the positive frequency side, the maximum frequency component is wc + wm
and minimum frequency component is wc - wm

So, Bandwidth
B = (w c + w m ) - ( w c - w m )

B = 2 wm

That means bandwidth of AM wave is twice the maximum frequency present in modulating signal.

Modulation Index

CSVTU Apr-May 2021 : Define modulation index (4Marks)

 In an Amplitude Modulation (AM) wave, the modulation index is a measure of the extent of modulation
applied to the unmodulated carrier signal.
 It quantifies how much the amplitude of the carrier signal varies in response to the modulating signal.
 The modulation index determines the percentage of variation in the carrier's amplitude and can affect the
bandwidth and power distribution of the AM wave.
 Modulation index is also known as Depth of Modulation, Degree of Modulation or Modulation Factor. It is

represented by ma or m or
 Mathematically,

Or

Where represents maximum amplitude of modulating signal and A represents maximum

amplitude of carrier signal.

Mathematically it is also represented as

Where

Modulation index when multiplied by 100 then it is termed as Percentage of Modulation.

Cases of Modulation Index

1. If m = 0

It implies No Modulation. That means the signal is pure carrier signal and no information is being
transmitted.

2. If m = 1
 It implies 100 % modulation. In this case, the original message signal can be successfully retrieve from the
envelope of modulated signal, without any distortion.

3. If m > 1

It indicates Overmodulation. In this condition, the message signal is not preserved in the envelope. That
means after demodulation, the message signal recovered from envelope will be distorted.

Conclusion : The modulating signal will be preserved in the envelope of AM signal and retrieved successfully
without any distortion only when

0<m<1
Till now, we have discussed amplitude modulation in which we have assumed that the modulating signal is
a random signal which contains a large number of frequency components. This means that the carrier signal
(which is a fixed frequency signal) is modulated by a large number of frequency components.

Now we will discuss, amplitude modulation in which the modulating signal consists of only one frequency,
that means modulation is done by single frequency.

SINGLE TONE AMPLITUDE MODULATION