TO STUDY THE OPERATION OF AN AMPLITUDE MODULATOR.

OBJECTIVE:
To study the operation of Amplitude Modulator.
To calculate the modulation index of Amplitude modulated wave.
To observe the linearity curve of the modulator.
To observe the spectrum of AM signal.

EQUIPMENT:
Modules ACT-01, ACT-02.
Power supply.
Oscilloscope.
Connective links
Frequency meter

THEORY:
AMPLITUDE MODULATION:

It is a type of modulation in which the amplitude of high frequency sine wave

(carrier) is varied in accordance with the instantaneous value of the modulating
signal.

Consider a sine wave signal vm (t) with frequency f

Vm (t) = B · Sin (2pf·t)

And another sine wave signal Vc (t) with frequency F.

VC (t) = A · Sin (2pF·t)

In this signal vm (t) is called modulating signal and the signal vc (t) is called
carrier signal.

Vary the amplitude of the carrier vc(t) after adding the modulating signal vm (t) to
A.

You obtain a signal vM (t) amplitude modulated, which can be expressed by:

VM (t) = [A+k· B·sin (2pf·t)] · sin (2pF·t) = A · [1+m.sin (2pf.t)] · sin (2pF·t)
With k = constant of proportionality.

Percentage modulation signal is defined as the value:

K·B
m = ----------- · 100
A
The modulation index m can be calculated in this way
 H-h
m = --------- · 100%
H+h

SPECTRUM OF THE MODULATED SIGNAL:

With simple trigonometric passages, the relation expressing the modulated signal
vM becomes:

vM (t) = A·sin(2pF·t) +
A
m·---· cos[(2p(F-f) · t] –
2
A
m ·---- · cos [(2p(F+f) · t]
2

From which we can conclude that the signal modulated by amplitude of a sine
wave consists of three sine components:

A·sin (2pF·t) carrier

A
M·----· cos [(2p (F-f) · t] lower side band.

A
m· ---- · cos [(2p(F+f) · t] upper side band.

POWER OF THE MODULATED SIGNAL.

The total power of an AM signal is the sum of power contributed by carrier and
the two bands.

Considering sine wave as modulating signal and a load resistance R, the

different Components supply the following powers:

PC = A2 / 2·R power associated to the carrier

PL = (m·A) 2 / 8·R power associated to the lower side band.

PU = (m·A)2 / 8·R power associated to the lower side band.

It is important to note that:

The power associated to the carrier is fixed and does not depend on the
modulation.
The power associated to each side band depends on the index of
modulation, and reaches maximum at 25% of the power of the carrier
(50% the two side bands together).

NON-SINUSOIDAL MODULATING SIGNAL SPECTRUM:

Consider a modulating signal not constituted by a single sine wave, such as a

generic signal with frequency spectrum ranging between f1 and f2. With the
amplitude modulation this spectrum is moved over and under the carrier .It is
evident that larger the spectrum of the modulating signal, larger is the band BW
occupied by the modulating signal. The resulted BW is equal to the double of the
modulating signal:

BW = 2 · f2.

AMPLITUDE MODULATION GENERATION:

The circuits used to generate an amplitude modulation must vary the amplitude
of a high frequency signal (carrier) as function of the amplitude of a low
frequency signal (modulating signal).

In an AM transmitter we speak of:

High-level modulation, if the modulation is carried out directly in the last
power stage, which is generally an amplifier in class C.
Low frequency modulation, when the modulation is carried out by stages,
which are before the final power amplifier.

Semiconductor devices can be used in case of low power and valve ones when
the required power is high.

The circuit used in the exercise shows that, amplitude modulated signal is
generated by a differential amplifier whose gain is varied by the modulating
signal. The integrated circuit used in the above case, can also be used to
generate the amplitude modulation with suppressed carrier, which is the
objective of another exercise.
 P1 P2
FREQ. LEVEL
0-2 VPP
1-10KHz

0.1-1KHz

S1 S2 OUT1 SIGNAL
IN P1 P2
FUNCTION GENERATOR [ACT-01]
MOD OUT
CARRIER NULL
BALANCED MODULATOR [ACT-02]
P6 P7 RF/FM CARRIER
FREQ. LEVEL OUT IN
400-1500KHz 0-2Vpp

VCO 2 [ACT-01] SF 1
SF 1
OFF OFF
ON ON
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

SWITCHFAULTS SWITCHFAULTS
[ACT-01] [ACT-02]

AMPLITUDE MODULATION

PROCEDURE:
Refer to the fig. 1.3 & Carry out the following connections and settings.
Connect power supply with proper polarity to the kits ACT-01 & ACT-02
switch ON the power supply.
Keep all the switches in switch fault section in off position.
Connect output of generator (ACT-01) OUT1 post to the input of Balance
Modulator 1 (ACT-02) SIGNAL IN post.
Connect output of VCO2 (ACT-01) RF/FM OUT post to the input of
Balance modulator 1 (ACT-02) CARRIER IN post.
Keep switch S1 to sine wave position (ACT01).
Keep switch S2 in lower position - 0.1 KHz to 1 KHz position (ACT-01).
Using pot P1 keep sine wave signal frequency at 1KHz, and using pot P2
keep sine wave signal amplitude at 0.5Vpp (ACT-01).
Using pot P6 keep VCO2 frequency at 450KHz and using pot P7 keep
amplitude at 1Vpp (ACT-01).z

Using pot P1 keep Balanced Modulator 1 CARRIER NULL completely

rotated clockwise or counter clockwise, so as to “unbalance” the
modulator and to obtain an AM signal with not suppressed carrier across
the output; using pot P2 keep LEVEL in fully clockwise.
Observe the output of the modulator, where a signal modulated in
amplitude is detected. Note that the modulated signal envelope
corresponds to the waveform of the modulating signal.
Vary the amplitude of the modulating signal and check the 100%
Modulated signal

Vary the amplitude of the modulating signal and check the superior to
100% Over modulated Signal
Vary the frequency and waveform of the modulating signal, and check the
corresponding variations of the modulated signal.
Vary the amplitude of the modulating signal and note that the modulated
signal can result saturated or over modulated.