AMPLITUDE MODULATOR and DEMODULATOR CIRCUITS

Amplitude Modulation Concepts

MODULATOR CIRCUITS - cause carrier amplitude to be varied in accordance with modulating signals.

- Circuits produce AM, DSB, and SSB transmission methods.

The product of the carrier and modulating signal can be generated by applying both signals to a nonlinear
component such as a diode.

SQUARE-LAW FUNCTION - one that varies in proportion to the square of the input signals.

• DIODE - gives a good approximation of a square-law response.

• BIPOLAR and FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTORS (FETs) - can also be biased to give a square-law response.

INTERMODULATION PRODUCTS - referred to third-, fourth-, and higher-order harmonics, produce by Diodes and
transistors whose function is not a pure square-law function.
- are easy to filter out.

TUNED CIRCUITS - filter out the modulating signal and carrier harmonics, leaving only carrier and sidebands.
Amplitude Modulators

two types of amplitude modulators:

1. LOW-LEVEL MODULATORS - generate AM with small signals and must be amplified before transmission.
2. HIGH-LEVEL MODULATORS - produce AM at high power levels, usually in the final amplifier stage of a
transmitter.

Low-Level AM: DIODE MODULATOR

DIODE MODULATION - consists of a resistive mixing network, a diode rectifier, and an LC tuned circuit.

• The CARRIER is applied to one input resistor and the MODULATING SIGNAL to another input resistor.
• This resistive network causes the two signals to be LINEARLY MIXED (i.e. algebraically added).
• A diode passes HALF CYCLES when forward biased.
• COIL AND CAPACITOR - repeatedly exchange energy, causing an oscillation or ringing at the resonant frequency.

Low-Level AM: TRANSISTOR MODULATOR

TRANSISTOR MODULATION - consists of a resistive mixing network, a transistor, and an LC tuned circuit.

• The EMITTER-BASE JUNCTION of the transistor serves as a diode and nonlinear device.
• MODULATION AND AMPLIFICATION occur as base current controls a larger collector current.
• The LC TUNED CIRCUIT oscillates (rings) to generate the missing half cycle.
Low-Level AM: DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER

DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER MODULATORS - make excellent amplitude modulators because they have a high gain,
good linearity and can be 100 percent modulated.
• The output voltage can be taken between two collectors, producing a BALANCED, or DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT.
• The output can also be taken from the output of either collector to ground, producing a SINGLE-ENDED OUTPUT.
• The modulating signal is applied to the base of a constant-current source transistor.
• The modulating signal varies the emitter current and therefore the gain of the circuit.

High-Level AM

HIGH-LEVEL MODULATION - the modulator varies the voltage and power in the final RF amplifier stage of the
transmitter.
• The result is high efficiency in the RF amplifier and overall high-quality performance.

High-Level AM: Collector Modulator

COLLECTOR MODULATOR - is a linear power amplifier that takes the low-level modulating signals and amplifies
them to a high-power level.
• MODULATING OUTPUT SIGNAL - is coupled through a modulation transformer to a class C amplifi er.
• The secondary winding of the modulation transformer is connected in series with the collector supply voltage
of the class C amplifier.
High-Level AM: Series Modulator

SERIES MODULATOR - produces high-level modulation without a large and expensive modulation transformer

used in collector modulators.

• It improves frequency response. However, it is very inefficient.
• A series modulator replaces the modulation transformer with an emitter follower.
• The modulating signal is applied to the emitter follower.
• The emitter follower is in series with the collector supply voltage.
• The COLLECTOR VOLTAGE changes with variations in the amplified audio modulating signal.

Balanced Modulators

- a circuit that generates a DSB signal, suppressing the carrier and leaving only the sum and difference frequencies
at the output.

- The output of a balanced modulator can be further processed by filters or phase-shifting circuitry to eliminate
one of the sidebands, resulting in an SSB signal.

Types of balanced modulators:

1. LATTICE MODULATOR
- popular and widely used balanced modulator is the diode ring or lattice modulator.
- consists of an input transformer, an output transformer and four diodes connected in a bridge circuit.
- The carrier signal is applied to the center taps of the input and output transformers.
- The modulating signal is applied to the input transformer.
- The output appears across the output transformer.
 - The carrier sine wave is considerably higher in frequency and amplitude than the modulating signal.
- The carrier sine wave is used as a source of forward and reverse bias for the diodes.
- The carrier turns the diodes off and on at a high rate of speed.
- The diodes act like switches that connect the modulating signal at the secondary of T1 to the primary of
T2.

2. IC BALANCE MODULATORS
- The 1496/1596 IC is a versatile circuit available for communication applications.
- It can work at carrier frequencies up to 100 MHz
- it can achieve a carrier suppression of 50 to 65 Db
- The 1496/1596 IC can operate as a balanced modulator or configured to perform as an amplitude
modulator, a product detector, or a synchronous detector.

3. IC BALANCE MODULATORS: ANALOG MULTIPLIER

- An analog multiplier is a type of integrated circuit that can be used as a balanced modulator.
- The analog multiplier is not a switching circuit like the balanced modulator. The analog multiplier uses
differential amplifiers operating in the linear mode.
- The carrier must be a sine wave and the multiplier produces the true product of two analog inputs.

SSB Circuits

Generating SSB Signals: PHASING METHOD

• The phasing method of SSB generation uses a phase-shift technique that causes one of the sidebands to be
canceled out.
• The phasing method uses two balanced modulators which eliminate the carrier.
• The carrier oscillator is applied to the upper balanced modulator along with the modulating signal.
• The carrier and modulating signals are both shifted in phase by 90 degrees and applied to another balanced
modulator.
Amplitude Demodulators

DEMODULATORS – or detectors, are circuits that accept modulated signals and recover the original modulating
information.

DIODE DETECTOR

• On positive alternations of the AM signal, the capacitor charges quickly to the peak value of pulses passed by
the diode.

• When the pulse voltage drops to zero, the capacitor discharges into the resistor.
• The time constant of the capacitor and resistor is long compared to the period of the carrier.
• The capacitor discharges only slightly when the diode is not conducting.
• The resulting waveform across the capacitor is a close approximation to the original modulating signal.
• Because the diode detector recovers the envelope of the AM (modulating) signal, the circuit is sometimes called
an ENVELOPE DETECTOR.

• If the RC time constant in a diode detector is too long, the capacitor discharge will be too slow to follow the
faster changes in the modulating signal. This is referred to as DIAGONAL DISTORTION.

SYNCHRONOUS DETECTION

• The key to making the synchronous detector work is to ensure that the signal producing the switching action is
perfectly in phase with the received AM carrier.

• An internally generated carrier signal from an oscillator will not work.

DSB and SSB Demodulation

• To recover the intelligence in a DSB or SSB signal, the carrier that was suppressed at the receiver must be
reinserted.

• A product detector is a balanced modulator used in a receiver to recover the modulating signal.
• Any balanced modulator can be used as a product detector to demodulate SSB signals.