Analog Communications

By
Dr. S. CHANDRA MOHAN REDDY
PROFESSOR OF ECE,
JNTUA CE,
ANANTHAPURAMU

“To understand a science it is necessary to know its history”

-Auguste Comte (1798-1857)
We are going to discuss about:
 The definition of communication

 The elements of a communication system and importance of each sub

system

 Definition of modulation

 Need of modulation in communication.

 Methods of modulation

 Applications of modulation
 Communication:
 It is the transfer or conveying of meaningful information (message) from one
place to another.
 Communication should be through speech, visuals, signals, writing or
behavior.
 This should be done
 as efficiently as possible
 with as much fidelity/reliability as possible
 as securely as possible
 Background of forms of communications
 Telegraph -– 1844
 Telephone – 1876
 Radio and television ----1923
 Colour Television ----1954
 First communication satellite ----1962
Communication System:
 Components/subsystems act together to accomplish information
transfer/exchange.
 Communication deals with the principle of transferring information from
one place to another.
 It involves transmission and reception, and processing of information
between these two locations.
 The source could be in continuous form as in the case of analog
communication and as discrete signals as in the case of digital
communication.

Information
Source Transmitter Channel Receiver Destination

Noise
 Modulation:
 How we can communicate with people from distant places?
 We need some thing that will carry the message signal to distant places.
 So, modulation does the process to take carrier signal.
 The message signal can be received by distant people with modulation.
Definition:
 One physical quantity is changing in accordance with another physical
quantity.
 The characteristics of a carrier signal is varied in accordance with the
instantaneous value of the message or base band signal.
 Any carrier signal is in the form of : 𝐴𝐶 𝐶𝑜𝑠(𝜃𝐶 (𝑡))
 From the above it is known that the carrier signal is having two
characteristics, namely (i) Amplitude, ACand (ii) Angle, 𝜃𝐶 (𝑡).
 The angle 𝜃𝐶 (𝑡) = 𝑤𝐶𝑡 + ∅ where wC = 2𝜋fC = angluar frequency
 And ∅ is phase of the signal
 Need for Modulation:
 The following are the advantages of modulation.
1. Antenna size gets reduced.
 For efficient transmission, the height of the antenna should be equal to half
of the wavelength of the signal being transmitted i.e. ht = 𝜆/2.
 Since C = 𝑓𝜆 for a typical low-frequency signal of 2 kHz, the wavelength
works out to be 150 km. Then the height of the Antenna is 75 km, which is
impracticable.
2. Adjustments in the bandwidth is allowed
 To translate the frequency of a low-pass signal to a higher band so that the
spectrum of the transmitted band pass signal matches the band pass
characteristics of the channel.
3. Multiplexing of signals occur…To avoid interference
 To enable transmission of a signal from several message sources
simultaneously through a single channel employing frequency division
multiplexing.
Multiplexing of signals occur…To avoid interference
Need for Modulation: (Contd…)
4. Communication range increases.

5. Reception quality improves.

 To improve noise and interference immunity in transmission over a noise
channel by expanding the bandwidth of the transmitted signal.
Frequency Translation :
 The modulation process shifts the modulating frequency to a higher
frequency, which in turn depends on the carrier frequency, thus producing
upper and lower sidebands.
 Hence, signals are up converted from low frequencies to high frequencies
and down converted from high frequencies to low frequencies in the
receiver.
 The process of converting a frequency or a band of frequencies to another
location in the frequency spectrum is called frequency translation.
Types of Modulation:
 Based on the carrier signal used for the modulation of continuous message
signal, modulations are categorized into two types: Analog modulation and
Pulse Modulation
Analog modulation:
 If the carrier signal used for modulation is a continuous time signal
(analog) then the modulation is called as “Analog Modulation”
 Ex.: Amplitude Modulation, Frequency Modulation, etc.
Pulse modulation:
 If the carrier signal used for modulation is a train of pulses then the
modulation is called as “Pulse Modulation”
 Ex.: Pulse Amplitude Modulation, Pulse width modulation, etc..
 The characteristics of a carrier signal is varied in accordance with the
instantaneous value of the message.
 Any signal has two characteristics: (i) Amplitude and (ii) Angle
 The angle is the combination of frequency and phase.
 Types of Modulation: (Contd…)

 Based on the characteristics changed in the carrier signal, the modulation

is categorized in to three types: Amplitude Modulation, Frequency
Modulation and Phase Modulation
Message Signal Modulator Modulated Signal

Carrier Signal
 If the amplitude of the carrier signal is varied in accordance with the
instantaneous value of the message signal then the modulation is known as
Amplitude modulation.
 If the frequency of the carrier signal is varied in accordance with the
instantaneous value of the message signal then the modulation is known as
Frequency modulation.
 If the phase of the carrier signal is varied in accordance with the
instantaneous value of the message signal then the modulation is known as
Phase modulation.
Amplitude Modulation (AM) OR Double Side Band–Full Carrier (DSB-FC)
Message Signal Modulator Modulated Signal

Carrier Signal
 A carrier signal, c(t) is represented  Similarly, a message signal, m(t) is
as represented as
 Where AC = Carrier Amplitude and
fC is carrier frequency  Where Am = message signal
 The frequency of the carrier signal is Amplitude and fm is message
usually much greater than the signal frequency
highest frequency of the input  And its spectrum is given as
message signal and its spectrum is
given as

– fC 0 fC – fm 0 fm
 As per the definition of Amplitude modulation, the modulated signal, s(t) is
given as 𝒔 𝒕 = 𝑨𝑪 + 𝒌𝒂 𝒎(𝒕) 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 𝒕 = 𝑨𝑪 𝟏 + 𝝁 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 𝒕
 where ka is amplitude sensitivity of the AM modulator and let ka=1
𝒔 𝒕 = 𝑨𝑪 + 𝑨𝒎 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒎 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 𝒕
𝒔 𝒕 = 𝑨𝑪 𝟏 + 𝝁𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒎 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 𝒕
 where μ is 𝐴𝑚 𝐴𝐶 and is called as “Modulation Index” and is defined as the
ratio of amplitudes of message signal to carrier signal”
 So, 𝒔 𝒕 = 𝑨𝑪 𝟏 + 𝝁𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒎 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 𝒕
𝒔 𝒕 = 𝑨𝑪 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 𝒕 + 𝝁𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒎 𝒕
𝝁 𝝁
𝒔 𝒕 = 𝑨𝑪 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 𝒕 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 + 𝒘𝒎 𝒕 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒘𝒄 − 𝒘𝒎 𝒕
𝟐 𝟐
 The spectrum of s(t) is given as Carrier Signal
Upper Side Band
(USB)
Lower Side Band
(LSB)
 Spectrum of Message signal M(f)

– fm 0 fm
f
C(f)

Spectrum of Carrier signal

– fC 0 fC f
S(f)
Spectrum of AM signal

– fC – fm – fC – fC + fm 0 fC – fm fC fC + fm f
The AM Spectrum

1.5 1.5

1 1

|Y(f)|
|M(f)|

0.5 0.5

0 0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000
Frequency (Hz)
Frequency (Hz)

Fig.: Message signal Spectrum with fm=500Hz Fig.: AM signal Spectrum with fC=4000Hz
 Message or Modulating Signal AM Signal frequency spectrum
frequency spectrum

As per the definition of Amplitude modulation

Modulation Index (𝝁):
 It is defined as the ration of amplitude of message signal to amplitude of
carrier signal.
𝑨𝒎
𝝁=
𝑨𝑪
 But, the value of Am and AC can not be identified from Amplitude
Modulated signal.
 So, the following procedure is used to find the modulation index from the
AM wave.
From the AM wave, we can write that
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴𝐶 + 𝐴𝑚
And 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝐴𝐶 − 𝐴𝑚 ⇒ 𝐴𝐶 = 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 + 𝐴𝑚
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛
A𝐶 = 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 + =
2 2
𝑨 (𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥−𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛)/2
Modulation index = 𝝁 = 𝒎 =
𝑨𝑪 (𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥+𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛)/2
𝑨𝒎 (𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛)
𝝁= = So, the ranges of values of 𝝁 are (0, 1)
𝑨𝑪 (𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛)
 Power calculations in AM:
 The AM wave equation is given as:
𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐴𝐶 1 + 𝑘𝑎 𝑚(𝑡) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑤𝑐 𝑡
𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐴𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑤𝑐 𝑡 + 𝑘𝑎 𝐴𝐶𝑚 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑤𝑐 𝑡
𝑠 𝑡 = 𝐴𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑤𝑐 𝑡 + 𝜇𝐴𝐶𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑤𝑐 𝑡 where 𝜇 = 𝑘𝑎𝑚(𝑡)
 The AM equation consists of Carrier and side bands i.e. USB and LSB.
 So, the total power transmitted from AM transmitter is the sum of the powers of carrier and
two side bands. i.e. 𝑃𝑡 = 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝐿𝑆𝐵 + 𝑃𝑈𝑆𝐵 = 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑃𝑆𝐵 where PSB = PUSB + PLSB
𝐴𝐶 2
𝑉2 2 𝐴𝐶2
𝑃𝐶 = 𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑅 = 𝑅 = 2𝑅
2 2
𝜇𝐴𝐶 𝜇𝐴𝐶
2 2 2
2
𝑉2 2 𝜇 𝐴𝐶 𝑉 2 2 𝜇2𝐴𝐶2
𝑃𝑈𝑆𝐵 = 𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑅 = 𝑅 = 8𝑅 , 𝑃𝐿𝑆𝐵 = 𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑅 = 𝑅 = 8𝑅
𝐴𝐶2 𝜇2𝐴𝐶2 𝜇2𝐴𝐶2 𝐴𝐶2 𝜇2 𝜇2
 Hence, 𝑃𝑡 = + + = 1+ = 𝑃𝑐 1 +
2𝑅 8𝑅 8𝑅 2𝑅 2 2
𝝁𝟐
 So, the transmitted power of AM wave is, 𝑷𝒕 = 𝑷𝒄 𝟏 +
𝟐
 If 𝝁 = 𝟎, then Pt=PC, i.e. the total transmitted power of an AM is equal to the carrier power if
there is no presence of message signal.
 If 𝝁 = 𝟏, then Pt=1.5PC, i.e. the total transmitted power of an AM is equal to the 1.5 times of
carrier power if there is Am = AC.
Transmission Efficiency of AM:
 It is defined as the ratio of total side band power to total transmitted power in the
modulated signal.
𝜇2𝐴𝐶2
𝑃𝑆𝐵
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = = 4𝑅 𝐴 2 𝜇2
𝑃𝑡 𝐶
1+
2𝑅 2
𝑃𝑆𝐵 𝜇 2
𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = =
𝑃𝑡 2 + 𝜇2
 The maximum value of transmission efficiency is achieved when 𝜇 = 1 and is given as
33.33%.
 Similarly, the total current flowing through the antenna is given as:
𝜇2
𝑃𝑡 = 𝑃𝑐 1 +
2 2
2 2
𝜇
I𝑡 𝑅 = I𝐶 𝑅 1 +
2
𝜇 2
2
I𝑡 = I𝐶 1 +
2
𝝁𝟐
𝑰𝒕 = 𝑰𝑪 𝟏 +
𝟐
Modulation by Several Sinewaves:
 If the input modulating signals are more than one, then modulation takes place by a
carrier simultaneously.
 Then the total power all the modulated signals is given as:
𝝁𝒕𝟐
𝑷𝒕 = 𝑷𝒄 𝟏 +
𝟐
 Where 𝜇𝑡 is the total modulation index
 The total modulation index, 𝝁𝒕is calculated by using two ways:
1. Let Am1, Am2,Am3, … are the modulating signals, then the total modulating voltage, Amtis
given as
𝐴𝑚𝑡 = 𝐴2𝑚1 + 𝐴2𝑚2 + 𝐴2𝑚3 + ⋯
Dividing both sides by AC, then
𝐴𝑚𝑡 𝐴2𝑚1 𝐴2𝑚2 𝐴2𝑚3
= + + +⋯
𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶 𝐴𝐶

𝝁𝒕 = 𝝁𝟐𝟏 + 𝝁𝟐𝟐 + 𝝁𝟐𝟑 + ⋯

Modulation by Several Sinewaves:
2. The total power in an AM wave consists of carrier power and side band power.
 2  2
Pt  PC 1    PC  PC  PC  PSB
 2  2

2
where side power is given by PSB  PC
2
Total side band power of all the message signals is

PSB  PSB1  PSB 2  PSB3  ...

t2 12 22 32
PC  PC  PC  PC  ...
2 2 2 2
t  12  22  32  ...
Problem:
Q: A transmitter radiates 9 kW with the carrier unmodulated and 10.123 kW when the
carrier is sinusoidally modulated.
(a) Calculate the modulation index.
(b) If another sine wave corresponding to 40% modulation is transmitted simultaneously,
determine the total radiated power.
Ans.: (a)
PC  9 kW
 2 
Pt  PC 1  
 2 
  0.5

(b) 1  0.5, 2  0.4

t  12  22  0.64
 t2 
Pt  PC 1    10.84kw
 2 
Problem:
Q Determine the maximum sideband power if the carrier output is 1 kW and calculate the
total maximum transmitted power.
Ans:
2
Pt  PC  PSB  PC  PC
2

As per the above formula the maximum side band power is obtained when μ=1.
So, when μ=1, the maximum value of PC
PSB   0.5kW
2
And the total maximum transmitted power is

Pt  PC  PSB  1kW  0.5kW  1.5kW

Significance of Modulation index:
 We know that Am Vmax  Vmin
 
Ac Vmax  Vmin
 The modulation index or modulation depth is often denoted
in percentage called as Percentage of Modulation.
 Percentage of modulation is obtained by multiplying the
modulation index value with 100.
Fig.(a): Perfectly modulated AM wave
 For a perfect modulation, the value of modulation index should
be 1 i.e. μ=1, which implies the percentage of modulation
should be 100%.
 The perfect modulation should looks like as shown in Fig.(a).
 If the value of μ<1, let the modulation index is 0.5, then the
modulated output would look like as shown in Fig.(b).
 It is called as Under-modulation. Such a wave is called as
an under-modulated wave. Fig.(b): Under modulated AM wave
 If the value of the modulation index is greater than 1, i.e. μ>1,
Let μ=1.5 or so, then the wave will be an over-modulated
wave. It would look like as shown in Fig.(c).
 As the value of the modulation index increases, the carrier
experiences a 180o phase reversal, which causes additional
sidebands and hence, the wave gets distorted.
 Such an over-modulated wave causes interference, which
cannot be eliminated. Fig.(c): Over modulated AM wave
Generation of AM:
 The generation of AM wave can be obtained by using two
methods
 Square law modulator
 Switching Modulator
Square Law Modulator:
 Square law diode modulator works based on non-linear V-I
characteristics of the diode.
 The V-I characteristics of a diode is highly non-linear in low
voltage region.
 The circuit diagram of square law modulator is Fig.: V-I Characteristics of a
diode for low input voltages
shown in Fig.
 The carrier and modulating signals are applied
across the diode.
 A DC voltage VCC is connected across the diode
to get a fixed operating point on the V-I
characteristics of the diode
 When different frequencies are passed through
a non-linear device then the process of
Amplitude modulation takes place. Fig.: Square Law Modulator
Square law modulator: (contd…)

 When carrier frequency fC and modulating signal frequency fm are applied at the input of a
non-linear device (diode)then different frequencies terms appear at the output.
 The non-linear relationship between voltage and current is given by:
i1  a  bvi  cvi2  ...
Where i1  current through the diode
vi  voltage across the diode
And a, b, c,… are constants
 Here vi  AC cos2f ct   m(t )
 After neglecting the higher order terms, we have i1  a  bvi  cvi2, So
i1  a  bAc cos2f ct   m(t )  cAc cos2f ct   m(t )
2

i1  a  bAc cos2f ct   bm(t )  cAc2 cos2 2f ct   cm2 (t )  2cm(t ) Ac cos2f ct 

cAc2 cAc2
i1  a  bAc cos2f ct   bm(t )   cos4f ct   cm2 (t )  2cm(t ) Ac cos2f ct 
2 2
 cAc2   2cm(t )  cAc2
i1  a    bAc 1   cos2f c t   bm(t )  cos 4 f c t   cm 2
(t )
 2   b  2
Generation of AM:
 The current i1 consists of various frequency terms like fc and 4 fc.
 This current is applied to a tuned circuit which is tuned to fc only.
 Hence, the output current of tuned circuit is given by

 2cm(t ) 
i2  bAc 1   cos2f ct 
 b 
i2  bAc 1  ka m(t )cos2f ct 

2c
 Where k a   Amplitude sensitivity
b
Switching modulator:
 If the carrier wave applied to the diode is large in amplitude then the diode is operated as
an ideal switch.
 The ideal switch input-output characteristics is shown in figure.
 The diode acts as an ideal switch, it gives
zero impedance when it is forward biased.
 An input voltage v1(t) consisting of the sum
of the carrier and the message signal i.e.

v1 (t )  c(t )  m(t )  Ac cos2f ct   m(t )

Fig.: Ideal Switch input- Where |m(t)|<<AC
Output Characteristics
 The resulting v2(t) is given as:

v1 (t ); c(t )  0
v2 (t )  
0; c(t )  0
 So, the load voltage, v2(t) varies periodically
between the values v1(t) and zero at rate
Fig.: Switching modulator equal to carrier frequency, fC.
Switching modulator: (contd…)

v2 (t )  v1 (t )
v2 (t )  gT0 (t )v1 (t )
v2 (t )  gT0 (t )AC cos(2f C t )  m(t )
Fig.: Switching modulator
 Where gT0 (t ) is a periodic pulse train of duty
cycle of 50% and period T0  1 f C
 The gT0 (t ) can be represented by using Fourier
transform as
1 2 2
gT0 (t )   cos(2f C t )    cos(6f C t )  ...
2   3 
Fig.: Periodic Pulse train
1 2 
gT0 (t )    cos2f C 2n  1t 
2  n1
 So, the output voltage v2(t) can be written as
1 2 2 
v2 (t )  gT0 (t ) v1 (t )  AC cos(2f C t )  m(t )  cos(2f C t )    cos(6f t )  ...
 2   3 
C

AC  4m(t )  m(t ) 2 AC
v2 (t )  1   cos(2f t )   cos 2
(2f C t )  ...
2  AC  C
2 
Switching modulator: (contd…)

AC  4m(t )  m(t ) 2 AC
v2 (t )  1   cos(2f t )   cos 2
(2f C t )  ...
2  AC  C
2 
 The load voltage v2(t) consists of the sum of two components:

 
i. The component AC 1  4m(t )  cos(2f C t ) is the desired AM wave with amplitude sensitivity
2  AC 
4
Ka 
AC
ii. Unwanted components, the spectrum of which contain delta functions at 0, ±2fC, ±4fC,
and so on and which occupy frequency intervals of width 2w centered at 0, ±3fC,
±5fC,…

 The unwanted terms are removed from the load voltage v2(t) by means of a Band Pass
Filter (BPF) with mid-band frequency fC and bandwidth of 2w provided that fC>2w.
AM Demodulation:
 The process of recovery of original message signal or modulating signal or baseband signal
is known as demodulation or detection.
 The message signal can be obtained from AM signal using two methods:
 Square law detector
 Envelope Detector or Rectifier diode detector
Square Law Detector:
 The Square law detector circuits are used for detecting modulating signals of small
magnitude i.e. of below 1 V.
 The operation region of non-linear device is restricted to the non-linear region of V-I
Characteristics of the device.
 The square law detector using diode
as non-linear device is shown in Fig.
 The negative portion of the input
modulated signal, s(t) is compressed.
 The relation between current and
input voltage of the diode is given as

i  av  bv 2
Fig.: Square Law Detector
Square Law Detector: (Contd…)
 Here „v‟ is the modulated signal and is given as v  AC 1 ka m(t )cos2f C t 
 Then

i  aAC 1  ka m(t )cos2f C t   bAC 1  ka m(t )cos2f C t 

2

 
i  aAC cos2f C t   aAC ka m(t ) cos2f C t   b AC2 cos2 2f C t   AC2 k a2 m2 (t ) cos2 2f C t   2 AC ka m(t ) cos2 2f C t 
bAC2 bAC2
i  aAC cos2f C t   aAC ka m(t ) cos2f C t    cos4f C t 
2 2
AC2 k a2 m2 (t ) AC2 k a2 m2 (t )
  cos4f C t   AC ka m(t )  AC ka m(t ) cos4f C t 
2 2
bAC2 bAC2
i  AC ka m(t )  aAC cos2f C t   aAC ka m(t ) cos2f C t   cos4f C t 
2 2
AC2 k a2 m2 (t ) AC2 k a2 m2 (t )
  cos4f C t    AC ka m(t ) cos4f C t 
2 2
Square Law Detector: (Contd…)
 From the above expression, we can observe the frequency terms as: 0, fm, fc, fcfm, 2fc, 4fc,
etc.
 Hence, the diode current containing all the frequency terms.
 These are passed through a low pass filter with higher cutoff frequency f m  f H  f C
 So, the output signal at the LPF contains only the frequencies less than or equal to fm and
rejects all higher frequencies.
Envelope Detector or Linear Detector or Rectifier Detector:
 If a diode operating in a linear region of its V-I Characteristics, then the envelope of an AM
wave can be extracted.
 The envelope detector using a diode shown in Fig.
 Initially, assume that the input is of fixed amplitude and the load resistor R is not present.
 The capacitor charges to the peak positive voltage of the carrier.
 The capacitor holds the peak voltage and the diode would not again conduct.
 Suppose, if the input carrier amplitude is increased then the diode conducts and the
capacitor charges to the new higher carrier peak.
 In order to allow the capacitor voltage to follow the carrier peaks when the carrier
amplitude is decreasing, we should include the resistor R so that the capacitor may
discharge.

Fig.: Envelope Detector

Fig.: Charging and discharging of capacitor
Envelope Detector: (contd…)

 The time constant,   RC is selected such that the change in the output voltage between
cycles is at least equal to the decrease in carrier amplitude between cycles.
 If time constant   RC is very large so that the capacitor „C‟ decreases negligible small.
 The value of   RC produces another problem known as diagonal clipping and is shown in
Fig.
 So, the time constant can not be increased beyond a certain limit.
 The charging of the capacitor through diode having an internal impedance of „Rf‟.
 The charging time constant  C  R f C must be less than the carrier signal time period i.e. 1 f C
 
So,   R C  1
C f  fC

Fig.: diagonal clipping

Fig.: Charging and discharging of capacitor
Envelope Detector: (contd…)

 The discharging time constant RC must be long enough to ensure that the capacitor
discharges slowly through the load resistor R between positive peaks of carrier signal.
 But, not so long that the capacitor voltage will not discharge at the maximum rate of
change of the modulating wave.

  D  R f C  
 That is:
1 1
fC fm

TC   D  Tm
Where fm is message signal frequency
 The envelope detector output contains small ripples at the carrier frequency.
 These ripples can be easily removed by using a LPF.

Fig.: envelope detector output