DSB-SC MODULATION

DSB-SC Time domain and Frequency domain Description:

DSBSC modulators make use of the multiplying action in which the modulating
signal multiplies the carrier wave. In this system, the carrier component is eliminated and
both upper and lower side bands are transmitted. As the carrier component is suppressed, the
power required for transmission is less than that of AM.

Consequently, the modulated signal s(t) under goes a phase reversal , whenever the message
signal m(t) crosses zero as shown below.

Fig.1. (a) DSB-SC waveform (b) DSB-SC Frequency Spectrum

The envelope of a DSBSC modulated signal is therefore different from the message
signal and the Fourier transform of s(t) is given by
Generation of DSBSC Waves:

Balanced Modulator (Product Modulator)

A balanced modulator consists of two standard amplitude modulators arranged in

a balanced configuration so as to suppress the carrier wave as shown in the following
block diagram. It is assumed that the AM modulators are identical, except for the sign
reversal of the modulating wave applied to the input of one of them. Thus, the output of
the two modulators may be expressed as,
Hence, except for the scaling factor 2ka, the balanced modulator output is equal to
the product of the modulating wave and the carrier.

Ring Modulator

Ring modulator is the most widely used product modulator for generating DSBSC wave and
is shown below.

The four diodes form a ring in which they all point in the same direction. The
diodes are controlled by square wave carrier c(t) of frequency fc, which is applied
longitudinally by means of two center-tapped transformers. Assuming the diodes are
ideal, when the carrier is positive, the outer diodes D1 and D2 are forward biased where
as the inner diodes D3 and D4 are reverse biased, so that the modulator multiplies the
base band signal m(t) by c(t). When the carrier is negative, the diodes D1 and D2 are
reverse biased and D3 and D4 are forward, and the modulator multiplies the base band
signal –m(t) by c(t).

Thus the ring modulator in its ideal form is a product modulator for
square wave carrier and the base band signal m(t). The square wave carrier can be
expanded using Fourier series as

From the above equation it is clear that output from the modulator consists
entirely of modulation products. If the message signal m(t) is band limited to the
frequency band − w < f < w, the output spectrum consists of side bands centred at fc.
Detection of DSB-SC waves:

Coherent Detection:

The message signal m(t) can be uniquely recovered from a DSBSC wave s(t) by
first multiplying s(t) with a locally generated sinusoidal wave and then low pass filtering the
product as shown.

It is assumed that the local oscillator signal is exactly coherent or synchronized, in

both frequency and phase, with the carrier wave c(t) used in the product modulator to
generate s(t). This method of demodulation is known as coherent detection or
synchronous detection.

[Link] of output of the product modulator

 From the spectrum, it is clear that the unwanted component (first term in the
expression) can be removed by the low-pass filter, provided that the cut-off frequency of
the filter is greater than W but less than 2fc-W. The filter output is given by

The demodulated signal vo(t) is therefore proportional to m(t) when the phase error ϕ
is constant.

Costas Receiver (Costas Loop):

Costas receiver is a synchronous receiver system, suitable for demodulating DSBSC

waves. It consists of two coherent detectors supplied with the same input signal,

Fig.7. Costas Receiver

The frequency of the local oscillator is adjusted to be the same as the carrier
frequency fc. The detector in the upper path is referred to as the in-phase coherent detector or
I-channel, and that in the lower path is referred to as the quadrature-phase coherent detector
or Q-channel.

These two detector are coupled together to form a negative feedback system designed
in such a way as to maintain the local oscillator synchronous with the carrier wave. Suppose
the local oscillator signal is of the same phase as the carrier
c(t) = Accos(2πfct) wave used to generate the incoming DSBSC wave. Then we find that the
I-channel output contains the desired demodulated signal m(t), where as the Q-channel
output is zero due to quadrature null effect of the Q-channel. Suppose that the
local oscillator phase drifts from its proper value by a small angle ϕ radians. The I-channel
output will remain essentially unchanged, but there will be some signal
appearing at the Q-channel output, which is proportional to
sin⁡(𝜙) ≈ 𝜙 for small ϕ.

This Q-channel output will have same polarity as the I-channel output for one
direction of local oscillator phase drift and opposite polarity for the opposite direction of local
oscillator phase drift. Thus by combining the I-channel and Q-channel outputs in a phase
discriminator (which consists of a multiplier followed by a LPF), a dc control signal is
obtained that automatically corrects for the local phase errors in the voltage-controlled
oscillator.

Radio Transmitters

There are two approaches in generating an AM signal. These are known as low and
high level modulation. They're easy to identify: A low level AM transmitter performs the
process of modulation near the beginning of the transmitter. A high level transmitter performs
the modulation step last, at the last or "final" amplifier stage in the transmitter. Each method
has advantages and disadvantages, and both are in common use.

Low-Level AM Transmitter:

Fig.8. Low-Level AM Transmitter Block Diagram

There are two signal paths in the transmitter, audio frequency (AF) and radio
frequency (RF). The RF signal is created in the RF carrier oscillator. At test point A the
oscillator's output signal is present. The output of the carrier oscillator is a fairly small AC
voltage, perhaps 200 to 400 mV RMS. The oscillator is a critical stage in any transmitter. It
must produce an accurate and steady frequency. Every radio station is assigned a different
carrier frequency. The dial (or display) of a receiver displays the carrier frequency. If the
oscillator drifts off frequency, the receiver will be unable to receive the transmitted signal
without being readjusted. Worse yet, if the oscillator drifts onto the frequency being used by
another radio station, interference will occur. Two circuit techniques are commonly used to
stabilize the oscillator, buffering and voltage regulation.

The buffer amplifier has something to do with buffering or protecting the oscillator.
An oscillator is a little like an engine (with the speed of the engine being similar to the
oscillator's frequency). If the load on the engine is increased (the engine is asked to do more
work), the engine will respond by slowing down. An oscillator acts in a very similar fashion.
If the current drawn from the oscillator's output is increased or decreased, the oscillator may
speed up or slow down slightly.

Buffer amplifier is a relatively low-gain amplifier that follows the oscillator. It has a
constant input impedance (resistance). Therefore, it always draws the same amount of current
from the oscillator. This helps to prevent "pulling" of the oscillator frequency. The buffer
amplifier is needed because of what's happening "downstream" of the oscillator. Right after
this stage is the modulator. Because the modulator is a nonlinear amplifier, it may not have a
constant input resistance -- especially when information is passing into it. But since there is a
buffer amplifier between the oscillator and modulator, the oscillator sees a steady load
resistance, regardless of what the modulator stage is doing.

Voltage Regulation: An oscillator can also be pulled off frequency if its power
supply voltage isn't held constant. In most transmitters, the supply voltage to the oscillator is
regulated at a constant value. The regulated voltage value is often between 5 and 9 volts;
zener diodes and three-terminal regulator ICs are commonly used voltage regulators. Voltage
regulation is especially important when a transmitter is being powered by batteries or an
automobile's electrical system. As a battery discharges, its terminal voltage falls. The DC
supply voltage in a car can be anywhere between 12 and 16 volts, depending on engine RPM
and other electrical load conditions within the vehicle.

Modulator: The stabilized RF carrier signal feeds one input of the modulator stage.
The modulator is a variable-gain (nonlinear) amplifier. To work, it must have an RF carrier
signal and an AF information signal. In a low-level transmitter, the power levels are low in
the oscillator, buffer, and modulator stages; typically, the modulator output is around 10 mW
(700 mV RMS into 50 ohms) or less.

AF Voltage Amplifier: In order for the modulator to function, it needs an

information signal. A microphone is one way of developing the intelligence signal, however,
it only produces a few millivolts of signal. This simply isn't enough to operate the modulator,
so a voltage amplifier is used to boost the microphone's signal. The signal level at the output
of the AF voltage amplifier is usually at least 1 volt RMS; it is highly dependent upon the
transmitter's design. Notice that the AF amplifier in the transmitter is only providing a
voltage gain, and not necessarily a current gain for the microphone's signal. The power levels
are quite small at the output of this amplifier; a few mW at best.
 RF Power Amplifier: At test point D the modulator has created an AM signal by
impressing the information signal from test point C onto the stabilized carrier signal from test
point B at the buffer amplifier output. This signal (test point D) is a complete AM signal, but
has only a few milliwatts of power. The RF power amplifier is normally built with several
stages. These stages increase both the voltage and current of the AM signal. We say that
power amplification occurs when a circuit provides a current gain. In order to accurately
amplify the tiny AM signal from the modulator, the RF power amplifier stages must be
linear. You might recall that amplifiers are divided up into "classes," according to the
conduction angle of the active device within. Class A and class B amplifiers are considered to
be linear amplifiers, so the RF power amplifier stages will normally be constructed using one
or both of these type of amplifiers. Therefore, the signal at test point E looks just like that of
test point D; it's just much bigger in voltage and current.

Antenna Coupler: The antenna coupler is usually part of the last or final RF power
amplifier, and as such, is not really a separate active stage. It performs no amplification, and
has no active devices. It performs two important jobs: Impedance matching and filtering. For
an RF power amplifier to function correctly, it must be supplied with a load resistance equal
to that for which it was designed.

The antenna coupler also acts as a low-pass filter. This filtering reduces the amplitude
of harmonic energies that may be present in the power amplifier's output. (All amplifiers
generate harmonic distortion, even "linear" ones.) For example, the transmitter may be tuned
to operate on 1000 kHz. Because of small nonlinearities in the amplifiers of the transmitter,
the transmitter will also produce harmonic energies on 2000 kHz (2nd harmonic), 3000 kHz
(3rd harmonic), and so on. Because a low-pass filter passes the fundamental frequency (1000
kHz) and rejects the harmonics, we say that harmonic attenuation has taken place.

High-Level AM Transmitter:

Fig.9. Low-Level AM Transmitter Block Diagram

The high-level transmitter of Figure 9 is very similar to the low-level unit. The RF
section begins just like the low-level transmitter; there is an oscillator and buffer amplifier.
The difference in the high level transmitter is where the modulation takes place. Instead of
adding modulation immediately after buffering, this type of transmitter amplifies the
unmodulated RF carrier signal first. Thus, the signals at points A, B, and D in Figure 9 all
look like unmodulated RF carrier waves. The only difference is that they become bigger in
voltage and current as they approach test point D.

The modulation process in a high-level transmitter takes place in the last or final
power amplifier. Because of this, an additional audio amplifier section is needed. In order to
modulate an amplifier that is running at power levels of several watts (or more), comparable
power levels of information are required. Thus, an audio power amplifier is required. The
final power amplifier does double-duty in a high-level transmitter. First, it provides power
gain for the RF carrier signal, just like the RF power amplifier did in the low-level
transmitter. In addition to providing power gain, the final PA also performs the task of
modulation. The final power amplifier in a high-level transmitter usually operates in class C,
which is a highly nonlinear amplifier class.

Comparison:

Low Level Transmitters

 Can produce any kind of modulation; AM, FM, or PM.

 Require linear RF power amplifiers, which reduce DC efficiency and increases
production costs.

High Level Transmitters

 Have better DC efficiency than low-level transmitters, and are very well suited for
battery operation.
 Are restricted to generating AM modulation only.