Chapter 3

Angle Modulation – Part 3

1
3.10 : FM Receiver (from part 2)
 Block diagram for a double conversion superheterodyne FM receiver :

 the pre-selector, RF (radio freq) amplifier, first and second mixers, and IF
(intermediate freq) amplifier sections of an FM receiver perform same functions as
the AM receiver.
 Automatic Gain Control (AGC) is used to prevent mixer saturation when strong RF
signals are received.
 the peak detector used in AM receiver is replaced by a limiter, frequency
discriminator and de-emphasis network.
BEKC 3633 Communication Systems
Faculty of Electrical Engineering Chapter 3: Angle Modulation 2
3.10 : FM Receiver (from part 2)

 Limiter is used to remove amplitude variations caused by noise (which is one of

AM’s drawback).
 frequency discriminator (demodulator) extracts the information from the
modulated wave.
 de-emphasis network contributes to the improvement in signal-to-noise ratio.
 the first IF is a relatively high frequency (often 10.7 MHz) for good image
frequency rejection.
 the second IF is a relatively low frequency (often 455 kHz) that allows the IF
amplifiers to have high gain.
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Faculty of Electrical Engineering Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 3
3.11 : FM Demodulator (from part 2)
 FM demodulator is a frequency-dependent circuits designed to produce an
output voltage that is proportional to the instantaneous frequency at its input.
 the overall transfer function for the FM demodulator is nonlinear but when
operating over its linear range,
V
Kd  (28)
f

 the output from the FM demodulator is

vout(t )  Kdf (29)

where vout(t) = demodulated output signal (volts)

Kd = demodulator transfer function (volts per hertz)
Δf = difference between input frequency and the centre frequency of
demodulator (hertz)

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Faculty of Electrical Engineering Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 4
3.11 : FM Demodulator (from part 2)
 the most common circuits used for FM signal demodulation are slope detector,
balanced slope detector and PLL demodulator.
 the slope detector and balanced slope detector are categorized as tuned-circuit
frequency discriminator.
 Ex : For an FM demodulator circuit with a transfer function of Kd = 0.2V/kHz
and an FM input signal with 20 kHz of peak frequency deviation, determine
the peak output voltage.

vout(t )  Kdf

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Faculty of Electrical Engineering Chapter 4 : Angle Modulation 5
3.11.1 : Tuned-circuit Frequency Discriminator
 It convert FM to AM and then demodulate the AM envelope with the
conventional peak detector.
1) Slope Detector

 the tuned circuit (La and Ca) produces an output voltage that is proportional to the
input frequency.
 the maximum output voltage occurs at the resonant frequency f0 and its output
decreases proportionally as the input frequency deviates above or below f0.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 6

3.11.1 : Tuned-circuit Frequency Discriminator

 the circuit is designed so that the IF centre frequency fc falls in the centre of the
most linear portion of the voltage-versus-frequency (figure (b)).
 when IF deviates below fc, the output voltage decreases
 when IF deviates above fc, the output voltage increases
 the tuned-circuit therefore, converts frequency variations to amplitude variations.
 Di, Ci & Ri make up a simple peak detector to demodulate the AM signals.

Chapter 34 : Angle Modulation 7

3.11.1 : Tuned-circuit Frequency Discriminator
2) Balanced Slope
Detector

 Balanced slope detector is simply two single-ended slope detector connected in

parallel and fed 180˚ out of phase.
 Phase inversion accomplished by centre tapping secondary windings of T1.
 Tuned circuits (La, Ca & Lh, Ch) perform an FM-to-AM conversion.
 Balanced peak detectors (D1, C1, R1 & D2, C2, R2) remove the information from the
AM envelope.
 La & Ca is tuned to frequency fa that is above the IF centre frequency fc.
 Lh & Ch is tuned to frequency fh that is below the IF centre frequency fc.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 8

3.11.1 : Tuned-circuit Frequency Discriminator
2) Balanced Slope Detector

 Operation
 the IF centre frequency fc falls exactly halfway between the resonant frequency of
the two tuned circuits.
 at fc, the output voltage from the tuned circuits are equal in amplitude but opposite
in polarity. For example, the rectified voltage across R1 & R2, when added, produce
an output voltage Vout = 0.
 when IF deviates above the resonance, the top tuned circuit produces higher output
voltage than the lower tuned circuit, and Vout goes positive.
 when IF deviates below the resonance, the output voltage from lower tuned circuit
is larger than the voltage from top tuned circuit, and Vout goes negative.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 9

3.11.1 : Tuned-circuit Frequency Discriminator
 Comparison Slope Detector vs Balanced Slope Detector

Slope Detector Balanced Slope Detector

 simpler circuit  more complex circuit

 poor linearity, difficult to tune  better linearity and tuning

 need to use separate limiter stage to  does not need limiter stage

compensate amplitude variation

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 10

3.11.2 : PLL (PHASE LOCK LOOP) FM Demodulator
 A PLL frequency demodulator requires no tuned circuits and automatically
compensates for changes in the carrier frequency that is caused by the
instability in the transmitter’s oscillator.

 after the frequency lock had occurred, the VCO tracks frequency changes in the
input signal by maintaining the phase error at the input of the phase comparator.
 if the input is deviated FM signal and the VCO natural frequency is equal to the
centre IF frequency, the correction voltage produced at the phase comparator is
proportional to the frequency deviation.
Vd  f
For example, correction voltage produced is proportional to the
modulating/information signal.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 11

3.11.2 : PLL FM Demodulator

 if the amplitude is sufficiently limited before reaching the PLL and the loop is
properly compensated, the PLL loop gain Kv is constant.
Therefore the demodulated signal can be taken directly from the output and is
mathematically expressed as
Vout  fKdKa (30)
where Δf = frequency deviation, Kd = phase comparator gain,
Ka = amplifier gain

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 12

3.11 : FM Stereo
 Until 1961, all commercial FM transmission were monophonic. That is, a
single 50 Hz to 15 kHz audio channel made up the entire voice and music
information spectrum.
 This single audio channel modulated a carrier and was transmitted through a
200 kHz bandwidth FM channel.
 With mono transmission, each speaker assembly at the receiver reproduces
exactly the same information. For example, the entire information signal
sounds as though it is coming from the same direction (no sound directivity).
 In 1961, Federal Communication Commission (FCC) authorized stereophonic
transmission. With stereo transmission, the signal is spatially divided into two
50 Hz ~ 15 kHz channels (a left and a right).
 Music originated on the left side is reproduced on the left speaker and vice
versa. Therefore, it is possible to reproduce music with unique directivity and
spatial dimension. Also it is possible to separate sound by tonal quality, such as
percussion, strings, horns etc.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 13

3.12 : FM Stereo

Subsidiary
communication
subscriber

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 14

3.12 : FM Stereo
 FM stereo spectrum :

 it comprises the 50 ~ 15 kHz stereo channel plus an additional stereo channel

frequency division multiplexed (FDM) into a composite baseband signal with a 19
kHz pilot and a Subsidiary Communications Authorization (SCA) channel.
 the left (L) plus the right (R) audio channels (L+R)
 the left plus the inverted right audio channels (L-R)
 SCA channel
 the L+R stereo channel occupies the 50 ~ 15 kHz passband (mono combination).
 the L-R audio channel amplitude modulates a 38 kHz sub-carrier and produces the
L-R stereo channel occupying the 23 kHz ~ 53 kHz passband.
 SCA channel used to broadcast music to private subscribers such as department
stores, restaurants and offices, occupying the 60 kHz ~ 74 kHz spectrum.
 Identical information is contained in the L+R and L-R except for their phase
 info on stereo :

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 15

3.12.1 : FM Stereo Transmission
 Block diagram for a stereo FM Transmitter :

L in

R in

 the L and R audio channels are combined in a matrix network to produce the L+R
and L-R audio channel.
 the L-R audio channel then modulates a 38 kHz sub-carrier and produces a 23 kHz
~ 53 kHz L-R stereo channel.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 16

3.12.1 : FM Stereo Transmission

L in

R in

 the L+R channel must be delayed to maintain phase integrity with the L-R stereo
channel for demodulation purpose.
 a 19 kHz pilot is transmitted rather than 38 kHz sub-carrier because it is easier to
recover the pilot in the receiver.
 this composite/whole baseband signal is fed to the FM transmitter where it
modulates the main carrier.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 17

3.12.2 : FM Stereo Reception
 FM Stereo receiver is basically same as the standard FM receiver up to the
output of the audio detector stage.
 the output of the discriminator is the total baseband spectrum shown below.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 18

3.12.2 : FM Stereo Reception

 Block diagram for an FM receiver

with mono & stereo outputs :
 for mono section of the signal
processor, the L+R stereo channel
which contains all the original
information from both the L and R
audio channels, is simply filtered,
amplified and then fed to both the L
and R speakers.
 for stereo section, the L+R and L-R
stereo channels and the 19 kHz
pilot are separated from the
composite baseband with filters.
 the L+R stereo channel is filtered
by a lowpass filter with an upper
cutoff frequency of 15 kHz.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 19

3.12.2 : FM Stereo Reception
 the 19 kHz pilot is filtered with a
high-Q bandpass filter, multiplied
by 2, amplified and then fed to the
L-R demodulator.
 the L-R double sideband signal is
separated with a broadly tuned
bandpass filter and then mixed with
the recovered 38 kHz carrier in a
balanced modulator to produce the
L-R audio channel.
 the matrix network combines the
L+R and L-R signals in such a way
as to separate the L and R audio
signals, which are fed to their
respective speaker.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 20

3.12.2 : FM Stereo Reception
 the matrix network combines the L+R and L-R signals in such a way as to separate
the L and R audio signals, which are fed to their respective speaker.

Chapter3: Angle Modulation 21

3.13 : Average Power of An Angle-Modulated Wave
 The average power in the unmodulated carrier is defined as

Vc 2
Pc  (1)
2R
where Pc = carrier power (watts)
Vc = peak umodulated carrier voltage (volts)
R = load resistance (ohms)
 The total instantaneous power in an angle-modulated carrier is defined as
m(t ) 2
Pt  (2)
R
substituting for m(t) gives
Vc 2
Pt  cos 2 ct   (t )
R2
Vc  1 1 
   cos 2  ct  2 (t )  (3)
R 2 2 

Chapter 3: Angle Modulation 22

3.13 : Average Power of An Angle-Modulated Wave
 In (3), the second term consists of an infinite number of sinusoidal side
frequency components about the frequency equal to twice the carrier
frequency (2ωc). Consequently, the average value of the second term is zero,
and the average power of the modulated wave reduced to
Vc 2
Pt  W (4)
2R
 (1) and (4) are identical, the average power of the modulated carrier must be
equal to the average power of the unmodulated carrier. The modulated carrier
power is the sum of the powers of the carrier and the side frequency
components.
 Therefore, the total modulated wave power is
Pt  P0  P1  P2  P3  Pn
Vc 2 2V 1 2V 2  2V 3 2Vn 
2 2 2 2
     (5)
2R 2R 2R 2R 2R

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Faculty of Electrical Engineering Chapter 3: Angle Modulation 23
3.13 : Average Power of An Angle-Modulated Wave
 Example
Determine the unmodulated carrier power for the FM modulator with
modulation, m = 1, Vc = 10 and a load resistance RL = 50 Ω

Vc2 10 2
Pc    1W
2 R 2(50 )

with m =1, from Bessel table function, it yields a reduced carrier component
and 3 sets of side frequencies.
Pt = Po + P1 + P2 + P3 whare V=Vc( j )
The power of unmodulated wave and the modulated carrier are equal
Vc2 2V12 2V22 2V32
   
2R 2R 2R 2R
2 2
7.7 2(4.4) 2(1.1) 2 2(0.2) 2
   
2(50 ) 2(50 ) 2(50 ) 2(50 )
 0.5929  0.3872  0.024  2  0.008
 1.0051W
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Faculty of Electrical Engineering Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 24
3.14 : Angle Modulation vs Amplitude Modulation
 Advantages of Angle Modulation

 Noise immunity – most noise results in unwanted amplitude variations in the

modulated wave (i.e. AM noise). FM and PM receivers include limiters that
remove most of the Am noise from the received signal before the final
demodulation process occurs – a process that cannot be used with AM receivers
because the information is also contained in amplitude variations, and removing
the noise would also remove the information.

 Noise performance and S/N improvement – with the use of limiters, FM and PM
actually reduce the noise level and improve the S/N ratio during the demodulation
process.

 Capture effect - with FM and PM, a phenomenon of capture effect allows a

receiver to differentiate between two signals received with the same frequency by
capturing the stronger signal and eliminate the weaker one. With AM, both signals
will be demodulated and produce audio signals.

Chapter 3 : Angle Modulation 25

3.14 : Angle Modulation vs Amplitude Modulation
 Advantages of Angle Modulation

 Power Utilization and efficiency

- with AM transmission, (especially DSBFC), - most of the transmitted power is
contained in the carrier while the information is contained in the much lower
power sidebands.
- with AM, the carrier power remains constant with modulation, and the sideband
power simply adds to the carrier power.
- with angle modulation, the total power remains constant regardless if modulation
is present.
- with angle modulation, power is taken from the carrier with modulation and
redistributed in the sidebands – puts most of its power in the information.

Chapter 3: Angle Modulation 26

3.14 : Angle Modulation vs Amplitude Modulation
 Disadvantages of Angle Modulation

 Bandwidth
- high quality angle modulation produces many side frequencies, thus necessitating
a much wider bandwidth than is necessary for AM transmission.

 Circuit complexity and cost

- PM and FM modulators, demodulators, transmitters, and receivers are more
complex to design and build than their AM counterparts.
- At one time, more complex means more expensive.
- However with the advent of inexpensive, large-scale integration ICs, the cost is
comparable to their AM counterparts.

Chapter 3: Angle Modulation 27