FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

TE2016
Lab Experiment No.3 Angle Modulation Dr. Alejandro Aragn Zavala It is time now to examine how a carrier can be modulated by an information signal (message) if its frequency is varied in proportion to this message. This is known as frequency modulation and by now you should be familiar with this technique. We will perform various experiments here modifying a sinusoidal carrier with both an analogue (FM) and digital (FSK, BPSK) messages. For this, the frequency and phase of the carrier is to be modified. More sophisticated digital modulation schemes will be analysed later on in the course. Software simulations 1. Generate a sinusoidal information signal in the audio frequency range, about 8 kHz, using MATLAB or Simulink. 2. Perform frequency modulation of this audio signal using a sinusoidal carrier of 95.5 MHz, and a frequency deviation of 75 kHz. 3. Observe the signals in both time and frequency. Print the graphs and draw your conclusions after varying both the carrier and the frequency deviation values. This will give you an idea of narrowband and wideband FM, depending on the frequency modulation index you use. 4. Now, using two different frequencies, one for mark (logic 1) and the other one for space (logic 0), generate an FSK signal using an 8 kHz random pulse train. Show waveforms in time and frequency. 5. For the same pulse train, design a BPSK modulator and also show time and frequency waveforms. 6. Report all your observations and findings. Hardware We will build an FM modulator and demodulator using the principles discussed in class. For FM modulation, we will use the LM566, which is a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator). For FM demodulation, a commercial LM565 PLL (Phased Locked Loop) is used. 1. Using the LM566, build an FM modulator as shown in Figure 1. The centre carrier frequency of the circuit is set by the values of and , as follows:

where

For testing purposes, we will fix this carrier frequency to . Therefore, if we fix to be , which is a commercial value for resistance, then:

To perform a fine adjustment of the carrier frequency, is made of a fixed resistor of and a potentiometer of , as indicated in Figure 1. In this way, we make sure that:

Use a 1 Vp-p, 2 kHz modulating audio signal. The modulating signal can vary the carrier frequency over nearly a 10:1 range, making very large frequency deviations possible. The deviation is linear with respect to the input amplitude over the entire range.
V+
12 V R2 1.5 k R1

1 nF 0.1 nF 6 Modulating signal R3 10 k C1 5 8 4

NE566
7 3 1

FM out

Figure No.1 FM modulator using LM566

2. Notice that you will produce either a square or a triangular wave rather than a sine wave at the output of the circuit built in 1 and shown in Figure 1. An active LPF (Low Pass Filter) is required in order to smooth this triangular carrier, and produce a sinusoidal one. Figure 2 shows a typical active LPF designed with the popular op-amp LM741.

C1

+12 V
2

R1
To pin 4, NE566

R2

741
4

Sinusoidal FM carrier 0.001 F

-12 V
C2

Figure No.2 Active LPF for FM modulator

The values of resistance and capacitance are:

Having a carrier frequency of 11.11 kHz, design your LPF filter according to the schematic shown in Figure 2, and connect it as suggested to your FM modulator of Figure 1. 3. Test your circuit by examining the signals in time (oscilloscope) and frequency (spectrum analyser). 4. Using the LM565, build an FM demodulator as indicated in Figure 3, making sure you keep component lead lengths as short as possible. The loop is set to free-run at 100 kHz by C104 and the series combination of R107 and R106. Potentiometer R106 allows adjustment of the free-running frequency, which should be the same as the carrier or centre frequency of the FM transmitter. The FM signal is coupled into the number 1 reference input of the phase detector (pin 2) through C103. Since the PLL is operating from a single supply (+15 V), resistors R102 and R103 are used as a voltage divider to split the power supply in half. C102 is an RF bypass for the bias point, and R104 and R105 serve to isolate the two phase detector inputs.

Figure No.3 FM demodulator using LM565

The VCO control voltage of the loop on pin 7 of the LM565 contains two components. One is the DC level corresponding to the average frequency going into the PLL from the FM modulator, and the other is the AC level that is actually the detected information signal. This AC signal arises because of the PLLs self-correcting action; as the transmitter deviates up or down in frequency, the PLL attempts to force the VCO to follow this frequency exactly by varying its control voltage. Thus, the control voltage is a copy of the original information signal. Components C106, C107 and R108 form the loop filter, which sets up the loop operating parameters (capture range, damping ratio, natural frequency) appropriately for demodulation of an FM signal. The signal at pin 7 of the LM565 contains some carrier frequency in addition to the AC and DC levels just discussed; components R109, C108, R110, and C109 form a low-pass filter to remove any traces of 100 kHz carrier signal. The final output is AC coupled by C110, leaving only demodulated information at the output. 5. Generate an FM signal using the signal generator with the following characteristics: a. b. c. d. Message type: sinusoidal Carrier frequency: 100 kHz Frequency deviation: 10 kHz Message frequency: 5 kHz

6. Apply power to the demodulator circuit of Figure 3, but do not connect its FM input to anything yet. First, adjust R106 so that the free-running frequency VCO output on pin 4 (square wave) of the LM565 PLL is 100 kHz (the actual carrier frequency you are using). 7. Now connect the FM output of the signal generator to your demodulator, and observe the time and frequency domain signals in the oscilloscope. Vary the information frequency and see how the PLL responds. Change the carrier

frequency and make sure you also adjust the R106 potentiometer, and see the effect. Increase and decrease the frequency deviation and check the result in the demodulated output. Draw your conclusions. 8. Could you build an FM modulator using the circuit LM565? Include in your report how you would perform this, showing connection diagrams. Equipment You will again use the TIMS equipment to modulate and demodulate signals using FM, along with a signal generator. 1. Generate FM using the TIMS equipment and the VCO module, as seen in class and shown in Figure 4. Use a TIMS module to generate a variable audio signal, which spans from 100 Hz up to about 8 kHz. Notice that the VCO allows you to choose between a HI (high) and a LO (low) carrier frequency. Try both and see the differences. Make sure the GAIN red indicator is never ON, otherwise reduce the gain this will indicate overloading of the controlling voltage and therefore malfunctioning of the VCO module.

Audio signal 8 kHz

VCO

FM output

Figure No.4 FM modulator using a VCO with TIMS

2. Observe the signals in time and frequency, obtain plots and draw your conclusions. Vary the carrier and information frequency as well as the amplitudes of the information signal and carrier to check how the modulation index is varied. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to generate: a. FSK b. BPSK 4. Report your observations and make sure you take enough pictures of it! Optional: To demodulate FM, you will use a PLL which you will build according to Figure 5 using various TIMS modules. You will need to use a MULTIPLIER, a TUNEABLE LPF and a VCO modules. Since we only have one VCO module available for use, generate an FM signal using the signal generator, observing the time and frequency plots using the digital oscilloscope.
FM input

LPF

Message out

VCO
Figure No.5 FM demodulation using TIMS

Adjust the gain and centre frequency of your TUNEABLE LPF by using the GAIN and TUNE knobs. The way to do it is you examine the spectrum using the digital oscilloscope in FFT mode, and moving the TUNE knob until you remove all undesired harmonics. That will be your cutoff frequency. Try different information signals and see if your demodulator can recover them all. You might need to use as VCO your circuit in Figure 1 for this. Draw your conclusions.