EEE/ECE F311

COMMUNICATION
SYSTEMS
SEM I – 2025-26

LECTURE 04
August 22, 2025 Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus
WORD OF CAUTION

➢ The course textbook and reference books are the primary study materials. These 2

slides would only serve as a supplementary aid for your preparations.

➢ Hence, in case of any ambiguity regarding the completeness and correctness of

these slides, the textbook has to be taken into confidence.

➢ These slides are provided for your reference. Do not share or reproduce the content

without obtaining permission from the course instructor.

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
BASEBAND COMMUNICATIONS

➢ In baseband communications, message signals are directly transmitted without any

3
modification.
➢ Because most baseband signals, such as audio and video, contain significant low-frequency
content, they cannot be effectively emitted over radio (wireless) links.
➢ Instead, dedicated user channels, such as twisted pairs of copper wires and coaxial cables, are
assigned to each user for distance communications.
➢ Because baseband signals have overlapping bands, they would mutually interfere if sharing a
common channel.

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
CARRIER MODULATION
➢ Communication that uses modulation to shift the frequency Carrier
Modulation
spectrum of a signal is known as carrier communication. 4

➢ In terms of analog modulation, one of the basic parameters Analog Digital

Modulation Modulation
(amplitude, frequency, or phase) of a sinusoidal carrier of
high frequency 𝑓𝑐 Hz (or 𝜔𝑐 = 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 rad/s) is varied linearly
Amplitude Amplitude Shift
with the baseband signal 𝑚(𝑡). Modulation (AM) Keying (ASK)
➢ This results in amplitude modulation (AM), frequency
modulation (FM), or phase modulation (PM), respectively. Frequency Frequency Shift
Modulation (FM) Keying (FSK)
➢ AM is a linear modulation, while the closely related FM and
PM are nonlinear, often known collectively as angle
Phase Phase Shift
modulation Modulation (PM) Keying (PSK)

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
PULSE-MODULATED SIGNALS – NOTE!
➢ Types of Signals: Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), Pulse
Position Modulation (PPM), Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), and Delta Modulation (DM). 5

➢ Nature of the Signals: Despite the term "modulation," these are fundamentally baseband
signals, not signals shifted to a higher frequency band.
➢ Meaning of "Modulation": In this context, "modulation" doesn't refer to carrier modulation
(frequency shifting). Instead, it describes various digital pulse-coding schemes that represent
an original message.
➢ The Process: An analog message signal is used to alter a specific parameter—such as
amplitude, width, or position—of a digital pulse train.
➢ Further Use: These pulse-modulated baseband signals can themselves be used later to
modulate a carrier wave in order to shift their frequency spectrum for transmission.

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
CARRIER MODULATION

Baseband message signal

Carrier signal
𝑠1 𝑡 = 𝐴(𝑡) cos[2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡 + 𝜙 𝑡 ]

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATION – BASICS
➢ Amplitude of a sinusoidal carrier signal of high frequency 𝑓𝑐 Hz (or 𝜔𝑐 = 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 rad/s) is varied
linearly with the baseband message signal 𝑚(𝑡) (of bandwidth 𝐵).
7
➢ Key to amplitude modulation:
➢ To move the frequency response of 𝑚(𝑡), say 𝑀(𝑓), to a new frequency band centered at
𝑓𝑐 Hz, the frequency-shifting property of the Fourier transform can be employed.
➢ All we need to do is to multiply 𝑚(𝑡) by a sinusoid of frequency 𝑓𝑐 such that,
𝒔𝟏 𝒕 = 𝒎(𝒕) 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝝅𝒇𝒄 𝒕
𝟏
𝒔𝟏 𝒕 ⇔ 𝑺𝟏 𝒇 = 𝑴 𝒇 − 𝒇𝒄 + 𝑴(𝒇 + 𝒇𝒄 )
𝟐
➢ Simple multiplication allows changes in the amplitude of the sinusoid 𝑠1 (𝑡) to be
proportional to the message signal.
➢ 𝑓𝑐 ≥ 𝐵 is essential to avoid overlap of the modulated spectra centered at 𝑓𝑐 and −𝑓𝑐 .
Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATION – MODULATION

𝒎(𝒕) ⇔ 𝑴(𝒇)
𝟏 8
𝒎(𝒕) 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝝅𝒇𝒄 𝒕 ⇔ 𝑴 𝒇 − 𝒇𝒄 + 𝑴(𝒇 + 𝒇𝒄 )
𝟐

➢ Carrier amplitude is a linear function of the baseband

(message) signal 𝑚(𝑡).
➢ At the same time, the carrier frequency 𝜔𝑐 and the phase
𝜙(𝑡) = 𝜃𝑐 remain constant. We can assume 𝜃𝑐 = 0
without loss of generality.

𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝟐𝝅𝒇𝒄 𝒕 0.5 0.5

1
➢ Carrier signal frequency response (spectrum) has two
impulses at ±𝑓𝑐 .
−𝒇𝒄 𝒇𝒄

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATION – DSB-SC

Amplitude
modulated 9

signal

➢ Bandwidth of 𝑚(𝑡) is 𝐵 Hz, while the modulated signal’s bandwidth is 2𝐵 Hz.

➢ The modulated signal spectrum is centered at ±𝑓𝑐 (or ±𝜔𝑐 rad/s).
➢ It consists of two parts:
➢ the upper sideband (USB) - portion that lies outside ±𝑓𝑐 ,
➢ and the lower sideband (LSB) - portion that lies inside ±𝑓𝑐 .
➢ The modulated signal, 𝑚(𝑡) cos 2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡, in this scheme does not contain a discrete component of
the carrier frequency 𝑓𝑐 i.e., no sinusoid at 𝑓𝑐 .
➢ This modulation is hence known as Double-sideband, suppressed-carrier (DSB-SC) modulation.
Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATION – DEMODULATION
➢ Amplitude Demodulation: Recovering the baseband message signal from the amplitude
modulated signal (retranslating the spectrum back).
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Shift left by 𝜔𝑐 Shift right by 𝜔𝑐

−2𝜔𝑐 0 + 0 2𝜔𝑐

Lowpass
filter

−2𝜔𝑐 0 2𝜔𝑐

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATION – DEMODULATION
➢ Amplitude demodulation, which is almost identical to modulation, consists of multiplication of the
incoming modulated signal 𝑚(𝑡)cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 by a locally generated carrier cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 followed by a lowpass
filter. 11
➢ A possible form of lowpass filter characteristics, which leads to distortionless demodulation, is indicated
by the dotted region.

magnitude
phase

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATION – DEMODULATION
➢ The inconvenient fraction 1/2 in the output can be removed by using 2cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 instead of
cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 as the local demodulating carrier. 12

➢ This method of recovering the baseband signal is called synchronous detection, or coherent
detection, where the receiver generates a carrier of exactly the same frequency (and phase) as
the carrier used for modulation.

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATION – EXAMPLE
Tone modulation: 𝒎 𝒕 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝎𝒎 𝒕
13

𝑀(𝑓) DSB-SC spectrum: 𝑆(𝑓)

Demodulated (Recovered) signal spectrum

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATION – EXAMPLE
Tone modulation: 𝒎 𝒕 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝎𝒎 𝒕
14

AM signal:

Demodulation:

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATORS – MULTIPLIERS
Multiplier Modulators:
➢ AM can be achieved directly using an analog multiplier, which outputs the product of the 15

message signal, 𝑚(𝑡), and the carrier signal, cos 𝜔𝑐 ​𝑡.

➢ A variable-gain amplifier can function as a multiplier by using one signal, 𝑚(𝑡), to control its
gain (parameter 𝛽) while the other signal, cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡​ , is the input.
➢ Signal multiplication was historically a major challenge for circuit designers. Advances in
semiconductor technology have made signal multiplication much less of a concern.
➢ Studying older, "classical" modulators that avoid multipliers is still valuable for gaining insights
and learning new signal analysis skills.

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATORS – NONLINEAR
Nonlinear Modulators:

➢ AM can also be achieved by using nonlinear (NL) devices, such as a semiconductor diode or a 16

transistor.

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATORS – NONLINEAR
Nonlinear Modulators:
17

➢ The input-output of either of the NL elements be approximated by a power series:

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATORS – NONLINEAR

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➢ When 𝑧(𝑡) is passed through a bandpass filter tuned to 𝜔𝑐 , the signal 𝑎𝑚(𝑡) is suppressed and the
desired modulated signal 4𝑏𝑚(𝑡)​cos 𝜔𝑐 𝑡 can pass through the system without distortion.
➢ The carrier signal does not appear at the input of the final bandpass filter. The circuit acts as a
balanced bridge for one of the inputs (the carrier).
➢ Circuits that have this characteristic are called balanced circuits.
➢ The previous NL circuit is balanced with respect to only one input (the carrier); the other input 𝑚(𝑡)
still appears at the final bandpass filter, which must reject it. For this reason, it is called a single
balanced modulator.
➢ A circuit balanced with respect to both inputs is called a double balanced modulator, of which the
ring modulator (will be discussed later) is an example.

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025
AMPLITUDE MODULATORS – SWITCHING
Switching Modulators:
19

Ravi Kadlimatti, “Communication Systems," BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa Campus August 22, 2025