ECE 146A: Analog Communication Theory and Techniques

Lab 5: Angle Modulation and Demodulation – Hardware

Lab Report Due: 5:00 p.m., Thursday, March 13, 2008

(Place in the ECE 146A Homework Box on the 3rd Floor of Harold Frank Hall
or Bring to Class)

1 Objective
The goal of this lab is to investigate the properties and characteristics of a frequency modulated
(FM) signal and its spectrum. You will implement the FM modulator and demodulator using the
MC14046 phase-locked loop (PLL) integrated circuit (IC).

2 Laboratory Room
Engineering I, Room 5162. Note that you will work in groups of two students, but each student
must submit a separate lab report. Due to time constraints, your report will be relatively brief
compared to those of previous labs.

3 Equipment
Along with an oscilloscope, a digital multimeter (DMM), a function generator, and a power supply,
you will need the following equipment:

1. MC14046 PLL.

2. Various resistors, capacitors, and diodes.

3. Breadboard.

4. Cables: BNC to IC clips (3 each), banana cable for DC power supply (3 each), DMM test
leads (1 each).

5. Needle nose pliers and wire cutters.

6. Wire.
7. Card key for room 5162.

Most of these items can be purchased as a lab kit from the Electronics Shop on the first floor of
Engineering I.

1
 Vc(t) V (t)
PHASE LOWPASS e
COMPARATOR FILTER
INPUT ERROR
SIGNAL SIGNAL
Vo(t) VCO

Figure 1: Block diagram of the PLL components.

F( V )
low

F( Vhigh )
Vc
Vlow ∆Vc Vhigh

Figure 2: Voltage/frequency characteristic of a VCO.

4 Background
4.1 Phase-Locked Loop
A phase-locked loop (PLL) is basically an electronic feedback system that provides frequency selec-
tive tuning and filtering without the need for coils or inductors. It consists of three basic functional
blocks:
• Phase comparator.
• Lowpass filter.
• Voltage-controlled oscillator.
Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a PLL. Observe that the phase comparator output signal
is computed as the phase difference between the input signal Vc (t) and the output of the voltage-
controlled oscillator (VCO) Vo (t). This signal is then filtered by a lowpass filter (LPF) to produce
the error signal Ve (t), which is needed by the VCO to generate the output frequency. As the error
voltage increases, the VCO output frequency also increases.
The basic operation of the PLL can briefly be explained as follows. With no input signal applied
to the system, the error voltage Ve (t) is equal to zero, and the VCO operates at a predetermined
“free running” frequency fo . When an input signal with a frequency fc not equal to fo is applied to
the system, the phase comparator produces a nonzero error voltage, which makes the VCO output
frequency approach fc . Thus, the feedback loop causes the VCO to synchronize in frequency (i.e.,

2
 MESSAGE
IN

V (t)
CARRIER PHASE LOWPASS e
SUMMER
IN COMPARATOR FILTER

FM OUT Vo(t)
VCO

Figure 3: FM modulation using a PLL.

become locked) with the incoming signal. Once in lock, the VCO output frequency is essentially
identical to that of the input signal. Figure 2 shows a typical voltage/frequency characteristic for
a VCO.
A PLL circuit can be used to create an FM signal. The input to the phase comparator is the
carrier signal, and assuming that the carrier frequency is within the capture range of the PLL, the
VCO output frequency will be equal to the carrier frequency. Now, if the VCO control voltage is
the sum of the message waveform and the loop error voltage, then the VCO output frequency will
vary about the carrier frequency according to the message. Thus, the VCO output is the desired
FM signal. A block diagram of a PLL frequency modulator is shown in Figure 3.

4.2 Frequency Modulation

Frequency modulation (FM) is a form of angle modulation where the message signal m(t) is used
to vary the carrier frequency. Review the material on FM covered in Lab 4 and discussed in your
textbook. An implementation based on the MC14046 IC is shown in Figure 4. Review details of
the MC14046 IC by studying the data sheet on the course web site.

4.3 Frequency Demodulation

A PLL may also be used to demodulate an FM signal. The quiescent frequency (i.e., with no
input signal) of the VCO is adjusted to the frequency of the unmodulated carrier. Assuming that
the instantaneous frequency of the FM signal remains within the lock range of the PLL, the VCO
output frequency will equal the frequency of the FM input. This in turn means that the error
signal, which is the VCO input, corresponds to a reconstructed version of the message that created
the FM signal. A block diagram of an FM demodulator based on a PLL is shown in Figure 5, and
an implementation using the MC14046 IC is shown in Figure 6.

5 Preparation
• Review the theory of FM, PLLs, and VCOs in your textbook and the Matlab Communication
Toolbox manual.

• Read the data sheet on the MC14046 IC.

• Answer the following questions:

1. Why don’t we choose a carrier frequency fc higher than 100 kHz in this lab.

3
 +10 V

1 16
2 15
3 14 CARRIER IN
FM OUT
4 MC14046 13
50 kΩ
5 12
6 11
0.001 µF 7 10
100 kΩ
8 9
10 kΩ

MESSAGE
2 kΩ 22 kΩ SIGNAL

0.01 µF 22 kΩ

Figure 4: FM modulator circuit based on the MC14046.

FM IN PHASE LOWPASS DEMOD OUT

COMPARATOR FILTER

VCO

Figure 5: Block diagram of an FM demodulator.

2. What are the similarities and differences between FM modulation and FM demodulation
using a PLL?
3. Give mathematical expressions that describe what occurs in (a) FM, (b) the VCO, and
(c) the PLL.

6 Procedure
The carrier is a 100 kHz square wave with 10 V peak-to-peak and +5 V DC bias. The message
signal m(t) is a 1 kHz sine wave with 5 V peak-to-peak. Proceed through the following steps to
design and implement the FM modulator and demodulator.

(a) Adjust the free-running frequency (pin 4) to 100 kHz by varying the 50 kΩ potentiometer.
Construct the circuit in Figure 7 to adjust the free-running frequency.
(b) Construct the circuit shown in Figure 4 to implement the FM modulator.

4
(c) Fine tune the carrier frequency until a stable (but probably imperfect sine wave) is produced
at pin 9, assuming that the modulator input is the sine-wave message.

(d) Connect the output FM signal to the input of the FM demodulator. If the waveform is unstable
and not like a sine wave, fine tune the carrier frequency until a stable sine wave is produced
at pin 9 of the FM demodulator. When this occurs, your modulator and demodulator are
working properly.

(e) Print out the spectra of the message signal, the FM signal, and the demodulated FM signal for
a few different values of the modulation index β (small, medium, and large) by varying the
message frequency and its amplitude. When you observe and record the waveforms, use the
same time scale in all instances. You should also record the selected modulation parameters.
(Note that plotting on the oscilloscope may take some time, so do these as time permits.)

1. Can you observe any changes in the waveform and spectrum when varying the signal
parameters?
2. For each set of parameter values, estimate how many sidebands need to be retained in
order to have a reasonably accurate approximation of the waveform.
3. What is the corresponding bandwidth of the FM signal? How do the measured results
compare to your estimates? Explain any discrepancies.

(f ) Compare the PLL input signal with the VCO output. Can you see that these two signals are
locked? Display the two signals simultaneously on the oscilloscope and record them on the
same plot.

(g) Repeat the above procedures for a 1 kHz square-wave message signal using the same 100 kHz
sine-wave carrier signal. Answer the same questions for this modified case.

7 Lab Report
Use a brief version of the standard lab report and include the following items.

• Two plots from the oscilloscope showing the modulated and demodulated signals, and a couple
of plots showing the spectrum magnitudes from the oscilloscope.

• Answers to all questions.

• Circuit designs: specifications, design considerations, schematic drawings, and parts list.

• Testing results: debugging and circuit tune-up, spectrum plots, and time-domain waveforms.

• Write a paragraph about any questions or confusions that you may have experienced with
this lab.

5
 +10 V

1 16
2 15
3 14 FM IN
4 MC14046 13
50 kΩ
5 12
6 11
0.001 µF 7 10
100 kΩ
8 9
10 kΩ

2 kΩ
DEMOD OUT

0.01 µF

Figure 6: FM demodulator circuit based on the MC14046 IC.

+10 V

1 16
2 15

VCO OUTPUT 3 14 CARRIER IN

4 MC14046 13
50 kΩ
5 12
6 11
0.001 µF 7 10
100 kΩ
8 9
10 kΩ

2 kΩ

0.01 µF

Figure 7: PLL circuit for adjusting the free-running frequency.