uolppjnpow Aquanbau - 6 ‘$5019 :a\NONYExperiment 9 - Frequency modulation Preliminary discussion A disadvantage of the AM, DSBSC and SSB communication systems is that they are susceptible to picking up electrical noise in the transmission medium (the channel) This is because noise changes the amplitude of the transmitted signal and the demedulators of these systems are. affected by amplitude variations. ‘As its name implies, frequency modulation (FM) uses a message's amplitude to vary the frequency of a carrier instead of its amplitude. This means that the FM demodulator is designed to look for changes in frequency instead. As such, itis less affected by amplitude variations and so FM is less susceptible to noise, This makes FM a better communications system in this regard ‘There are several methods of generating FM signals but they all basically involve an oscillator with an electrically adjustable frequency. The oscillator uses an input voltage to affect the frequency of its output. Typically, when the input is OV, the oscillator outputs a signal at its rest frequency (also commonly called the free-running or centre frequency). Lf the applied voltage varies above or below OV, the oscillator’s output frequency deviates above and below the rest frequency. Moreover, the amount of deviation is affected by the amplitude of the input voltage. That is, the bigger the input voltage, the greater the deviation, Figure 1 below shows a simple message signal (a bipolar squarewave) and an unmedulated carrier. Tr also shows the result of frequency modulating the carrier with the message. Message Unmodulated FM signal Figure 1 92 '© 2008 Emona Instruments Experiment 9- Frequency modulationThere are a few things to notice about the FM signal. First, its envelopes are flat ~ recall that FM doesn't vary the carrier's amplitude. Second, its period (and hence its frequency) changes when the amplitude of the message changes. Third, as the message alternates above and below OV, the signal's frequency goes above and below the carrier's frequency. (Note: It's equally possible to design an FM modulator to cause the frequency to change in the opposite direction to the change in the message's polarity.) Before discussing FM any further, an important point must be made here. A squarewave message has been used in this discussion to help you visualise how an FM carrier responds to its message. In so doing, Figure 1 suggests that the resulting FM signal consists of only two sinewaves (one at a frequency above the carrier and one below). However, this isn’t the case. For reasons best left to your instructor to explain, the spectral composition of the FM signal in Figure 1 is much more complex than implied. This highlights one of the important differences between FM and the modulation schemes discussed earlier. The mathematical model of an FM signal predicts that even for a simple sinusoidal message, the result is a signal that potentially contains many sinewaves. In contrast, for the same sinusoidal message, an AM signal would consist of three sinewaves, a DSBSC signal would consist of two and an SSBSC signal would consist of only one. This doesn't automatically mean that the bandwidth of FM signals is wider than AM, DSBSC and SSBSC signals (for the same message signal). However, in the practical implementation of FM communications, it usually is, Finally, when reading about the operation of an FM modulator you may have recognised that there is a module on the Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 that operates in the same way - the VCO module. In fact a voltage-controlled oscillator is sometimes used for FM modulation (though there are other methods with advantages over the VCO). ‘The experiment In this experiment youll generate a real FM signal using the VCO module on the Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101. First youll set up the VCO module to output an unmodulated carrier at a known frequency. Then youll observe the effect of frequency modulating its output with a squarewave then speech, Youll also use the speech signal to demonstrate the effect that a message's amplitude has on an FM modulator. Finally, youll use a sinewave to observe the spectral composition of an FM signal (in the time domain). Tt should take you about 45 minutes to complete this experiment. Experiment 9- Frequency modulation © 2008 Emona Instruments 93Equipment = Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 (plus power-pack) = Dual channel 20MH2z oscilloscope = two Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 oscilloscope leads = assorted Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 patch leads Procedure Part A - Frequency modulating a squarewave 1. Gather a set of the equipment listed on the previous page. 2. Set up the scope per the instructions in Experiment 1, Ensure that: + the Trigger Source control is set to the CH! (or INT) position. + the Mode control is set to the CH! position 3. Locate the VCO module and turn its Gain control to about two thirds of its travel (about the position of the number 2 on a clock face). 4, Set the VCO module's Frequency Adjust control to about the middle of its travel 5. Set the VCO module's Range control to the LO position 6. Connect the set-up shown in Figure 2 below. Note: Insert the oscilloscope lead's black plug into a ground (ND) socket. Bag poo cers c® t ft i Figure 2 94 '© 2008 Emona Instruments Experiment 9- Frequency modulation7. Set the scope's Timebase control to the 20u8/div position. 8. Adjust the VCO module's Frequency Adjust control so that one cycle of its output is exactly 5 divisions, Note: This sets the VCO module's rest frequency to 10kHz (proof: 1 Srzoy 710.000) 9. Set the scope’s Timebase control to the 0.1ms/div position. Note: This will show about ten cycles of the VCO module's SINE output. 10. Modify the set-up as shown in Figure 3 below. Note: Notice that the scope’s connection to the VCO module's output has changed. aoo G00 Experiment 9- Frequency mediation © 2008 Emona Instruments 95‘The set-up in Figure 3 can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 4 below. The Master Signals module is used to provide a 2kHz squarewave message signal and the VCO module is the FM modulator with a 10kHz carrier. Message Toch Master Signals vco n FM signal kHz ~ > ae 10kHz rest Frequency Figure 4 Il, Set the scope's Mode control to the DUAL position, 12, Tf necessary, tweak the VCO module's Gain control until you obtain an output from the VCO that's similar to the FM signal in Figure 1 (in the preliminary discussion). 13, Use the scope's Channel 1 Vertical Position control to overlay the message with the FM. signal and compare them. Question 1 Why does the frequency of the carrier change? Ask the instructor to check your work before continuing 96 "© 2008 Emona Instruments Experiment 9- Frequency modulationPart B - Generating on FM signal using speech So far, this experiment has generated an FM signal using a squarewave for the message. However, the message in commercial communications systems is much more likely to be speech and music. The next part of the experiment lets you see what an FM signal looks like when modulated by speech. 14, Disconnect the plugs to the Master Signals module's 2kHz DIGITAL output. 15, Connect them to the Speech module's output as shown in Figure 5 below. Remember: Dotted lines show leads already in place. aaogoo +lo@et tt ° vee Tee° oa 2% 28 8 Ts ___] =O * a a ah B Figure 5 16. Set the scope’s Trigger Source control to the CH2 position 17, Talk, sing or hum while watching the scope's display 18, Set the scope's Timebase contrel to about the 20.s/div position. 19. Quietly hum into the Speech module's microphone while watching the scope's display. 20. Slowly make your hum louder and louder without changing its pitch. Experiment 9- Frequency modulation © 2008 Emona Instruments 97Question 2 What is the relationship between the FM signal's frequency deviation (that is, the VCO module's output) and the amplitude of the message? Question 3 What is the relationship between the FM signal's frequency deviation and the frequency of the message? Tip: This relationship may not be observable with the present set-up. Ask the instructor to check your work before continuing, 38 '© 2008 Emona Instruments Experiment 9- Frequency modulationPart € - Considering the spectral composition of FM signals Regardless of the type of message signal used the spectral composition of FM signals is rich in sinewaves. The next part of this experiment demonstrates this. 21, Set the scope's Mode control to the CH2 position so that you're only looking at the FM signal. 22, Disconnect the VCO module's input from the Speech module's output. 23. Modify the set-up as shown in Figure 6 below. aaoaaa +lo@et FU ® 2 lee° t ° Figure 6 You should now see a display that looks similar to Figure 7 below. Figure 7 Experiment 9- Frequency modulation © 2008 Emona Instruments 9924, Tf you don't have a display similar to Figure 7, slowly turn the VCO module's Gain control anti-clockwise until you do When viewed this way you can clearly see the highest frequency sinewave that the FM. modulator is outputting, the lowest frequency sinewave and many of the sinewaves in between. 25. Connect the VCO module's input to the Master Signals module's 2kHz DIGITAL output instead of the 2kHz SINE output. 26. Note the spectral composition of the FM signal 27. Connect the VCO module's input to the Speech module's output instead of the Master Signals module's 2kHz DIGITAL output. 28. Note the spectral composition of the FM signal Notice that the spectral composition of the FM signal is complex regardless of the message's waveshape. Ask the instructor to check your work before finishing, 940 ‘© 2008 Emona Instruments Experiment 9- Frequency modulationuol,Djnpowep W4 - OT ss010 ‘aWONExperiment 10 - FM demodulation Preliminary discussion There are as many methods of demodulating an FM signal as there are of generating one. Examples include: the slope detector, the Foster-Seeley discriminator, the ratio detector, the. phase-locked loop (PLL), the quadrature FM demodulator and the zero-cressing detector. It's possible to implement several of these methods using the Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 but, for an introduction to the principles of FM demodulation, only the zero-crossing detector is used in this experiment. ‘The zero-crossing detector ‘The zero-crossing detector is a simple yet effective means of recovering the message from FM signals, Tts block diagram is shown in Figure 1 below, FM Demodulated signal ——P] I Fy zen ~ [> essage Figure 1 ‘The received FM signal is first passed through a comparator to heavily clip it, effectively converting it to a squarewave. This allows the signal to be used as a trigger signal for the zero: crossing detector circuit (ZCD). The ZCD generates a pulse with e fixed duration every time the squared-up FM signal crosses zero volts (either on the positive or the negative transition but not both). Given the squared-up FM signal is continuously crossing zero, the ZCD effectively converts the squarewave to a rectangular wave with a fixed mark time, When the FM signal's frequency changes (in response to the message), so does the rectangular wave's frequency. Importantly though, as the rectangular wave's mark is fixed, changing its frequency is achieved by changing the duration of the space and hence the signal's mark/space ratio (or duty cycle). This is shown in Figure 2 on the next page using an FM signal that only switches between two frequencies (because it has been generated by a squarewave for the message). 102. (© 2008 Emena Instruments Experiment 10- FM demodulationFM signal ov Comparator’s output ov Zed signal Lov Figure 2 Recall from the theory of complex waveforms, pulse trains are actually made up of sinewaves and, in the case of Figure 2 above, a DC voltage. The size of the DC voltage is affected by the pulse train's duty cycle, The greater its duty cycle, the greater the DC voltage. That being the case, when the FM signal in Figure 2 above switches between the two frequencies, the DC voltage that makes up the rectangular wave out of the ZCD changes between two values. In others words, the DC component of the rectangular wave is a copy of the squarewave that produced the FM signal in the first place. Recovering this copy is a relatively simple matter of picking out the changing DC voltage using a low-pass filter, Importantly, this demodulation technique works equally well when the message is a sinewave or speech, ‘The experiment In this experiment you'll use the Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 to generate an FM signal using a VCO. Then you'll set-up a zero-crossing detector and verify its operation for variations in the message's amplitude. Tt should take you about 50 minutes to complete this experiment, Experiment 10- FM demodulation © 2008 Emona Trstruments 103Equipment + Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 (plus pewer-pack) + Dual channel 20MHz oscilloscope + two Emona Telecoms-Trainer 101 oscilloscope leads + assorted Emona Telecoms-Treiner 101 patch leads = one set of headphones (stereo) Procedure Port A - Setting up the FM modulator To experiment with FM demadulation you need an FM signal. The first part of the experiment gets you to set one up. To make viewing the signals around the demodulator possible, well start with a DC voltage for the message. 1. Gather a set of the equipment listed above 2. Set up the scope per the instructions in Experiment 1. 3. Locate the VCO module and turn its Gain control fully clockwise. 4, Set the VCO module's Frequency Adjust control to about the middle of its travel 5. Set the VCO module's Range control to the LO position. 6. Connect the set-up shown in Figure 3 below. 03000 o@l*t Figure 3 10.4 (© 2008 Emena Instruments Experiment 10- FM demodulation10, ML, 12, Set the scope's Timebase control to view two or so cycles of the VCO module's SINE output, Adjust the VCO module's SINE output to 10kHz. Note: You do this by adjusting the signal's period to 100s (recall that = 4 Set the scope's Trigger Source control to the CH2 position, Set the scope's Channel 1 and Channel 2 Input Coupling controls to the DC position, ‘Set the scope’s Mode control to the DUAL position. Connect the set-up shown in Figure 4 below, aaanaa +lowlet lt Tee° sso i tt Figure 4 This set-up can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 5 on the next page. The Variable DEV module is being used to provide a simple DC message and the VCO module. implements an FM modulator with a carrier frequency of 10kHz. Experiment 10- FM demodulation © 2008 Emona Trstruments 105Message. To Chl Variable DCV vco + N > FM signal bev To Ch.2 10kHz rest frequency Figure 5 13, Vary the Variable DCV module's D¢ Voltage control and check that the VCO module’s output frequency changes accordingly Ask the instructor to check your work before continuing. For a variety of reasons, an important operating parameter of an FM modulator is its Sensitivity. This is how much the FM modulator’s output frequency deviates from the carrier (or rest) frequency for a given change in input voltage. It is typically expressed in Hertz per volt (AH2/AV). For the FM demodulator that youll wire in this experiment, the FM modulator's output frequency must not exceed about 5kHz, And, as the sinewave that youll use for the message later in the experiment is 4Vp-p (or #2V peak), this means that sensitivity must not be greater than 2.5kH2/volt. The VCO module's sensitivity can be adjusted using its GAZNcontrol and the next part of the experiment gets you to do so 14, Set the Variable DCV module's output to +2V. 15, Adjust the VCO module's GAZN control for a 15kHz output. Note: You do this by adjusting the signal's period to 66us. 106 (© 2008 Emena Instruments Experiment 10- FM demodulation16. Set the Variable DCV module's output to -2V. 17, Measure the VCO module's new output frequency. Note: If the VCO module's operation is linear, the new output frequency should be about kHz, Ask the instructor to check your work before continuing. Part B - Setting up the zero-crossing detector 18, Return the scope's Trigger Source control to the CH! (or INT) position. 19. Locate the Twin Pulse Generator module and turn its: Width control fully anti-clockwise. 20, Set the Twin Pulse Generator module's De/ay control fully anti-clockwise. 21, Connect the set-up shown in Figure 6 below. Note: Don't dismantle the existing set-up. Gaogao Figure 6 Experiment 10- FM demodulation © 2008 Emona Trstruments 0722, Set the scope's Timebase control to the 24s/div position 23. Adjust the Twin Pulse Generator module's Width control for ah output pulse that is 12us long Note: Generally speaking, the longer the pulse the greater it's DC component and, in the. case of the zero-crossing detector, the greater the size of the recovered message. However, the pulses cannot be too long otherwise the circuit's operation breaks down due to other performance parameters of the TPG module. In this case, 12us is a compromise. 24. Return the scope’s Timebase control to its previous position Tip: If youre not sure, try 50us/dlv. 25, Add the set-up shown in Figure 7 below to the FM modulator. Remember: Dotted lines show leads already in place. aaapaa 2@let Owes Figure 7 ‘The additions to the set-up can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 8 on the next page. 108 (© 2008 Emena Instruments Experiment 10- FM demodulationThe comparator on the Utilities module is used to clip the FM signal, effectively turning it into a squarewave. The positive edge-triggered Twin Pulse Generator module is used to implement the zero-crossing detector. To complete the FM demodulator, the Baseband LPF on the. Chane! Module is used to pick-out the changing DC component of the Twin Pulse Generator module's output. Utilities Twin Pulse Baseband module Generator LPF FM ~ Demodulated ssa} | Pope RAR To Ch Figure 8 ‘The entire set-up can be represented by the block diagram in Figure 9 below. Message Tochi N ~ Demodulated ru >| [ m) zcd > Nw > message Toch2 * bev 10kH2 rest i 1 i frequency | i 1 i i FM modulator FM demodulator Figure 9 26. Vary the Variable DCV module's DC Voltage control left and right. Note: If the FM demodulator is working, the DC voltage out of the Baseband LPF should vary as you do though it will be a small voltage. Tip: If this doesn’t happen, check that the scope's Channel 2 Input Coupling control is set to the DCposition before you start checking your wiring Experiment 10- FM demodulation © 2008 Emona Trstruments 103Ask the instructor to check your work before continuing. Part € - Investigating the operation of the zero-crossing detector The next part of the experiment lets you verify the operation of the zero-crossing detector 27. Rearrange the scope's connections to the set-up as shown in Figure 10 below. Goapaa o@let @l*z Seee Figure 10 ‘The new scope connections can be shown using the block diagram in Figure 11 on the next page. demedilaton 10410 (© 2008 Emena Instruments Experiment 10-FM signal Comparator's o/p Tocht Toch2 ae ~ AC |, denodiated sev | : zoo >) nN message tome | ' EMmodlrer | FM demedulter Figure 11 Question 1 Why is The FM signal no-enger a sinewave? Tip: Tf youre not sure, see the preliminary 28. Vary the Variable DCV module's D¢ Voltage control left and right to model the FM signal's continuously changing frequency. 29, As you perform the step above, examine the waveshape of the Comparator's output. Question 2 ‘What type of waveform does the Comparator output? Question 3 What does this tell us about the DC component of the comparator’s output? Ask the instructor to check your work before continuing. Experiment 10- FM demodulation © 2008 Emona Trstruments won30, Rearrange the scope’s connections to the set-up as shown in Figure 12 below. ay oo500 at e@l3 Figure 12 ‘The new scope connections can be shown using the block diagram in Figure 13 below. Comparator's o/p ZCD's o/p To cht Toch2 bev 10kH2 FM modulator FM demodulator \ ' \ YL Po LL, denedlaes Fo > zeo AC neiose ' ' ' \ ' Figure 13, 1012 (© 2008 Emena Instruments Experiment 10- FM demodulation31, Vary the Variable DCV module's DC Voltage control left and right to model the FM signal's continuously changing frequency. Tip: Do this slowly to avoid confusing the scope's triggering circuitry. 32, As you perform the step above, compare the outputs from the Comparator and the Twin Pulse Generator module (the ZCD). Question 4 What type of waveform does the ZCD output? fe the FM signa changes frequency so does the ZCD's output. What aspect of the signal changes to achieve this? O_ Neither the signal's mark nor space Only the signal's mark C1 Only the signal's space a Both the signal's mark and space Question 6 What does this tell us about the DC component of the comparator’s output? Ask the instructor to check your werk before continuing, Experiment 10- FM demodulation © 2008 Emona Trstruments 10.13‘The next part of the experiment lets you verify your answer to the previous question, 33, Rearrange the scope’s connections to the set-up as shown in Figure 14 below. gagaag + |o@) 4 S@lrd See> 72% Figure 14 ‘The new scope connections can be shown using the block diagram in Figure 15 below. Tocht Zed's o/p bev [> message ~% Demodulated N 10kHz N FONE [Oe FM modulator FM demodulator Figure 15 Tocha 10.414 (© 2008 Emona Instruments ‘Experiment 10- FM demadultion34. Vary the Variable DCV module's DC Voltage control left and right to model the FM signal's continuously changing frequency. 35. Asyou perform the step above, compare the outputs from the Twin Pulse Generator module (the ZCD) and the Baseband LPF. Tip: You may find it helpful to set the scope’s Channel 2 Vertical Attenuation control to 0.5V/div setting Question 7 Tf the original message is a sinewave instead of a variable DC voltage, what would you expect to see out of the Baseband LPF? Ask the instructor to check your work before continuing. Experiment 10- FM demodulation © 2008 Emona Trstruments 1018Part D - Transmitting and recovering a sinewave using FM ‘This experiment has set up an FM communication system to “transmit” a message that is a DC voltage. The next part of the experiment lets you use the set-up to modulate, transmit and demodulate a test signal (a sinewave). 36, Disconnect the plug to the Variable DCV module's VDC output. Note: Leave the other plug that's connected to the module's GND output in place, 37. Modify the set-up as shown in Figure 16 below. ogo Figure 16 This modification to the FM modulator can be shown using the block diagram in Figure 17 on the next page. Notice that the message is now provided by the Master Signals module's 2kHz SINE output. demedilaton 1046 (© 2008 Emena Instruments Experiment 10-38, 39, 40, 4. Message To Ch Master Signals vco N N > FM signal 2kHz 10kHz Figure 17 ‘Set the scope's Channel 2 Input Coupling control to the ACposition Adjust the scope's Timebase control to view two or so cycles of the Master Signals module's 2kHz SINE output. Compare the message with the FM demodulator's output. Note: If your set-up is working correctly, the FM demodulator's output should be the ame as the message (with some phase shift), Question 8 What does the FM modulator's output signal tell you about the ZCD signal's duty cycle? To verify your answer to the question above, use the scope's Channel 2 input to examine ‘the output of the ZCD. Tip: Leave the scope's Channel 1 input connected to the Master Signals module's 2kHz SINE output. Ask the instructor to check your werk before continuing Experiment 10- FM demodulation © 2008 Emona Trstruments 10.17Port E - Transmitting and recovering speech using FM ‘The next part of the experiment lets you use the set-up to modulate, transmit and demodulate speech. Note: To ensure that the bandwidth issues don't adversely affect the circuit's performance, the speech sighal that you generate will be bandwidth limited to 2kHz using the. Tuneable Low-pass Filter module 42, Locate the Tuneable Low-pass Filter module and set its Gain control to about the middle of its travel. 43, Set the Tuneable Low-pass Filter module's Cut-off Frequency Adjust control to about the middle of its travel 44, Connect the set-up shown in Figure 18 below. Note: Don't dismantle the existing set-up. Figure 18 45, Set the scope's Timebase control to the 1us/div position. 46, Adjust the signal out of the Tuneable Low-pass Filter module's fo"/00 output to 200kHz, Note 1: You do this by adjusting the signal's period to 54s. Note 2: Once the f-r/00 output is 200kHz, the Tuneable Low-pass Filter module's cut- off frequency is 2kHz. 47. Set the scope’s Timebase control to the 5ms/div position 1048 (© 2008 Emena Instruments Experiment 10- FM demodulation48, 49, 50, 5 52, 53, 54, Disconnect the plug to the Master Signals module's 2kHz SINE output. Modify the set-up as shown in Figure 19 below. oopoo) ar e@l*z 7695 Figure 19 ‘Turn the Buffer module's Gain contro! fully anti-clockwise. Without wearing the headphones, plug them into the Buffer module's headphone socket. Put the headphones on, As you perform the next step, set the Buffer module's Gain control to a comfortable sound level. Talk, sing or hum while watching the scope's display and listening on the headphones. ‘Ask the instructor to check your work before finishing, Experiment 10- FM demodulation © 2008 Emona Trstruments 10.19