University of Massachusetts

Lowell
16.543 Theory of
Communication:

Lecture 4:
Introduction to FM and PM

c 2001-2007 Dr. Jay Weitzen 1

 Module Objectives
Understand the mathematical models for phase
and frequency modulation
Show why angle modulation is more robust than
amplitude modulation in impulsive noise
environment
Model the bandwidth expansion gain for FM
versus AM detection
Analyze Spectral Content of simple FM and PM
signals
Model FM detectors in the presence of AWGN
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 WHY is FM used more frequently than
AM?
FM immune to amplitude variations
noise suppressed
S/N improvement due to bandwidth expansion
FM captures the strongest signal
Weaker stations locked out

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 The Signal
This is the phase

Center Frequency t

e( t ) = A cos(c t + )

This is constant
This is the angle

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Example FM & PM

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 Comparison of PM and FM

e(t ) = A cos[c t + (t )]
t
pk f (t ) pk f (t )dt
PM FM

If f(t) = cos mt then the scale factor PM is

and for FM is /m this is , the modulation index.

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 Frequency Modulation

Frequency Modulated
Baseband (BB)
Carrier

Modulator

=0 Carrier

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 Deviation (f)

Modulating signal strength Frequency Deviation (f)

How far does the deviated center frequency go?

Shouting causes a large deviation,

Whispering a small deviation
and silence no deviation.

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 Instantaneous Frequency
The instantaneous amplitude of the baseband signal
changes the instantaneous frequency of the carrier.
This is NOT the same as Fourier frequency

How can frequency be instantaneous? Surely it takes at least

one cycle to measure frequency?

d
f inst . =
dt
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 Modulating Frequency (fm)
High frequencies; big fm (fast)

Low frequencies; small fm (slow)

How fast does the deviated center frequency go?

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 The Frequency Modulator
In Frequency Modulation, an RF signal is deviated in
sympathy with the modulating signal.
A 1kHz, 1volt peak tone, frequency modulating a
100MHz carrier will deviate it at a 1kHz rate and
with a peak deviation proportional to 1volt.

fm = 1 kHz, 1 volt
Frequency Modulator
deviation constant = 12kHz/volt 100 MHz 12kHz
at 1kHz rate.

fc = 100 MHz

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 PM and FM relationship

f(t) Integrator Phase Mod FM

Differentiator Freq. Mod PM

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Where Frequency and Phase modulation
are Generated
Speech Clipper Reactance Multiplier Amp
Amp Filter Modulator OSC

Frequency Modulation

Phase
OSC Modulator Multiplier Amp

Speech Clipper
Amp Filter Phase Modulation

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FM Demonstration

Push Me for Push Me for

demo 1 demo 2

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FS expansion of FM for sinusoid
modulation

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Narrowband FM

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Wideband FM

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Bessel Functions

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FM is Constant Envelope

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 FM Amplitude Spectrum
Jn(6)
The
The sign of the functionisisthe
sign of the function therelative
relativephase
phaseatattime
timet=0.
t=0.
Imagine
Imaginethem
themall
allrotating
rotatingin
inand
andout
outofofthe
theplane
planeofofthe
the
paper
paperat
atspeeds
speedsproportional
proportionalto totheir
theirharmonic
harmonicnumbers.
numbers.

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 n9

FM f/fm = 6
PM = 6 rads.
Center
Frequency
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 This
Thisisisto
toshow
showthat
thatthe
thespectrum
spectrum
goes beyond the deviation
goes beyond the deviation

FM Spectra
Sine wave modulating signal fm
Level of unmodulated carrier
100
= 2.4
80

60

40

20

0
Line spacing = fm 2f
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Spectrum of WBFM

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 Some Spectra
Single Tone modulation
Linear scale, = 20

The following have Log amplitude scales:

Very low
Low
= 2.41
= 10
High
Very High
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Linear Scale = 20

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FM: very low modulation index

40db below
the unmodulated carrier
2fm

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FM: low modulation index

40db below
the unmodulated carrier
>2fm

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FM: 2.41 modulation index

40db below
the unmodulated carrier
>>2fm

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FM: = 10 modulation index

40db below
the unmodulated carrier

2f

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FM: higher modulation index

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FM: very high modulation index

2f

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 Required Bandwidth
Index N BW in fm BW inf

0.1 2 2 20 BW = 2fm
0.3 4 4 14
0.5 4 4 8
1.0 6 6 6
2.0 8 8 4
5.0 16 16 3.2
10.0 28 28 2.8
30.0 70 70 2.3 BW 2f

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Carsons Rule

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FM Generation

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FM Detection

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FM Detectors (discriminator)

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FM to AM conversion using a BPF

Slope Detection

f
fc

Linear Range

Balanced Discriminator
fc

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 Pulse Discrimination

1 t
Hard Limiter Pulser
T t T
BB Out

Limiter Output

Pulser Output

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Zero Crossing

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Quadrature Detector

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Phase Locked loop Detection

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Interference in Angle Modulation

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FM Interference

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Interference in PM

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Generalized PM

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Tone Modulation of PM

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PM Bandwidth

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 Pre-Emphasis
6 dB/octave

0 dB Combined Response
Pre-emphasis

De-emphasis

fco
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Summary of Modulation

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