Experiment No.

Amplitude Shift Keying

Course: Experiment No.:

Group No.: Section:
Group Members: Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Instructor:

1. Objective(s):

1. To illustrate modulation and demodulation techniques using amplitude shift keying.

2. To generate and demodulate amplitude keyed signal.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:

2.1 describe the difference between modulated and demodulated signal using ASK.
2.2 determine the demodulated signal using different types of detectors.

3. Discussion:

Generation

Amplitude shift keying – ASK – in the context of digital communications is a process which imparts to a
sinusoid two or more discrete levels. These are related to the number of levels adopted by the digital message.
For a binary message sequence there are two levels, one of which is typically zero. Thus the modulated waveform
consists of bursts of a sinusoid.

Figure-1 illustrates a binary ASK signal (lower), together with the binary sequence which initiated it (upper).
Neither signal has been bandlimited.

Figure-1: an ASK signal

 Block diagram of two methods of ASK generator are shown in Figure-2 (a) and (b). Method (b) shows two
methods of bandlimiting.

Figure-2: (a) and (b) ASK generation methods.

Demodulation

ASK is an amplitude modulated signal, and can be demodulated with either an envelope detector or a
product detector. Block diagram of suitable arrangements are shown in the figure below. The demodulator (b) will
require a local carrier synchronized to the transmitted carrier. The phase will need to be adjusted for maximum
output amplitude.

Figure-3: ASK
demodulation methods.

4. Resources:

Equipment:
TIMS Board
TIMS Modules
 Audio Oscillator, sequence generator, dual analog switch, utilities, Tunable Low-Pass Filter.
Digital Oscilloscope
patching wires and extension cord

5. Procedure:
Part A. ASK Modulation/Demodulation using Dual Analog Switch

ASK Modulation

We first introduce a simple modulator based on switching. The switch can be modeled by the DUAL ANALOG
SWITCH module, as shown in 2-a. The TTL output from the SEQUENCE GENERATOR is connected directly to
the CONTROL input of the DUAL ANALOG SWITCH.

Figure-4

1. Explain how the above circuit performs ASK modulation.

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2. Connect the system. Set the audio oscillator frequency to 8 KHz.

3. Observe the message sequence and the modulated signal. Is ASK modulation achieved? Graph the output
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Graph:
 4. Observe the two signals in the frequency domain. How does the modulated bandwidth relate to the
message bandwidth? Graph the spectrum.
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Graph:

ASK Demodulation

We will investigate two simple ASK demodulators. The first demodulator is displayed in Error! Reference
source not found.3-a. Since ASK possesses a very definite envelope, an envelope detector can be used as
the first step in recovering the original sequence. Further processing can be employed to regenerate the true
binary waveform. Error! Reference source not found.is a model for envelope recovery from a bandpass ASK
signal.
 Figure-5 Envelope demodulation of baseband ASK

5. What is the role of the LPF?

6. Revert to the modulator of 4. Obtain the 2 KHz bit clock from the VCO, instead of the built-in sine wave.
Connect the above demodulator. Observe the output of the LPF. Study the effect of varying the LPF
bandwidth and VCO frequency, respectively. What should the bandwidth of LPF be set to in theory? Graph
the output.
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Graph:
 The output from the above demodulator will not be a copy of the binary sequence TTL waveform, because
bandlimiting will have shaped it. Some sort of decision device is required to regenerate the original binary
sequence. The DECISION MAKER module could be employed, with associated processing, if required. This is
illustrated in block diagram in Error! Reference source not found. 6. The objective of this circuit is to convert
the unipolar, bandlimited output of the envelope detector to bi-polar (using the ADDER), to suit the DECISION
MAKER.

Part B. ASK Modulation/Demodulation using Multiplier

ASK Modulation

Refer to the block diagram for the ASK generation of figure 2-b. Create a model for that block diagram and
set-up to produce ASK.

7. The message sequence toggles between a positive and negative voltage level. If we multiply this
sequence by the sine wave directly, what kind of modulation do we achieve? We achieve ASK by adding
a DC offset to the message first. What value of the DC offset should you choose? Why?
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8. Instead of using the master signals, obtain the message and carrier frequencies using two separate VCO
modules. We should have enough VCO modules to accomplish this. Set the carrier frequency to 8 KHz.
Vary the DC value (or and its corresponding adder input) until you get ASK modulation. Graph the ASK
output.

Graph:
9. Observe spectrum of original message and modulated ASK message. Graph t spectrum, and make sure
what you see matches what you theoretically expect.
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Graph:

ASK Demodulation

Refer to the block diagram for the ASK demodulation of figure 3-b. Create a model for that block diagram
and set-up to produce ASK.
10. This demodulator assumes synchronization between transmitter and receiver. We will “steal” the carrier
to achieve perfect timing. Note that, if do not have another multiplier available, you may use the multiplier
sub-module on the quadrature utilities module.

11. Try to explain how the circuit demodulates the ASK signal.
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12. Observe the spectrum of the output of the multiplier at the demodulator. Graph the spectrum plot. Can
you distinguish two components in the spectrum? What are they?
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Graph:

13. What is the role of LPF? What should be the bandwidth of this filter in your opinion?
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14. The output of the LPF is an analog signal, which is distorted by bandlimiting. We will restore the original
digital message signal using the decision maker.

15. We should be careful with the decision maker setup. The bit clock input to the decision maker should
be the TTL output of the VCO that is used to drive the sequence generator. This is because the
decisions maker needs to be synchronized to the message rate. Make sure that the output of the LPF
is set to between + and – 2V by adjusting the gain of the LPF. Also make sure the LPF is set so that
the output most closely resembles a square wave output.

16. Pass the LPF output through the decision maker. You might have to slowly change the LPF bandwidth
and decision point before getting the correct output. Once you have the correct output, paste your plot,
showing original and reconstructed signals. Also compare the spectrums, and graph.
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Graph:

17. What could be a(n) advantage/disadvantage of using the second demodulator instead of the first
demodulator?
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6. Observation:
7. Interpretation:

8. Conclusion:
9. Questions and Problems:

1. Suggest an advantage of making the data rate a sub-multiple of the carrier rate.
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2. Explain the purpose of the comparator in the envelope demodulator set-up.

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3. The ASK waveform of figure-1 is ‘special’ in that:

a. the bit rate is sub-multiple of the carrier
b. the phasing of a message ensures that each ‘ burst’ of carrier starts and ends at zero amplitude
If these special conditions are changed, consider the shape of the waveform at the beginning and
end of each burst of carrier. What effect, if any will this have on the bandwidth of the ASK signal.

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10. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):