Principles of Electronic Communication Systems

Second Edition Louis Frenzel

2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies

Principles of Electronic Communication Systems Second Edition

Chapter 5 Fundamentals of Frequency Modulation

2003 The McGraw-Hill Companies

Topics Covered in Chapter 5

A sine wave carrier can be modified for the purpose of transmitting information from one place to another by varying its frequency. This is known as FM.

Basic Principles of Frequency Modulation Principles of Phase Modulation Modulation Index and Sidebands Noise-Suppression Effects of FM Frequency Modulation Versus Amplitude Modulation

Basic Principles of Frequency Modulation

In FM, the carrier amplitude remains constant and the carrier frequency is changed by the modulating signal. As the amplitude of the information signal varies, the carrier frequency shifts proportionately. As the modulating signal amplitude increases, the carrier frequency increases. With no modulation the carrier is at its normal center or resting frequency.

By Definition

Frequency deviation (fd) is the amount of change in carrier frequency produced by the modulating signal. The frequency deviation rate is how many times per second the carrier frequency deviates above or below its center frequency. The frequency of the modulating signal determines the frequency deviation rate. A type of modulation called frequency-shift keying (FSK) is used in transmission of binary data in digital cell phones and low-speed computer modems.

FM: Carrier and Modulating Signals

Principles of Phase Modulation

When the amount of phase shift of a constant-frequency carrier is varied in accordance with a modulating signal, the resulting output is a phase-modulation (PM) signal. Phase modulators produce a phase shift which is a time separation between two sine waves of the same frequency. The greater the amplitude of the modulating signal, the greater the phase shift.

Frequency Shift with PM

Modulating Signal and Carrier Deviation

In PM, the frequency deviation is directly proportional to the amplitude of the modulating signal. The maximum amount of leading or lagging phase shift occurs at the peak amplitudes of the modulating signal. In PM the carrier deviation is proportional to both the modulating frequency and the amplitude.

Converting PM into FM
In order to make PM compatible with FM, the deviation produced by frequency variations in the modulating signal must be compensated for.

This compensation can be accomplished by passing the intelligence signal through a low-pass RC network. This RC low-pass filter is called a frequency-correcting network, predistorter, or 1/f filter and causes the higher modulating frequencies to be attenuated. The FM produced by a phase modulator is called indirect FM.

Phase-Shift Keying

The process of phase modulating a carrier with binary data is called phase-shift keying (PSK) or binary phase-shift keying (BPSK). The PSK signal has a constant frequency, but the phase of the signal from some reference changes as the binary modulating signal occurs.

PSK: Binary Data

Modulation Index and Sidebands

Any modulation process produces sidebands. When a constant-frequency sine wave modulates a carrier, two side frequencies are produced. Side frequencies are the sum and difference of the carrier and modulating frequency. The bandwidth of an FM signal is usually much wider than an AM signal with the same modulating signal.

Modulation Index

The ratio of the frequency deviation to the modulating frequency is known as the modulation index (mf). In most communication systems using FM, maximum limits are put on both the frequency deviation and the modulating frequency. In standard FM broadcasting, the maximum permitted frequency deviation is 75 kHz and the maximum permitted modulating frequency is 15 kHz. Modulation index for standard FM broadcasting is 5.

Bessel Functions

The equation that expresses the phase angle in terms of the sine wave modulating signal is solved with a complex mathematical process known as Bessel functions. Bessel coefficients are widely available and it is not necessary to memorize or calculate them.

Carrier and Sideband Amplitudes based on Bessel Functions

By Definition

The symbol! means factorial. This tells you to multiply all integers from 1 through the number to which the symbol is attached. (e.g. 5! Means 1 x 2 x 3 x 4 x 5 = 120) Narrowband FM (NBFM) is any FM system in which the modulation index is less than /2 = 1.57, or mf < /2. NBFM is widely used in communication.

FM Signal Bandwidth

The higher the modulation index in FM, the greater the number of significant sidebands and the wider the bandwidth of the signal. When spectrum conservation is necessary, the bandwidth of an FM signal can be restricted by putting an upper limit on the modulation index.

FM Bandwidth Calculation
Example: If the highest modulating frequency is 3 kHz and the maximum deviation is 6 kHz, what is the modulation index? mf = 6 kHz/3 kHz = 2 What is the bandwidth? BW = 2fmN Where N is the number of significant sidebands BW = 2(3 kHz)(4) = 24 kHz

Noise

Noise is interference generated by lightning, motors, automotive ignition systems, and power-line switching that produces transient signals. Noise is typically narrow spikes of voltage with high frequencies. Noise (voltage spikes) add to a signal and interfere with it. Some noise completely obliterates signal information.

Noise-Suppression Effects of FM

FM signals have a constant modulated carrier amplitude. FM receivers contain limiter circuits that deliberately restrict the amplitude of the received signal. Any amplitude variations occurring on the FM signal are effectively clipped by limiter circuits. This amplitude clipping does not affect the information content of the FM signal, since it is contained solely within the frequency variations of the carrier.

FM Signal with Noise

Pre-Emphasis

Noise can interfere with an FM signal and particularly with the high-frequency components of the modulating signal. Noise is primarily sharp spikes of energy and contains a lot of harmonics and other high-frequency components. To overcome high-frequency noise, a technique known as preemphasis is used. A simple high-pass filter can serve as a transmitters preemphasis circuit. Pre-emphasis provides more amplification of only highfrequency components.

Pre-emphasis Circuit

De-Emphasis

A simple low-pass filter can operate as a de-emphasis circuit in a receiver. A de-emphasis circuit returns the frequency response to its normal flat level.

NOTE: The combined effect of pre-emphasis and de-emphasis is to increase the signal-to-noise ratio for the highfrequency components during transmission so that they will be stronger and not masked by noise.

De-emphasis Circuit

Advantages of FM Versus AM
FM typically offers some significant benefits over AM. FM has superior immunity to noise, made possible by clipper limiter circuits in the receiver. In FM, interfering signals on the same frequency are rejected. This is known as the capture effect. FM signals have a constant amplitude and there is no need to use linear amplifiers to increase power levels. This increases transmitter efficiency.

Disadvantages of FM

FM uses considerably more frequency spectrum space. FM has used more complex circuitry for modulation and demodulation.

NOTE: With the proliferation of ICs, complex circuitry used in FM has all but disappeared. ICs are inexpensive and easy to use. FM and PM have become the most widely used modulation method in electronic communication today.

FM and AM Applications