Aufgaben:Exercise 2.3: DSB-AM Realization

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Nonlinear characteristic curve
for DSB-AM realization

In order to realize the so-called  "Double-Sideband Amplitude Modulation  $\text{(DSB-AM)}$  with carrier",  an amplifier with the following characteristic curve must be used:

$$y = g(x) = U \cdot \left( 1 -{\rm e} ^{-x/U}\right)$$

• Here,  $x = x(t)$  and  $y = y(t)$  are time-dependent voltages at the input and output of the amplifier,  respectively.  
• The parameter  $U = 3 \ \rm V$  indicates the saturation voltage of the amplifier.

This curve is used at the operating point  $A_0 = 2\ \rm V$.  This is achieved,  for example,  by the input signal

$$x(t) = A_0 + z(t) + q(t)\hspace{0.05cm}.$$

Assume cosine oscillations for both the carrier and the source signal:

$$ z(t) = A_{\rm T} \cdot \cos (2 \pi f_{\rm T} t),\hspace{0.2cm} A_{\rm T} = 1\,{\rm V},\hspace{0.2cm} f_{\rm T} = 30\,{\rm kHz},$$

$$ q(t) = A_{\rm N} \cdot \cos (2 \pi f_{\rm N} t),\hspace{0.2cm} A_{\rm N} = 1\,{\rm V},\hspace{0.2cm} f_{\rm N} = 3\,{\rm kHz}\hspace{0.05cm}.$$

In solving this problem,  use the auxiliary quantity

$$w(t) = x(t) - A_0 = z(t) + q(t)\hspace{0.05cm}.$$

The nonlinear characteristic curve can be developed according to a  "Taylor series"  around the operating point:

$$y(x) = y(A_0) + \frac{1}{1!} \cdot y\hspace{0.08cm}{\rm '}(A_0) \cdot (x - A_0)+ \frac{1}{2!} \cdot y\hspace{0.08cm}''(A_0) \cdot (x - A_0)^2+ \frac{1}{3!} \cdot y\hspace{0.08cm}'''(A_0) \cdot (x - A_0)^3 + \text{ ...}$$

The output signal can then also be represented as depending on the auxiliary quantity  $w(t)$  as follows:

$$y(t) = c_0 + c_1 \cdot w(t) + c_2 \cdot w^2(t)+ c_3 \cdot w^3(t) +\text{ ...}$$

• The DSB–AM signal  $s(t)$  is obtained by band-limiting $y(t)$  to the frequency range from  $\text{23 kHz}$  to  $\text{37 kHz}$. 
• That is,  all frequencies other than  $f_{\rm T}$,  $f_{\rm T}±f_{\rm N}$  and  $f_{\rm T}±2f_{\rm N}$  are removed by the band-pass.

The graph shows the characteristic curve  $g(x)$  and the approximations  $g_1(x)$,  $g_2(x)$  and  $g_3(x)$, when the Taylor series is truncated after the first, second, or third term.  It can be seen that the approximation  $g_3(x)$  is indistinguishable from  $g(x)$  in the range shown.

Hints:

• This exercise belongs to the chapter  Double-Sideband Amplitude Modulation.
• Reference will also be made to the chapter  Description of nonlinear systems  in the book "Linear and Time Invariant Systems".

Questions

1

In what range can the input signal  $x(t)$ vary? Give the minimum and maximum values of the auxiliary variable  $w(t) = x(t) - A_0$.

$w_{\rm min} \ = \ $ $\ \text{V}$

$w_{\rm max} \ = \ $ $\ \text{V}$

2

Calculate the coefficients  $c_0$  and  $c_1$  of the Taylor series.

$c_0 \ = \ $ $\ \text{V}$

$c_1 \ = \ $

3

What are the coefficients  $c_2$  and  $c_3$  of the nonlinear characteristic curve?

$c_2\ = \ $ $\ \rm V^{ -1 }$

$c_3\ = \ $ $\ \rm V^{ -2 }$

4

Show that a  "DSB-AM with carrier"  constellation results when  $c_3$  is considered negligibly small.  What is the modulation depth  $m$?

$m \ = \ $

5

Assuming that  $c_3$  cannot be considered negligibly small,  which of the following statements are true?

	The weight of the spectral line at $f_{\rm T}$  is unchanged.
	$s(t)$  now includes Dirac delta lines at $f_{\rm T} ± 2f_{\rm N}$.
	The cubic term leads to nonlinear distortions.
	The cubic term leads to linear distortions.

Solution

Solution

(1)  From  $x(t) = A_0 + z(t) + q(t)$,  with   $A_0 = 2\ \rm V$  and   $A_{\rm T} = A_{\rm N} = 1 \ \rm V$,  we get the possible range  $0 \ {\rm V} ≤ x(t) ≤ 4\ \rm V$.

• Thus,  the auxiliary quantity  $w(t)$  can take values between  $w_{\rm min}\hspace{0.15cm}\underline{ = -2 \ \rm V}$  and  $w_{\rm max}\hspace{0.15cm}\underline{ = +2 \ \rm V}$.

(2)  The coefficient  $c_0$  is equal to the characteristic value at the operating point.  Using  $A_0 = 2 \ \rm V$  and  $U = 3 \ \rm V$  we obtain:

$$c_0 = y(A_0) = U \cdot \left( 1 -{\rm e} ^{-A_0/U}\right) \hspace{0.15cm}\underline {= 1.460\,{\rm V}}\hspace{0.05cm}.$$

• Accordingly,  for the Taylor coefficient  $c_1$:

$$c_1 = y\hspace{0.06cm}'(A_0)= {\rm e} ^{-A_0/U}\hspace{0.15cm}\underline { = 0.513}\hspace{0.05cm}.$$

(3)  The further derivatives   $(n ≥ 2)$  are:

$$y^{(n)}(A_0)= \frac{(-1)^{n-1}}{U^{n-1}} \cdot {\rm e} ^{-A_0/U} \hspace{0.05cm}.$$

• This results in the following coefficients:

$$ c_2 = \frac{1}{2!} \cdot y^{(2)}(A_0)= \frac{1}{2U} \cdot {\rm e}^{-A_0/U} \hspace{0.15cm}\underline {= -0.086\,{\rm V^{-1}}}\hspace{0.05cm},$$

$$c_3 = \frac{1}{3!} \cdot y^{(3)}(A_0)= \frac{1}{6U^2} \cdot {\rm e}^{-A_0/U}\hspace{0.15cm}\underline { = 0.0095\,{\rm V^{-2}}}\hspace{0.05cm}.$$

(4)  Setting  $c_3 = 0$,  the output signal of the amplifier is:

$$y(t) = c_0 + c_1 \cdot (z(t) + q(t)) + c_2 \cdot (z^2(t) + q^2(t) + 2 \cdot z(t) \cdot q(t))\hspace{0.05cm}.$$

• Thus,  after the band-pass,  the following signal components remain:

$$s(t) = c_1 \cdot z(t) + 2 \cdot c_2 \cdot z(t) \cdot q(t) = \left[c_1 \cdot A_{\rm T} + 2 \cdot c_2 \cdot A_{\rm T} \cdot A_{\rm N} \cdot \cos(\omega_{\rm N} t)\right] \cdot \cos(\omega_{\rm T} t)\hspace{0.05cm}.$$

• The modulation depth is then determined as the quotient of the  "amplitude of the message oscillation"  over the "amplitude of the carrier":

$$m = \frac{2 \cdot |c_2| \cdot A_{\rm T} \cdot A_{\rm N}}{|c_1| \cdot A_{\rm T}} = \frac{2 \cdot |c_2| \cdot A_{\rm N}}{|c_1| }= \frac{2 \cdot 0.086 \cdot 1\,{\rm V}}{0.513 }\hspace{0.15cm}\underline { = 0.335}\hspace{0.05cm}.$$

(5)  Answers 2 and 3  are correct:

• Considering the cubic part,  $y(t)$  includes the following other components:

$$y_3(t) = c_3 \cdot (z(t) + q(t))^3 = c_3 \cdot z^3(t) + 3 \cdot c_3 \cdot z^2(t) \cdot q(t)+ 3 \cdot c_3 \cdot z(t) \cdot q^2(t) + c_3 \cdot q^3(t) \hspace{0.05cm}.$$

• The first term results in components at  $f_{\rm T}$  and  $3f_{\rm T}$, and the last term results in components at  $f_{\rm N}$  and  $3f_{\rm N}$. 
• The second term gives a component at   $f_{\rm N}$  and others at  $2f_{\rm T} ± f_{\rm N}$:

$$3 \cdot c_3 \cdot z^2(t) \cdot q(t)= {3}/{2 } \cdot A_{\rm T}^2 \cdot A_{\rm N} \cdot \left[ \cos(\omega_{\rm N} t) + \cos(2\omega_{\rm T} t) \cdot \cos(\omega_{\rm N} t)\right] \hspace{0.05cm}.$$

• Accordingly, the third summand in the above equation leads to

$$3 \cdot c_3 \cdot z(t) \cdot q^2(t)= {3}/{2 } \cdot A_{\rm T} \cdot A_{\rm N}^2 \cdot \left[ \cos(\omega_{\rm T} t) + \cos(\omega_{\rm T} t)\cdot \cos(2 \omega_{\rm N} t)\right] \hspace{0.05cm}.$$

• Thus,  within the frequency range from  $\text{23 kHz}$  to  $\text{37 kHz}$,  there is indeed a change in the spectral line at  $f_{\rm T}$ 
  and new Dirac delta lines are formed at   $f_{\rm T} ± 2f_{\rm N}$,  i.e.,  at   $\text{24 kHz}$  and  $\text{36 kHz}$.
• The resulting distortions are thus nonlinear  ⇒   Answer 3 ist correct and Answer 4 is wrong.