LAGUNA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

San Pablo City Campus

Del Remedio, San Pablo City
College of Engineering

AM Signal Demodulation
Techniques
Laboratory Activity No. 6

Vince Marlou Ramos

Group Leader

Xyriz Contemplacion
Rheena Bianca Villeno
Group Members

BSEE4A
Section

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Abstract
Experimental Procedure
Discussions
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4
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Results
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Laboratory
Activity 6

AM Signal Demodulation Techniques

ABSTRACT
An AM signal consists of a carrier which acts as the reference. Any
modulation that is applied then appears as sidebands which stretch
out either side of the signal - each sideband is a mirror image of the
other.
Amplitude Demodulation is the process provides a means of
recovering the modulating signal from modulating signal.
Demodulation is the reverse process of modulation. The envelope
detector circuit employed to separate the carrier wave and eliminate
the sidebands. Since envelope of an AM wave has the same shape as
the message, independent of the carrier frequency and phase,
demodulation can be accomplished by extracting envelope.

INTRODUCTION
Modulation
is
defined
as
the process
by which
some
characteristics of a carrier signal is varied in accordance with a
modulating signal. The base band signal is referred to as the
modulating signal and the output of the modulation process is called
as the modulation signal. As amplitude modulation is still widely used
as a result of its simplicity, receivers incorporating AM demodulators
are manufactured in quantities of many millions each year. Within
these radios a simple AM detector consisting of a diode is used.AM
demodulation or detection process in order to look at the amplitude
demodulation process it is necessary to first look at the format of an
AM signal.
An AM signal, once received by a receiver, is subjected to several
stages in the demodulation process. Other more complex detectors
that use the popular PLL (phase-lock-loop) circuitry allow, together
with AGC (automatic gain control) circuitry, modulation indexes of
close one.
The process of separating or extracting the modulation from a signal
is called demodulation or detection.
For amplitude modulation, the process of demodulation or detection
can be accomplished very simply using a diode, or it may be achieved
in other ways that provide more effective demodulation of the
waveform.
As amplitude modulation is still widely used as a result of its
simplicity, receivers incorporating AM demodulators are manufactured
in quantities of many millions each year. Within these radios a simple
AM detector consisting of a diode is used.

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Laboratory
Activity 6

AM Signal Demodulation Techniques

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the characteristics and operation of an envelope

detector.
To provide a comprehension of the stages that a modulated
signal is subjected to at the receiver.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Apparatus
Computer or Laptop
NI Multisim Software

Specifications

Equation

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Laboratory
Activity 6

AM Signal Demodulation Techniques

Circuit Diagram

Figure 6-1 Envelope Detector Example

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Laboratory
Activity 6

AM Signal Demodulation Techniques

Figure 6-2 Diode Detector Example

Procedure
1. Connect the circuit components illustrated in Figure 6-1.
2. On the oscilloscope, set the time base to 1ms/Div and
Channel A to 10V/Div. Select Auto triggering and DC
coupling.
3. On the AM Source, set its parameters. Carrier amplitude=
10V; Carrier frequency= 100kHz; Modulationindex= 0.6 and
Modulation frequency= 800kHz.
4. Start simulation. Measure the frequency of the demodulated
waveform and compare it to the expected value. Record your
results.
5. Change the value of the resistor to 500k ohms and 10k
ohms. Simulate. Draw the waveform formed.
6. Hhh
7. Connect the circuit illustrated in Figure 6-2. Set its
parametersTime
division=
500us/Div;
Channel
A=
500Mv/Div and Channel B= 5V/ Div. Simulate.

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Laboratory
Activity 6

AM Signal Demodulation Techniques

OBSERVATIONS

Data 6-3 Output of Envelope Detector m= 0.6

Data 6-3 Output of Detector Stage of Figure 6-2

DATA & ANALYSIS

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Laboratory
Activity 6
fm at output detector : 1.6kHz
fm expected :
(100x103)(2x10-9)=

AM Signal Demodulation Techniques

1
2 ( 0.6 ) fm

= 1.33 x103 kHz

From the data gathered on Data 6-3 Output of Envelope Detector, we observed
that the measured and expected frequencies are not equal. Although their gap
is less than one, we could say that their frequency are near to each other.
Waveform of an RC time constant which is too large

Waveform of an RC time constant which is too small

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Laboratory
Activity 6

AM Signal Demodulation Techniques

From step5, re-design value of

(10kHz)(C)=

1
2 ( 0.6 )(500)

C= 53.05 nF
R= 10kHz
C= 53.05 nF
Step 6

FURTHER ANALYSIS

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Laboratory
Activity 6

AM Signal Demodulation Techniques

Waveform from Figure 6-1; m=1

Waveform from Figure 6-1; m=1.4

From the data gathered with Data 6-3 Output of the Detector; m= 0.6, the
waves formed on the output of the circuit (m=1 & m=1.4) are different. Data 63 had formed a sine wave which is smooth stream. In comparison, Figure 6-1
(m=1), the wave formed is somewhat the same with Data 6-3. Only the
difference is, its wave is unsymmetrical or slant. Also, Figure 6-1 (m=1.4), the
wave formed is near to Figure 6-1, only small upbeat of waves are recorded.

CONCLUSION
We therefore conclude, that the envelope detector is designed to subject the
signal to a halfwave rectification process while, the diode detectors detects
signals over a certain range of frequencies.

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