The purpose of a communication system is to transmit information-bearing signals through a communication channel separating the transmitter from the receiver. Information-bearing signals are also referred to as baseband signals. The term baseband is used to designate the band of frequencies representing the original signal as delivered by a source of information. The proper use of the communication channel requires a shift of the range of baseband frequencies into other frequency ranges suitable for transmission, and a corresponding shift back to the original frequency range after reception.
For example, a radio system must operate with frequencies of 30 KHz and upward, whereas the base band signal usually contains frequencies in the audio frequency range, and so some form of frequency band shifting must be used for the system to operate satisfactorily. A shift of the range of frequencies in a signal is accomplished by using modulation, which is defined as the process by which some characteristic of a carrier is varied in accordance with a modulating wave (signal). A common form of the carrier is a sinusoidal wave, in which case we speak of a continuous-wave modulation process. The baseband signal is referred to as the modulating wave, and the result of the modulation process is referred to as the modulated wave. Modulation is performed at the transmitting end of the communication system. At the receiving end of the system, we usually require the original baseband signal to be restored. This is accomplished by using a process known as demodulation, which is the reverse of the modulation process.
In basic signal-processing terms, we thus find that the transmitter of an analog communication system consists of a modulator and the receiver consists of a demodulator, as depicted in figure 5.1, In addition to the signal received from the transmitter, the receiver input includes channel noise. The degradation in receiver performance due to channel noise is determined by the type of modulation used.
In this chapter we study two families of continuous-wave (CW) modulation systems, namely, amplitude modulation and angle modulation. In amplitude modulation, the amplitude of the sinusoidal carrier wave is varied in accordance with the baseband signal. In angle modulation, the angle of the sinusoidal carrier wave is varied in accordance with the baseband signal.
For example, a radio system must operate with frequencies of 30 KHz and upward, whereas the base band signal usually contains frequencies in the audio frequency range, and so some form of frequency band shifting must be used for the system to operate satisfactorily. A shift of the range of frequencies in a signal is accomplished by using modulation, which is defined as the process by which some characteristic of a carrier is varied in accordance with a modulating wave (signal). A common form of the carrier is a sinusoidal wave, in which case we speak of a continuous-wave modulation process. The baseband signal is referred to as the modulating wave, and the result of the modulation process is referred to as the modulated wave. Modulation is performed at the transmitting end of the communication system. At the receiving end of the system, we usually require the original baseband signal to be restored. This is accomplished by using a process known as demodulation, which is the reverse of the modulation process.
In basic signal-processing terms, we thus find that the transmitter of an analog communication system consists of a modulator and the receiver consists of a demodulator, as depicted in figure 5.1, In addition to the signal received from the transmitter, the receiver input includes channel noise. The degradation in receiver performance due to channel noise is determined by the type of modulation used.
