Chapter 1: Analysis and Transmission of
Signals
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Introduction to communication
The word communication arises from the Latin word commūnicāre,
which means “to share”. Communication is the basic step for
exchange of Communication is the bridge to share.
Communication can be defined as the process of exchange of
information through means such as words, actions, signs, etc., between
two or more individuals. Can be termed as signaling.
Hence, a signal can be a source of energy which transmits some
information. This signal helps to establish a communication between
the sender and the receiver
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Parts of a Communication System
Any system, which provides communication consists of the three
important and basic parts as shown in the following figure
Fig 1.1 Fundamental Model of Communications
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Cont’d
Message Source: The originator of the message
Input Message: The message/data/info that is to be communicated
Input Transducer: Converts the input message into electrical form
Input Signal: The data in electrical form (this is a baseband signal)
Transmitter: Modifies the signal for transmission
Channel: The medium over which the transmitted signal is sent (e.g., wire, air, optical fiber, free space)
Distortion/Noise: External signals/features that affect the signal
Receiver: Modifies the received signal, undoing the modifications done by the transmitter
Output Transducer: Converts message from electrical signal back into its original form
Output Message: The message/data/info that has been communicated
Message Destination: Who/what the message/data/info was intended.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Types of Signals
Conveying an information by some means such as gestures, sounds,
actions, etc. can be termed as signaling.
Hence, a signal can be a source of energy which transmits some
information. This signal helps to establish a communication between
the sender and the receiver.
This should be done
As efficiently as possible
With as much fidelity/reliability as possible
As securely as possible
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Cont’d
Depending on their characteristics, signals are mainly classified into
two types: Analog and Digital
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Analog signal
Analog Signal :A continuous time varying signal, which represents a time varying quantity can be
termed as an Analog Signal. This signal keeps on varying with respect to time, according to the
instantaneous values of the quantity, which represents it.
The communication based on analog signals and analog values is called as Analog Communication.
Analog communication system: is a data transmitting technique in a format that utilizes continuous
signals to transmit data including voice, image, video, electrons etc.
An analog signal is a variable signal continuous in both time and amplitude which is generally
carried by use of modulation
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Digital signal
• Digital signal is a non-continuous electrical signal, which is used to convey (send, receive, and
process) information between the sender and receiver. In digital signal, the original information
(analog information) is converted into a string of bits (digital information) before being
transmitted.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Periodic signal
• An analog or digital signal which repeats itself after a specific interval of time is
called periodic signal. They are deterministic signals.
• Eg: sine wave, square wave,
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Aperiodic signal
An analog or digital signal which does not repeats itself after a specific interval
of time is called aperiodic signal. They are random signals.
Eg: sound signals from radio, all types of noise signals
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Basic analog communications system
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Cont’d
The purpose of a communication system is to transmit information signals(baseband signals) through a
communication channel.
The term baseband is used to designate the band of frequencies representing the original signal as
delivered by the input transducer.
For example, the voice signal from a microphone is a baseband signal, and contains frequencies in the
range of 0-3000 Hz
The “hello” wave is a baseband signal:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
cont’d
• Since the baseband signal contains frequencies in the audio frequency range (3
kHz), some form of frequency-band shifting must be employed for the radio
system to operate satisfactorily
• This process is accomplished by a device called a modulator
• The transmitter block in any communications system contains the modulator
device
• The receiver block in any communications system contains the demodulator device
• The modulator modulates a carrier wave (the electromagnetic wave) which has a
frequency that is selected from an appropriate band in the radio spectrum
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Cont’d
• The demodulator extracts the original baseband signal from the
received modulated signal
• Modulation is the process of impressing a low-frequency information
signal (baseband signal )onto a higher frequency carrier signal
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Types of Analog Modulation
Amplitude Modulation (AM)
• Amplitude modulation is the process of varying the amplitude of a
carrier wave in proportion to the amplitude of a baseband signal. The
frequency of the carrier remains constant.
Frequency Modulation (FM)
• Frequency modulation is the process of varying the frequency of a
carrier wave in proportion to the amplitude of a baseband signal. The
amplitude of the carrier remains constant.
Phase Modulation (PM)
• Varying the phase of the carrier based on the information signal.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Amplitude Modulation
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Frequency Modulation
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
AM vs. FM
• AM requires a simple circuit, and is very easy to generate.
• It is simple to tune, and is used in almost all short wave broadcasting.
• The area of coverage of AM is greater than FM (longer wavelengths
• (lower frequencies) are utilized-remember property of HF waves)
• However, it is quite inefficient, and is susceptible to static and other
forms of electrical noise.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Cont’d
• The main advantage of FM is its audio quality and immunity to noise.
Most forms of static and electrical noise are naturally AM, and an FM
receiver will not respond to AM signals.
• The main disadvantage of FM is the larger bandwidth it requires
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Types of Digital Modulation
• Digital communication systems also employ modulation techniques,
some of which include:
Amplitude Shift Keying
Frequency Shift Keying
Phase Shift Keying
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Basic digital communications
system
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Some Types of Digital Modulation
Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK)
• The most basic (binary) form of ASK involves the process of switching the carrier either on or
off, in correspondence to a sequence of digital pulses that constitute the information signal.
• ASK is normally implemented using only two level. This is referred to as binary amplitude shift
keying or on-off keying (OOK).
• One binary digit is represented by the presence of a carrier, the other binary digit is represented
by the absence of a carrier. Frequency remains fixed
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Cont’d
Frequency Shift Keying (FSK)
• The most basic (binary) form of FSK involves the process of varying the frequency of a
carrier wave by choosing one of two frequencies (binary FSK) in correspondence to a
sequence of digital pulses that constitute the information signal.
• Two binary digits are represented by two frequencies around the carrier frequency.
Amplitude remains fixed
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Digital Communication Analog Communication
Advantage Disadvantage
Inexpensive digital circuits expensive analog components such as L&C
Privacy preserved (data encryption ) No privacy
Error correction by coding No error correcting capacity
Can merge different data (voice , data and Can not merge data from different source
video) and transmitted over a common digital Advantage
transmission system Smaller bandwidth
Disadvantage Synchronization problems is relatively easier
Large bandwidth
Synchronization problems is relatively difficult
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Linear and Non linear distortion
• Nothing is linear in the nature, obviously neither the components used
in the radio frequency communication systems.
• Sometimes, those nonlinear effects are well used in order to carry out
different essential features for the design of communication devices
• The main problem relies on the fact that the elements that should be
linear they are really not, mainly due to the actual technological
limitations.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• This problem is approached, when possible, by optimizing the
manufacturing parameters of the nonlinear components, maximizing
or minimizing the linear performance according to the each
functionality, and
• Always within specific limits. In any case, a perfect linear response
will never be possible.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• If nonlinear components are used for a linear purpose, like amplifiers,
besides performing the amplification task, they also generate undesired
effects that are going to be considered as nonlinear distortion.
• The linear distortion used in some modulation techniques for
amplitude or phase shifts do not generate new spectral components.
However, the nonlinear distortion does.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Linear distortions do not produce any new frequencies compared
to nonlinear distortions
• Distortions behind a rhetorical shade to hide is not the fine kind
• It is an incontestable fact, linear distortions is from electro
technical view a clear error, which it applies to avoid.
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Frequency allocation
300 Hz – 20K Hz Human voice / sound
50 kHz Navigation (ships, submarines, etc.)
535-1605KHz AM radio (20 k Hz channels)
3-26 MHz short wave radio
88-120 MHz FM radio
54-216 MHz VHF TV
470-806 MHz UHF TV
900-300MHz Mobile communication
(3-Hz Microwave waves
10 T Hz Infrared
-1015 Hz Visible light
-1018 Hz X-rays
Hz Gamma rays
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
END !!!
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
