AMPLITUDE-MODULATED SYSTEMS

Amplitude modulation refers to any method of varying the amplitude of an electromagnetic carrier frequency in accordance with the intelligence to be transmitted by the carrier. The CARRIER frequency is a radio-frequency wave suitable for modulation by the intelligence to be transmitted. One form of this method of modulation is simply to interrupt the carrier in accordance with a prearranged code.

CONTINUOUS WAVE (CW)

The "on-off" KEYING of a continuous wave (cw) carrier frequency was the principal method of modulating a carrier in the early days of electrical communications. The intervals of time when a carrier either was present or absent conveyed the desired intelligence. This is still used in modern communications. When applied to a continuously oscillating radio-frequency source, on-off keying is referred to as cw signaling. This type of communication is sometimes referred to as an interrupted continuous wave (icw).

Development

The use of a cw transmitter can be very simple. All that is required for the transmitter to work properly is a device to generate the oscillations, a method of keying the oscillations on and off, and an antenna to radiate the energy. Continuous wave was the first type of modulation used. It is still extensively used for long-range communications. When Marconi and others were attempting the transfer of intelligence between two points, without reliance on a conducting path, they employed the use of a practical coding system known as Morse code. You probably know that Morse code is a system of on-off keying developed for telegraph that is capable of passing intelligence over wire at an acceptable rate. Morse code consists only of periods of signal and no-signal.

Figure 1-20 is the International Morse code used with telegraphy and cw modulation. Each character in the code is made up of a series of elements referred to as DOTS or DASHES. These are short (dot) and long (dash) bursts of signal separated by intervals of no signal. The dot is the basic time element of the code. The dash has three times the duration of a dot interval. The waveforms for both are shown in figure 1-21. The elements within each character are separated by intervals of no signal with a time duration of one dot. The characters are separated by a no-signal interval equal in duration to one dash. Each interval during which signal is present is called the MARKING interval, and the period of no signal is called the SPACING interval. Figure 1-22 shows the relationships between the rf carrier view (A), the on-off keying waveform view (B), and the resultant carrier wave view (C).

Figure 1-20. - International Morse code.

Figure 1-21. - Dot and dash in radiotelegraph code.

Figure 1-22A. - Essential elements of ON-OFF keying.

Figure 1 - 22B. - Essential elements of ON-OFF keying.

Figure 1-22C. - Essential elements of ON-OFF keying.

Keying Methods

Keying a transmitter causes an rf signal to be radiated only when the key contacts are closed. When the key contacts are open, the transmitter does not radiate energy. Keying is accomplished in either the oscillator or amplifier stage of a transmitter. A number of different keying systems are used in Navy transmitters.

In most Navy transmitters, the hand telegraph key is at a low-voltage potential with respect to ground. A keying bar is usually grounded to protect the operator. Generally, a keying relay, with its contacts in the center-tap lead of the filament transformer, is used to key the equipment. Because one or more stages use the same filament transformer, these stages are also keyed. A class C final amplifier, when operated with fixed bias, is usually not keyed. This is because no output occurs when no excitation is applied in class C operation. Keying the final amplifier along with the other stages is not necessary in this case.

OSCILLATOR KEYING. - Two methods of OSCILLATOR KEYING are shown in figure 1-23. In view (A) the grid circuit is closed at all times. The key (K) opens and closes the negative side of the plate circuit. This system is called PLATE KEYING. When the key is open, no plate current can flow and the circuit does not oscillate. In view (B), the cathode circuit is open when the key is open and neither grid current nor plate current can flow. Both circuits are closed when the key is closed. This system is called CATHODE KEYING. Although the circuits of figure 1-23 may be used to key amplifiers, other keying methods are generally employed because of the high values of plate current and voltage encountered.

Figure 1-23A. - Oscillator keying.

Figure 1-23B. - Oscillator keying.