Chapter 15

PSK Modulator
 15-1: Curriculum Objectives
1. To understand the operation theory of PSK modulation.

2. To understand the signal waveform of PSK modulation.

3. To design the PSK modulator by using MC 1496.

4. To understand the methods of measuring and adjusting the PSK modulation circuit.

5-2: Curriculum Theory

In communication system, besides AM and FM, there is another type of modulation which is the
phase modulation. In phase modulation, the amplitude and frequency remain the same, the only
difference is the phase. The binary signal is used to switch the phase between 0 and 180, which
is called phase shift keying (PSK) modulation.

Generally, in order to increase the transmission rate, we need to use more bandwidth. However,
as for the variation of PSK modulation, the signal is hidden in the phase, therefore, the problem
of the consumption of bandwidth will not occur. Figure 15-1(a) is the 1-bit transmission of the
PSK modulation. If the variation located at the zero phase, it represents the data signal is zero.
On the other words, If the variation located at the phase, it represents the data signal is 1.
Figure 15-1(b) is the 2-bit transmission of the PSK modulation, which it is also known as
quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK). If the variation located at the zero phase, it represents the
data signal is (0, 0). If the variation located at the /2 phase, it represents the data signal is (0, 1).
If the variation located at the phase, it represents the data signal is (1, 0). If the variation
located at the 3/2 phase, it represents the data signal is (1, 1).

(a) Constellation diagram of PSK modulation. (b) Constellation diagram of QPSK modulation.
Figure 15-1 Constellation diagram of PSK and QPSK modulations.

Figure 15-3 is the simple circuit diagram of PSK modulator. At the Data Input port, input 5 V
voltage, then D1, D3 will ON, D2, D4 will OFF. The carrier signal inputs to the Carrier Input port
will pass through T1 and couples to the second coil. After that the signal will pass through D1, D3
and reach to the first coil of T2. Then the signal will couple to the second coil of T2, at this
moment, the phase of the waveform at PSK output terminal will similar to the phase of the
Carrier Input, as shown in figure 15-2. On theother hand, if we input 5 V voltage at the Data
Input port, then D1 , D3 will OFF, D2, D4 will ON. At this moment, the phase of the waveform at
PSK output terminal will opposite to the phase of the Carrier Input. This type of modulation is
known is PSK modulation.
 Figure 15-2 Signal waveforms of BPSK modulation.

Figure 15-3 Simple circuit diagram of PSK modulator.

M-ary PSK can be expressed as

XPSK (t) = A cos [ct + 2m ) ; m = 1,2, .. ,M (15-1)

M: 2N

N: Numbers of bit during transmission.

If the data signal is 1-bit, that is M = 2. So, XPSK(t) will transmit binary bits signal and the phase
shift of the modulated signal is 180 out of phase. Figure 15-3 shows the signal waveform of
binary phase shift keying, (BPSK). The BPSK signal at logic 1 is represented as A cos(ct +
)and the BPSK signal at logic 0 is represented as A cos(ct+ 2).

Figure 15-4 shows the block diagram of PSK modulator. This block diagram is similar to the
block diagram of ASK modulator in chapter 11. The only difference is the PSK modulator
converts the unipolar data signal to bipolar data signal before sending the signal to the balanced
modulator. Therefore, phase modulation can be achieved by using the balanced modulator. The
bandpass filter will remove the high frequency signal, which make the PSK signal waveform
more perfect.

In this experiment, MC1496 is used to implement the balanced modulator. Figure 15-5 is the
internal circuit diagram of MC1496. From the circuit diagram, D1, RI, R2, R3, Q7 and Q8
comprise the current source, which provides Q5 and Q6 with DC bias current. Q5 and Q6 comprise
thedifferential transistor, which is used to drive the Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 that is the dual
differential amplifier. Pin 1 and pin 4 are for data signal input. Pin 8 and pin 10 are for carrier
signal inputs. The gain of balanced modulator is controlled by the external resistor between pin 2
and pin 3. The bias voltage of the amplifier can be determined by the external resistor connected
at pin 5.
Figure 15-4 Basic structure diagram of PSK modulator.

Figure 15-5 Internal circuit diagram of MC1496

Figure 15-6 Circuit diagram of PSK modulator by using MC1496.
Figure 15-6 is t he circuit diagram of 1-bit PSK which t he carrier signal and data
signal are single-ended input. Pin 10 is the carrier input and the data signal is passed
through the unipolar to bipolar converter which is comprised by 74HCU04, 74HC126,
3904, 3906, D 1 , D 2 , D 3 and R 1 to R 8 . T he co nvert ed bipo lar signa l will be sent t o
pin 1 o f MC1496. R 2 2 determines the gain of the circuit and R 23 determines the bias
voltage of the circuit. If we adjust VR 1 or change the amplitude of the data signal, then
we can prevent the PSK modulation signal from distortion. This signal will be sent to
the filter, which is comprised by A741, C 4 , C 6 , R 2 6 , R 2 7 and R 28 . Then t he high
frequency signals, which are produced by the balanced modulator will be filtered and a
better PSK signal will be performed.
 15-3: Experiment Items

Experiment 1: PSK modulator

1. Refer to the circuit in figure 15-6 or refer to figure DCT 15-1 on GOTT DCT-6000-08 module.

2. At the input terminal of modulation signal (Data 1/P), input 5 V amplitude and 100 Hz TTL
signal. By using oscilloscope, observe on the output signal waveforms of the unipolar to bipolar
converter output terminal TP 1, then record the measured results in table 15-1.

3. According to the input signal in table 15-1, repeat step 2 and record the measured results in
table 15-1.

4. At the input terminal of modulation signal (Data I/P), input 5 V amplitude and 100 Hz TTL
signal with 50 % duty cycle, i.e. data signal streams with "10". By using oscilloscope, observe on
the output signal waveforms of TP1, then record the measured results in table 15-2.

5. According to the input signal in table 15-2, repeat step 4 and record the measured results in
table 15-2.

6. At the input terminal of modulation signal (Data I/P), input 5 V amplitude and 100 Hz TTL
signal with 50 % duty cycle, i.e. data signal streams with "10". At the input terminal of carrier
signal (carrier I/P), input 400 mV amplitude and 20 kHz sine wave frequency.
7. By using oscilloscope, observe on the output signal waveforms of the output terminal of
modulated PSK signal (PSK O/P). Adjust VR1 and observe on the modulated PSK signal
waveform until the waveform does not occur distortion. Slightly adjust the VR 2 to avoid the
asymmetry of the waveform. By using oscilloscope, observe on the output signal waveforms of
TP1, bipolar signal test point (TP2), carrier signal (TP3), balanced modulator (TP4) and
modulated PSK signal output port (PSK O/P), Finally, record the output signal waveform in table
15-3.

8. According to the input signal in table 15-3, repeat step 6 to step 7 and record the measured
results in table 15-3.

9. At the input terminal of modulation signal (Data I/P), input 5 V amplitude and 100 Hz TTL
signal with 50 % duty cycle, i.e. data signal streams with "10". At the input terminal of carrier
signal (carrier I/P), input 400 mV amplitude and 20 kHz sine wave frequency.

10. By using oscilloscope, observe on the output signal waveforms of the output terminal of
modulated PSK signal (PSK O/P). Adjust VR1 and observe on the modulated PSK signal
waveform until the waveform does not occur distortion. Slightly adjust the VR 2 to avoid the
asymmetry of the waveform. By using oscilloscope, observe on the output signal waveforms of
TP1, TP2, TP3, TP4 and PSK O/P. Finally, record the output signal waveform in table 15-4.

11. According to the input signal in table 15-4, repeat step 9 to step 10 and record the measured
results in table 15-4.
12. At the input terminal of modulation signal (Data I/P), input 5 V amplitude and 100 Hz TTL
signal with 50 % duty cycle, i.e. data signal streams with "10". At the input terminal of carrier
signal (carrier I/P), input 400mV amplitude and 20 kHz sine wave frequency.

13. By using oscilloscope, observe on the output signal waveforms of the output terminal of
modulated PSK signal (PSK O/P). Adjust VR1 and observe on the modulated PSK signal
waveform until the waveform does not occur distortion. Slightly adjust the VR 2 to avoid the
asymmetry of the waveform. By using oscilloscope, observe on the output signal waveforms of
TP1, TP2, TP3, TP4 and PSK O/P. Finally, record the output signal waveform in table 15-5.

14. According to the input signal in table 15-5, repeat step 12 to step 13 and record the measured
results in table 15-5.
Table 15-1 Observe on the output signal of unipolar to bipolar converter by changing the
frequencies of data signal.

Data Signal Data I/P TP1

Frequencies
100 Hz

1 kHz

10 kHz
Table 15-2 Observe on the data signal of unipolar to bipolar converter by changing the duty
cycle of data signal. (fData = 100 Hz)

Data Signal Data I/P TP1

Duty Cycles

50%

33%

66%
Table 15 -3 Observe on the PSK modulation signal by changing the frequency of carrier signal.
( Vc = 400 mV , fData= 100 Hz )

Carrier Signal Frequencies Carrier I/P TP1

TP2 TP3

20 kHz

TP4 PSK O/P

Table 15 -3 Observe on the PSK modulation signal by changing the frequency of carrier signal.
(Continue) ( Vc = 400 mV , fData = 100 Hz )

Carrier Signal Carrier I/P TP1

Frequencies

TP2 TP3
50kHz

TP4 PSK O/P

Table 15 -3 Observe on the PSK modulation signal by changing the frequency of carrier signal.
(Continue) ( Vc = 400 mV , fData = 100 Hz )

Carrier Signal Carrier I/P TP1

Frequencies

TP2 TP3

100kHz

TP4 PSK O/P

Table 15 -4 Observe on the PSK modulation signal by changing the amplitude of carrier signal.
(fc= 20 kHz , fData = 100 Hz )

Carrier Signal Carrier I/P TP1

Amplitude

TP2 TP3

400 m V

TP4 PSK O/P

Table 15 -4 Observe on the PSK modulation signal by changing the amplitude of carrier signal.
(Continue)(fc = 20 kHz , fData = 100 Hz )

Carrier Signal Carrier I/P TP1

Frequencies

TP2 TP3

1V

TP4 PSK O/P

Table 15 -5 Observe on the PSK modulation signal by changing the duty cycle of carrier signal.
( Vc = 400 mV , fc = 20 kHz , fData = 100 Hz )

Data Signal Data I/P TP1

Duty Cycles

TP2 TP3

33 %

TP4 PSK O/P

Table 15 -5 Observe on the PSK modulation signal by changing the duty cycle of carrier signal.
(Continue) ( Vc = 400 mV , fc = 20 kHz , fData = 100 Hz )

Data Signal Data I/P TP1

Duty Cycles

TP2 TP3

66 %

TP4 PSK O/P

 15-5: Problems Discussion

1. What is the operation theory of the unipolar to bipolar converter as shown in figure 15-6?

2. What are the differences between PSK and ASK modulation circuits?