Optical Communications

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OPTICAL PULSE WIDTH MODULATION

Aim: The objective of this experiment is to
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Setup a system for optical pulse width modulation

Determine the Modulation index (M) of the system
Determine the Bandwidth (BW) of the system
Measurement and analysis of spectral components
Validation of spectral components with theoretical calculations using
MATCAD or MATLAB

Introduction:
Pulse width modulation (PWM) belongs to the category of pulse analogue modulation, whereby one
parameter of a pulse train is varied in sympathy with the modulating signal. [More specifically,
PWM is a sub-set of pulse time modulation (PTM)]. In PWM the position of either the leading or
trailing edge of a square waveform is varied in time according to the magnitude of an input signal.
The method may be understood with reference to Fig.1. When there is no input signal the PWM
waveform is a square wave with equal mark and space. When the input signal is positive the
position of the trailing edge (in this example) is delayed by an amount proportional to the input
amplitude. Similarly for negative signals; the instant at which the trailing edge occurs is brought
forward by an amount proportional to the negative amplitude of the signal. In this example the
leading edge is fixed and acts as a reference point for timing purposes.
The processing procedure of the employed PWM system is described below:
1. Sample input signal.
2. Modulate sampled signal to carry wave (square wave).
3. Transmit modulated signal from transmitter to receiver.
4. Demodulate received signal
In common with all sampled data systems the sampling frequency must be great enough such that
the highest frequency component in the input signal is sampled at least twice per cycle (Nyquist
Shannon sampling theorem). For example, an input signal with a bandwidth extending up to 20
kHz must be sampled with a minimum frequency of 40 kHz.
The spectrum occupied by a naturally sampled PWM waveform is shown in Fig.1(b). There is a
strong component at the sampling frequency fc coupled with a diminishing series of matched side
tones separated by the input signal frequency fs. The original signal fs is also present in the base
band region. Harmonics of the sampling frequency along with sets of side tones are also present.
As the deviation of the trailing edge of the PWM waveform is increased, thus increasing the
modulation index within the system, so the amplitude of all the side tones increases. Demodulation
is performed very simply with naturally sampled PWM by using a low-pass filter with a cut off
frequency set to the maximum allowable input frequency.
Spectral formula for naturally sampled PWM:

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sin ( c t )
1
V (t ) = 0.5 + M cos( s t ) +
2
m =1 (m )

J (mM )
J 0 (mM )
1

sin (m c M m ) n
sin m c t + m s t m n s
2
(m )
(m )

m =1
m =1 n = 1

Where,

c
s
M
Jn(x)
n,m

=
=
=
=
=

2 f c =
angular sampling frequency
2 f s =
angular input frequency
Modulation index
is a Bessel function of the first kind of order n
are running indices

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Experimental Procedure
Check that the following equipment is available:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

5m length of optical fibre

3MHz Function Generator (Signal)
5Hz 5MHz Pulse Generator (Clock)
Transmitter (PWM)
Receiver (PWM)
Oscilloscope
Spectrum Analyzer

Experimental Setup:
Use the oscilloscope to set the pulse generator to produce positive TTL pulses (TTL out) 300 ns
wide with a period of 5s. Use this waveform as the clock pulse for the PWM transmitter.

Oscilloscope
In this step
Pulse Generator

Observe the electrical output of the transmitter on the oscilloscope and ensure that it is a square
wave.
Transmitter (Tx)

Oscilloscope
Pulse Generator
CLOCK IN

Connect the function generator 50 output (switched to 20 dB) to the signal input of the
transmitter.

Tx
(Signal In)
Function Generator

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Using a very low frequency, such as 1 Hz, observe the effects of modulation on the square

wave. By varying the oscilloscope trigger controls you should be able to discover if the
transmitter uses leading edge or trailing edge modulation.

A. Modulation Index
Construct a graph of modulation index M against input amplitude at a frequency of around 1 kHz to
discover the sensitivity of the transmitter. Restrict the input to less than 5 V peak-peak.
Modulation index M, is given by the following equation:
M = modulation index =

1. Does the transmitter display a linear transfer characteristic?

2. Comment on the linearity and discuss what this means to the communication system
Connect the PWM transmitter and receiver by means of the 5 m optical fibre cable provided.
Verify operation of the receiver by comparing its electrical PWM signal with that from the
transmitter.
3. Now monitor the receiver signal output and compare its fidelity with the original input.
Oscilloscope

PWM Out
(To Oscilloscope
Section A&B)

TX

RX

B. Frequency Response
Measure the frequency response of the complete optical link when operating with a modulation
index of 25%. Plot your results on semi-Log graph paper.
1. What is the 3 dB bandwidth of the system?
2. Does this figure suggest any specific application to you?

C. Spectrum Analysis
Before using the spectrum analyser in this section consult with the laboratory demonstrator who
will provide instruction on its use.

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Using the spectrum analyser take PWM spectral measurements and make sketches for M = 10%,
25% and 50%, using an input frequency of 15 kHz (function generator).

From RX
(PWM)

Spectrum Analyzer

1. Suggest a suitable value of modulation index if the optical fibre link is to be operated as a
good quality music transmission system.
2. For each of the three values of modulation index measure the spectral side-tone
components of the PWM signal around the clock frequency and compare your measured
values with the theoretical predictions from the formula. In addition measure the 2nd and
3rd harmonic distortion components of the receiver output compared to the fundamental.
Exercise: Use MATCAD or MATLAB to calculate the magnitude of (fc) and (fc fs) components
and compare this with the measured values of (fc) and (fc fs)

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t
T

M = modulation index =

(a) PWM wave train showing modulated trailing edge.

Amplitude

fS

fC
fC-fS
fC-2fS

fC+fS
fC+2fS

fC-3fS

fC+3fS

Frequency

(b) Spectral components of naturally sampled PWM

Fig. 1. Naturally sampled pulse width modulation.

Pulse Gen.
Clock
TTL
To PWM Output

PWM RX

PWM TX

Signal

50

Fibre link

PWM
Output

Signal
Output

Signal Gen.

Spectrum
Analyser

Fig. 2. Optical fibre PWM communication link.

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Spectral Calculation Procedure

The spectral formulae shown below can be split into individual components corresponding to the
carrier and information signal components. Then each components shown in Fig.1b can be
calculated from the components of the spectrum in order to determine the signal to noise ratio.

sin ( c t )
1
V (t ) = 0.5 + M cos( s t ) +
2
m =1 (m )

J (mM )
J 0 (mM )
1

sin (m c M m ) n

sin m c t + m s t m n s
(m )
(m )
2

m =1
m =1 n = 1

DC Component

V (t ) = 0.5

(1)

Input frequency Component (s)

V (t ) =

1
M cos( s t )
2

(2)

Carrier frequency component (c)

sin ( c t ) J 0 (mM )

sin (m c M m )
V (t ) =
(m )
m =1 (m )
m =1

(3)

Side tone components (cs)

J n (mM )
1

sin m c t + m s t m n s
(m )
2

m =1 n = 1

V (t ) =

(4)

In order to calculate the (fc) component expressions (3) and (4) are used since the carrier component
is present in both these expressions.
In order to calculate the side tone (fc fs) components the expression in (4) is only be used since this
alone corresponds to the side tone components
To convert the values of V(t) in volts to dB is by using (5)
dB = 20Log10(V(t))

(5)

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Bessel Functions

J 0 ( ) = 1
J 1 ( ) =

2
4

4
64

3
16

6
2304

5
384

8
147 10 3
7

18.4 10 3

General Formulae:

( n+ 2 m )

1
(
)

2
J n ( ) =
m!(n + m )!
m=0
m