PRINCIPLES OF

COMMUNICATION

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

PRINCIPLES OF
COMMUNICATION

Course code: COML41E

Credit units: 3 units
Pre-requisite: ECEL34E
Co-requisite: Principles of Comm. Lab
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to communications
as an engg discipline. Includes the signals and
spectra, noise and distortion, modulation and
demodulation and information theory. Also
includes ckts such as pads, filters and
attenuators.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

The Greek Alphabet

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Definition of terms

Electronics - the science dealing with the

development and application of devices and
systems involving the flow of electrons or
other carriers of electric charge , in a vacuum,
in gaseous media, in plasma, in
semiconductors, in solid-state and/or in
similar devices, including, but not limited to,
applications involving optical, electromagnetic
and other energy forms when transduced or
converted into electronic signals.
Communications 1) the processing,
transmission and reception of information
between two or more locations
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Definition of terms

Communications 2) the process of sending

and/or receiving information, data, signals
and/or messages between two (2) or more
points by radio, cable, optical wave guides or
other devices and wired or wireless medium.
Frequency the number of times a periodic
motion, such as sine wave of voltage or
current, occurs in a given period of time. The
basic unit of frequency is hertz (Hz) which is
equal to one cycle-per-second (1Hz = 1cps)
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Definition of terms

Wavelength - the distance between

repeating units of a propagating wave of a
given frequency. It is commonly
designated by the Greek letter lambda ().
A
=

Where:
c = velocity of light 3 x 108 m/s
f = frequency (Hz)
= wavelength (m)
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Definition of terms

Modulation is the process of changing one

or more properties of the carrier in
proportion with the information signal
Demodulation is the process of removing
the information signal from the carrier.
Transmitter a collection of electronic
circuits designed to convert the information
into a signal suitable for transmission over
a given communication medium
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Definition of terms

Channel transmission medium that bridges

or connects the gap between the transmitter
(information source) and receiver (destination)
Receiver a collection of electronic
components and circuits that accept the
transmitted message from the channel and
convert it back into its original form.
Multiplexing process of transmitting two or
more signals simultaneously over the same
channel or medium.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Definition of terms

Information - information is a message

received and understood.
Signal physical quantity that can carry
information
Attenuation the reduction of signal amplitude
as it passed over the transmission medium.
Distortion waveform perturbation, deviation
or alteration caused by imperfect response of
the system to the desired signal.
Interference contamination by extraneous or
external signals from other sources
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Number Notation/Prefixes

milli
micro
nano
pico
femto
atto
zepto
yocto

10-3
10-6
10-9
10-12
10-15
10-18
10-21
10-24

Kilo
Mega
Giga
Tera
Peta
Exa
Zetta
Yotta

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

103

106

109
1012
1015
1018
1021
1024

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Extremely Low Frequencies (ELF) 30Hz 300Hz

Voice Frequencies (VF) 300Hz 3KHz
Very Low Frequencies (VLF) 3KHz 30KHz
Low Frequencies (LF) 30KHz 300KHz
Medium Frequencies (MF) 300KHz 3MHz
High Frequencies (HF) 3MHz 30MHz
Very High Frequencies (VHF) 30Mhz 300MHz
Ultra High Frequencies (UHF) 300MHz 3GHz
Super High Frequencies (SHF) 3GHz 30GHz
Extremely High Frequencies (EHF) 30GHz 300GHz
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Infrared 0.3THz 300THz

Visible Light 0.3PHz 3PHz
Ultraviolet Light 3PHz 30PHz
X-Rays 30PHz 300PHz
Gamma Rays 300PHz 3EHz
Cosmic Rays 3EHz 30EHz

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Short History

1837: Samuel Morse developed the telegraph,

the first electronics communications system
using electromagnetic induction to transfer
information in the form of dots, dashes and
spaces between a simple transmitter and
receiver using a metallic wire as transmission
line.
1876: Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas A
Watson invented the telephone.
1894: Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the first
wireless radio signal through the earths
atmosphere
1908: Lee DeForest invented the triode vacuum
tube which can amplify electrical signals.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Short History

1920: Beginning of commercial AM radio

broadcasting
1933: Major Edwin Howard Armstrong
invented Frequency Modulation.
1936: Beginning of commercial FM radio
broadcasting

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Communication Systems
BLOCK DIAGRAM

SOURCE

TRANSMITTER

MEDIUM

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RECEIVER

DESTINATION

Transmission Modes

SIMPLEX transmission can occur only in

one direction
HALF DUPLEX transmission can occur in
both direction but not at the same time
FULL DUPLEX transmission can occur in
both direction at the same time
FULL/FULL DUPLEX two-way
simultaneous transmission can occur
between three or more stations
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Transmission Media

Open-wire pair consists of two parallel

wires closely spaced and separated by air.

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Transmission Media

Twin lead (ribbon cable) same as openwire except that the spacers between the
conductors are replaced with continuous
solid dielectric.

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Transmission Media

Shielded pair - consists of two conductors

insulated from each other and surrounded
by a shield made of metal braid.

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Transmission Media

Concentric or Coaxial (Coax) consists of a

center conductor surrounded by a concentric
outer conductor. The two conductors are
insulated from one another by a dielectric
that may be air, dry nitrogen or a solid
dielectric such as polyethylene or polystyrene
or some other nonconductive material. The
outer conductor is usually grounded which
makes it an unbalanced transmission line.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Transmission Media
RIDGID COAXIAL
CABLE

FLEXIBLE COAXIAL
CABLE

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Transmission Media

Balun (Balanced to Unbalanced) a device

used to connect an unbalanced line such
as coax cable to balanced load such as an
antenna.

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Transmission Media

An Optical Fiber is a glass or plastic fiber

that carries light along its length.

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Transmission Media

Free Space (wireless communication) Wireless communication is the transfer of

information over a distance without the
use of electrical conductors or "wires".
Wireless communication can be via radio
frequency (RF), microwave or Infra-red

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Basic Modulation Techniques

AMPLITUDE MODULATION is the process

of changing the amplitude of the carrier
signal in proportion with the instantaneous
value of the modulating signal
FREQUENCY MODULATION is the process
of varying the frequency of the carrier
signal in proportion with the instantaneous
value of the modulating signal

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Amplitude Modulation

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Frequency Modulation

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Basic Types of Comm.

Systems

Analog communications system

Digital communications system

Digital transmission
Digital Radio

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Analog and Digital Modulation

vt = time varying sine wave of voltage
V = peak amplitude (volts)
f = frequency (hertz)
= phase shift (radians)

vt = V sin (2ft + )

analog

AM

FM PM

vt = V sin (2ft + )
digital

ASK FSK PSK

QAM

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Why Modulation?

It is extremely difficult to radiate low

frequency signals from an antenna in
the form of electromagnetic waves
To prevent signals from interfering
with each other

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Basic AM Transmitter
MODULATING
SIGNAL SOURCE

BPF

PREAMP

MODULATING
SIGNAL DRIVER
AMPLIFIER

MODULATING
SIGNAL POWER
AMPLIFIER

AM MODULATOR
AND OUTPUT
POWER AMPLIFIER

RF CARRIER
OSCILLATOR

BUFFER
AMPLIFIER

CARRIER
DRIVER

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

CARRIER POWER
AMPLIFIER

BPF

Basic AM Transmitter

Signal source: Microphone, Magnetic Tape, CD

BPF: Bandpass Filter
Preamplifier: Typically a sensitive, Class A
voltage amplifier with high input impedance,
minimum nonlinear distortion and thermal
noise that raise the source signal to usable
level
Driver/Power amplifier: These further amplify
the modulating signal to sufficiently drive the
modulator
Carrier oscillator: Usually a crystal controlled
oscillator that that creates frequency stable
and constant amplitude carrier signal
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Basic AM Transmitter

Buffer Amplifier: Usually an Emitter-follower

which is a low-gain, high input impedance
linear amplifier whose function is to isolate
the oscillator from the high power amplifiers
Modulator stage: This is where modulation
and final power amplification occurs.
Matching network: This matches the output
impedance of the final power amplifier to
the transmission line of the antenna.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Emission Classification

For licensing purposes, radio transmitters are

classified according to their bandwidth,
modulation scheme and type of information.
The emission classifications are identified by
three-symbol code containing a combination of
letters and numbers.
First Symbol (letter) type of modulation of the main carrier
Second Symbol (number) type of emission
Third Symbol type of information to be transmitted
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Emission Classification

Symbol

Type of Modulation

First (letter)
A
B
C
H
J
R

AM, DSBFC
AM, Independent Sideband FC
AM, Vestigial Sideband, FC
AM, SSBFC
AM, SSB Suppressed Carrier
AM, SSB Reduced Carrier
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Emission Classification
F
G
D
K
L
M
P
Q
V
W
N

Frequency Modulation (direct FM)

Modulation (indirect FM)
AM and FM (simultaneously or sequenced)
Pulse, PAM
Pulse, PWM
Pulse, PPM
Pulse, Unmodulated Pulse (binary data)
Angle modulated during pulses
Any combination of pulse modulation category
Any two or more combinations of the above
Unmodulated Carrier
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Emission Classification

Second (number) Nature of modulating signal

X
0
1
2
3
7
8
9

Cases not otherwise covered

No modulating signal
Digitally keyed carrier
Digitally keyed tone
Analog (sound or video)
Two or more digital channels
Two or more analog channels
Analog and digital
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Emission Classification

Third (letter) Type of information to be transmitted

A Telegraphy, manual
B Telegraphy, automatic
C Facsimile
D Data, telemetry
E Telephony (sound broadcasting)
F Television (video broadcasting)
N No information transmitted
W Any combination of the above

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Bandwidth and Information

Theory

The bandwidth of an information

signal is simply the difference between
the highest and lowest frequencies
contained in the information and the
bandwidth of the communication
channel is the difference between the
highest and lowest frequencies that
the channel will allow to pass.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Bandwidth and Information

Theory

Information theory is a highly

theoretical study of the efficient use of
bandwidth to propagate information
through the electronic communication
system.
Information capacity is a measure of
how information can be transferred
through a communication system in a
given period of time.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Bandwidth and Information

Theory

Hartleys law (Ralph Vinton Lyon

Hartley ; 1920)

I Bt
I = Information capacity
B = system bandwidth (hertz)
t = transmission time (seconds)
(seconds

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Bandwidth and Information

Theory

Shannon limit for information

capacity (Claude E. Shannon: 1948)

I=B log2(1+ S/N )

x

I = information capacity (bits per second)

B = bandwidth (hertz)
S
/N = signal to noise power ratio (unitless)

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Circuit Arrangements

Electronic communications circuits

can be configured several ways.
These configurations are called
circuit arrangements.

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Circuit Arrangements

Two-wire transmission as the

name implies, involves two wires
(one for the signal and the other for
a reference or ground) or a circuit
configuration that is equivalent to
only two wires.

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Circuit Arrangements

Two-wire transmission
Transmission
medium

signal
Source

Transmitter

reference

Station A

Receiver

Station B

Passive
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Destination

Circuit Arrangements

Two-wire transmission
Transmission
medium

signal
Source

Transmitter

Amp

Receiver
reference

Station A

Station B

Active
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Destination

Circuit Arrangements

Four wire transmission involves

four wires (two for each direction, a
signal and a reference ground) or a
circuit configuration that is
equivalent to four wires. Four wire
transmission is ideally suited for full
duplex transmission.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Circuit Arrangements
signal
Source

Transmitter

Amp

Receiver

Destination

reference
Transmissi
on medium

Station A

Station B

signal
Destination

Receiver

Amp
reference

Station A

Transmitter

Station B
Active four-wire circuit
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Source

Circuit Arrangements

When a two-wire ckt. is connected to

a four wire ckt., as in long distance
telephone, an interface called a
hybrid or terminating set is used
to affect the interface. The hybrid set
is used to match impedances and
provide isolation between the two
directions of signal flow.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Circuit Arrangements
Attenuator
pads

Two wire
line

Hybrid coil

Equalizer
Amp

W-E line

Balancing
network

Four
wire line

E-W line

Amp

Hybrid

Attenuator
pads
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Equalizer

Circuit Arrangements

An echo suppressor (sometimes

"acoustic echo suppressor" / AES) is
a telecommunications device used to
reduce the echo heard on long
telephone circuits.

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Circuit Arrangements
WE
amplifier

Speech
Detector

West
Hybrid

EW
amplifier

Echo Suppressor
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West
Hybrid

Basic AM Receiver
MIXER/CONVERTER
SECTION

IF SECTION

RF SECTION

AUDIO
DETECTOR

LOCAL
OSCILLATOR

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

AUDIO AMP

SPKR

Basic AM Receiver

RF Section: Generally consists of 1): a preselector, a broad-tuned BPF with adjustable

center frequency and used to provide enough
band-limiting to prevent unwanted RF called
image frequency from entering the receiver
and 2): RF amplifier that amplifies the
received signal and determines the receiver
sensitivity.
Mixer/Converter Section: Includes an RF
oscillator and a mixer/converter, also called
the first detector, a non-linear device that
converts RF to IF Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

Basic AM Receiver

IF Section: Consists of a series of IF

amplifiers and BPF, often called IF strip,
which provides most of the receiver gain
and selectivity.
Detector Section: This converts the IF signal
back to the original source information
Audio Amplifier section: Comprises several
cascaded audio amplifiers to raise the audio
level necessary to drive the speaker.
Engr. E. B. Pioquinto

THANK YOU
HAVE A NICE DAY

Engr. E. B. Pioquinto