Frequency modulation (FM) varies the frequency of the carrier signal based on the message signal. There are two main types: 1. Narrowband FM varies the carrier frequency by a small amount (modulation index β ≤ 0.3), resulting in just the carrier and two significant sidebands. 2. Wideband FM uses a larger frequency deviation (β > 0.3), producing more than two sidebands. The FM spectrum consists of the carrier frequency fc and an infinite number of sideband frequencies at fc ± nfm, where the amplitudes are determined by Bessel functions and the modulation index β.

1. Angle Modulation – Frequency
Modulation
Consider again the general carrier vc ( t ) = Vc cos( ωc t + φc )
( ωc t + φc ) represents the angle of the carrier.
There are two ways of varying the angle of the carrier.
• By varying the frequency, ωc – Frequency Modulation.
• By varying the phase, φc – Phase Modulation
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2. Frequency Modulation
In FM, the message signal m(t) controls the frequency fc of the carrier. Consider the
carrier
vc ( t ) = Vc cos( ωc t )
then for FM we may write:
FM signal v s ( t ) = Vc cos( 2π ( f c + frequency deviation ) t ) ,where the frequency deviation
will depend on m(t).
Given that the carrier frequency will change we may write for an instantaneous
carrier signal
Vc cos( ωi t ) = Vc cos( 2πf i t ) = Vc cos( φi )
where φi is the instantaneous angle = ωi t = 2πf i t and fi is the instantaneous
frequency. 2

3. Frequency Modulation
dφi 1 dφi
Since φi = 2πf i t then = 2πf i or fi =
dt 2π dt
i.e. frequency is proportional to the rate of change of angle.
If fc is the unmodulated carrier and fm is the modulating frequency, then we may
deduce that
1 dφi
f i = f c + Δf c cos( ωm t ) =
2π dt
∆fc is the peak deviation of the carrier.
1 dφi
Hence, we have = f c + Δf c cos( ωm t ) ,i.e. dφi = 2πf c + 2πΔf c cos( ωm t )
2π dt dt
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4. Frequency Modulation
After integration i.e. ∫ (ωc + 2πΔf c cos( ωm t ) ) dt
2πΔf c sin ( ωm t )
φi = ωc t +
ωm
Δf c
φi = ωc t + sin ( ωm t )
fm
Hence for the FM signal, v s ( t ) = Vc cos( φi )
 Δf c 
v s ( t ) = Vc cos ωc t +
 sin ( ωm t ) 

 fm  4

5. Frequency Modulation
Δf c
The ratio is called the Modulation Index denoted by β i.e.
fm
Peak frequency deviation
β=
modulating frequency
Note – FM, as implicit in the above equation for vs(t), is a non-linear process – i.e.
the principle of superposition does not apply. The FM signal for a message m(t) as a
band of signals is very complex. Hence, m(t) is usually considered as a 'single tone
modulating signal' of the form
m( t ) = Vm cos( ωm t )
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6. Frequency Modulation
 Δf 
The equation v s ( t ) = Vc cos ωc t + c sin ( ωm t )  may be expressed as Bessel
 
 fm 
series (Bessel functions)
∞
v s ( t ) = Vc ∑ J ( β ) cos( ω
n c + nωm ) t
n= −∞
where Jn(β) are Bessel functions of the first kind. Expanding the equation for a few
terms we have:
v s (t ) = Vc J 0 ( β ) cos(ω c )t + Vc J 1 ( β ) cos(ω c + ω m )t + Vc J −1 ( β ) cos(ω c − ω m )t
 
   
   
       
 
Amp fc Amp fc + fm Amp fc − fm
+ Vc J 2 ( β ) cos(ω c + 2ω m )t + Vc J − 2 ( β ) cos(ω c − 2ω m )t + 
 
             
Amp fc +2 fm Amp fc −2 f m
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7. FM Signal Spectrum.
The amplitudes drawn are completely arbitrary, since we have not found any value for
Jn(β) – this sketch is only to illustrate the spectrum.
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8. FM Signal Waveforms.
If we plot fOUT as a function of VIN:
In general, m(t) will be a ‘band of signals’, i.e. it will contain amplitude and frequency
variations. Both amplitude and frequency change in m(t) at the input are translated to
(just) frequency changes in the FM output signal, i.e. the amplitude of the output FM
signal is constant.
Amplitude changes at the input are translated to deviation from the carrier at the
output. The larger the amplitude, the greater the deviation. 16

9. FM Signal Waveforms.
Frequency changes at the input are translated to rate of change of frequency at the
output.An attempt to illustrate this is shown below:
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10. Significant Sidebands – Spectrum.
As shown, the bandwidth of the spectrum containing significant
components is 6fm, for β = 1.
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11. Carson’s Rule for FM Bandwidth.
An approximation for the bandwidth of an FM signal is given by
BW = 2(Maximum frequency deviation + highest modulated
frequency)
Bandwidth = 2(∆f c + f m ) Carson’s Rule
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12. Narrowband and Wideband FM
Narrowband FM NBFM
From the graph/table of Bessel functions it may be seen that for small β, (β ≤ 0.3)
there is only the carrier and 2 significant sidebands, i.e. BW = 2fm.
FM with β ≤ 0.3 is referred to as narrowband FM (NBFM) (Note, the bandwidth is
the same as DSBAM).
Wideband FM WBFM
For β > 0.3 there are more than 2 significant sidebands. As β increases the number of
sidebands increases. This is referred to as wideband FM (WBFM).
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13. Comments FM
• The FM spectrum contains a carrier component and an infinite number of sidebands
at frequencies fc ± nfm (n = 0, 1, 2, …)
∞
FM signal, v s (t ) = Vc ∑J
n = −∞
n ( β ) cos(ω c + nω m )t
• In FM we refer to sideband pairs not upper and lower sidebands. Carrier or other
components may not be suppressed in FM.
• The relative amplitudes of components in FM depend on the values Jn(β), where
α Vm
β= thus the component at the carrier frequency depends on m(t), as do all the
fm
other components and none may be suppressed.
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