XM Radio: Understanding How Radio Waves are Generated

There are two types of devices in which it may beThe oscillation would have initial amplitude proportional
necessary to generate amplitude modulation. The firstto the size of the current pulse and a decay rate
of these is, the amplitude modulation transmitterdependent on the time constant of the circuit. Since a
generates such high power that its prime requirementtrain of pulses is fed to the tank circuit here, each pulse
is efficiency, so quite complex means of amplitudewill cause a complete sine wave proportional in
modulation generation may be used. The other deviceamplitude to the size of this pulse. This will be followed
is the amplitude modulation generator. Here theby the next sine wave proportional to the size of the
amplitude modulation is produced at such a low powernext applied pulse and so on. Bearing in mind that at
level that the simplicity is a more important requirementleast ten times as many pulses per audio cycle are
than efficiency. Although the methods of generatingfed to a practical circuit we see that an extremely
amplitude modulation can be different but generatinggood approximation of an amplitude modulated wave
high power are always taken care of.will result if the original current pulses are made
In order to generate amplitude modulation wave it isproportional to the modulating voltage. The process is
necessary merely to apply the series of current pulsesknown as the flywheel effect of the tuned circuit, and
to a tuned circuit. Each pulse, if it were the only one,it works best with a tuned circuit whose operating
would initiate a damped oscillation in the tuned circuit.point is not too low.