amplituudmodulatsioon

Amplituudmodulatsioon, often abbreviated as AM, is a modulation technique used in electronic communication, most notably in the broadcasting of radio signals. In amplitudmodulatsioon, the amplitude of a carrier wave is varied in proportion to the message signal that is to be transmitted. The carrier wave is a high-frequency signal that is easy to transmit over long distances. The message signal, which contains the information to be sent, is typically a lower-frequency audio signal.

The process of amplitudmodulatsioon involves combining the carrier wave and the message signal. This combination results in a modulated wave where the peaks and troughs of the carrier wave fluctuate according to the amplitude of the message signal. At the receiver end, a process called demodulation is used to extract the original message signal from the modulated carrier wave. This is typically achieved by rectifying the modulated signal and then filtering out the carrier frequency.

Amplituudmodulatsioon is relatively simple to implement and requires less complex circuitry compared to other modulation schemes like frequency modulation (FM). This simplicity made it the dominant method for radio broadcasting for many decades. However, AM signals are more susceptible to noise and interference, which can degrade the quality of the received signal. Despite its drawbacks, amplitudmodulatsioon continues to be used in various applications, including shortwave radio and some forms of data transmission.