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Spread Spectrum Scene 

The Advantages of
Constant Envelope Modulation






Constant Envelope Modulation provides significant advantages over the standard PSK forms of modulation used with Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Systems. The Sidebar excerpt below lists a few of these advantages.


The Constant Envelope Modulation Power Advantage


Constant envelope modulations such as FSK, GFSK, MSK, GMSK and Feher's IJF - nonlinearly filtered ISI-free modulations offer not only enhanced spectral efficiency in DS systems, they also provide an inherent transmitted power advantage. All constant envelope modulations allow a DS transmiter's power amplifiers to operate at or near saturation levels. On the other hand, standard BPSK, QPSK, QAM and even π/4-DCQPSK modulations contain AM components in the modulated envelope, which require from 3 to 6 dB of back off (from saturation) in the output power amplifier to reduce or eliminate spectrum splatter of sideband components that might cause Adjacent Channel Interference (ACI).

Most non-constant envelope modulations actually require fully linear power amplification and thus for similar power outputs (to saturated RF PA stages) require RF power amplifiers that are up to 4 times more capable (to handle the PEP required by the waveform). These larger power amplifiers are less efficient, consume more primary power, generate more heat and are more expensive than their Class C amplifier counterparts.

Next time you design a new DS system, consider a Constant Envelope Modulation!





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