Basis of IQ modulation and IQ signals (IQ调制和IQ信号基础)

1. Overview

The output of IQ modulation can be represented as below,

output = I(t) * cos(2πft) + Q(t) * sin(2πft)

2. IQ Sigals

1) Quadrature sigals

Quadrature sigals: the signals are 90° apart in phase

cos(2πft) and sin(2πft) are a couple of quadrature signals.

2) I signal and Q signal

usually,

• cos(2πft) is known as ‘‘in-phase’’ signal, whose amplitude is I,
  I * cos(2πft)
• sin(2πft) is known as ‘‘quadrature’’ signal, whose amplitude is Q.
  Q * sin(2πft)

3. IQ modulation

output = input1 + input2 = I(t) * cos(2πft) + Q(t) * sin(2πft)

I and Q varying, the summarized output signal varies.

Breakdown:

if we break down above equation, there are actually 2 components,

• 2 quadrature carriers ( cos(2πft), sin(2πft) )
• 2 modulation signals (I, Q)

I(t) and Q(t), as the input signals, can be any signals(any waveforms) and thus realize any types of modulations, AM, FM, BPSK, QPSK, QAM, etc.

1). IQ modulation to be BPSK

IQ modulation can realize BPSK when

• I(t) varies between +1 and -1
• Q(t) = 0

now output singal = I(t) * cos(2πft), where I(t) varies between +1 and -1

2). IQ modulation to be QPSK

IQ modulation can realize BPSK when

• I(t) varies between +1 and -1
• Q(t) varies between +1 and -1

now output singal = I(t) * cos(2πft) + Q(t) *sin(2πft), where I(t) and Q(t) both vary between +1 and -1