A PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) demodulator is a circuit that converts a PWM signal back to an analog voltage or current. PWM is a widely used technique in electronics and control systems to encode information in the form of a pulse train with varying pulse widths. To convert the PWM signal back to analog, the demodulator needs to extract the original continuous analog signal from the PWM waveform.
Here's how a typical PWM demodulator works:
Sampling: The PWM demodulator samples the PWM signal at a fixed frequency. This frequency is usually much higher than the PWM frequency to ensure accurate conversion.
Pulse Width Measurement: For each sampling period, the demodulator measures the width (duration) of the PWM pulses. The pulse width represents the encoded information and corresponds to the amplitude of the original analog signal.
Low-Pass Filtering: After measuring the pulse width, the demodulator uses a low-pass filter to smooth out the PWM signal's sharp edges and reconstruct the analog signal. The low-pass filter removes the high-frequency components of the PWM signal, leaving the average voltage or current value, which represents the analog signal's magnitude.
Output: The filtered output is the converted analog voltage or current. The demodulator may further amplify or condition the signal based on the application requirements.
It's important to note that the accuracy of the demodulated analog signal depends on factors such as the PWM frequency, the sampling frequency, and the characteristics of the low-pass filter used in the demodulation process.
PWM demodulation is commonly used in various applications, including motor control, audio amplification, power electronics, and communication systems. By modulating information onto a PWM signal and then demodulating it back to analog form, engineers can efficiently transmit and process signals while minimizing losses and noise.