Modulation System

THE ULTRADYNE DILEMMA

MODULATION OR NOT MODULATION?

Why a Hamletic title? Below I will try to explain it.
In re-reading the various articles, including patent, written by Lacault, on the functioning of the Modulation System, or the Ultradyne, made me doubt on its real working. If then I compare it with the operation described by Jouaust in his patent and related documents (Ref. 2), doubts have increased. Below I have summarized what I understood and interpreted.
Lacault explained the operation of the Modulation System as follows:

- The plate-filament space of the Modulator Tube acts as a resistance, whose value is varied by the RF input signal (antenna) imprinted on the grid. Since the plate is fed only from the high frequency signal of the local oscillator the intensity of this signal varies depending on the value of the plate-filament resistance. It is the antenna signal that modulates the local oscillator -

The description of Jouaust was the following:

- The "modulation" in reception consists in vary periodically, with a local oscillator, the RF signal strength. It is the local oscillator signal which modulates that of the RF -

As you can see they are conflicting, which one was right?
Below is how I think that the circuit functions:

We know that the switching mixer interrupts or shorts the RF signal at the local oscillator frequency. In the Ultradyne, mixing occurs by causing a periodic interruption of the antenna RF signal on the plate of the tube. This is not done with an electronic switching device, how we use nowadays, but simply by feeding the plate, through the intermediate frequency transformer, by the high frequency voltage of the local oscillator rather than with the classic DC anode voltage. With the positive half-wave of the oscillator, the RF signal is present on the plate (so the tube is active), with the negative one it is absent, thanks to this rhythmic interruption that occurs the mixing and the intermediate frequency generated. Consequently, it is the local oscillator that "modulates" the antenna signal. The tube works both as an RF amplifier and as a pseudo "switch", alternately, ingenious! We can consider it a ”switching mixer”.
I think the description of Jouaust was more correct, although Lacault, talking about variation of the tube internal resistance by the polarity of a periodical signal (however the signal was the RF not that of the local oscillator) was closer to a “switching mixing action”. Jouaust spoke of "the phenomenon of modulation" in reception and Lacault of "modulation system" in the superheterodyne receivers. Usually "modulation" means the system for imparting information (audio or other) on a RF carrier, which is actually a mixing, then ……."Modulation or not Modulation"? Call it as you will, but it is thanks to the gentlemen Jouaust and Lacault that we are aware of this ingenious RF mixer, invented, it must be remembered, more than ninety years ago! In its simplicity lies the genius.

References:

1- www.radiopharos.it - The ingenious circuit of Monsieur Lacault - Part I

2- www.radiopharos.it - The Modulation System and the Ultradyne

www.radiopharos.it

1st Issue - September 2014