GS&EI ElectEngg 14 2024 1601-2025 For an envelope detector to properly demodulate an AM signal, the time constant (RC) of the detector circuit must be chosen such that it is much smaller than the reciprocal of the highest modulating frequency ($RC \ll 1/f_{m,max}$) and much larger than the reciprocal of the carrier frequency ($RC \gg 1/f_c$).