Electronics I lab EE277

Objectives:

To demonstrate the function of clipper and clamper circuits.

Equipments required:

Oscillator (or function generator).2.

Object board.3.

Coupling wires.4.

Oscilloscope.5.

Digital multimeter (DMM).6.

DC-voltage source.7.

Ordinary diodes.8.

Resistors (4.7 k

Ω

, 100 k

Ω

).9.

Capacitors.10.

Probes.

Theory:

(1)

Clipper Circuits:Clippers are networks which clip away part of the applied signal.Clippers are used to:1.

Create a specific type of signal.2.

Limit the voltage that can be applied to a network.Clipper circuit consists of:1.

AC-source.2.

Diode.3.

DC-Source ( to shift the operating point to the required value).The circuit shown in Figure (3-1) is an example of clipper circuit.Figure 3-1In this circuit assuming V

= 0 we note that:



When V

is positive (V

> 0.7) the diode is ON, so the output is V

= 0.7V.



When V

is negative or (V

< 0.7) the diode is OFF, so the output is V

.So the output signal will be as shown in Figure (3-2).We can change the V

value, so the output voltage will be shifted, and the maximumallowable dc-voltage is:Where:A : The peak value of the ac-source.For example, if the input voltage is:

Volts ) t sin( 5V

and silicon diode is usedthen the maximum dc-voltage is:

V 7 .0V

V 3 . 47 .0 5V

(max) dc

Page No (3-1)

7 .0 AV

(max) dc

−

Electronics I lab EE277

Figure 3-2(2) Clampers:Clampers are networks that clamp the input signal to a different dc level, but the peak-to-peak swing of the applied signal will remain the same.Clamper circuit consists of clipper components plus capacitor, and the circuit shown inFigure 3-3 is an example of clamper circuit.Figure 3-3How does clamper operates?

When the input voltage is positive (V

> 0) the diode is ON, so applying KVL aroundthe circuit we have:

7 .0V V 07 .0V V

iC C i

−

Since the diode is ON the output voltage will be:

V 7 .0V V

D o

When the input voltage is zer (V

= 0) the diode is OFF. Applying KVL we have:

C o oC

V V 0V V 0

−

And when the input voltage is negative (V

< 0) the diode is OFF, so applying KVL weget:

C i o oC i

V V V 0V V V

−

Page No (3-2)

Electronics I lab EE277

For example, let

Volts ) t sin( 5V

and silicon diode is used

V 7 .0V

,then:

V 3 . 9 3 . 4 5V V V 0V When V 3 . 4V V 0V When V 7 .0V V 3 . 47 .0 5V 0V When

C i oi C oi oC i

−−=

So the output will be as shown in Figure 3-4.Figure 3-4How to determine the output of clamper circuit?1.

Determine the polarity of the ac source at which the diode is ON, and then applyKVL to find the capacitor voltage, and be careful to the polarity of the voltage acrossthe capacitor. See Figure 3-5. Since the diode is ON, then the output voltage is V

.Figure 3-52.

Make the ac source short circuit and apply KVL to determine the dc-level of theoutput voltage where:

C ) dc( o

V V

−

Now, invert the ac-source terminals and find the output voltage. Since the diode isOFF so; applying KVL, the peak output voltage is:

C i o

V V V

−

Page No (3-3)