Clipper Diodes

A.Vinay Noel, EVD18I005

01-08-2019

Date Performed: 01-08-2019

Partners: Ayush Ranjan
B.Deepika
Instructor: Priyanka Kokil

1 Aim
To observe and understand and analyze the working of Diode clippers.

2 Apparatus
A PC installed with NI Multisim Software
Diode 1N4007G
Two Resistor of 1K ohm’s
Breadboard
Connecting Wires
Oscilloscope
Function Generator

3 Principle
The Diode Clipper, also known as a Diode Limiter, is a wave shaping circuit that takes an input waveform and clips
or cuts off its top half, bottom half or both halves together. It is also referred as voltage limiter/ amplitude liilmiter/
slicers.
Applications of Clippers:
* In radio receivers for communication circuits.

*In radars, digital computers and other electronic systems.

*Generation for different waveforms such as trapezoidal, or square waves.

*Helps in processing the picture signals in television transmitters.

*In television receivers for separating the synchronizing signals from composite picture signals.

Various types of clippers are:

1. Series positive clipper
2. Series negative clipper
3. Shunt positive clipper
4. Shunt negative clipper
5. Biased positive clipper
6. Biased negative clipper
7. Combination clipper

1
3.1 Series positive clipper

Figure 1: Series-positive-clipper

The series positive clipper circuit is connected as shown in the figure. During the positive half cycle, diode becomes
reverse biased, and no output is generated across the resistor, and during the negative half cycle, the diode conducts
and the entire input appears as output across the resistor.

3.2 Series negative clipper

Figure 2: Series-negative-clipper

The above figure shows a series negative clipper with its output waveforms. During the positive half cycle the diode
(considered as ideal diode) appears in the forward biased and conducts such that the entire positive half half cycle
of input appears across the resistor connected in parallel as output waveform. During the negative half cycle the
diode is in reverse biased. No output appears across the resistor. Thus, it clips the negative half cycle of the input
waveform, and therefore, it is called as a series negative clipper.

2
3.3 Shunt positive clipper

Figure 3: Shunt-positive-clipper

During the positive half cycle the diode is in conduction mode and no output is generated; and during the negative
half cycle; entire input appears as output as the diode is in reverse bias as shown in the above figure

3.4 Shunt negative clipper

Figure 4: Shunt-negative-clipper

Shunt negative clipper is connected as shown in the above figure. During the positive half cycle, the entire input is
the output, and during the negative half cycle, the diode conducts causing no output to be generated from the input.

3.5 Biased positive clipper

During the positive half cycle, the negative reference voltage connected in series with the diode appears as output;
and during the negative half cycle, the diode conducts until the input voltage value becomes greater than the negative
reference voltage and output will be generated as shown in the figure.

3.6 Biased negative clipper

Series negative clipper with positive reference voltage is similar to the series negative clipper, but in this a positive
reference voltage is added in series with the resistor. During the positive half cycle, the diode start conducting only
after its anode voltage value exceeds the cathode voltage value. Since cathode voltage becomes equal to the reference
voltage, the output that appears across the resistor will be as shown in the above figure.
clearpage

3
 Figure 5: Shunt-positive-clipper-with-Vr

(1).jpg

Figure 6: Series-negative-clipper-with-+Vr (1)

4 Design

Series Clipper.png

Figure 7: Positive Series Clipper

Series Clipper.png

Figure 8: Negative Series Clipper

4
shunt Clipper.png

Figure 9: Positive shunt Clipper

Shunt Clipper.png

Figure 10: Negative Shunt Clipper

5
 Shunt clipper(Biased).png

Figure 11: Positive Shunt clipper(Biased)

Negative Clipper(Biased).png

Figure 12: Series Negative Clipper(Biased)

negative Clipper.png

Figure 13: Positive Negative Clipper

5 Procedure
1. Represent all the circuits in Multisim software.
2. Simulate all the circuits using oscilloscope, take the readings of input and output values.
3. Screenshot all the input and output signals and analyse the input and output voltages.
4. Connect the circuits using breadboard to form the clipper circuit.
5. Connect the input with a function generator, give in an input of sine function with 5Vpk.
6. Using oscilloscope observe the output readings for different clipper circuits.
7. Note the observations compare practical and theoretical values.

6 Discussions and Graphs

6
 Clipper Series Graph.png

Figure 14: positive Clipper Series Graph

In an ideal case, if an ideal diode is used in the positive clipper circuit then it will clip the positive part and give out
only negative part. A diode that has a barrier voltage of 0.7v i.e non-ideal diode so, some of the output voltage is
consumed to break the barrier.

Clipper Series Graph.png

Figure 15: Negative Clipper Series Graph

In an ideal case i.e if an ideal diode is used in the negative clipper circuit then it will clip the negative part and give
out only positive part. we are using a diode that has a barrier voltage of 0.7v i.e non-ideal diode so, some of the
output voltage is consumed to break the barrier.

Clipper Shunt Graph.png

Figure 16: positive Clipper Shunt Graph

7
In an ideal case i.e if an ideal diode is used in the positive shunt clipper then in will clip the positive part and give
out only negative part.In a practical diode, the breakdown voltage will exist (0.7 V for silicon ). Unlike the ideal
output, a bit portion of the positive cycle is present in the practical output due to the diode conduction voltage
which is 0.7v. Hence there will be a difference in the practical and ideal output waveforms.

Clipper Shunt Graph.png

Figure 17: Negative Clipper Shunt Graph

Instead of positive reference voltage, a negative reference voltage is connected in series with the diode to form a
shunt negative clipper with a negative reference voltage. During the positive half cycle, the entire input appears as
output, and during the negative half cycle, a reference voltage appears as output as shown in the above
gure.During the positive cycle of the input the diode gets reverse biased and behaves as an open switch. So whole of
the input voltage, appears at the output Vo. During the negative half cycle, the diode gets forward biased.

Clipper Shunt Biased Graph.png

Figure 18: Positive Clipper Shunt Biased Graph

During the positive half cycle, the negative reference voltage connected in series with the diode appears as output;
and during the negative half cycle, the diode conducts until the input voltage value becomes greater than the negative
reference voltage and output will be generated as shown in the figure.

8
 Clipper Series Biased Graph.png

Figure 19: Negative Clipper Series Biased Graph

Series negative clipper with positive reference voltage is similar to the series negative clipper, but in this a positive
reference voltage is added in series with the resistor. During the positive half cycle, the diode start conducting only
after its anode voltage value exceeds the cathode voltage value. Since cathode voltage becomes equal to the reference
voltage, the output that appears across the resistor will be as shown in the above figure.

Negative Clipper Graph.png

Figure 20: Positive Negative Clipper Graph

As we are dealing with a non-ideal case the diode will have a breaking or barrier voltage of 0.7v so, this 0.7v will act
like a biasing voltage so we will get a alternatively clipping. During the positive half of the input signal, the diode
D1 conducts making the breaking or barrier voltage appear at the output. During the negative half of the input
signal, the diode D2 conducts making the breaking or barrier voltage appear at the output. Hence both the diodes
conduct alternatively to clip the output during both the cycles. The output is taken across the load resistor.

7 Results
1. After working out this expirement we are able to do analyze how a clipper circuit works.
2. We were able to analyze how a clipper circuts in ideal mode and a non ideal mode works.
3. Circuit designs of various clipper circuits in software(Multisim) and in hardware is analyzed.