Gabriel, Marielle M.

June 16 Activity
2018103210

ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

Introduction:

This activity covers the components, topologies, design constraints and transfer characteristics
of the different diode wave shaping circuits, such as: limiting circuits or clippers in Part 1, level
shifters or clampers in Part 2, and voltage multipliers in Part 3.

Let us use the LTSPICE to run simulations and determine the characteristics of diode
wave shaping circuits. Here is a link about ‘Getting Started with LTSPICE’:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/getting-started-with-ltspice/all

Part 1: Diode Clipper

1.1 Connect the circuit of Positive Clipper in LTSPICE tool, as shown in Figure 1.1. The student or group
may use another kind of rectifier diode for diode D1; another value of resistance for resistor R1 and
resistor R2; and another dc offset, amplitude, and frequency for sine wave voltage source V1. Take
the photo of your own circuit diagram drawn in LTSPICE tool, and place it in Figure 1.2. (One way to
capture the screen in LTSPICE is: View > Paste Bitmap.)

Fig. 1.1. Positive Clipper Circuit (sample). Fig. 1.2. Connection of Positive Clipper.

1.2 Include a SPICE directive in your schematic diagram. In Figure 1.1, the directive is .tran 1m 30m. This
directive describes the transient simulation with a time step of 1 ms and a time stop of 30 ms. The
resulting waveform in transient simulation is similar with the display of oscilloscope instrument,
wherein the x-axis is also time. In Figure 1.1, the input V1 is a sine-wave voltage source with 0 V dc
level, 5 V amplitude, and 100 Hertz frequency. With a time stop of 30 ms and with 100 Hz sine wave
input (10 ms period), the simulation results displayed 3 cycles as shown in Figure 1.3. For your
simulation, set the transient simulation to display 5 complete cycles. Run your simulation, and show
the waveforms of input voltage V1 and output voltage across R2. Take a photo of your waveforms,
and place it in Figure 1.4.
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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

Fig. 1.3. Positive Clipper Voltages (sample). Fig. 1.4. Input and Output Voltages of Positive Clipper.

1.3 Write the transfer equation of your positive clipper circuit. Express the output voltage in
terms of the input voltage.
During the +HC, Vo = 0V.
During the -HC, Vo = (Vin+Vd)V.

1.4 Describe the operation of diode positive clipper.

In a positive clipper, the positive half cycles of the input voltage will be removed. T he diode
is forward biased (anode more positive than cathode) during the positive half cycle of the
sinusoidal input waveform. During the negative half cycle of the input, the diode is forward
biased and so the negative half cycle appears across the output.

1.5 Connect the circuit of Negative Clipper in LTSPICE tool, as shown in Figure 1.5. The student or group may
use another kind of rectifier diode for diode D1; another value of resistance for resistor R1 and resistor R2;
and another dc offset, amplitude, and frequency for sine wave voltage source V1. Take the photo of your
own circuit diagram drawn in LTSPICE tool, and place it in Figure 1.6.

Fig. 1.5. Negative Clipper Circuit (sample). Fig. 1.6. Connection of Negative Clipper.

1.6 The sample waveforms of negative clipper circuit in Figure 1.5 is shown in Figure 1.7. For your
simulation, set the transient simulation to display 5 complete cycles of input voltage V1 and output
voltage across R2. Take a photo of your waveforms, and place it in Figure 1.8.
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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

Fig. 1.7. Negative Clipper Voltages (sample). Fig. 1.8. Input and Output Voltages of Negative Clipper.

1.7 Write the transfer equation of your negative clipper circuit. Express the output voltage in
terms of the input voltage.
During the +HC, Vo = (Vin-Vd)V.
During the -HC, Vo = 0V.

1.8 Describe the operation of diode negative clipper.

Negative clipper removes input voltage when the input signal voltage
becomes greater than the battery voltage. As the diode limits the negative half
cycle of the input voltage it is therefore called a negative clipper circuit.

1.9 Connect the circuit of Biased Clipper in LTSPICE tool, as shown in Figure 1.9. The student or
group may use another kind of rectifier diode for diode D1; another value of resistance for
resistor R1 and resistor R2; another dc offset, amplitude, and frequency for sine wave voltage
source V1; and another voltage level for dc voltage source V2. Take the photo of your own
circuit diagram drawn in LTSPICE tool, and place it in Figure 1.10.

Fig. 1.9. Biased Clipper Circuit 1 (sample). Fig. 1.10. Connection of Biased Clipper Circuit 1.

1.10 Set the transient simulation to display 5 complete cycles of input voltage V1 and output voltage
across R2. Take a photo of your waveforms, and place it in Figure 1.11.
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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

Fig. 1.11. Input and Output Voltages of Biased Clipper Circuit 1.

1.11 Write the transfer equation of your biased clipper circuit 1. Express the output voltage in
terms of the input voltage.
During the +HC, when Vin < Vd, Vo = Vin V. When Vin > Vd + Vdc, Vo = (Vd+Vdc)V.
During the -HC, Vo = Vin V.

1.12 Describe the operation of biased clipper circuit 1.

The operation of biased clipper circuit 1 uses biased positive clipper or Parallel
Positive Clipper which means that a positive terminal of the battery is link to the
cathode of the diode.

1.13 Connect another circuit of biased clipper, as shown in Figure 1.12. Use the same components from
Figure 1.10. Take the photo of your own circuit diagram, and place it in Figure 1.13.

Fig. 1.12. Biased Clipper Circuit 2 (sample). Fig. 1.13. Connection of Biased Clipper Circuit 2.
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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

1.14 Set the transient simulation to display 5 complete cycles of input voltage V1 and output voltage
across R2. Take a photo of your waveforms, and place it in Figure 1.14.

Fig. 1.14. Input and Output Voltages of Biased Clipper 2.

1.15 Write the transfer equation of your biased clipper circuit 2. Express the output voltage in
terms of the input voltage.
During the +HC, Vo = (-Vdc + Vd) V.
During the -HC, When Vin < Vdc, Vo = (-Vdc +Vd) V. When Vin > Vdc, Vo = Vin V

1.16 Describe the operation of diode biased clipper 2.

- The operation of biased clipper circuit 2 uses biased negative clipper or also
called as Parallel Negative Clipper which means that in circuit, clipping take
place during the – Half Cycle when the input voltage (Vi<Vb) the clipping level will
lift or down by varying the bias voltage.

1.17 Connect another circuit of biased clipper, as shown in Figure 1.15. Use the same components from Figure 1.10

and Figure 1.12. Take the photo of your own circuit diagram, and place it in Figure 1.16.

Fig. 1.15. Biased Clipper Circuit 3 (sample). Fig. 1.16. Connection of Biased Clipper Circuit 3.
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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

1.18 Set the transient simulation to display 5 complete cycles of input voltage V1 and outp ut voltage
across R2. Take a photo of your waveforms, and place it in Figure 1.17.

Fig. 1.17. Input and Output Voltages of Biased Clipper 3.

1.19 Write the transfer equation of your biased clipper circuit 3. Express the output voltage in
terms of the input voltage.
During the +HC, when Vin < Vdc1 +Vd1 – Diodes D1 and D2 are RB, Vo = Vin V.
When Vin > Vdc1 + Vd1 will be FB and D2 will be RB. Vo = (Vdc1 + Vd1) V.

1.20 Describe the operation of diode biased clipper 3.

The operation of diode biased clipper 3 is combination clipper or called as Dual

Combination Diode that when the type of clipper combines a parallel negative clipper
with negative bias (D1 andD2) and a parallel bias (D1 and B1).
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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

Part 2: Diode Clamper

2.1 Connect the circuit diagram of Diode Clamper using the LTSPICE tool, as shown in Figure 2.1. The student
or group may use another kind of rectifier diode for diode D1; another value of capacitance for capacitor
C1; another value of resistance for resistor R2; and another dc offset, amplitude, and frequency for sine
wave voltage source V1. Take the photo of your own circuit diagram, and place it in Figure 2.2. (One way
to capture the screen in LTSPICE is: View > Paste Bitmap.)

Fig. 2.1. Diode Clamper Circuit (sample). Fig. 2.2. Connection of Diode Clamper Circuit.

2.2 The sample waveforms of clamper circuit in Figure 2.1 is presented in Figure 2.3. The waveforms of input
voltage V1, V(in); output voltage across resistor R2, V(out); and voltage across capacitor C1, V(in)-V(out)
are exhibited in Figure 2.3. For your simulation, set the transient simulation to also display 5 complete
cycles of input voltage V1, output voltage across R2, and voltage across capacitor C2. Take a photo of
your waveforms, and place it in Figure 2.4.

Fig. 2.3. Waveforms of Diode Clamper Circuit (sample).

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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

Fig. 2.4. Waveforms of Diode Clamper Circuit.

2.3 From the waveforms of your diode clamper circuit in Figure 2.4, answer the following: What is the
peak-to-peak voltage of the input voltage V1? What is the peak-to-peak voltage of the output voltage
across R2? What is the peak voltage of voltage across capacitor C1? What is the dc level of the input
voltage V1? What is the dc level of the output voltage across R2?

Vin(pk-pk) = 5V
Vout(pk-pk) = -7.5V
VC1(pk) = 5V
Vin(dc) = 5V
Vout(dc) = -7.5V

2.4 Briefly discuss the operation of a diode clamper circuit.

The clamper does not restrict the peak-to-peak excursion of the signal, it shifts
the DC level or the reference level of the signal to the desired level without altering the
shape of the waveform.

2.5 To understand the design constraint involving the diode clamper circuit, let us change the value of your
capacitance C1 to vary the time constant of your clamper circuit in Figure 22. Run again transient
simulations with different time constants. Take a photo of the waveforms of input voltage V1, output voltage
across R2, and voltage across capacitor C1, and place them in Table 2.1. (See Table 2.2 for an example
on how to fill up Table 2.1, using Figure 2.1 and Figure 2.3.)

Table 2.1. Clamper Circuit with Different Time Constants ( clamper)

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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS
Frequency of Input Voltage V1, fin 150Hz
Period of Input Voltage V1, Tin

Condition C1 R2 clamper Photo of Voltage Waveforms of Clamper Circuit

clamper
= 0.01Tin 15u 3k 0.01Tin

clamper
= 0.1Tin 20u 4k 0.1Tin

clamper = Tin
25u 5k 1Tin

clamper
= 10Tin 30u 6k 10Tin

clamper
= 100Tin 35u 7k 100Tin
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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

2.6 Based on the results in Table 2.1, discuss the effect of time constant of clamper circuit to the
voltage across capacitor C1 and to the output voltage across R2.

The values will be high enough to guarantee that the voltage around the C capacitor does not
shift dramatically over the time period where the diode becomes non-conductive. In a good
clamp circuit, the time constant of the circuit t = RC should be at least ten times the time of the
input signal voltage.

2.7 Based on the results in Table 2.1, what time constant of clamper circuit provides the best
output voltage? Briefly discuss your answer.

The circuit time constant t=RC should be at least ten times the time period of the input signal
voltage.

Table 2.2. Example - Clamper Circuit with Different Time Constants ( clamper).
Frequency of Input Voltage V1, fin 100 Hz
Period of Input Voltage V1, Tin 1/100Hz = 10 ms

Condition C1 R2 clamper Photo of Voltage Waveforms of Clamper Circuit

clamper
10 µF 1 kΩ 10 ms
= Tin
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DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS