DIODES: APPLICATIONS Engr. Arvin B.

Aldover
I. Diode Clippers
There are a variety of diode networks
called clippers that have the ability to “clip”
off a portion of the input signal without
distorting the remaining part of the alternating
waveform.

A. Series Clipper. The diode in a series

clipper “clips” any voltage that does not
forward bias it: A reverse-biasing polarity
A forward-biasing polarity less than 0.7 V
(for a silicon diode)

Summary of Clipper Circuits

Biased Clippers
II. Clamper Circuits
A diode and capacitor can be combined to
“clamp” an AC signal to a specific DC level.

B. Parallel Clippers
The diode in a parallel clipper circuit “clips”
any voltage that forward bias it. DC biasing can
be added in series with the diode to change the
clipping level.

III. Voltage-Multiplier Circuits

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Voltage multiplier circuits use a 2. Simple Diode Circuits
combination of diodes and capacitors to step  Protective Circuits against Over
up the output voltage of rectifier circuits. current
 Voltage Doubler  Polarity Reversal
 Voltage Tripler  Currents caused by an inductive
 Voltage Quadrupler kick in a relay circuit
3. Zener Circuits
 Overvoltage Protection
 Setting Reference Voltages

IV. Logic Gates

This half-wave voltage doubler’s output Logic gate is an idealized or physical
can be calculated by: device implementing a Boolean function, that
Vout = VC2 = 2Vm is, it performs a logical operation on one or
where Vm = peak secondary voltage of the more logical inputs, and produces a single
transformer logical output. 
 Positive Half-Cycle A. OR GATE
o D1 conducts
o D2 is switched off
o Capacitor C1 charges to Vm
 Negative Half-Cycle
o D1 is switched off
o D2 conducts
o Capacitor C2 charges to Vm
Vout = VC2 = 2Vm

Voltage Tripler and Quadrupler

Practical Applications
1. Rectifier Circuits
 Conversions of AC to DC for DC
operated circuits
 Battery Charging Circuits
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B. And Gate

A circuit breaker is an automatically

V. Power Supply
-is an electronic circuit that converts an ac line
voltage to a well-regulated lower –dc voltage
for electronic devices.
Purpose
Every Electronic circuit or devices needs
a DC power source such as 3V, 4.5V, 6V,
7.5V, 9V, 12V, etc. Provides protection like
prevent damaging surge voltage from reaching
the output Provide backup power during brown-
out.
operated electrical switch designed to protect
an electrical circuit from damage caused by
excess current from an overload or short
circuit. Its basic function is to interrupt current
flow after a fault is detected. Unlike a fuse,
which operates once and then must be
replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either
manually or automatically) to resume normal
operation.
In electronics and electrical engineering,
a fuse is an electrical safety device that
operates to provide overcurrent protection of
an electrical circuit. Its essential component is
a metal wire or strip that melts when too much
current flows through it, thereby interrupting the
current
Note: Transformer is the most expensive to be
replaced.

Parts of Transformer
o Primary Winding
o Secondary Winding
Elements of a Power Supply o Core : usually laminated in thin sheets
1. Transformer which forms E and I. Silicon steel is
- used to step-up or step-down the AC voltage used.
level and isolate the remainder of the electronic
system from the AC power.

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Vs Ns
=
Vp Np
What is the secondary voltage on a
transformer having a turns ratio of 1:14?
Ans: 15.7 Vrms
Is Np
=
Ip Ns
The primary to secondary current ratio of a
transformer is 4:1, and the secondary voltage  Two diodes
is 60 volts. What is the voltage on the primary?  Center-tapped transformer
Ans: 15V

Zs æN s ö
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Center Tapped Transformer: Split the output
= of transformer in two almost equal amplitude
Z p çè N p ø÷
An amplifier requires a load of 1000 ohms for and out of phase by 180 degrees.
best performance. The amplifier output is to be
connected to a loudspeaker having an
impedance of 10 ohms. What must the turns
ratio be for a transformer used for impedance
matching.
Ans: 10:1

2. Rectifier
a. Half-Wave Rectifier
b. Full-wave rectifier
i. Bridge
ii. Center Tapped

HALF WAVE RECTIFIER CIRCUIT

- converts one-half of its AC input to DC.

FULL WAVE: BRIDGE

 Four diodes are connected in a bridge
configuration

FULL WAVE: CENTER TAPPED

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3. Filters
 smoothen out the ripple.
 it is designed to convert pulsating DC from
rectifier circuits into a suitably smooth dc
level.

B. Fixed Negative Voltage Regulator ( 79xx

Series)

4. Voltage Regulator
 maintains constant output voltage level
regardless to the change of input
voltage and load resistance.

A. Fixed Positive Voltage Regulator ( 78xx

Series)

C. Adjustable Voltage Regulators

 allows the user to set the output voltage
to a desired regulated value.
a. LM317 – Positive Adjustable Voltage
Regulator

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b. LM337 – Negative Adjustable
Voltage Regulator

VOLTAGE REGULATION
A. LOAD EGULATION
- is the amount the dc voltage changes
between the no-load and load conditions.

B. LINE REGULATION

Line regulation is the ability of the power supply

to maintain its specified output voltage over
changes in the input line voltage.

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