Wave Shaping Circuits

Lesson 3

By:
Engr. Verna C. Magnaye, EcE
Overview:
Wave shaping circuits are electrical networks in which
when an input alternating signal is inputted to it, it will give
an output that is different from the shape of the input. The
simplest and most common wave shaping circuits are clipper
and clamping circuits. They both employ diodes to produce
the desired outputs that the circuits were designed for. The
lesson will be focusing on the mentioned circuits in which
the design procedures for the circuits to obtain the desired
outputs must be considered.
Objectives:
After successfully completing this lesson, you should be able to:
 Identify the basic elements needed for the wave shaping
circuits.
 Learn how to design wave shaping circuit for desired output.
 Learn how to trace the expected output curve to be
produced by the circuit.
 Learn to analyze, compute, and measure the electrical
parameters specifically for input and output signals of the
wave shaping circuits.
Course Contents:

The lesson covers two diode wave shaping circuits:

• Clipper Circuit
• Clamping Circuits
Clippers

The output of clipping circuits appear as if portion of

the input signal was clipped off. A clipping circuit requires at
least two fundamental components, a diode and a resistor.
A DC battery is also frequently used. Clippers are also called
voltage or current amplitude selectors or slicers.
Clipper networks have the ability to “clip” off a portion
of the input signal without distorting the remaining part of
the alternating waveform.
Tips in analyzing clipper networks
1) Make a mental sketch of the response of the network based on
the direction of the diode and the applied voltage levels.
2) Determine the applied voltage (Transition Voltage) that will
cause a change in state for the diode.
3) Be continually aware of the defined terminals and polarity of
Vo.
4) It can be helpful to sketch the input signal above the output and
determine the output at instantaneous values of the input.
CLIPPER SYSTEM

INPUT
CLIPPER OUTPUT
Series Negative Clipper
Series Positive Clipper
Parallel Positive Clipper
Parallel Negative clipper
Examples
1. Determine the output waveform for the sinusoidal input of
the figure shown.
Solution for #1
Step 1: The output is again directly across the resistor R.
Step 2: The positive region of vi and the dc supply are both applying
“pressure” to turn the diode on. The result is that we can safely
assume the diode is in the “on” state for the entire range of positive
voltages for vi . Once the supply goes negative, it would have to
exceed the dc supply voltage of 5 V before it could turn the diode
off.
Step 3: The transition model is substituted as shown below, and we
find that the transition from one state to the other will occur when
vi + 5 V = 0 V
or vi = -5 V
Step 4: In the figure below, the horizontal line is drawn through the applied
voltage at the transition level. For voltages less than 5 V the diode is in the
open-circuit state and the output is 0 V, as shown in the sketch of vo . Referring
to the figure, we find that for conditions when the diode is on and the diode
current is established the output voltage will be vo = vi + 5V, as determined
using Kirchhoff’s voltage law.
Examples
2. Determine the output waveform for the triangular input of
the figure shown.
Solution of #2
Step 1: In this example the output is defined across the series
combination of the 4-V supply and the diode, not across the resistor
R.
Step 2: The polarity of the dc supply and the direction of the diode
strongly suggest that the diode will be in the “on” state for a good
portion of the negative region of the input signal. In fact, it is
interesting to note that since the output is directly across the series
combination, when the diode is in its short-circuit state the output
voltage will be directly across the 4-V dc supply, requiring that the
output be fixed at 4 V. In other words, when the diode is on the
output will be 4 V. Other than that, when the diode is an open
circuit, the current through the series network will be 0 mA and the
voltage drop across the resistor will be 0 V. That will result in vo = vi
whenever the diode is off.
Step 3: The transition level of the input voltage can be found from
the figure shown by substituting the short-circuit equivalent and
remembering the diode current is 0 mA at the instant of transition.
The result is a change in state when vi = 4 V.
Step 4: From the figure shown, the transition level is drawn along
with vo = 4 V when the diode is on. For vi = 4 V, vo = 4 V, and the
waveform is simply repeated on the output plot as shown.
 Clampers

The clamping circuit has a minimum requirement of three

elements: a diode, a capacitor, and a resistor. The clamping circuit
may also be augmented by a DC battery. The capacitor present in
the clamping circuit changes the DC level of the input signal. Thus,
the output waveform which is a replica of the input waveform is a
new DC level when compared to the input signal.
Clamping Circuit
Parameters related to capacitor
 Charging Time
 The capacitor will store energy depending on the polarity of the
input signal.
o Time constant = RC

 Discharging Time
 The capacitor will release energy if the polarity is reversed.
o Time constant = RC
For all practical purposes, a capacitor will
charge(discharge) to its final value in five time constants.
 Steps in analyzing Clamping circuits
1) Start the analysis of clamping networks by considering that
part of the input signal that will forward bias the diode.
(The above statement may require skipping an interval of the input signal.)
2) During the period that the diode is in the “ON” state, assume
that the capacitor will charge up instantaneously to a voltage
level determined by the network.
3) Assume that during the period when the diode is in the “off ”
state, the capacitor will hold on to its established voltage level.
4) Throughout the analysis maintain a continual awareness of the
location and reference polarity for Vo to ensure that the proper
levels for Vo are obtained.
-V –V –vo =0
Vo = -2V
5) Keep in mind the general rule that the total swing of the
total output must match the swing of the input signal.
Example
Determine vo for the network of the figure for the indicated input.
Solution
 Determining vo and vc with the diode in the “on” state.

Vo = 5V
 Determining vo with the diode in the “off ” state.
 vi and vo waveforms for the clamper circuit.

Time Constants (𝝉)

𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶 ≅ 0 sec during charging time.
𝜏 = 𝑅𝐶 = 100𝑘Ω 0.1µ𝐹 = 0.01 𝑠𝑒𝑐 = 10𝑚sec during
discharging time
Read:

 Clipper and Clamping Circuits.

Chapter 2
Boylestad, R. L. & Nashelsky, L. (2013). Electronic Devices and Circuit
Theory. First Lok Yang Road, Jurong, Singapore: Pearson Education
South Asia Pte Ltd.

 Clipper and Clamping Circuits.

Chapter 2
Floyd, T. L. (2007). Electronic Devices (Conventional CurrentVersion). First
Lok Yang Road, Jurong, Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Pte
Ltd
Activities/Assessments:
1. Identify the basic elements for clipper circuit, and clamper
circuit.
2. Design clipper circuits employing the basic elements only,
and employing additional DC battery.
3. Design clamper circuits employing the basic elements only,
and employing additional DC battery.
4. Trace the corresponding output curves of your circuit
designs in #s 1 & 2 given that the input to the designed
circuits is the same for all.