ELECTRONICS LABORATORY

DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

Diode Wave Shaping Circuits

Course – Section : _ ECE20L-2 / E06

Group Number :

Group Members :

Date : March 28, 2021

Grade :

Remarks :

Course Instructor : Prof: Julius Sese

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.
 ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
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.
When the input voltage is applied, the positive cycle of the input makes the point A in the circuit positive
with respect to the point B. This makes the diode forward biased and hence it acts like a closed switch. Thus
the input voltage completely appears across the load resistor to produce the output Vo zero.

1.4 Describe the operation of diode positive clipper.

In the diode positive clipper, the diode limits the positive half of the input waveform. In the diode
Clipping circuit, the diode is forward biased during the half cycle of the sinusoidal waveform. It is
connected in series to the input signal and that attenuates the positive portion of the waveform.

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.
 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.
The negative cycle of the input makes the point “In” in the circuit negative with respect to the point out of the
current. This makes the diode reverse biased and hence it acts like an open switch. Thus the voltage across
the load resistor will be make Vo zero.
1.8 Describe the operation of diode negative clipper.
The diode is forward biased during the negative half cycle of the sinusoidal waveform and limits or clip it to
-0.7V while allowing the positive half cycle to pass unaltered when reverse biased. As the diode limits the
negative half cycle of the input voltage it is therefore called 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.
 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.
Positive peak clipping at a positive voltage. When ui > UB，diode is conducting，and uo = UB. Positive peak
clipping at a negative voltage. In this circuit, a short circuit output will result in a large current being driven
through the diode by UB and may damage it.

1.12 Describe the operation of biased clipper circuit 1.

Clipper circuit in which the diode is connected in series to the input signal and that attenuates the positive
portions of the waveform, is termed as Positive Series Clipper

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.
 ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
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.
A variable diode clipping or diode limiting level can be achieved by varying the bias voltage of the diodes. If
both the positive and the negative half cycles are to be clipped, then two biased clipping diodes are used. But
for both positive and negative diode clipping, the bias voltage need not be the same. The positive bias voltage
could be at one level Negative peak clipping at a negative voltage. When ui < UB，diode is conducting，and
uo = UB.
1.16 Describe the operation of diode biased clipper 2.
The diode is forward biased during the negative half cycle of the sinusoidal waveform and limits or clips
it to -0.7 volts while allowing the positive half cycle to pass unaltered when reverse biased. As the diode
limits the negative half cycle of the input voltage it is therefore called a negative clipper circuit.
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.
 ELECTRONICS LABORATORY
DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

1.18 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 1.17.

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.
For ideal diodes the output waveform above would be zero. However, due to the forward bias voltage drop
across the diodes the actual clipping point occurs at +0.7 volts and –0.7 volts respectively. But we can
increase this ±0.7V threshold to any value we want up to the maximum value, (VPEAK) of the sinusoidal
waveform either by connecting together more diodes in series creating multiples of 0.7 volts, or by adding a
voltage bias to the diodes.

1.20 Describe the operation of diode biased clipper 3.

If we connected two diodes in inverse parallel as shown, then both the positive and negative half cycles
would be clipped as diode D1 clips the positive half cycle of the sinusoidal input waveform while diode D2
clips the negative half cycle. Then diode clipping circuits can be used to clip the positive half cycle, the
negative half cycle or both.
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).

 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) = -8V
VC1(pk) = 8mA
Vin(dc) = 0V
Vout(dc) = 0V

2.4 Briefly discuss the operation of a diode clamper circuit.

A clamper circuit shifts the DC level or the reference level of the signal to the desired level without
changing the shape of the waveform. The clamper circuit can be designed using the diode, resistor, and
the capacitor.
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)

Frequency of Input Voltage V1, fin

Period of Input Voltage V1, Tin

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

clamper
0.1 µ 1 kΩ 50ms
= 0.01Tin

clamper
= 0.1Tin 0.1 µ 1 kΩ 50ms

clamper = Tin 1 kΩ
0µ 50 ms

clamper
10 µ 1 kΩ 50 ms
= 10Tin

clamper
100 µ 1 kΩ 50 ms
= 100Tin

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.
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.

As the capacitor has higher value, the higher frequency and wave will be formed. If you have a minimum
value of the C1 it will have a low value that the wave can form. So, we need to get a higher capacitor in order
to obtain a higher frequency. This will be able to get some signals in the T.V or radar or any devices that need
a frequency.

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 time constant of clamper circuit provides the best output voltage is the 100, because as you can see,
it can have a higher wave than any other wave and it has a positive peak, it has a higher voltage that can
range or found another frequency.

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
Part 3: Voltage Multiplier

3.1 Connect in LTSPICE the circuit diagram of Diode Voltage Doubler in Figure 3.1. The student or group
may use another kind of rectifier diode for diodes D1 and D2; another value of capacitance for
capacitors C1 and C2; and another dc offset, amplitude, and frequency for ac sine-wave voltage
source V1. Notice that net names (in, a, out) are attached to the wires. These net names becomes
convenient when adding traces of voltage waveforms. For example, if we want to plot the voltage
across capacitor C1, we can add the trace for the expression V(in)-V(a). Now, take the photo of your
own circuit diagram drawn, and place it in Figure 3.2.

Fig. 3.1. Voltage Doubler (sample).

Fig. 3.2. Connection of Voltage Doubler.

3.2 Set the transient simulation to display 10 complete cycles of input voltage V1. Run your simulation,
and show the waveforms of input voltage V1, voltage across the capacitor C1, and output voltage
across C2. Figure 3.3 shows the example of simulation waveforms for the voltage doubler circuit in
Figure 3.1. Now, take a photo of your own waveforms, and place it in Figure 3.4.

Fig. 3.3. Waveforms of Voltage Doubler (sample).

 Fig. 3.4. Waveforms of Voltages in Voltage Doubler.

3.3 From the simulation results in Figure 3.4, measure the peak voltage of input voltage V1 and output
voltage across capacitor C1.

Vin(pk) = 4.99 V. Vout(pk) = 8.272 V.

Briefly explain the discrepancy between the input voltage and output voltage.

Throughout the 10 complete cycles, the discrepancy between the input and output voltage their peak
voltages doubled from input to output, whereas the input voltage have consistent voltage throughout the
cycle where the output voltage on the other hand continuously increases

3.4 Briefly explain the operation of Diode Voltage Doubler.

Diode Voltage Doubler literally means double the amount of the voltage from input to output. A
voltage multiplier that multiplies the input voltage by two hence the name.
3.5 Connect in LTSPICE the circuit diagram of Diode Voltage Tripler in Figure 3.5. The student or group
may use another kind of rectifier diode for diodes D1, D2 and D3; another value of capacitance for
capacitors C1, C2 and C3; and another dc offset, amplitude, and frequency for ac sine-wave voltage
source V1. Attach net names to wires, such as in, a, b, and c. These net names are helpful when
adding traces of voltage waveforms. Now, take the photo of your own circuit diagram drawn, and
place it in Figure 3.6.

Fig. 3.5. Voltage Tripler (sample).

Fig. 3.6. Connection of Voltage Tripler.

3.6 Set the transient simulation to display 20 complete cycles of input voltage V1. Run your simulation,
and show the waveforms of: input voltage V1, voltage across the capacitor C1, voltage across
capacitor C2, voltage across capacitor C3, and output voltage across node in and node c. Take a
photo of your waveforms, and place it in Figure 3.7.

Fig. 3.7. Waveforms of Voltages in Voltage Tripler Circuit.

 3.7 Based on the simulation results in Figure 3.7, determine the peak voltages of input voltage V1 and of
output voltage across node in and node c.

Vin(pk) = 4.99 V . Vout(pk) = 12.6105 V .

Briefly explain the discrepancy between the input voltage and output voltage.

Throughout the 20 complete cycles, the discrepancy between the input and output voltage their peak
voltages tripled from input to output, whereas the input voltage had consistent voltage throughout the
cycle where the output voltage on the other hand gradually increased.

3.8 Briefly explain the operation of Diode Voltage Tripler.

Diode Voltage Tripler, based on the result or outcome of the peak voltages from input to output the
result showed that from an almost 5V peak or 4.99V to be exact, the voltage tripled to a 12.6V.

***
Conclusion:
The researchers were able to comprehend the principle of diode wave forming circuits
and quickly find the answers they needed for a lab experiment on the same topic. Any
of the following examples about how to operate a diode wave forming circuit are
mentioned in the following paragraphs..
The positive cycle of the input makes point A in the circuit positive in contrast to point
B. As a result, the diode acts as a closed switch and is forward biased. As a result, the
input voltage wraps fully around the load capacitor, resulting in a Vo zero output. The
diode limits the positive half of the incoming waveform.
The diode in the diode clipping circuit is forward biased at the half cycle of the
sinusoidal waveform. It is connected in series with the input signal, lowering the
positive portion of the waveform. A variable diode clipping or diode limiting level can
be accomplished by adjusting the bias voltage of the diodes.
If we bind two diodes in inverse parallel as shown, both the positive and negative half
cycles of the sinusoidal input waveform will be clipped, as diode D1 clips the positive
half cycle and diode D2 clips the negative half cycle. Then diode clipping circuits can
be used to clip the positive half cycle, the negative half cycle or both.
A clamper circuit adjusts the signal's DC level or reference level to the desired
level without altering the waveform's shape. The diode, resistor, and capacitor will all
be used to build a clamper circuit. A clamper circuit adjusts the signal's DC level or
reference level to the desired level without altering the waveform's shape.