Technological Institute of the Philippines

#938 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao,

Quezon City

College of Engineering and Architecture Electronics Engineering Department

Title: Rectifiers and Filters

Experiment # 1

Submitted by
ECE003-Group 7
Ibay Jeruel.
Inopia, Jose Ma. Luis V.
Jarito, Rosemarie
Jopia, Gabriel Abram

Submitted to:
Engr. Mark Nelson E. Pangilinan

Date:
December 1, 2021
Objective(s):
The activity aims to give information on diode limiters and dc restoration including its circuit
operation.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:
1) Familiarize with different diode applications and capabilities
2) Analyze the concepts of clipper and clamper circuits.
3) Interpret output waveforms created by clippers and clampers

Discussion:
Diode circuits, called limiters or clippers, are sometimes used to clip off portions of signal
voltages above or below certain levels. Another type of diode circuit, called a clamper is used to
add or restore a de level to an electrical signal.

A positive limiter sometimes called clipper, is a circuit that removes positive parts of the signal.
The output voltage has all positive half cycles clipped off part of the input voltage. As the input
voltage goes positive, the diode becomes forward-biased and conducts current. Because the
cathode is at ground potential, the anode cannot exceed the barrier potential. A clamper also
known as dc restorer is a variation of the limiter; it adds a dc voltage to the signal. The operation
of this circuit can be seen by considering the first negative half-cycle of the input voltage. When
the input voltage initially goes negative, the diode is forward- biased, allowing the capacitor to
charge to near the peak of the input.
Equipment:
Multism or any circuit design app in your phone.

Procedure:

Activity 1 - The Diode Clipper

1. Click Simulator on your desktop or phone.

2. Connect the circuit as represented in the block diagram.
3. Ensure the function generator amplitude control is fully counter clockwise (minimum).
4. Open the MCM. Channel 1 displays the input voltage peak to peak (pk-pk) to the circuit
from the function generator.
5. Open the Oscilloscope. Channel Y1 displays the input signal from the function generator
to the diode clipping circuit and channel Y2 displays the output signal from the diode
clipping circuit.
6. The frequency of the function generator has been set at 500Hz. This can be verified by
opening the frequency counter.
7. Slowly increase the amplitude of the function generator.
8. Notice that the input and output are identical up until approximately 1v pk-pk at which
point the output starts to clip.
9. Set the input to 800mv pk-pk. Print or export to file the oscilloscope display.
10. Set the input to 1.5v, 3v and 5v. Print or export to file the oscilloscope display at each
voltage. Note the oscilloscope scaling will need adjusting for the higher input values.
11. Screenshot the output waveforms and state their amplitudes.
Fig 1 – The Diode Clipper

Fig 1.1 – 800mV

Fig 1.2 – 1.5V

Fig 1.3 – 3V

Fig 1.4 – 5V
 Activity 2 – DC Restoration

1. Initially, connect the circuit which is the one shown on the left in the diagrams.
2. The function generator is setup to output a square wave signal of amplitude ±2.5v with an dc
offset of +2.5v at a frequency of 1.5kHz.
3. Open the Oscilloscope. Channel Y1 displays the input from the function generator to the
circuit.
4. Select Y2 on. This enables the second channel (Y2) on the oscilloscope. This displays the
output from the circuit.
5. You should be able to see that the DC component of the input waveform has been removed.
6. Screenshot or export to file the oscilloscope display.
7. The dc should now be restored to the output signal although there will be approximately a
0.6v negative offset due to the diode.
8. Screenshot or export to file the oscilloscope display.
9. Connect the circuit shown in the right diagram

Fig 2.1: DC Restoration

 Fig 2.1.1: 0 Offset

Fig 2.1.2: -0.6 Offset

Fig 2.1.3: 2.5 Offset

 Fig 2.2.1

Fig 2.2.1: 0 Offset

 Fig 2.2.2: -0.6 Offset

Fig 2.2.3: 2.5 Offset

10. The function generator is setup to output a square wave signal of amplitude ±2.5v with an dc
offset of +2.5v at a frequency of 1.5kHz.
11.Screenshot or export to file the oscilloscope display.

Discussion of Results:
We changed the amplitude of the function generator four times at a constant 500Hz
(800mVp, 1.5Vp, 3Vp, 5Vp) and recorded the output from the connected oscilloscopes for
Activity 1: The Diode Clipper. The peak in the output waveform will become higher as the
amplitude of the oscilloscopes is increased due to an increase in voltage on channel A. As a
result, as the amplitude changes, so does the output waveform, while the input waveform
remains relatively constant.
We changed the offset and recorded the oscilloscope output at a constant frequency of
1.5kHz and amplitude of 2.5Vp for Activity 2: DC Restoration. The input and output
waveforms will change, but they will remain on the same path. The input is only slightly higher
than the output at various offsets.

Conclusion:
We conclude that in activity 1, the diode clipper transforms the output voltage, changing its
waveform regardless of the circuit's input. It keeps the output voltage constant, resulting in a
stable and constant voltage supply. In activity 2, a diode clamper transforms both the input and
output voltages, stabilizing them and allowing them to operate on the same wavelength.

Assessment Task:
12. State the difference between a diode clipper and a diode clamper.
Diode Clipper is a wave molding circuit that clasps or cuts off the top half, base half, or
both halves combined of an information waveform, resulting in a yield waveform that looks like a
leveled portrayal of the data. It's also referred to as a limiter. Aside from that, the diode clamper
keeps the yield signal at the same amount of abundancy as the information signal. The level of
counterbalance has been changed. Simply described, it's a circuit that converts a sign's positive
or negative apex to a perfect DC voltage. A circuit that works at a low level is known as a
clipping circuit.
13. During the positive alternation of the input voltage, what is the maximum voltage
across an unbiased positive silicon diode limiter?
The diodes then start to conduct and maintain a constant voltage of 0.7V across
themselves until the sinusoidal waveform falls below this value. As a result, during the positive
half cycle, the output voltage across the diode can never exceed 0.7 volts.
14. How does a clamper circuit perform clamping action?
A clamper is an electrical circuit that maintains the form of a signal while raising its DC
level to the proper level. In other words, depending on whether the signal's positive or negative
peak is present, the clamper circuit increases or lowers the entire signal to the right level.
15. Give common circuit applications of clamper and clipper circuits.
It's utilized in a range of devices in Diode Clipper, including flywheel or free-wheeling
diodes, receivers, amplitude selectors, and transmitters. In sonar and radar systems, a diode
clamper is utilized. Clippers can also be used as amplitude selectors and voltage limiters.
Clampers can be used to multiply and double voltage. Series clippers in FM transmitters can
reduce or eliminate excessive noise spikes above a given threshold. Because they clamp
waveforms to a set DC potential, clampers are also known as direct current restorers.