Diode circuits and applications

Clippers and Clampers

Source: Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory 11th Ed - Boylestad

Clippers
“Clippers are networks that employ diodes to “clip” away a portion of
an input signal without distorting the remaining part of the applied
waveform.”
Clipper can “clip off” either positive or negative region of the input AC
signal, depending on the orientation of the diode. Half-wave rectifier is
an example of a clipper circuit
There are two general categories of clipper networks: series and
parallel clipper
Series clipper
Input Output

Negative series clipper

The negative region of the

input is “clipped off”
Series clipper

There is no specific procedure for analysis of clipper circuits, but there

are things to consider in order to start the analysis.
-determine the voltage output is defined. There are circuits that has
complex arrangement of elements. From the above example, the
output is parallel to the resistor R
-note the orientation of the diode. Can the input signal change the
state of the diode? Is there any other applied voltages that can affect
the bias of the diode?
Series clipper

-assuming the diode is ideal, the diode will be in ‘on’ state if Vi>0 and
‘off’ at Vi<0
By kvl, Vi-Vo=0 ; Vi=+V
V-Vo=0
Vo=V
Series clipper with DC supply

The DC supply can aid or work against the source voltage depending on the orientation and
arrangement in the circuit.
The DC supply can shift up for +DC or shift down for -DC the AC source waveform.

this figure has a negative DC.

without the source, the diode is in reverse bias condition due to the DC supply.
The AC source will shift down depending on the level of the DC supply.
Series clipper with DC supply

• Determine the output waveform for the sinusoidal input

Series clipper with DC supply

Step 1: The output is 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 he dc supply voltage of 5 V before it could turn the diode off.
Series clipper with DC supply

• Step 4: In the waveform figure, a 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 0V, as shown in the sketch of
vo. We find that for conditions when the diode is on and the diode current
is established the output voltage will be the following, as determined using
Kirchhoff’s voltage law:
vo= vi+ 5 V
Parallel clippers
The diode is parallel to the source
Parallel clippers
Example: determine the output voltage for the circuit
Parallel clippers

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.
 Parallel clippers
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.
 Parallel clippers
Step 3: The transition level of the input voltage can be found 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
 Parallel clippers
Step 4: the transition level is drawn along with vo= 4 V when the
diode is on. For vi≥ 4V, vo= 4 V, and the waveform is simply
repeated on the output plot.
Effect of knee voltage Vk of silicon diode

Example: determine the output voltage for the circuit using silicon
diode
Effect of knee voltage Vk of silicon diode

the transition voltage can first be determined by applying the condition

i d= 0 A at vd = 0.7 V and obtaining the network. Applying Kirchhoff’s
voltage law around the output loop in the clockwise direction, we find
that
vi+ VK- V = 0
and
vi= V - VK= 4 V - 0.7 V = 3.3 V
Effect of knee voltage Vk of silicon diode

For input voltages greater than 3.3 V, the diode will be an open circuit and vo= vi.
For input voltages less than 3.3 V, the diode will be in the “on” state
vo= 4 V - 0.7 V = 3.3 V
Note that the only effect of VK was todrop the transition level to 3.3 from 4 V.
Clampers
A clamper is a network constructed of a diode, a resistor, and a
capacitor that shifts a waveform to a different dc level without
changing the appearance of the applied signal.

Clamping networks have a capacitor connected directly from input to

output with a resistive element in parallel with the output signal. The
diode is also in parallel with the output signal but may or may not have
a series dc supply as an added element.
Clampers
Clampers network analysis
Step 1: Start the analysis by examining the response of the portion of
the input signal that will forward bias the diode.
Step 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 surrounding network.
Clampers network analysis
For the network the diode will be forward biased for the positive portion of the applied signal. For
the interval 0 to T> 2 the network will appear as shown. The short-circuit equivalent for the diode
will result in vo=0 V for this time interval, as shown in the sketch of vo. During this same interval of
time, the time constant determined by t RC is very small because the resistor R has been
effectively “shorted out” by the conducting diode and the only resistance present is the inherent
(contact, wire) resistance of the network. The result is that the capacitor will quickly charge to the
peak value of V volts with the polarity indicated.
•
Clampers network analysis
Step 3: Assume that during the period when the diode is in the “off” state the
capacitor holds on to its established voltage level.
Step 4: Throughout the analysis, maintain a continual awareness of the location
and defined polarity for vo to ensure that the proper levels are obtained.
Clampers network analysis
When the input switches to the V state, the network will appear as shown, with the open-circuit
equivalent for the diode determined by the applied signal and stored voltage across the capacitor—
both “pressuring” current through the diode from cathode to anode. Now that R is back in the
network the time constant determined by the RC product is sufficiently large to establish a discharge
period 5t, much greater than the period T>2, and it can be assumed on an approximate basis that
the capacitor holds onto all its charge and, therefore, voltage (since V = Q>C)during this period.
Since vo is in parallel with the diode and resistor, it can also be drawn in the alternative position
shown. Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law around the input loop results in
-V - V - vo= 0
and vo= -2V
Clampers network analysis
The negative sign results from the fact that the polarity of 2 V is
opposite to the polarity defined for vo. The output signal is
clamped to 0 V for the interval 0 to T> 2 but maintains the same
total swing (2 V ) as the input.
Step 5: Check that the total swing of the output matches that of
the input.
This is a property that applies for all clamping networks, giving an
excellent check on
the results obtained.
Clampers network analysis example
For the short-circuit state the network now takes on the appearance of figure
shown, and vo can be determined by Kirchhoff’s voltage law in the output section:
+5 V - 0.7 V - vo= 0
and vo= 5 V - 0.7 V = 4.3 V
For the input section Kirchhoff’s voltage law results in
-20 V + VC+ 0.7 V - 5 V = 0
and
VC= 25 V - 0.7 V = 24.3 V
Clampers network analysis example
For the period t2 to t3 the network will now appear as in the figure
shown, with the only change being the voltage across the capacitor.
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law yields
+10 V + 24.3 V - vo= 0
and vo= 34.3 V
Clampers network analysis example
The resulting output is shown in the figure, verifying the statement that
the input and output swings are the same.
PS
Please review Zener diodes and circuit application.
Good luck