AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BANGLADESH

Faculty of Engineering
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Laboratory Title: Study of Diode Clipping and Clamping Circuits

Experiment Number: 03 Due Date: 16.06.2022 Semester: 2021-2022, Summer
Subject Code: EEE 2104 Subject Name: Electronic Devices Lab Section:V
Course Instructor: RETHWAN FAIZ Degree Program: _ BSc CSE

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No. Student Name Student ID

1 MINHAZ AHMED AYON 20-41859-1

2 MD.SUMON 20-42556-1

3 MAIMONA RAHMAN FARJANA 20-42954-1

4 MAHMUDUL HASAN 20-41876-1

5 MD. ABDULLA AL MAMUN 20-44192-2

For faculty use only:

Total Marks: Marks Obtained:

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 1

 Faculty comments

Title: Study of Diode Clipping and Clamping Circuits.

Abstract:
The objective of experiment 3 of the Electronic Devices Lab is now we have learned about the
behavior of different types of clipper circuits. Also this experiment helps us to know the difference
between clamper circuit and clipper circuit.

Introduction:
In electronics, a clipper is a device designed to prevent the output of a circuit from exceeding a
predetermined voltage level without distorting the remaining part of the applied waveform.
Whereas, a clamper is an electronic circuit that fixes either the positive or the negative peak
excursions of a signal to a defined value by shifting its DC value.

Theory & Methodology:

Clipper circuits clip off portions of signal voltages above or below certain limits, i.e. the circuits limit the range of
the output signal. The level at which the signal is clipped can be adjusted by adding a dc bias voltage in series with
the diode as shown in Fig. 1 of the circuit diagram part.
In a series positive clipper, a diode is connected in series with the output, as shown in Fig 1(a). During the positive
half of the input voltage, the terminal A is positive with respect to B. This reverse bias the diode and it acts as an
open switch. Therefore all the applied voltage drops across the diode and none across the resistor. As a result of this
there is no output voltage during the positive half cycle of the input voltage.

Figure1: Series Positive Clipper

During the negative half cycle of the input voltage the terminal B is positive with respect to
A. Therefore it forward biases the diode and it acts as a closed switch. Thus there is on voltage drop across diode
during the negative half cycle of the input voltage. All the input voltage is dropped across the resistor as shown
in the output waveform.

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 2

Sometimes it is desired to remove a Small portion of positive or opposite half cycle of the signal voltage
(input signal). For this purpose, a biased clipper is used. Fig 2 shows the circuit of a biased series
positive clipper. It may be observed that the clipping takes place during the positive cycle only when
the input voltage is greater thence battery voltage (i.e. V i > VB). The chipping level can be shifted up
or down by varying the bias voltage (VB)

Figure 2: Series Positive Clipper with bias

Clamper circuits are used to add a dc voltage level to a signal. It is designed to shift a waveform
above or below a dc reference voltage without altering the shape of the waveform. A positive
clamper circuit adds positive dc voltage level (the output waveform will be identical to that of
the input but the lowest peak clamped to zero), while the negative clamper circuit adds negative
dc voltage level. A dc bias voltage can be added to increase or decrease the signal to a reference
voltage. The clamper circuits can be used to restore dc levels in communication circuits that
have passed different filters.

Figure3: Basic Clamper Circuit

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 3

Apparatus:

No. Apparatus Quantity

1 Diode 1
2 (1k,100ohm,220ohm,470 1
ohm) Resistors
3 Project Board 1
4 Oscilloscope 1
5 Multimeter 1
6 DC power supply 1
7 10μF Capacitor 1
8 0.1μF Capacitor 1
9 Chord 2

Circuit Diagram:

Figure 4: Clipper Circuits

C = 0.1μF C = 0.1μF
Vi
133 K

133 K

Vin V0 Vin V0
V1 V1

Figure 5: - Clamper Circuit

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 4

Simulation:

Figure- 6

Figure – 7

Figure – 8

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 5

 Figure – 9

Figure – 10

Figure – 11

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 6

Discussion:

Interpret the data/findings and determine the extent to which the experiment was successful in complying
with the goal that was initially set. Discuss any mistake you might have made while conducting the
investigation and describe ways the study could have been improved. The trainer board, the oscilloscope and
the multimeter was checked before the start of the experiment. The resistor and the diode were placed
properly according to figure. The value of the voltage was increased gradually as applying a large voltage
can damage the resistors. The wave Shape observed correctly.

Answering the questions:

• Discuss about the wave shapes of each circuit with appropriate circuit diagrams.

ANS:
A Filter Capacitor is a capacitor that is used to filter out a certain frequency otherwise series of frequencies from
an electronic circuit is known as the filter capacitor. Generally, a capacitor filters out the signals which have a low
frequency. The frequency value of these signals is near to 0Hz, these are also known as DC signals. So, this capacitor
is used to filter unwanted frequencies. These are very common in different types of equipment like electronics as well
as electrical and applicable in different applications.

Positive Diode Clipper

In a positive clipper, the positive half cycles of the input voltage will be removed. The circuit arrangements for a
positive clipper are illustrated in the figure given below.

As shown in the figure, the diode is kept in series with the load. During the positive half cycle of the input waveform,
the diode ‘D’ is reverse biased, which maintains the output voltage at 0 Volts. Thus causes the positive half cycle to
be clipped off. During the negative half cycle of the input, the diode is forward biased and so the negative half cycle
appears across the output.

In Figure (b), the diode is kept in parallel with the load. This is the diagram of a positive shunt clipper circuit. During
the positive half cycle, the diode ‘D’ is forward biased and the diode acts as a closed switch. This causes the diode to
conduct heavily. This causes the voltage drop across the diode or across the load resistance RL to be zero. Thus output
voltage during the positive half cycles is zero, as shown in the output waveform. During the negative half cycles of the
© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 7
input signal voltage, the diode D is reverse biased and behaves as an open switch. Consequently the entire input voltage
appears across the diode or across the load resistance RL if R is much smaller than RL
Actually the circuit behaves as a voltage divider with an output voltage of [RL / R+ RL] Vmax = -Vmaxwhen RL >> R
Negative Diode Clipper
The negative clipping circuit is almost same as the positive clipping circuit, with only one difference. If the diode in
figures (a) and (b) is reconnected with reversed polarity, the circuits will become for a negative series clipper and
negative shunt clipper respectively. The negative series and negative shunt clippers are shown in figures (a) and (b) as
given below.

In all the above discussions, the diode is considered to be ideal one. In a practical diode, the breakdown voltage will
exist (0.7 V for silicon and 0.3 V for Germanium). When this is taken into account, the output waveforms for positive
and negative clippers will be of the shape shown in the figure below.

Negative and Positive Clipping Waveforms

Biased Positive Clipper and Biased Negative Clipper
A biased clipper comes in handy when a small portion of positive or negative half cycles of the signal voltage is to be
removed. When a small portion of the negative half cycle is to be removed, it is called a biased negative clipper. The
circuit diagram and waveform is shown in the figure below.
© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 8
TIn a biased clipper, when the input signal voltage is positive, the diode ‘D’ is reverse-biased. This causes it to act as
an open-switch. Thus the entire positive half cycle appears across the load, as illustrated by output waveform [figure
(a)]. When the input signal voltage is negative but does not exceed battery the voltage ‘V’, the diode ‘D’ remains
reverse-biased and most of the input voltage appears across the output. When during the negative half cycle of input
signal, the signal voltage becomes more than the battery voltage V, the diode D is forward biased and so conducts
heavily. The output voltage is equal to ‘- V’ and stays at ‘- V’ as long as the magnitude of the input signal voltage is
greater than the magnitude of the battery voltage, ‘V’. Thus a biased negative clipper removes input voltage when the
input signal voltage becomes greater than the battery voltage. Clipping can be changed by reversing the battery and
diode connections, as illustrated in figure (b).

Positive biased
Clamper

A positive biased clamp

A positive biased voltage clamp is identical to an equivalent unbiased clamp but with the output voltage offset by the
bias amount VBIAS. Thus, VOUT = VIN + (VINpeak + VBIAS)
Negative biased Clamper

A negative biased clamp

A negative biased voltage clamp is likewise identical to an equivalent unbiased clamp but with the output voltage
offset in the negative direction by the bias amount VBIAS. Thus, VOUT = VIN - (VINpeak + VBIAS)

• What is the difference between diode clipping circuit and clamping circuit?
Clippers:- Clippers are those circuits which clip the part of a level or whole level.
these circuits require diodes Zener diode battery transistors only

Clampers :- Clampers are those circuits which are used to shift the voltage level of applied signal . this function can
be accomplished by using capacitors, diodes resistance battery ,transistor.

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 9

 • Explain the operation of clipper and clamper circuit?
Clippers are classified into three types:
1. Positive Clipper
2. Negative Clipper
Positive Clipper
Positive Clipper is used to remove the positive half cycles of the input voltage. The circuit is shown in the figure below.
In this, during the positive half cycle, diode is forward biased and it conducts. Diode acts as a short and the voltage
across the load is zero. While during the negative half cycle, diode is reverse biased and behaves as an open.
Negative Clipper
Negative Clipper is used to remove the negative half cycles of the input voltage. In this, during the positive half cycle,
diode is reverse biased and it becomes open. While during the negative half cycle, diode is forward biased and it acts
as a short and the voltage developed across the load resistor is zero.

Clamper Circuits
Clamping circuits place the negative and positive peaks of the waveform at a desired DC level. In other words, these
circuits shift the input signal by an amount defined by the independent voltage source. Today, Clamping circuits are
also known popularly as Clamped
• During Negative Half Cycle
• D is forward biased.
• D is short.
• Charging Time Constant ?= Rf C is small.
• Rf represents forward resistance of the diode.
• Capacitor charges to V volts.
• Voltage across RL is zero.
• During Positive Half Cycle
• D is reverse biased.
• D is open.
• Discharging time very large.
• Capacitor remains at V volts.
• Negative Clamper Operation
• During Positive Half Cycle
• D is forward biased.
• D is short.
• Charging Time Constant z= Rf C is small.
• Rf represents forward resistance of the diode.
• Capacitor charges to V volts.
• Voltage across RL is zero.
• During Negative Half Cycle
• D is reverse biased.
• D is open.
• Discharging time very large.
• Capacitor remains at V volts.

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 10

Conclusion:

This laboratory experiment taught us many things about certain circuits, but more than that, it taught us how
to problem solve. When running in to various problems, we would pull out our notes from the corresponding
lecture class and dissect the physics of all the units that were under testing. By following charts, equations
and lecture examples we were able to get through the experiment with a deep understanding of the material
that had to be covered throughout the course of this experiment. In the work field we will find that this will
frequently be the case, therefore, learning this skill before going out in to the field is integral.

Reference(s):
[1] Adel S. Sedra, Kennth C. Smith, “Microelectronic Circuits”, Saunders College
Publishing, 3rd ed., ISBN: 0-03-051648-X, 1991.
[2] David J. Comer, Donald T. Comer, Fundamentals of Electronic Circuit Design, John
Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.; ISBN: 0471410160, 2002.

© Dept. of EEE, Faculty of Engineering, American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) 11