80 Chap.

3 DIODE SWITCHING

EXAMPLE 3-9

A square wave having an amplitude of ±15 V and a source resistance R,

of 1 kfi isclamped to a maximum positive level of approximately
to be
9 V. The square wave frequency ranges from 500 Hz to 5 kHz, and the
output tilt is not to exceed 1%. Design a suitable Zener diode clamping
circuit.

solution

Maximum tilt occurs when the PW is longest, i.e., when/is a minimum.

Maximum / = -— = TT-r-rz- = 2 ms
/min 500 Hz
PW = 4r = 1ms

From Equation (3-1),

PW 1 ms
C = = = 1 mF [standard value (see Appendix 2)]
R, 1 kft

For l%tih, V = 0.01 X 2E.

From Equation (3-2),

2E X PW
R, =
0.01 X 2£' X C
2£' X 1 ms
= 100 kfi [standard value (see Appendix 2)]
0.01 X 2£ X 1 mF

V - V — V
= 9 V - 0.7 V = 8.3 V

From the regulator diode data sheet (Appendix 1-3), the 1N756 has V^ =
8.2 V; therefore use 1N756 diodes. The capacitor voltage should be at
least Vj + V^, i.e., minimum capacitor voltage is 23.2 V for this circuit.

REVIEW QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

3-1 Sketch typical characteristics for a low-current silicon diode.
Briefly explain why the diode can be thought of as a one-way
device.
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS 81

3-2 Sketch ideal diode characteristics, and approximate characteristics

for siUcon and germanium diodes. Briefly discuss the parameters
that should be considered when selecting a diode.

3-3 Explain the origin of reverse recovery time for a semiconductor

diode. By means of sketches, explain why a large reverse current
flows when a very fast reverse bias is applied to a diode. Also show
how the reverse current can be minimized.

3-4 Sketch typical characteristics for a Zener diode. Indicate all im-
portant quantities related to the characteristics, and define each
quantity.

3-5 Sketch the circuit of a positive series clipper, showing the input and
output waveforms. Briefly explain its operation.
3-6 Repeat Problem 3-5 for a negative series clipper.

3-7 A negative series clipping circuit employs a diode with Vp = 0.3 V

and /^ = 10 //A. The input voltage is ±9 V, and the output current
is to be a maximum of 10 mA. Calculate the value of the resistance
/?,. Specify the diode in terms of forward current, power dissipa-
tion, and peak reverse voltage. The negative output voltage is to be
maximum at 0.2 V.

3-8 Design a circuit to clip the positive peaks off" a ±20 V square wave.
A silicon diode is available with a maximum reverse leakage current
of 10 nA. The positive output voltage is not to exceed 0.5 V. Cal-
culate the amplitude of the negative output peak.

3-9 From the diode data sheets in Appendix 1 select a suitable device
for the circuit designed in Problem 3-8.
3-10 Sketch the circuit of a diode noise clipper, showing typical input
and output waveforms., Briefly explain how the circuit operates.

3-11 Repeat Problem 3-10 for a Zener diode noise clipper.

3-12 A Zener diode noise clipper has an input pulse signal with an am-
plitude of ±7 V and with noise amplitude of ±3 V. Design a cir-
cuit and select suitable Zener diodes and resistance value. Also
calculate the amplitude of the output signal.

3-13 A pnp transistor which can take a maximum of 5 V in reverse at

its base-emitter junction is from excessive input
to be protected
signal amplitude. Identify the required circuit and sketch the input
and output waveforms. Briefly explain the operation of the circuit.
3-14 Repeat Problem 3-13 for an npn transistor.

3-15 A negative shunt clipper circuit has a square wave input of ±15 V.
The output voltage is to be 13 V and -0.7 V, and the output cur-
rent is to be 250m A. Calculate the required resistance value, and
the diode forward current.
82 Chap. 3 DIODE SWITCHING

3-16 Sketch the circuit of a biased diode shunt clipper that has an output
limited to a maximum of approximately ±4 V. Explain the opera-
tion of the circuit.

3-17 The input Problem 3-16 is ±16 V, and the output

to the circuit of
current is500 ^ A. Determine the required resistance value,
to be
allowing the diode forward currents to be 10 mA.
3-18 Sketch a Zener diode shunt clipper circuit, and select suitable

-AA/W- -W-

Input Output Input Output

5 Y ^^

(a) (b)

O *^^^/\r- o \AAAr
6 V ,25

Input Output Input Output

6 V

(c) (d)

-WW o o VWV 1
o
i I 1 r Output
Input
6V 1
1
Output Input
^ + 5 V
1 o

(e) (0

o WW- -^W\Ar
Output Output
Input Input
-5 V ^ 5 V

(g) (h)

-M- AAAAr

Input Output Input Output

(i) U)

FIGURE 3-13. Circuits for Problem 3-24.

REVIEW QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS 83

diodes which will clip off input peaks greater than approximately
6 V. Explain the operation of the circuit.

3-19 A =b 14 V square wave is applied to the circuit of Problem 3-18. The

output current is to be 2 mA maximum. Design a suitable current.
3-20 Define the difference between clipping and clamping circuits. A
±10V square wave is applied to the input terminals of a negative
voltage clamping circuit, and to the input of a negative shunt clip-
per. Sketch the output waveform that will result in each case.

3-21 Sketch a negative voltage clamping circuit, showing input and out-
put waveforms. Briefly explain the operation of the circuit.
3-22 Repeat Problem 3-21 for a positive voltage clamper.

3-23 A negative voltage clamper has a 5 kHz square wave input with an
amplitude of ±6 V. The signal source resistance is 1 k 12, and the tilt
on the output waveform is not to exceed 1%. Design a suitable
circuit.

3-24 Sketch the output waveforms you would expect from each of the
shown in Figure 3-13. Assume the input to each circuit is a
circuits
± 12 V square wave.
3-25 Sketch the output waveforms you would expect from each of the
circuits shown in Figure 3-14. Assume the input to each circuit is a
±9 V square wave.
3-26 Design a biased clamper circuit to clamp a ± 12 V square wave to a
minimum level of -1-3 V. The input waveform has a frequency
which ranges from IkHz to 10 kHz, and the signal source resistance
is 500S2. The tilt on the output is not to exceed 1%.

6 V
Input Output Input Output

(a) (b)

Output
Input Output Input

5 V + 5 V
o
(c) (d)

FIGURE 3-14. Circuits for Problem 3-25.

84 Chap. 3 DIODE SWITCHING

3-27 A square wave having an amplitude of =fcl8V and a source resis-

tance of 700i2 is to be clamped to a maximum positive level of

approximately 10 V. The square wave frequency is 800 Hz, and the
output tilt is not to exceed 0.5%. Design a suitable Zener diode
clamping circuit.