For a clipping circuit at least two components—an ideal diode and resistor are required and sometimes a dc battery is

also employed for fixing the clipping level. The diode acts as a closed switch when forward biased and an open
switch when reverse biased. The input waveform can be clipped at different levels by simply changing the voltage of
the battery and by interchanging the positions of the various elements.

Depending on the orientation of the diode, the positive or negative region of the input signal is “clipped” off and
accordingly the diode clippers may be positive or negative clippers.

There are two general categories of clippers: series and parallel (or shunt). The series configuration is defined as one
where diode is in series with the load, while the shunt clipper has the diode in a branch parallel to the load.

1. Positive Clipper

The clipper which removes the positive half cycles of the input voltage is called the positive clipper. The circuit
arrangements for a positive clipper are illustrated in the figure given below.

Positive Series Clipper and Positive Shunt Clipper

The figure illustrates the positive series clipper circuit (that is, diode in series with the load). From the figure (a) it is
seen that while the input is posi tive, diode D is reverse biased and so the out put remains at zero that is, positive half
cycle is clipped off. Dur ing the negative half cycle of the input, the diode is forward biased and so the nega tive half
cycle appears across the output.

Figure (b) illustrates the positive shunt clipper circuit (that is, diode in parallel with the load). From the figure (b) it is
seen that while input side is positive, the diode D is forward biased and conducts heavily (that is, diode acts as a
closed switch). So the voltage drop across the diode or across the load resistance R L is zero. Thus output voltage
during the positive half cycles is zero, as shown in the output waveform. During the negative half cycles of the 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 = -Vmax when RL >> R

Note: If the diode in figures (a) and (b) is reconnected with reversed polarity, the cir cuits will become for a negative
series clipper and negative shunt clipper respec tively. The negative series and nega tive shunt clip pers are shown in
figures (a) and (b) as given below.
 Negative Series Clipper and Negative Shunt Clipper

In the above discussion, the diode is considered to be ideal one. If second approximation for diode is considered the
barrier potential (0.7 V for silicon and 0.3 V for Germanium) of diode, will be taken into account. Then the output wave
forms for positive and negative clippers will be of the shape shown in the figure below.

Output Waveform – Positive Clipper and Negative Clipper

2. Biased Clipper

Sometimes it is desired to remove a small portion of positive or negative half cycles of the signal voltage. Biased
clippers are employed for this purpose. The circuit diagram for a biased negative clipper (that is for removing a small
portion of each negative half cycle) is illustrated in figure (a).

Biased Negative Clipper

The action of the circuit is explained below. When the input signal voltage is positive, the diode D is reverse-biased
and behaves as an open-switch, the entire positive half cycle appears across the load, as illustrated by output wave
form [figure (a)]. When the input signal volt age is negative but does not exceed battery voltage V, the di ode D
remains reverse-biased and most of the input voltage ap pears across the output. When during the nega tive half
cycle of input signal, the signal voltage exceeds the battery voltage V, the diode D is forward biased i.e conducts
heavily. The output voltage is equal to – V and stays at – V as long as the input signal voltage is greater than battery
voltage V in magnitude. Thus a biased negative clipper removes input voltage when the input signal voltage exceeds
the battery voltage. Clipping can be changed by reversing the battery and diode connections, as illustrated in figure
(b).
 Biased Positive Clipper

Some of other biased clipper circuits are given below in the figure. While drawing the wave-shape of the output basic
principle discussed above are followed. The diode has been considered as an ideal one.

Biased Clipper Circuits

Different Clipping Circuit

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