Experiment No.

4
Diode Application: Clippers and Signal Generator Familiarization

GROUP MEMBERS: ______________________________ Date Performed: __________________

_________________________________ Grade: __________________________
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I. Objectives:
1. To become familiar with the functions and uses of a Signal Generator.
2. To become familiar with the different types of ac signal.
3. To distinguish the difference between a series-clipper and a parallel clipper.
4. To distinguish the difference between a positive and a negative clipper.
5. To determine the effect of an additional dc source to a clipper circuit.

II. Equipment and Components

(1) Volt-ohmmeter (VOM)
(1) Oscilloscope
(2) 1N4001 Rectifier Diodes
(1) Multi-tapped Transformer
(1) 1 kW Resistor
(1) 3.3 k Resistor
(1) Breadboard
(1) Signal Generator
(1) DC Power Supply
Alligator Clips and Connecting Wires

III. Schematic Diagrams

Figure 1 and Figure 2

 Figure 3 and Figure 4:

IV. Procedure
Signal Generator Familiarization
1. Connect channel 1 of the oscilloscope to the output terminal of the Signal Generator.
2. Press the button with the sine wave figure.
3. Press the 100 Hz button. Turn the frequency adjust knob until you can see a 60 Hz
waveform on the display of the oscilloscope.
4. Adjust the amplitude knob until you can see a sine wave with a peak to peak value of
100V.
5. Draw the waveform appearing on the display on your data as Output 1.
6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 this time with a 50Vpp 500Hz square wave. (Output 2)
7. Repeat steps 2 to 5 this time with a 10Vpp 2 kHz triangular wave. (Output 3)
8. Answer the question in part V.
Unbiased Series and Parallel Clippers
1. Connect the circuit in Figure 1.
2. Set the signal generator to sine wave 100Vpp 60Hz input signal.
3. Draw the output waveform as Output 4.
4. Try reversing the diode. Observe what happens and draw the output waveform as
Output 5.
5. Try changing the input signal to a square wave. Observe what happens.
6. Connect the circuit in Figure 2.
7. Repeat steps 2 to 5. (Output 6 and Output 7)
 Biased Series and Parallel Clippers
1. Connect the circuit in Figure 3.
2. Set the signal generator to sine wave 100Vpp 60Hz input signal.
3. Draw the output waveform as Output 8.
4. Try to reverse the polarity of the dc source. Observe what happens and draw the output
waveform as Output 9.
5. Try changing the input signal to triangular wave. Observe what happens.
6. Connect the circuit in Figure 4. (Output 10 and Output 11)
7. Repeat steps 2 to 5.

V. Data
Signal Generator Familiarization

OUTPUT 1 OUTPUT 2 OUTPUT 3

What are the significant parts of the Function Generator that was used in this experiment
and what are their functions? __________________________________________________
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How do you consider a Signal Generator, an input or an output device? Explain your
answer. ____________________________________________________________________
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 Unbiased Series and Parallel Clipper

Output 4 Output 5

VOpp= _________ VOpp = __________

Referring to output 4, what type of Clipper Circuit is this? _____________________________

Referring to output 5, what type of Clipper Circuit is this? _____________________________
What is the effect of changing the polarities of the diode? ____________________________
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What happens to the output when the input signal was changed to a square wave signal?
Why? _______________________________________________________________________
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Output 6 Output 7

VOpp = _________ VOpp = __________

Referring to output 6, what type of Clipper Circuit is this? _____________________________

Referring to output 7, what type of Clipper Circuit is this? _____________________________
What is the effect of changing the polarities of the diode? ____________________________
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How do you differentiate a series clipper from a parallel clipper? _______________________
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How do you differentiate a negative clipper from a positive clipper? _____________________
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 Biased Series and Parallel Clipper

Output 8 Output 9

VOpp = ___________ VOpp = ____________

Referring to output 8, what type of Clipper Circuit is this? _____________________________

Referring to output 9, what type of Clipper Circuit is this? _____________________________
What is the effect of changing the polarities of the dc power supply? ____________________
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What happened when the input was changed to a triangular wave? _____________________
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Output 10 Output 11

Referring to output 10, what type of Clipper Circuit is this? ____________________________

Referring to output 11, what type of Clipper Circuit is this? ____________________________
What is the effect of changing the polarities of the dc power supply? ____________________
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VOpp = ___________ VOpp = ____________

 What is the difference between an unbiased and biased clipper? How does it affects the
output waveform?_____________________________________________________________

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VI. Conclusion