EE 312

EXP 2
LIMITING CIRCUITS
The Forward-Bias Operation

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The Cutoff Mode (‒ VZK < v < 0.5 V)

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I-V CHARACTERISTICS of COMMON ELEMENTS

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THE LINEARIZED MODELS

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WHAT THIS EXPERIMENT IS ABOUT:
To explore the basic principles of some limiting (clipping)
circuits and be able to predict their responses.
To experimentally obtain and examine the output
waveforms and the voltage transfer characteristics of some
limiting Circuits.
To be able to design and implement a circuit to satisfy a
given limited transfer characteristic.

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WHAT is VOLTAGE LIMITING?
A Limiter is a circuit that has the ability to
limit or clip off portions of a signal that are
above or below a specified level [3].
When the input voltage magnitude is
within the linear range, no current flows in
the diodes, and vo = vI
When the input voltage is greater than the
upper threshold level, the output voltage
gets limited to VO+.
When the input voltage is less than the
lower threshold level, the output voltage
gets limited to VO.

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Real Life Example of a Diode Limiting the Voltage Across
a Switching Transistor Controlling an Inductive load

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HOW DIODES LIMIT VOLTAGE
A junction diode is a suitable candidate for this
type of circuits because once it conducts
enough forward current its terminal voltage
varies in a limited range (for example VD ≅
0.6n0.8 V for a silicon diode).
A Zener diode conducting a reverse current in
the breakdown region can also be used in
voltage limiting as its terminal voltage
(cathode with respect to anode) varies in a
limited range: VZ ≅ VZ0  few tens of mV.

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EXAMPLES of LIMITING CIRCUITS

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CIRCUITS to be IMPLEMENTED

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Design Process and Board Types

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BREADBOARD REVIEW

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Breadboard Cross Section

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CONNECTIONS TO AVOID 1 of 2

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CONNECTIONS TO AVOID 2 of 2

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Diodes to be Used in This Experiment

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LIMITING CIRCUIT A

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Coaxial Cable Probes

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HOW TO USE THE WAVEFORM GENERATOR

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HM400 OSCILLOSCOPE

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HM504 OSCILLSCOPE

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REFERENCES
1. A. S. Sedra and K. C.Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.
2. T. A. Almadhi, EE 312 Lab Manual:
https://fac.ksu.edu.sa/sites/default/files/ee312manual_4.pdf
3. D. Neamen, Microelectronics, Circuit Analysis and Design, 3rd ed., New York: McGraw-Hill,
2007.

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