Experiment No: 03

Name of the Experiment: STUDY OF DIODE CLIPPING AND CLAMPING CIRCUITS

Course Number: EEE - 264

Course Title: Electronic Circuits Sessional

Lab Group B1 (Group-1)

Written by Md. Moinul Azim

(1905063)
Group members ID 19905061, 1905062,
1905063, 1905064,
1905065, 1905066
Department CSE
Date of 05.12.2021
performance
Date of Submission 12.12.2021
1) Objective:
To study the application of diodes in different clipping and clamping circuits and
understand the working principle of clipping and clamping circuits.

2) Instruments:
i. p-n junction diode(1N4003) one piece
ii. 5V Zener diode one piece
iii. Resistor (1K) one piece
iv. Capacitor (10F) one piece
v. Dc power supply one piece
vi. Signal generator one piece
vii. Oscilloscope one piece
viii. Multimeter one piece
ix. Chords and wire lot

3) Circuit Diagram:
Limiter or clippers are used to cut-off or eliminate a portion of an ac signal. A limiter
can be realized by using diode and resistor.

The Clipper Circuit:

1K

Vi
Vo
10V p-p VR
sine wave
500 Hz 2.75 V

Fig. 1
The clamper circuit is one that will clamp a signal to a different dc level.

The Clamper Circuit:

10 F

Vi 1K Vo

10V p-p
square wave
500 Hz

Fig. 2

The Zener Diode Clipper Circuit:

1K
Z1
Vi VO
15V p-p
sine wave Z2
500 Hz

Fig. 3

T5
4. Graphs:

Fig-4 : Clipper Circuit Input and Output

Fig-5 : Clipper Circuit Input and Output in Oscilloscope

Fig-6 : I-V characteristics of Clipper Circuit

Fig-7 : I-V characteristics of Clipper Circuit in Oscilloscope

 Fig-8: Clipper Circuit in Reverse Polarity

Fig-9: Clipper Circuit in Reverse Polarity in Oscilloscope

 Fig-10: I-V characteristics of Clipper Circuit in Reverse Polarity

Fig-11: I-V characteristics of Clipper Circuit in Reverse Polarity in Oscilloscope

 Fig-12: Clipper Circuit Input and Output

Fig-13: Clipper Circuit Input and Output in Oscilloscope

 Fig-14: Zener Diode Clipper Circuit Input and Output

Fig-15: Zener Diode Clipper Circuit Input and Output in

Oscilloscope
 Fig-16: I-V Characteristics of Zener Diode Clipper Circuit

Fig-17: I-V Characteristics of Zener Diode Clipper Circuit in

Oscilloscope
5. Report:
1. What is a clipping circuit? Explain the operation of the circuit in Fig. 1.

Ans:
Clippers are networks that employ diodes to clip away a portion of an input signal
without disturbing the remaining part of the applied waveform. Normally it helps a
signal from exceeding predetermined reference voltage level. A clipping circuit can
remove certain portions of an arbitrary waveform near the positive or negative
peaks or both. Circuit in Fig. 1 is a clipper circuit.
The input voltage is a sinusoidal voltage having amplitude of 5V. For the diode to
be in forward bias, the voltage one the positive side of the diode must cross 2.75V.
When the diode is in forward bias, the two end of the diode will be short circuited
and current will flow. So, Vo will be 2.75V.
When the instantaneous voltage will be less than 2.75V, the diode will be in reverse
bias causing an open circuit. No current will flow.
From KVL,
- Vi + V o = 0
Or, Vi = Vo

2. Design a circuit in which the input voltage Vi =5 sin t and the output should
be limited between + 2.5 V and – 3.5 V. Assumes that the diodes are ideal .

Ans:
In this case, we will use a parallel clipper with ideal diodes and DC voltage source
of 2.5V and 3.5V. The circuit must be constructed as mentioned.
 Fig-17: A Circuit for Limited Outputs
When Vi < -3.5V diode 2 will be in forward bias and diode 1 will be in reverse bias.
First branch will have open circuit whereas short circuit in second branch. So, Vo
will be equal to -3.5V.
When -3.5V < Vi < 2.5V both the diodes will be in reverse bias so the output voltage
will be equal to the input voltage.
When Vi > 2.5V diode 1 will be in forward bias and diode 2 will be in reverse bias.
First branch will have short circuit whereas open circuit in second branch. So, V o
will be equal to 2.5V.
So, the above-mentioned circuit fulfils all the requirements.

3. What is a clamping circuit? Explain the operation of the circuit in Fig. 2.

Ans:
Clamping circuit is a network constructed of a diode, a resistor and a capacitor that
shifts a waveform to a different dc level without changing the appearance of the
applied signal. The positive and negative peaks of the signal can be placed at
desired level using a clamping circuit. A simple clamping circuit includes a capacitor,
a diode, a resistor, and a DC battery if required.
The circuit in Fig. 2 is a clamping circuit. When Vi = 5V, the capacitor starts getting
charged. The diode is in forward bias, and the two end of the diode is short
circuited, and the output voltage Vo will be 0. If Vc is the voltage across the
capacitor,
Using KVL,
- 5 + Vc = 0
Or, Vc = 5 V

When Vi = -5V, the diode gets reverse biased.

Using KVL,
Vo - Vi + Vc = 0
Vo = Vi - Vc
Vo = (-5-5) V
Or, Vo = -10 V

So, the input waveform shifts to a different DC level.

4. Sketch the output voltage of the circuit of Fig. 2 if V i =5 sin(21000t).

Ans:
The waveshape will be the same for the output but it will be clamped at a different
DC level. When the input voltage reaches its positive peak the output voltage
becomes 0 V, and the capacitor is charged at voltage 5V. The discharging of the
capacitor takes enough time.
Using KVL,
-5 + Vc = 0
Or, Vc = 5 V
At every stage the output voltage will be 5V less than the input voltage. And again,
when the input will be at 5V, the capacitor will get fully charged.

Fig-18: A Clamper Circuit for a Given Input

5. Explain the operation of circuit in Fig. 3. How will Vo change if the polarities of
the two Zener diodes in the circuit of Fig. 3 are reversed?

Ans:
Every zener diode has its own breakdown voltage. If the zener diode is in forward
bias, it will act like an ordinary diode. When the diode is in reverse bias, but the
applied voltage is less than the breakdown voltage, then the zener diode will act
like an open circuit. When it is in reverse bias and applied voltage is greater than
the reverse breakdown voltage then the diode will act as a short circuit and have
voltage equal to its reverse breakdown voltage between two ends. Current will flow
through the circuit if one of the zener diodes is in forward bias and another in
reverse breakdown region.
Let, Vz1 and Vz2 be the zener breakdown voltage of diode Z1 and Z2 respectively.
When Z1 is in forward bias and Z2 is in reverse breakdown,
V1 < 0 and
V2 < -Vz2
Or, V1 + V2 < -Vz2 and
Vo = -Vz2
When Z2 is in forward bias and Z1 is in reverse breakdown,
V1 > Vz1 and
V2 > 0
Or, V1 + V2 > Vz1 and
Vo = Vz1
If -Vz2 < V1 + V2 < Vz1 , then there will be an open circuit and Vo = Vi will hold.
Otherwise, the input signal will be clipped.
If the polarities of the zener diodes are reversed then,
when -Vz1 < V1 + V2 < Vz2 , there will be an open circuit and Vo = Vi will hold.
Otherwise, the input signal will be clipped.
6.Discussion:

i) From the construction of oscilloscope, it has got 2 channels. The black channel
connection wires of two channels are internally shorted. So, if we simultaneously
tried to observe the wave shape for the bridge rectifier, one of the 4 used diodes
might have been shorted. It would result in slight error.

ii) Since we measured the voltage using multimeter, slight error might have
occurred while taking the readings.

iii) Since, dielectric diodes have been used in this experiment, we were to be very
careful about the polarity of the diode. Because, if we connected the diode in
reverse polarity, it would result in destruction of the capacitor.

iv) Loose connection of wires, capacitors or other instruments might have

resulted in slight error.

v) Every diode has an internal resistance and there is always a voltage drop across
the diode. The distortions in the wave forms, we have shown, was for this. Again,
in the calculations, we haven’t considered that resistance and voltage drop. The
discrepancies in our calculation are due to this.

vi) The capacitor makes some unwanted changes in the supply if charging and
discharging situations are not normal. This might have caused some error in
calculation.

vii) Lastly, there may be some discrepancy for the bad functioning of the
oscilloscope, function generator or other equipment
Rough Sheets:
For Clipper Circuit
For Clipper Circuit in Reverse Polarity:
For Clamper Circuit:
For Zener Diode Clipper Circuit: