Chapter 4 – Diode Applications– Clippers and

Clampers

Facilitator : Marufu Motion

E-mail: motionmarufu60@gmmail.com
Whatsapp: 0773587388
 Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to:
◆ Define clipper and clamper with the aid of examples
◆ Describe with the aid of circuit diagram the operation of:
positive and negative clippers, biased positive and
negative clippers and positive and negative clampers.
◆ Perform calculations related clippers and clampers
◆ Explain with the aid of suitable diagrams practical
applications of clippers and clampers
 Diode Clippers
The circuit with which the waveform is shaped by removing (or clipping) a portion
of the input signal without distorting the remaining part of the alternate waveform is
called a clipper. Clipper is also referred to as voltage (or current) limiters, amplitude
selectors, or slicers. These circuits find extensive use in digital electronic systems
(like calculators, computers, radio and television receivers, etc.) and radar. Most of
the clippers employ diodes in series or shunt and are known as diode clippers.
 Types of Clippers
Types of clipping circuits
1.Series clippers
2.Parallel clippers
Series clippers
In this configuration the diode is in series with the load
Parallel clippers
In this configuration the diode is in parallel with the load.
You have already been introduced to the basic operating principles of the
clipper. The half wave rectifier is basically a clipper that eliminates one of the
alternations of an ac signal.
There are four basic clipper configurations, as shown in following figure
Each series clipper contains a diode that is in series with the load. Each
shunt clipper contains a diode that is in parallel with the load.
 Series and Shunt clippers

The half-wave rectifier is nothing more than a series clipper

1. When the diode in a negative series clipper is forward biased by the positive
input signal, it conducts, and the load voltage is found as shown in the following
slide. It is reverse biased by a negative input signal and therefore there is no output
as it does not conduct
 Positive and series clippers
�� = ��� − 0.7
2. When the diode in the negative series clipper is reverse biased by the input signal,
it does not conduct. Therefore, ��1 = ��� and
�� = 0�
 Positive Series Clippers
3. The positive series dipper operates in the same fashion. The only differences are:
a. The output voltage polarities are reversed.
b. The current directions through the circuit are reversed.
That is to say the diode is reverse biased by positive input signal and clips the
output while a negative input signal forward biases the diode causing it to conduct
producing an output at the load.
 Negative Series clipping - Various input waveforms
The Negative series clipper removes all negative signals
 Transfer Characteristics
Series Negative Clipper for a non-ideal diode

Limiting of the positive alternation.

The diode is forward-biased during
the positive alternation (above 0.7 V)
and reverse-biased during the negative
alternation.

Series Positive Clipper for a non-ideal diode

Limiting of the negative

alternation. The diode is forward-
biased during the negative
alternation (below
– 0.7 V) and reverse-biased during
the positive alternation.
 Shunt and Series Positive Clipper
Shunt Positive clipper
(a)When the input is positive, the
diode is forward biased and since it
is ideal and is in parallel with ��
the output is zero (i.e. clipped). When
the input becomes negative the diode is
reverse biased. The current flows through
the load resistor and there is negative half
cycle output
Series Positive clipper is shown on (b)
(b) When the input is positive the diode is
reverse biased and there is no current
flow through the load resistor hence output
is zero. When the input is negative half cycle
the diode is forward biased and the output is negative half cycle.
 Shunt Positive Clipper
Working: During positive half cycle of input voltage in shunt diode-type positive
clipper (a), the diode D is forward biased and conducts heavily. Ideally, its acts as a
short closed switch and hence the voltage across the diode or the load is zero and
hence positive half cycle clipped off. In other words, the positive half cycle does not
appear at the output.
During negative half cycle of input voltage, the diode D is reverse biased and
behaves as an open switch. Then the current flows through RL and series resistance
(R). In this condition, the circuit behaves as a voltage divider, while the output
voltage is taken across RL.
(b) For a series positive clipper the diode D is connected in series but in a reverse
direction, operation of which is easily understandable.
 Series and Shunt Negative Clipper
In the negative clipper circuit, the diode D is connected in a direction opposite to
that of positive clipper. In the series-type negative clipper as shown in (a), during
the positive half cycle of the input signal, the diode D conducts and acts as short
circuit and hence, the positive half cycle of the input signal will appear at the output
as shown in the waveform (a).
 Series and Shunt Negative Clipper
During the negative half cycle of the input signal shown in (a), the diode D does not
conduct and act as an open circuit. As a result, the negative half cycle will not
appear at the output, i.e. the negative half cycle is clipped off i.e. removed (as
shown in (a)
Similarly, for shunt type of negative clipper (b), the diode D at shunt does not
conduct for positive half cycles and diode D behaves as open circuit. So, the output
voltage will follow for given input signal for positive half cycle. During negative
half cycle of the input signal, the diode D is forward biased and behaves as short
circuit and hence no signal will appear across the diode D. So, the output voltage is
clipped off during negative half cycle of the input signal. It is shown in (b) for
shunt-type negative clipper.
It is evident from the above discussion that the negative clippers of series and shunt
types behaves as half-wave rectifier. Thus, the negative clipper has clipped the
negative half cycle completely and allow to pass the positive half cycle of the input
signal.
 Biased Positive Clipper
The following figure shows the circuits of biased shunt- and series-type positive
clippers along with the input and output voltage waveforms. A reference voltage has
been added to the circuit. In the biased series positive clipper as shown in (a), the
diode D does not conduct as long as the input voltage is greater than +�� and hence,
the output is limited at +�� . When the input voltage becomes less than +�� , the
diode becomes forward biased and conducts, acting as short circuit. Hence, all the
input signal having less than +�� as well as negative half cycle of the input wave
will appear at the output, as shown in (c).
 Biased series and shunt positive clipper clippers
In the biased shunt positive clipper as shown in (b), the diode D conducts as
long as the input voltage is greater then +�� and the output remains at +�� .
When the input voltage is less than +�� , the diode D does not conduct and
acts as open switch. Hence, all the input signal having less than +�� as well
as negative half cycle of the input wave will appear at the output, as shown in
the figure. The clipping level can be shifted up or down by varying the bias
voltage +�� .
Biased series Biased shunt
Positive clipper Positive clipper

Output voltage
 Biased series negative clipper analysis
The addition of a dc supply in the series clipper will have a different output voltage
waveform

Biased series negative clipper Equivalent circuit for ��� < �

Operation when ��� is positive but less that V
The diode does not get forward biased and the diode remains in its off state and the
output voltage will be zero.
 Biased series negative clipper again analysis
Operation when ��� is positive but greater that V
When the input voltage is equal to V and the voltage across the diode is zero . After
that the diode is turned on and remains on until the positive input is higher than V
and the equivalent is shown below
���� = ��� − �
 Biased series negative clipper analysis
Operation for ��� negative

The equivalent circuit is as shown above. When ��� is negative, the diode is reverse
and therefore remains off. The load/output. Voltage is zero during the entire
negative half cycle.
 Biased series positive clipper analysis
The diode is cut off during the entire positive half cycle of the input and for a
part of the negative cycle of the input.

For ��� < � the diode will be forward

biased and the output voltage is given by
�� = ��� + �
For ��� > � the diode will be reverse biased
and the output will be zero.

��� < � ��� < �

 Biased Parallel Negative clipper analysis
The are of two types: Biased negative parallel clipper and Biased positive parallel
clipper
Biased negative Parallel clipper circuit diagram

Operation (��� ��������)

When is ��� is +ve the diode is reverse biased
and acts as an open switch. The output voltage
is equal to the input voltage.
���� = ���
 Biased Parallel Negative clipper analysis
Operation (��� negative but higher than V)
When ��� is less than V the diode remains reverse biased and the equivalent circuit
is shown below.
The output voltage is again given by
���� = ���

Operation (��� negative but less than V)

As ��� becomes less than V in the negative half
cycle the diode turns on. It acts as a closed circuit thus
connecting the dc source across the output terminals
as shown.
���� =− �
 Biased Parallel Negative clipper analysis
This is another version of a biased negative parallel clipper. The polarity of V has
been reversed

(a)Negative parallel clipper with dc supply circuit (b)Equivalent circuit

1. For ��� < � the diode is forward biased. The dc voltage source will be across
the output as shown in the equivalent circuit. The output voltage is positive and
is equal to V.
���� = + �
 Biased Parallel Negative clipper analysis
For ��� positive and higher than V
The input voltage is greater than V and the diode
is not conducting, acts as an open switch and
isolates the supply voltage from the output.
The output voltage is positive and is
equal to the input voltage
���� =+ ���

Operation for negative values of ���

The diode is forward biased and connects V
across the output terminals as shown. The load
Voltage is positive and is equal to V.

���� =+ ���
 Positive biased clipper with ideal diode question
With the aid of equivalent cct diagrams and waveforms name and explain the
operation of the of the circuit below
 Biased double clippers
The circuit clips both halves of the input due to the presence of the two diodes �1
and �2 in opposite directions. The two diodes are assumed to be ideal.

Operation in the positive half cycle

When ��� is less than �1 , �1 will be reverse
biased while �2 will be reverse biased for
The entire duration of the positive half cycle
i.e. ���� = ��� for ��� < �1

As soon as the positive input voltage is becomes higher than �1 , �1 turns on and
the output will be
���� = �1 for ��� > �1
Equivalent circuits for positive half cycle are shown in the next slide
 Biased double clippers
Equivalent circuits for positive half cycle are shown below

for +��� < �1 for +��� > �1

 Biased double clippers
Input and output voltages for a parallel two way clipper
Operation in Negative half cycle
�1 remains off during the negative half
Cycle and �2 will be turned on when
��� ≥ �2 . As long as �2 is conducting
the output voltage will be equal to
−�2 . When �1 and �2 are both off the
output voltage is equal to the input
voltage and it is negative.
 Diode clampers
The clamper circuits are used to clamp the input signal to a different dc voltage
level. That is a clamper adds a negative or positive dc voltage to the ac signal
applied to its input. The input signal can be sinusoidal or it can any shape.
Types of clampers: Positive clamper (ii) Negative clamper
Positive clamper
A circuit that shifts an entire input signal above a dc reference voltage. It shifts its
input waveform so that the negative peak of the waveform is approximately equal to
the clamper dc reference voltage.
Negative clamper
A circuit that shifts an entire input signal below a dc reference voltage. It shifts its
input waveform so that the positive peak of the waveform is approximately equal to
the clamper dc reference voltage.
 Positive Clamper block diagram
A clamper is a circuit designed to shift a waveform either above or below a given
reference voltage without distorting the waveform. There are two types of clampers:
the positive clamper and the negative clamper. The input/output characteristics of
these two circuits

A positive clamper shifts its input waveform so that the negative peak of the
waveform is approximately equal to the clamper dc reference voltage as shown.
 Positive Clamper
A positive clamper shifts its input waveform so that the negative peak of the
waveform is approximately equal to the clamper dc reference voltage. For example,
Figure 4.14a shows what happens when a 20 Vp-p sine wave is applied to a positive
clamper with a dc reference of 0 V. As you can see, the input and output waveforms
have a value of 20 Vp-p. However, the clamper output waveform has peak values of
+20 and 0 V (the negative peak). The positive clamper has shifted the entire
waveform so that its negative peak value is approximately equal to the circuit’s dc
reference voltage.
 Negative clamper block diagram
A negative clamper shifts its input waveform so that the positive peak of the
waveform is approximately equal to the clamper dc reference voltage. When a 20
Vp-p sine wave is applied to a negative clamper with a dc reference of 0 V, In this
case, the clamper output waveform has peak values of 0 V (the positive peak) and -
20 V. The negative clamper has shifted the entire waveform so that its positive peak
value is approximately equal to the circuit’s dc reference voltage.
 Negative clamper
A negative clamper shifts its input waveform so that the positive peak of the
waveform is approximately equal to the clamper dc reference voltage. For example.
from previous Figure b shows what happens when a 20 Vp-p sine wave is applied to
a negative clamper with a dc reference of 0 V. In this case, the clamper output
waveform has peak values of 0 V (the positive peak) and -20 V. The negative
clamper has shifted the entire waveform so that its positive peak value is
approximately equal to the circuit’s dc reference voltage.
 ���� Shift
When we are dealing with a sine wave that is not rectified, the value of the ����
falls halfway between the positive and negative peak voltage values. For example,
if we were to measure the input waveform in Figure 4.14a with a dc voltmeter, we
would get a reading of 0 V. Note that the dc average of the waveform (0 V) falls
halfway between +10 and -10 Vpk.
When a waveform is shifted by a clamper, the value of Vave for the waveform
changes. For example, consider the output waveform shown in Figure 4.14a. This
waveform has peak values of +20 and 0 V. The dc average, which falls halfway
between the peak values, is +10 V. Thus, if we were to measure this output
waveform with a dc voltmeter, we would get a reading of 10 Vdc. By the same
token, if we were to measure the output waveform shown in Figure b with a dc
voltmeter, we would get a reading of -10 ��� .
 ���� Shift
An interesting point can be made at this time. While the value of ���� for a
waveform normally changes when the waveform goes through the clamper, the
peak-to-peak value of the waveform does not. For example, all of the input and
output waveforms in Figure 4.14 have a peak-to-peak value of 20 Vp-p. Thus, while
the clamper changes the peak and average (dc) values of a waveform, it does not
change the peak-to-peak value of the original signal.
 Clamper Operation
Charging and discharging of a clamper

The clamper is similar (in construction) to a shunt clipper; the difference is the
added capacitor in the clamper.
 Negative Clampers
The difference between the negative clamper and the positive clamper is simply the
direction of the diode. The figure shows a negative clamper and its effect on a sine-
wave input.
 Positive Clampers
By reversing the diode, we get the circuit operation shown. Here, the diode
direction is reversed, making it a positive clamper. Since the diode is returned to
ground (0 V), the circuit shifts the input waveform until the negative peak voltage
of the waveform is approximately equal to 0 V.

It is important to remember that, when reversing the diode, the capacitor (if
polarized) must also be reversed. The positive side of a polarized capacitor
must always be connected to the more positive voltage.
 Positive Clampers

In a negative clamper, the positive terminal of the capacitor is connected to the

signal source. In a positive clamper, the positive side of the capacitor is connected
to the output.
There is a quick and easy memory trick for determining what type of clamper you
are dealing with: If the diode is pointing up (away from ground), the circuit is a
positive clamper. If the diode is pointing down (toward ground), the circuit is a
negative clamper.
 Positive clamper
The capacitor charges to the
positive input with polarities
shown during the first part
of the negative half cycle.
The low impedance forward biased
diode completes the current path
thereby allowing the capacitor
voltage to rise to the peak input
voltage.
After the input voltage has reached voltage higher than the input voltage, the diode
becomes reverse biased and becomes open circuited. The capacitor starts to
discharge through the load resistor �� .
 Positive clamper
Capacitor discharging through the load resistor
 Clipper and Clamper comparison
Parameter Clipper Clipper
Components used Diodes, resistors Diodes, resistors and
capacitors
Function To remove part of the To add a dc shift to the
input input
Frequency of input Not important as capacitor Value of the capacitor is
is not used chosen depending on the
on the input frequency
Applications Diode clamp, wave Voltage multipliers
shaping circuits
 Applications
With the aid of diagram explain five typical applications of clippers and clappers