EXPERIMENT NO.

4
DIODE CLIPPER

I. OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the clipper network in diode applications.

II. DISCUSSION:

There are varieties of diode networks called clippers that have the ability to ″clip″ off a
portion of the input signal without distorting the remaining part of the alternating waveform.
Depending on the orientation of the diode, the positive or the negative region of the signal is
″clipped″ off. Clippers are networks that ″clip″ away part of the applied signal either to create a
specific type of signal or to limit the voltage that can be applied to a network. Clipping circuits
are used to select for transmission that part of an arbitrary waveform which lies above or below
some reference level. Clipping circuits are also referred to as voltage limiters, amplitude
selectors, or slicers.

There are two general categories of clipper; series and parallel. The series configuration
is defined as one where the diode is in series with the load, while the parallel variety has the
diode in a branch parallel to the load.

III. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT:

1-15kΩ (1/4 W) 1-15 Vbc power supply

1-5kΩ potentiometer 1 - signal generator
1 - 1N4001 silicon rectifier diode 1 - oscilloscope
1 - Digital Tester
 Oscilloscope Oscilloscope

CH1 G CH2 1 CH2

CHG

R2
R2
D1
D1 MAX

Fig. 4.3a Fig. 4.3c

Oscilloscope Oscilloscope

CH1G CH2
CH1 G CH2

R1
R1
D1
D1 MAX

Fig. 4.3b Fig. 4.3d

IV. PROCEDURE
1. Construct circuit in Fig. 4.3a. Without any input signal connected, position the circuit
together with the oscilloscope′s display. Set for the proper setting of the oscilloscope.
2. Attach the signal generator to the circuit. Set the supply′s output at 6V peak-to-peak
at 200Hz frequency on the data page and results section, sketch your clipped
waveform.
3. Now, reverse the polarity of the diode as shown on Fig.4.3b. Compare the waveform
with that on step 2.
4. Connect now the circuit in Fig.4.3c. Applying power to the circuit and adjust the
potentiometer to 1.5 volts of the dc voltage (Vdc). Then connect also the signal
 generator, at 6volts peak to peak to the circuit. Vary the resistance of the
potentiometer from one extreme to the other. Record and plot your observation, if
any.
5. Now reverse the polarities of both the diode and the dc supply as shown in Fig. 4.3d.
Adjust the dc voltage of the potentiometer to (1.5 volts). Connect the signal generator
(also at 6 volts pp) to the circuit. Plot your observation the vary the resistance of the
potentiometer from one extreme to the other. Record and plot your observation, if
any.

V. DATA AND RESULTS:

FIG. 4.3A
FIG. 4.3B
FIG. 4.3C
FIG. 4.3D
VI. CONCLUSION:
 This experiment demonstrated the operation of a diode limiter or clipper.
Prevents signal voltages from going above or below preset levels. worked on both
Positive and negative limiters with clipping level equal to diode barrier
potential. It also showed how to make the clipping level variable.
External DC power supply.

VII. QUESTIONS:

1. Define clipper

A wave shaping circuit that takes an input waveform and truncates or

truncates the top half, bottom half, or both together.

2. In your experiment, what did you notice on the peaks of the clipper′s output
waveform? Is the clipping level said to be perfect? Support your answer.

Clipping levels are not perfect. Positive peaks are not clipped at
zero volts, but a small positive voltage.

3. Referring to your input waveform, at what instance will the diode be forward
bias? An open circuit?

For the diode to be forward biased, the negative peaks of the input
signal must be greater than DC source voltage and diode barrier
potential. When the input waveform is negative, the diode looks like a
open circuit.

4. Referring to your graph , what conclusion can you draw with the waveform of
both forward and reverse polarity of the diode.

 In forward bias, the diode is forward biased for the positive half-
cycle of the sinusoidal input wave. The positive peaks of the limiter
output waveform are remove or cut.

 For reverse polarity, opposite behavior for anode limit. waveform

with all the negative peaks of the input signal is deleted.

5. For the negative clipper circuit of Fig 4.3b, why is the positive peak not
clipped? For the positive clipper circuit of Fig.4.3a, why is the negative peak
not clipped?
  When input waveform goes negative, the diode looks like an open
circuit, and essentially all the input appears at the output. Such an
arrangement is called a negative limiter because the circuit clips
off the negative peak of the input waveform.

 When input waveform goes negative, the diode looks like an open
circuit, and essentially all the input appears at the output. Such an
arrangement is called a positive limiter because the circuit limits
the positive peaks of the input waveform.

6. When varying the resistance of the potentiometer, what happens to the

clipping level for (a) forward polarity (b) reverse polarity.
 (a) In forward polarity, the clipping level changes with the setting
of the potentiometer. At one extreme, when the dc bias voltage
(VDC) is zero, the positive clipping level should be the same as was
measured in Step 2. At the other extreme, there should be no
clipping, as the dc bias voltage is about + 5 V. Since the input
positive peaks are at +3.0 V, the diode is effectively reverse biased
and looks like an open circuit, and thus the input appears
unchanged at the output.

 While in reverse polarity, the clipping level changes with the

setting of the potentiometer. At one extreme, when the dc bias
voltage (VDC) is zero, the positive clipping level should be the
same as was measured in Step 3. At the other extreme, there
should be no clipping, as the dc bias voltage is about —5 V. Since
the input positive peaks are at —3.0 V, the diode is effectively
reverse biased and looks like an open circuit, and thus the input
appears unchanged at the output.