CLIPPERS

Module 5
By
Dr. Bernie Redoa
Reference: Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory by Boylestad & Nashelsky, 10
th
Ed
1. Design a clipper circuit given an
output and an input.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
output and an input.
2. Predict and analyze the output
response of a clipper circuit.
2
Clippers are networks that
employ diodes to clip away a
portion of an input signal
without distorting the remaining
part of the applied waveform.
I. What are clippers???
R
v
O
+
+
v
i
3
The half wave rectifier shown
is the simplest form of diode
clipper.
There are no boundaries on the type of signals that can
be applied to a clipper.
Clippers can be series or parallel.
- -
I. CLIPPERS
t
Vo
0
V
T
t
Vi
0
V
-V +
+
4
t
Vo
0
V
T
t
Vi
0
V
-V
R
v
O
+
- -
v
i
I. CLIPPERS:
A. Series Configuration with DC Supply
+
+
V
+ -
Vi
V
m
5
R
v
O
-
-
v
i
T
2
T
t
0
I. CLIPPERS:
A. Series Configuration with DC Supply
R
v
O
+
+
-
-
v
i
V
+ -
t
T
2
T
Vi
0
V
m
1. Take careful note where the
output voltage is defined
- In this case, it is directly across the
6
2. Try to develop an overall sense of the response by
simply noting the pressure established by each
supply and the effect it will have on the conventional
current direction through the diode.
- Any supply voltage greater than V volts will turn the diode on and
conduction can be established through the load resistor.
- In this case, it is directly across the
resistor R.
I. CLIPPERS:
A. Series Configuration with DC Supply
R
v
O
+
+
-
-
v
i
V
+ -
t
T
2
T
Vi
0
V
m
3. Determine the applied voltage
(transition voltage) that will result in a
change state for the diode from the
off to the on state.
- For ideal diode, this will occur when
V
D
=0 V, and I
D
= 0 mA. Hence v
i
= V
7
V
D
=0 V, and I
D
= 0 mA. Hence v
i
= V
R
v
O
= i
R
R = i
d
R= (0)R = 0 V
+
+
-
-
v
i
V
+
-
V
d
= 0 V
i
d
= 0 A
v
O
= v
i
V (ON region)
v
O
= 0 V (OFF region)
I. CLIPPERS:
A. Series Configuration with DC Supply
3. Determine the applied voltage
(transition voltage) that will result in a
change state for the diode from the
off to the on state.
- For ideal diode, this will occur when
V
D
=0 V, and I
D
= 0 mA. Hence v
i
= V
t
T
T
V
i
0
V
m
V
on
off
8
V
D
=0 V, and I
D
= 0 mA. Hence v
i
= V
R
v
O
= i
R
R = i
d
R= (0)R = 0 V
+
+
-
-
v
i
V
+
-
V
d
= 0 V
i
d
= 0 A
v
O
= v
i
V (ON region)
v
O
= 0 V (OFF region)
T
2
T 0
I. CLIPPERS:
A. Series Configuration with DC Supply
4. Draw the output waveform directly
below the applied voltage using the
same scales for the horizontal axis and
the vertical axis.
- The output voltage when the applied
voltage has its peak value.
t
T
2
T
V
i
0
V
m
9
R
v
O
+
+
-
-
v
i
V
+ -
voltage has its peak value.
v
O
peak
= V
m
V
T
2
T
V
o
0
V
m
- V
2
EXAMPLE: Clippers- Series Configuration
1. Determine the output waveform for the sinusoidal input.
Vi
20 V
+
+
5 V
+ -
10
T
2
T
t
0
R
v
O
-
-
v
i
2 K
EXAMPLE: Clippers- Series Configuration
2. Determine the output waveform for the given input.
Vi
20
+
+
5 V
+ -
11
T
2
T
t
0
R
v
O
-
-
v
i
2 K
-10
I. CLIPPERS:
B. Parallel Configuration
R
+
+
Vi
V
m
12
v
O
-
-
v
i
T
2
T
t
0
t
Vo
0
V
T
t
Vi
0
V
-V
I. CLIPPERS:
B. Parallel Configuration
R
+
+
13
t
Vo
0
V
T
t
Vi
0
V
-V
v
O
-
-
v
i
EXAMPLE: Clippers- Parallel Configuration
1. Determine the output waveform for the given input.
V
i
16 V
R
+
+
14
t
0
16 V
-16 V
R
v
O
-
4 V
+
-
-
v
i
1. Take careful note where the
output voltage is defined
- The output is defined across the series
combination of 4-V supply and the diode
t
t
V
i
0
16 V
-16
V
R
v
O
+
-
4 V
+
-
+
-
v
i
EXAMPLE: Clippers- Parallel Configuration
15
2. Try to develop an overall sense of the response.
- The polarity of the dc supply and the direction of the diode strongly
suggest that the diode will be in the on state for a good portion of the
negative region of the input signal.
- Since the output is directly across the series combination, when the
diode is in its short-circuit state, the output voltage will be directly across
the 4-V supply.
combination of 4-V supply and the diode
3. Determine the transition level.
- For ideal diode, this will occur when
V
D
=0 V, and I
D
= 0 mA. Hence v
i
= 4 V
V
R
= 0 V
t
t
V
i
0
16 V
-16
V
R
v
O
+
-
4 V
+
-
+
-
v
i
EXAMPLE: Clippers- Parallel Configuration
16
v
i
= 4 V
V
V
d
= 0 V
i
d
= 0 A
v
O
+
-
4 V
+
-
+
-
v
i
V
-
-
4. Draw the output waveform
directly below the applied voltage
using the same scales for the
horizontal axis and the vertical
axis.
EXAMPLE: Clippers- Parallel Configuration
t
V
i
0
16 V
17
- The transition level is drawn along
with V
o
= 4V when the diode is on.
For V
i
>= 4V, V
o
= 4V
t
V
o
0
16 V
4 V
-16 V
EXERCISES:
1. Determine V
o
for the network.
Vi
10 V
+
+
5 V
+ -
Si
18
T
2
T
t
0
R
v
O
-
-
v
i
4.7 K
-10 V
EXERCISES:
2. Sketch V
o
for the network.
Vi
8 V
+
+
2.2 K
Si
19
t
0
-8 V
v
O
-
4 V
+
-
-
v
i
20
I don't believe you have to be better I don't believe you have to be better I don't believe you have to be better I don't believe you have to be better
than everybody else. I believe you have than everybody else. I believe you have than everybody else. I believe you have than everybody else. I believe you have
21
than everybody else. I believe you have than everybody else. I believe you have than everybody else. I believe you have than everybody else. I believe you have
to be better than you ever thought you to be better than you ever thought you to be better than you ever thought you to be better than you ever thought you
could be could be could be could be
22