Clippers & Clampers Zener diode application

Clippers Clippers or diode limiting is a diode network that have the ability to clip off a portion on the i/p signal without distorting the remaining part of the alternating waveform. Clippers are used to eliminate amplitude noise or to fabricate new waveforms from an existing signal. 2 general of clippers: a) Series clippers b) Parallel clippers

Series Clippers The series configuration is defined as one where the diode is in series with the load. A half-wave rectifier is the simplest form of diode clipper-one resistor and diode.

+
Vi

+
RL Vo

Clipper Diode Circuit

The diode clips any voltage that does not put it in forward bias. That would be a reverse biasing polarity and a voltage less than 0.7V for a silicon diode.

 The half-wave rectifier with addition of dc supply is shown in following figure. The cct known as biased series clipper. The dc supply have pronounced effect on the o/p of a clipper. Our initial discussion will be limited to ideal diode.

Vi
Vm

+
T

+
RL Vo

T/2

Vi

Biased series clipper

Vi
Vm

Vo Vm-V

+ +
T

+
RL Vo
0 T/2 T

T/2

Vi=Vm

Vi=V (diodes change state)

+ve region turn the diode ON. -ve region turn the diode OFF. Vi > V to turn ON the diode In general diode is open cct (OFF state) and short cct (ON state) For Vi > V the Vo = Vi V For Vi = V the Vo= 0 V The complete cct shown above
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Example: Variations of the Clipper Circuit

Determine the o/p waveform for the network below:

Solution:

More Example: Repeat previous example for the square-wave i/p.

Vi
20
0 T/2 T

V=5 V

-+ +
t
Vi
-10

+
RL Vo

Parallel Clippers
The diode connection is in parallel configuration with the o/p. Diode is ideal

RL

+
Vi

+
Vo

Changing Output Perspective

By taking the output across the diode, the output is now the voltage when the diode is not conducting.

A DC source can also be added to change the diodes required forward bias voltage.
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Example : Determine the Vo and sketch the o/p waveform for the below network
RL
Vi 16 t

+
Vi
T/2 T

+
Vo V=4 V

-16

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Solution: + ve region
RL

Vi

+ V=4 V

+
Vo

RL

Vi 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 16

Diode state ON ON ON ON OFF OFF OFF OFF

Vo V=Vo V=Vo V=Vo V=Vo Vi=Vo Vi=Vo Vi=Vo Vi=Vo

Vi 16 t

Vi

+ V=4 V

+
Vo

T/2

-16

Vo 16 4
0 T/2

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Solution (continued): - ve region

Vi
VR =0A L

Diode state

Vo

-1

ON
ON ON ON ON

V=Vo
V=Vo V=Vo V=Vo V=Vo

Vi id=0A V=4 V
Vi 16

+
Vo

-2 -3 -4

-5

-6
-7
T/2 T

ON
ON ON

V=Vo
V=Vo V=Vo

-16

-16
Vo

16 4
0 T/2 T

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Example : Repeat the previous example using a silicon diode with VD=0.7 V Solution:
RL

Vi

+ -

V D=0.7 V id=0A V=4 V

+
Vo

Vi VD V 0 Vi V VD 4 0. 7 3 .3 V
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Solution (continued): For i/p voltages greater than 3.3 V the diode open cct and Vo=Vi. For i/p voltages less than 3.3 V the diode short cct and the network result as/; RL

Vi

+ -

V D=0.7 V id=0A V=4 V

+
Vo

Vo 4 0. 7 3 .3 V

Vo 16

The resulting o/p waveform

3.3
0 T/2 T

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Clipper Circuits Summary

15

Clipper Circuits Summary

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Clampers
The clamping network is to clamp a signal to a different dc level. Also known as dc restorers. The clamping cct is often used in TV receivers as a dc restorer. The network consists of: a) Capacitor b) Diode c) Resistive element d) Independent dc supply (option) The magnitude of R and C must be chosen such that the time constant = RC is large enough to ensure that the voltage across the capacitor does not discharge significantly during the interval the diode is nonconducting. Our analysis basis that all capacitor is fully charge and discharge in 5 time constant.

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Vi V t

+
Vi
T

+
R Vo

T/2

-V

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Operation of clamper
+ ve region
+ +
Vi R Vo C

0 - T/2: Diode is ON state (short-cct equivalent) Assume RC time is small and capacitor charge to V volts very quickly Vo=0 V (ideal diode)

Vi V t

T/2 T

- ve region
-V
+
V C V

+
Vo R

+
Vo

T/2 T: Diode is OFF state (open-cct equivalent) Both for the stored voltage across capacitor and applied signal current through cathode to anode KVL: - V- V- Vo = 0 and Vo = -2V

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Tips : Clamping network

Total swing o/p signal = the total swing i/p signal

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Example:
Determine Vo for the network below:
Vi f=1000 Hz 10 0 t1 t2 t3 t4 t

+
Vi

C= 1 uF

+
Vo R=100 kohm

-20 T

V= 5 V

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Solution:
Step 1: Consider the part of i/p signal that will forward bias the diode. From network (t1 - t2:-ve region)
Vi f=1000 Hz 10 0 t1 t2 t3 t4 t

- Vc +
20 V 5V
R=100 kohm

+
Vo

-20 T

Step 2: During ON state assume capacitor will charge to a voltage level determined by the network. Find the store voltage capacitor & obtained Vo

KVL: -20 +Vc 5 = 0 Vc = 25v

Vo = 5
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Solution (cntd):
Step 3: During OFF state assume capacitor will hold on its established voltage level. From network (t2 - t3:+ve region)
Vi f=1000 Hz 10 0 t1 t2 t3 t4 t

- Vc +
10 V
5V
R=100 kohm

+
Vo

KVL

-20 T

Step 4: Obtained Vo
KVL: 10 Vc Vo 0 10 25 Vo 0 Vo 35V

Timeconstant of dischargin g is determined by : RC (100 k)(1u) 100 ms The totaldischarge timeis 5 5(100ms) 500 ms

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Solution (cntd):
Step 5: Checking!!! total swing o/p signal = total swing i/p signal From network (t2 - t3: +ve region)
Vi f=1000 Hz 10 0 t1 t2 t3 t4 t
5

Vo 35

-20 T

t1

t2

t3

t4

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Example: Repeat the previous example using a germanium diode !!!

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Summary of Clamper Circuits

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Zener Diodes The zener diode is a special type of diodes that is designed to work in the reverse breakdown region. But it also can operate in the forward bias region. Zener diode is a main component to design voltage regulator circuit for DC power supply.

Zener Diodes Characteristic The I-V characteristics of a diode in Fig 3.19 shows that the breakdown voltage of a diode is nearly constant over a widerange of reverse-bias currents.

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Operation region: Forward bias-operate same as normal diode Reverse bias-small current flow Breakdown-big current flow. This is the region where the voltage zener is V constant For normal diode breakdown voltage is capable to destroy the diode but with zener diode the current is limited by connecting series resistor.

Forward

-Vz 0 Breakdown Reverse 0.7

Fig. 3.19

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Zener Diode

The Zener is a diode operated in reverse bias at the Zener Voltage (Vz).
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Vi and R fixed
Fixed DC voltage is applied in network below, as is the load resistor.

The analysis can be determined with 2 steps.

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Step 1: Determine the state of zener diode by removing it from the network and calculating the voltage across the resulting open cct.
Vi + Vz Iz RL
Pzm

V V L

R L V i R R L

Fig 3.20: Basic zener regulator

Vi

+ V -

+ VL RL -

V V

Vz Vz

Zener diodeON : VR Zener diodeOFF : VR

Vi - Vz RVi R RL

Fig 3.21: Determining the state of the zener diode

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Step 2: Subtitute the appropriate equivalent cct and solve for the desired unknowns. The ON state will obtained the equivalent cct in Fig below I
R

Vi

+
VZ

IZ RL

IL

+
VL

PZM

Fig 3.22

K C L :I R I Z I L
w h e r e I L

IZ

IR

IL

V L V R V iV L a n d I R R L R R

Power dissipatedby zener Pz VzIz whichPz P ZM specifiedfor the device

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Example: a) Determine VL, VR, IZ and PZ in the network below. b) Repeat part (a) with RL=3 k

+ VR Vi R=1 k ohm

+ -

IZ RL
1.2 kohm

+
VL

VZ =10 V

PZM=30 mW

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Solution: Step 1: Remove zener diode & obtained the zener state
IR
R=1 k ohm

+
V

IZ RL
1.2 kohm

+
VL
Forward

Vi=16 V

V V VL

R LVi 1 .2 k 16 8 .73V R R L 1k 1.2 k Vz diodeis OFF state (open cct) V 8.73V

-Vz

10
Breakdown Reverse

0.7

8.73
Fig. 3.19

V R Vi - VL 16 - 8.73 7.27V Iz 0A Pz VzIz 0 W

Resulting operating point

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Repeat part (a) with RL=3 k

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 For an offset Vz a specific range of resistor values need to be choose to ensure zener diode is ON state. Too small a load resistance will cause VL < Vz - diode is OFF state. Thus the minimum load resistance in previous example need to be calculate. This can be expressed by the equation below:

Fixed Vi, Variable RL

R Lm in

R V z V i V z

RL > RLmin zener diode is ON state diode can replaced by Vz source equivalent

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With RL changes the IL also changes. The table below described relationship between RL ,IL, IR

IL max

V z RL min V z RL max

IR ILmax Izmin

IL min

IR ILmin Izmax

Notes: Izmax = Izm

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Example: a) For the network below, determine the range of RL and IL that will result in VRL being maintained at 10 V. b) Determine the maximum wattage rating of the diode.

IR

+
Vi=50 V

R=1 k ohm
Vz=10 V Izm = 32 mA

IZ

IL RL

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Solution:(a)
RVz 1k 10 10k 250 Vi - Vz 50 10 40 V R 40 IR 40 mA R 1k ILmin IR - Izmax 40 m - 32 m 8 mA RLmin RLmax Vz 10 1.25 k ILmin 8m

The RL range: 250 RL 1.25 k

Solution: (b)

P z m a x V z I z m a x 1 0 3 2 m 3 2 0 m W
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 For a fixed values of RL in the network below, Vi must be sufficiently LARGE to turn zener diode ON. The minimum turn-ON voltage Vi=Vimin is expressed by :
VL Vz RLVi RL R RL R Vz RL

Fixed RL, Variable Vi

Vimin

R Vi + Vz - Pzm
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Iz RL

 The maximum value of Vi is limited by the maximum zener current, Izmax, thus

I R m a x I z m a x I L
IL is fixed at Vz/RL and Izmax is the maximum value so the maximum value of Vi is expressed below:

V i m a x I R m a x RV z

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Example: Determine the range of values of Vi that will maintain the zener diode of network below:

IR

+
Vi

R=220 ohm
Vz=20 V Izm = 60 mA

IZ

IL

+
RL=1.2k ohm VL

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Solution:
IR

+
Vi

R=220 ohm
Vz=20 V Izm = 60 mA

IZ

IL

+
RL=1.2k ohm VL

Equivalent cct in the ON state

RL R Vz 1200 220 20 23.67 V RL 1200 VL Vz 20 IL 16.67 mA RL RL 1200 IRMax Izmax IL 60m 16.67m 76.67 mA Vimin Vimax IR max R Vz 76.67 m 220 20 36. 87V

The range of Vi : 23.67 V

Vi 36.87 V

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Practical Applications of Diode Circuits

Rectifier Circuits Conversions of AC to DC for DC operated circuits Battery Charging Circuits Simple Diode Circuits Protective Circuits against Overcurrent Polarity Reversal Currents caused by an inductive kick in a relay circuit
Zener Circuits Overvoltage Protection Setting Reference Voltages

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References:
1. Thomas L. Floyd, Electronic Devices, Eighth Edition, Prentice Hall, 2002. 2. Robert Boylestad, Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory, Seventh edition, Prentice Hall, 2002. 3. Puspa Inayat Khalid, Rubita Sudirman, Siti Hawa Ruslan, ModulPengajaran Elektronik 1, UTM, 2002.

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