TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
College of Engineering
Ayala Boulevard, Ermita, Manila 1000
Experiment 4
DIODE CLIPPER
Name:
Lawrence Abram M. Alcantara
Course and Section:
BSEE – 2D
Subject:
ACEE5L-M - Electronic Circuits: Devices and Analysis 1, Lab
Date Performed:
November 26, 2022
Date of Submission:
December 06, 2022
Instructor:
Prof. Vilma C. Pagtalunan
Grade:
Remarks:
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)
1-5kΩ potentiometer
1-15 Vbc power supply
1 - signal generator
1 - 1N4001 silicon rectifier diode
1 - Digital Tester
1 - oscilloscope
Oscilloscope
Oscilloscope
G CH2
CH1 G CH2
CH1
R2
R2
D1
D1
MAX
Fig. 4.3a
Fig. 4.3c
Oscilloscope
CH1
Oscilloscope
G CH2
CH1
G CH2
R1
R1
D1
D1
Fig. 4.3b
MAX
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:
Figure 4.3.1a: Waveform of the source voltage
Figure 4.3.2a: Waveform across the diode.
Figure 4.3.4 b: Waveform of the source voltage
Figure 4.3.5 b: Waveform of across the diode.
Figure 4.3.6 c: Waveform of the source voltage.
Figure 4.3.7 c: Waveform of across the diode. (minimum voltage)
Figure 4.3.8 c: Waveform of across the diode. (midpoint voltage)
Figure 4.3.9 c: Waveform of across the diode. (maximum voltage)
Figure 4.3.10 d: Waveform of the source voltage.
Figure 4.3.11 d: Waveform of across the diode. (minimum voltage)
Figure 4.3.12 d: Waveform of across the diode. (midpoint voltage)
Figure 4.3.13 d: Waveform of across the diode. (maximum voltage)
VI. OBSERVATIONS:
As aforementioned, diode clipping circuits are wave-shaping circuits intended to prevent
transmission loss of voltages from exceeding or falling below predetermined values of clipping
level that can be fixed at the diode's resistance value or changeable with a Dc power supply. Due
to this limiting feature, the clipper is also known as a limiter.
VII. CONCLUSION:
As a result, I infer that the clipper can be of two types: series diode clipper and parallel
diode clipper. Clipping level could be altered by applying a Reference Voltage. Finally, A
Clipper Circuit is a wave shaping technique that uses clipping to modify the shape of the output
waveform.
VIII. QUESTIONS:
1. Define clipper
The clipper can be divided into two kinds series diode clipper and parallel diode
clipper. Which are known as positive and negative clippers.
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.
The experiment gave an observation, that the peaks of the clippers output and
input signals exceeds the diodes voltage, where it gives the waveforms more clipped.
Thus, it is employed with diodes many shapes in signals.
3. Referring to your input waveform, at what instance will the diode be forward
bias? An open circuit?
When such diode is forward biased, it operates as a closed switch.
4. Referring to your graph , what conclusion can you draw with the waveform of
both forward and reverse polarity of the diode.
The diode acts as a clipper whether in forward or reverse bias.
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?
Positive peaks have not been cut since they constrain voltage and conduct current.
The negative peaks, however, are not clipped because the diode is adjusted over.
6. When varying the resistance of the potentiometer, what happens to the
clipping level for (a) forward polarity (b) revese polarity.
The clipping level varies with the potentiometer adjustment in forward
polarity. Regardless of whichever set of diodes is participating, every load
voltage is of the same polarity as well as the load current flows across the same
path. In reverse polarity, however, the consequence is a negative clipper that
terminates the negative half cycle.