Common Diode Applications
Clippers, Clampers, Voltage Multipliers and
Displays
Diode Clippers
A clipper (or limiter) is a circuit used to eliminate
some portion (or portions) of a waveform.


A series clipper is in series with its load.
A shunt clipper is in parallel with its load.
Series Clippers
Negative Shunt Clipper Operation
A Positive Shunt Clipper
When the diode is conducting:
VL  VF
When the diode is not conducting:
RL
VL  Vin
RL  RS
Biased Shunt Clippers
Diode Clampers
A clamper (or
dc restorer) sets
(or restores) the
dc reference of a
waveform.
Clamper Operation
Biased clampers
Biased clampers allow a waveform to shifted above
or below a dc reference other than 0 V.

The dc reference is determined by the biasing voltage (VB)
and the setting of the potentiometer (R1).
Zener clampers
The diodes in (a) are in a common-cathode configuration.
The diodes in (b) are in a common-anode configuration.
Voltage Doublers

A voltage doubler provides an output that is twice its
peak input voltage.
Half-Wave Voltage Doubler

The term “half-wave” reflects the fact that the
output capacitor (C2) is charges during one
alternation of each input cycle and discharges
during the other.
Half-Wave Voltage Doubler
Operation
Full-Wave Voltage Doublers

The term “full-wave” reflects the fact that the
output capacitors are charged during alternate
half-cycles of the input signal.
Voltage Tripler

A voltage tripler provides a dc output voltage that is
approximately three times the peak input voltage.
Voltage Quadrupler

A voltage quadrupler provides a dc output voltage
that is approximately four times the peak input
voltage.
A Basic Dual-Polarity
Power Supply
The output voltages are approximately equal to
the peak values of the input waveform.
LED Level Indicators


The LED in circuit (a) lights when the driver
output is +5 V.
The LED in circuit (b) lights when the driver
output is 0 V.
Multisegment Display

Multisegment display – A device used to display
alphanumeric characters (numbers, letters, symbols,
and punctuation marks).

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LED displays contain some number of diodes that are
connected in a common-cathode or a common-anode
configuration.
A liquid crystal display (LCD) consists of segments that
reflect (or do not reflect) ambient light when provided
an active input.
Seven-Segment Displays

The display uses LEDs that are arranged in a figure 8
configuration.

The display represented below is a common-cathode display.
Each LED lights when a positive voltage is applied to the
appropriate pin.