MAPUA UNIVERSITY

School of Electrical Electronics and Computer Engineering

Electronics 1 Laboratory

DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

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Name of Student
2021105968 ME-2nd year ECE20L-B1
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Student Number Program-Year Course-Section
Group 5
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Group Number Group Members

___Nov 23,2022__________________Nov 30,2022________________________

Date Performed Date Submitted

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Grade

Prof. Julius Sese

Course Instructor
 DIODE WAVE SHAPING CIRCUITS

1. Objectives
The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate the operation of a diode clipper,
and clamper circuit.

2. List of Laboratory Instrument

1 pc F.A.C.E.T. Base Unit

1 pc Semiconductor Devices Circuit Board
3 pcs Two-post connector
4 pcs Terminal post

1 pc Oscilloscope
2 pcs Oscilloscope probes
1 pc Function generator
1 pc Function generator probe alligator cable
1 pc Digital multi-meter (DMM)

1 pc Computer, with LTSPICE circuit simulator tool

3. Introductory Information
Wave shaping circuits are used to alter the output waveform of a given input signal. There
are two types of diode wave shaping circuits, the clipper and the clamper.

Clipper Circuit

Limiting is removing an extremity of an input wave by electronic means. Circuits that

perform this function are called limiters or clippers. Diode limiters are wave shaping
circuits since they prevent signal voltages from going higher than or below certain levels.
The limiting level is equal to the diode’s barrier potential (as shown below) or it may be
varied with a dc source.

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 Figure 3-1 Clipper circuits

Figure 3-1 shows examples of limiter circuits. In Figure 3-1a, the output voltage is limited
to its forward voltage drop during the positive alternation of the input waveform. The
diode is reverse biased during the negative alternation of the input; therefore, most of the
circuit voltage appears at the output. This circuit is called a positive limiter.

The action in Figure 3-1b is similar to that in Figure 3-1a, but since the diode is connected
in the opposite direction, the circuit limits the negative input alternation to V D and is
hence called a negative limiter.

Clamper Circuit

The clamper is also a wave shaping circuit. It adds a dc level to the ac input voltage, thus
a clamper is sometimes referred to as dc restorer. This type of circuit holds or shifts either
extreme of a waveform to a given reference level. However, unlike that of the clipper, the
shape of the input signal of a clamper is not changed.

The clamping circuit has 3 minimum requirements: a diode, a capacitor, and a resistor.
A dc battery can also be added to the circuit. To produce good clamping, the magnitudes
of R1 and C1 must be chosen such that the time constant  = R1xC1 is large enough to
ensure that the voltage across the capacitor does not change significantly during the
interval of time.

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 F igure 3 -2 Clamper circuit

Figure 3-2 shows an example of a clamper circuit. Clamping results because capacitor
C1 charges during the short time constant period when the diode is forward biased (R1
bypassed by D1). C1 holds this charge during the longer time constant period (R1xC1) in
which diode D1 is reverse biased (R1 not bypassed). The resulting waveform is shown
where the output is clamped to below zero and has the same frequency and voltage swing
as the input signal.

4. Procedure
Objective A. Study the output of a clipper circuit using actual circuit connections.

A1. Locate the Diode Wave shaping circuit block and connect the circuit given in Figure
3-3 below. Notice from the circuit that CR2 and V2 are not yet connected.
Note: Do not connect an external dc supply if you are using a circuit trainer.

Figure 3-3 Clipper Circuit

A2. Set the Function Gen for a 20Vpk-pk, 100 Hz sine wave. Set V1 to 0V. Connect CH 1
of the oscilloscope to the input terminal and Channel 2 to the output side (point A).
Make sure that both channels are dc coupled. Draw the input waveform using
Graph 3-1a and the output waveform using Graph 3-1b.

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 Graph 3-1a Clipper-CR1 Input Graph 3-1b Clipper-CR1 Output

Compare the input and output waveforms of clipper circuit.

The input have a sine wave graph while the output is flat on the positive side of the
wave
Is this a positive or a negative limiter? Why?

Positive limiter because the flat side is on the top

=
A3. Remove CR1 and V1 and connect CR2 and V2. Set V2 to 0V. Draw the input using
Graph 3-2a and the output waveform using Graph 3-2b.

Graph 3-2a Clipper-CR2 Input Graph 3-2b Clipper-CR2 Output

What happened to the output waveform?

The Flat graph is now on the negative side

Is this a positive or a negative limiter? Why?

Negative limiter, because the flat graph is one the negative side of the wave

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A4. Reconnect CR1 and V1. Set the values of both V1 and V2 to 0Vdc. Draw the input
and output waveforms using Graph 3-3.

Graph 3-3a Clipper-CR1-CR2 Input Graph 3-3b Clipper-CR1-CR2 Output

A5. Change the values of V1 and V2 to 5V. Draw the input and output waveforms using
Graph 3-4.

Graph 3-4a Clipper-CR1-CR2 Input Graph 3-4b Clipper-CR1-CR2 Output

With 5V Bias With 5V Bias
What happened to the clipping level?
The clipping level rises

What factors affect the clipping level of the output waveform? Explain your
answer.
Objective B. Study the output of a clamper circuit using actual circuit connections.

B.1. Locate the Diode Wave shaping circuit block and connect the circuit in Figure 3-4.

OSC
CH1

0.1  F
CR1
10Vpp
Sine wave
CH2

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 Figure 3-4 Clamper Circuit

B.2. Connect CH1 at the input and adjust the Function Gen for a 10Vpk-pk, 10kHz sine
wave. (Ensure that the channel inputs of the oscilloscope are dc coupled).
B.3. Set V1 to 0 volts. Draw the input and output waveform (CH2) using Graph 3-5.

Graph 3-5a Clamper Input Voltage Graph 3-5b Clamper Output Voltage
Describe what happened to the output waveform.

Both input and output have the same wave form of sine

B.4. Slowly increase the voltage of V1 from 0 to 5V. Write your observations.

The period of the wave increases as we increase the voltage from 0 to 5v

B.5. Remove CR1 from the circuit and insert CR2 in series with V2. Adjust V2 for zero
volts. Tap the oscilloscope probe across CR2 and draw the output waveform using
Graph 3-6.

Graph 3-5a Clamper-CR2 Input Graph 3-5b Clamper-CR2 Output

B.6. Vary the magnitude of V2 from 0V to 5V.

Describe what happened to the output waveform.

The output wave form increase its period same as the result on B4

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 What conclusion can you draw from the results?

The input and output does not change and directly proportiona; to V1 and V2

Objective C. Understand the characteristics of a clipper and clamper using simulations.

C1. Run the LTSPICE program.

C2. Start a new project (File >> New Schematic).
C3. Complete the circuit given in Figure 3-5a. To change the value of V1 to sine wave,
right-click on the device. Click “Advanced” and a new window will appear. In the
Functions menu choose “Sine”. Enter 0 for DC offset, 10 for Amplitude (equivalent
to 20Vpp), and 100 for the Frequency (copy Figure 3-5b). Click OK. To label the
input terminal of the circuit, right click on the wire, select Label Net, type “in” and
choose “None” for the Port type. Attach the label on the wire. Do the same for the
output label.

Figure 3-5 Clipper Circuit for LTSPICE Simulation

C4. To specify the type of simulation, select "Simulate>>Edit Simulation Cmd” from
the menu. Choose “Transient” and enter 30m for Stop time, 0 for Time to start
saving data, and 1m for Maximum Timestep. Click OK.
C5. Click Run to start the analysis.
C6. Place two voltage probes (voltage probes appear when placed on a wire during
simulation), one at the input side (at the top of V1) and another at the output side
(at the top of D2) of the circuit.

What difference do you observe between the input and the output waveforms?

The input has much higher wave because it have more voltage in time. The
output has lower voltage results so it has lower wave

C7. Change the values of V2 and V3 to 5V. Save your work and “Run” the simulation
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 again. Plot the input and output waveforms again using Graph 3-7.

Graph 3-7 Clipper Simulation Input and Output Waveforms

Compare the outputs obtained in Graph 3-4 and Graph 3-7, are they in agreement?
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Why is it called a clipper or a limiter?

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C8. Delete R2, D2, and V3 from the schematic by using the “scissor” in the Main menu.
Complete the circuit given in Figure 3-6.

Figure 3-6 Clamper Circuit for LTSPICE Simulation

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C9. Change the simulation condition using "Simulate>>Edit Simulation Cmd” from the
menu. Choose “Transient” and enter 1m for Stop time, 0 for Time to start saving
data, and 0.1m for Maximum Timestep. Click OK then save your work.
C10. Click the “Run” button to start the simulation.
C11. Place two voltage probes, one at the input side and another at the output side. C12.
Draw the output waveform using Graph 3-8.

Graph 3-8 Clamper Simulation Input and Output Waveforms

Compare the outputs obtained in Graph 3-5 and Graph 3-8, are they in agreement?
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C13. Reverse the directions of both D1 and V2. Run the simulation again and observe the
output waveform.
C14. Draw the output waveform using Graph 3-9.

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 Graph 3-9 Clamper 2 Simulation Input and Output Waveforms

C15. Change the value of V2 to 5V and Run the simulation again. Write your
observations:
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Why is the circuit called a clamper or a dc restorer?
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Discuss how a diode limiter differs from a diode clamper.

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