ELECTRONIC

DEVICES
AND
CIRCUITS
A MODULAR APPROACH
 MODULE 3

DIODE CIRCUITS

Objectives:

1. To learn the classes and operations of rectifiers

2. To analyze clippers.
3. To analyze clampers
4. To verify the operation of voltage multipliers

A. RECTIFIER

 A diode circuit which converts pure AC signal to PULSATING DC by RECTFICATION.

TYPES OF RECTIFIERS:

1. HALF WAVE RECTIFIER (HWR)

 It passes 50% of the input signal.

Np:Ns

Vi
D

RL

OPERATION:

o At positive half cycle, D is ON and 50% of the signal passes through the load.
o At negative half cycle, D is OFF and NO signal passes through the load.

FORMULA

 Vo(p) = Vsec(p) -0.7

 Vdc = 0.318 Vo(p)

 Vdc = 0.45 Vrms (sec)

 PIV = Vsec(p)

 fo= fi (input freq)

2. FULL WAVE RECTIFIER (FWR)

Center-Tapped FWR:
 It uses a center tapped transformer to pass 100% of the input cycle.

Vi
Np:Ns

D1

D2

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources
especially to the book “Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory” by Robert Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky 1
 OPERATIONS

o At positive half cycle, D1 is ON. The signal can pass through the load via D1.
o At negative half cycle, D2 is ON. The other half cycle can pass through the load via D2.

FORMULA

 Vo(p) = [ ] – 0.7
 Vdc = 0.636 Vo(p)
 PIV = 2Vo(p) +0.7
 fo=2fi

Bridge Type FWR

 It uses a bridge circuit involving diodes.
 It is the most commonly used type of rectifier.
Vi

D2 D1

D3

D4 RL

OPERATIONS

o At positive half cycle of the input signal, D1 and D3 are ON. Then, 50% of the
signal can pass through the load.
o At negative half cycle of the input signal, D2 and D4 are ON. Then the remaining
50% of the input signal can pass though the load.

FORMULA

 Vo(p) = Vsec(p) -1.4

 Vdc = 0.636 Vo(p)

 Vdc = 0.90Vrms (sec)

 PIV = Vo(p) +0.7

 fo=2fi

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1. The primary voltage of a power supply voltage is 220Vrms. Solve each of the following if
the turn’s ratio is 3:1. The power supply uses a center tapped full wave rectifier.
Find each of the ff:

a) Peak secondary voltage (Vsec)

b) Output peak voltage (Vo)
c) Output DC voltage (VDC)
d) PIV
e) Output frequency

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources
especially to the book “Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory” by Robert Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky 2
Sol’ns:

Vrms = 0.707 Vp

220 = 0.707 Vp

Vpri (p) = 311.174V

a. Vpri/Vsec = Npri/Nsec
Vsec = Vpri* Nsec/Npri = 311.174* (1/3)
Vsec= 103.714V

b. Vo(p) = [ ] – 0.7

Vo(p) = [ ] – 0.7
Vo(p) =51.157V

c. Vdc= 0.636 *Vo(p)

Vdc= 0.636* 51.157
Vdc= 32.535V

d. PIV= 2Vo(p) +0.7

PIV= 2*51.157 +0.7
PIV= 103.014v

e. fo=2fi =2*60
fo= 120Hz

2.The primary voltage of a power supply voltage is 180V peak to peak. Solve each of the
following if the turns ratio is 2:1. The power supply uses a bridge type full wave rectifier.

Find each of the ff:

a) peak secondary voltage

b) output peak voltage
c) output DC voltage
d) PIV
e) output frequency

Solutions:

Solving for peak primary voltage:

Vp-p= 2Vp
180= 2Vp
Vpri= 180/2
Vpri(p)= 90V

Solving for peak secondary voltage: fo=2fi

Vpri/Vsec= Npri/Nsec fo=2*60
Vsec(p)= Vpri ( Nsec/Npri) fo= 120Hz
Answer: Vsec(p)= 45V

Solving for output peak voltage: Solving for Vdc:

Vo(p)= Vsec(p)-1.4 Vdc= 0.636*Vo(p)
Vo(p)= 45-1.4 Vdc= 0.636*43.6
Answer: Vo(p)= 43.6V Answer: Vdc= 27.7296V

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources
especially to the book “Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory” by Robert Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky 3
B. CLIPPER
 It is a diode circuit which can eliminate a portion of an input waveform.
 It is also called as “signal limiter” or “signal slicer”.

TYPES OF CLIPPER:

1. Series Clipper – the diode is connected in series with the load.

D1

Diode is
V1
in series
with load R1

2. Parallel/Shunt Clipper- the diode is connected in parallel with the load.

R2

1k

V1

D1
R1
Diode is
in series
with load
0

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1. Solve for output peak voltage of each cycle. Sketch V0.

R2
Vi
20
V1

Si Vo
2k

0 Vo
Solutions:

At (+) half cycle: The diode is OFF.

 By VDT:
Vo(p) = Vi(p)*2k/(2k+20)
Vo(p)=
Answer: Vo(p) =29.7029V

At (-) half cycle: The diode is ON.

 By KVL:
Vo(p) +0.7=0
Answer: Vo(p) = -0.7V

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources
especially to the book “Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory” by Robert Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky 4
2. Solve for output peak voltage of each cycle. Sketch V0.
R2 Vi
20
V1
Si
V2 “x”
5V 1k Vo

0
Solution:

At (+) half cycle, diode is ON: Vo

 By KVL at loop “x”
Vo(p) -0.7 -5=0
Answer: Vo(p) = 5.7V

At (-) half cycle, the diode is OFF.

 By VDT:
Vo(p) = -Vi(p)* 1000/(1000+20) = - 20*1000/1020
Answer: Vo(p) = - 19.6078V

3. Solve for output peak voltage of each cycle. Sketch V0.

R2
Vi
20
“x
V1
Si ”
Vo
1k o
5V

0
Vo
Solutions:

At (+) half cycle, diode is OFF.

 By VDT:
Vo(p) = Vi(p)*1000/(1000+20)
Vo(p) =
Answer: Vo(p)= 29.4117V

At (-) half cycle, diode is ON.

 By KVL at loop “x”
Vo(p) + 0.7 +5=0
Answer: Vo(p) = -5.7V

C.CLAMPER

 A diode circuit which can shift a waveform either above or below a DC reference point.
 It is also known as “ DC Restorer”
Note:
 The peak to peak voltage of the input and output waveforms are equal.
 Clampers are mostly applied in circuits with rectangular pulse as inputs.

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources
especially to the book “Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory” by Robert Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky 5
SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1. Solve the output peak voltage of each cycle. Sketch the output waveform of the given circuit.

Vi
C1

Vi
“x” RL
Si
Vo
1k
“y”

Solutions:

At (-) half cycle, the diode is ON.

 KVL at loop “x”. KVL at loop “y” “Z”
Vo(p) + 0.7 = 0 - Vi(p) – Vc + 0.7 =0
Answer: Vo(p)= -0.7V -30 – Vc +0.7 =0
Vc= -29.3 V

Vo
At (+) half cycle, the diode is OFF.
 KVL at loop “Z”.
Vi(p) – Vc – Vo(p)=0
20 – (- 29.3) = Vo(p)
Answer:Vo(p)= 49.3 V

2. Solve the output peak voltage of each cycle. Sketch the output waveform of the given
circuit.
Vi

C1

Vi Si
RL
VB Vo
1k
5V
“y” “x”

Solutions:

At (+) half cycle, the diode is ON.

 By KVL at loop “x” By KVL at loop “y” “Z”
Vo(p) – 0.7 + 5 =0 Vi(p) – Vc – Vo(p) =0
Answer: Vo(p)= -4.3V 30- Vc- (-4.3) =0
Vc= 34.3 V

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources
especially to the book “Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory” by Robert Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky 6
 At (-) half cycle, the diode is OFF. Vo
 KVL at loop “Z”
-Vi(p) – Vc – Vo(p) =0
-30 – 34.3= Vo(p)
Answer: Vo(p) = 64.3V

D. VOLTAGE MULTIPLIER

 A diode circuit which produces an output which is a multiple of its input.

TYPES OF VOLTAGE MULTIPLIERS:

Voltage Doubler - a multiplier which produces an output that is twice of the input.
Voltage Tripler – a multiplier which produces an output that is thrice of the input.
Voltage Quadrupler – a multiplier which produces an output that is 4 times the input.

Vo
Design of a Half- Wave Voltage Doubler:
2Vi(p)
Vi(p)
C1 D2
Vi(p)

V1
D1 RL
“X”

2Vi(p)
0

OPERATIONS: Vo(p)= 2 Vi(p)

 At (+) half cycle

 D1 is ON while D2 is OFF.
 C1 is charged unitl Vi(p).
 At (-) half cyle
 D1 is OFF while D2 is ON.
 By KVL at loop “x”.
- Vi(p) – Vi(p) – Vo(p)=0 Note: The capacitor is Vi(p).
Vo(p) = 2 Vi (p)

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources
especially to the book “Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory” by Robert Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky 7
 Vo
Design of Full-Wave Voltage Doubler:

Vi D1
Vi(p)

V1 C1

C3
RL
C2
D2

Vo(p)= 2Vi(p)
 At (+) half cycle:
 D1 is ON and D2 is OFF.
 C1 is charged until Vi(p).
 C3 discharges through RL.
 At (-) half cycle:
 D1 is OFF and D2 is ON.
 D2 is charged until Vi(p)
 The sum of the stored voltage of C1 and C2 is 2Vi(p).

Disclaimer: The professor does not own some contents and all pictures of this module. Full credits are given to all sources
especially to the book “Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory” by Robert Boylestad and Louis Nashelsky 8