American International University- Bangladesh

Faculty of Science and Technology (FST)

Electronic Devices

Fall 2024-2025

Section: Z, Group: 02

LAB REPORT - 03

Study of Diode Clipping and Clamping Circuits

Supervised By
SADIA YASMIN

Submitted by

Name ID Contribution
1.M.Sakib Sadman Arian 23-54986-3 Simulation, Abstract

2. Jarin Tasnim 23-54985-3 Procedure,Data Table,

Discussion
3. Md Tahsin Ur Rahman 23-54884-3 Analysis, Experimental Data
4. Asmaul Husna 23-54988-3 Theory, Calculation
5. Salman Arefin 22-47262-1 Data Table

Date of Submission : 14 November 2024

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Abstract:

In this experiment,the objective is to know about clipper and clamper circuits, which are important
in electronics. Clipper circuits use diodes to remove part of an input signal, limiting voltage
without changing the remaining waveform. Clamper circuits shift a waveform to a different DC
level without changing its shape. A clipper uses a diode and resistor, while a clamper includes a
diode, resistor, and capacitor.Clipper circuits help control voltage levels in power supplies. They
cut off parts of the signal to prevent it from going too high or too low. Clamper circuits, however,
shift the entire signal up or down without altering its shape.

Theory:
Clippers:
Clipper circuits clip off portions of signal voltages above or below certain limits, i.e. the circuits
limit the range of the output signal. At least two components: a diode and a resistor are employed
for the formation of clippers. In some cases, for fixing the clipping level, a DC battery is also used.
There are two general categories of clippers: series clipper and parallel clipper. The series
configuration is defined as one where the diode is in series with the load, whereas the parallel
variety has the diode in a branch parallel to the load.

Series Positive Clipper: It actually removes the positive half cycles of the input voltage. Figure 1
shows a positive series clipper. When the input is positive, the diode is in reverse biased condition
(output is zero) and when the input is negative, the diode is in forward biased condition and shows
the input of negative half cycle at the load.

Figure 1: Series Positive Clipper

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Parallel Negative Clipper: It actually removes the negative half cycles of the input voltage. Figure
2 shows a parallel negative clipper. During the positive half of input, the diode gets reverse biased.
Thus no current flows through the resistor. As the output current is observed at the load, output
signal is achieved for positive half of the input signal. During the negative half of the input signal,
the diode gets forward biased and hence no load current is achieved. Ultimately no output is
observed for negative half of the input signal.

Figure 2: Parallel Negative Clipper

The clippers discussed above in figure 1 and 2 are considered as the circuits with ideal diode. But
if the knee voltage (VK) is considered (for example, for Si = 0.7 V and for Ge = 0.3 V), the output
voltage of positive and negative clippers is shown below.

Figure 3: Output of the Circuit of Figure 1 and 2 With the value of VK

In some cases, a tiny portion of positive or negative half cycles of the input signal voltage needs
to be eliminated. In that case, biased clippers are used. In figure 4, the clipping takes place during
the positive cycle only when the input voltage is greater than battery voltage.

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 Figure 4: Parallel Positive Clipper with bias

Clampers:

Clamper circuit adds the DC element which may be positive or negative to the AC input signal. It
pushes the signal towards the positive or the negative side as shown in figure 5.

Figure 5: Input and Output Wave Shapes of Basic Clamper Circuit

The minimum components of a clamping circuit are a capacitor, a resistor and a diode. In some
cases, DC supply is applied to give an additional shift. The nature of the waveform remains alike,
but the difference is in the shifted level. The peak to peak value of the waveform will never change.

The peak value and average value of the input waveform and the clamped output will be different.
The time constant of the circuit (RC) must have to be ten times the time-period of the entering
(input) AC voltage for better clamping action.

A negative clamper is shown figure 6. Throughout the positive half cycle of input, the diode will
conduct, and the output voltage will be same as barrier potential of the diode (V0). At that time,
the capacitor will get charged to (V - V0). Throughout the negative half cycle of input, the diode
will become negative biased, and it has no role on capacitor voltage. The capacitor cannot
discharge a lot because of the high value of R. Therefore, output voltage will be - (2V - V0). The
peak to peak voltage will be 2V. The output waveform will be the original signal shifted in the
downward direction.

Figure 6: Negative Clamper Circuit

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Apparatus:

1. Diode (1) 5. Multimeter (1)

2. Resistors: 1 KΩ 6. Oscilloscope (1)
3. Trainer Board (1) 7. DC Power Supply (1)
4. Capacitors: 10 µF (1), 0.1 µF (1) 8. Chord (2)
Precautions:
• - A diode should never be removed or inserted into a circuit with voltage applied.
• - It should be ensured that the test voltage does not exceed the diode's maximum allowable
voltage when testing a diode.
• - A replacement diode should be ensured to be inserted in the correct direction in the
circuit.

Circuit Diagram:

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Figure 7: Clipper Circuit

(a) (b)
Figure 8: Clamper Circuit

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Experimental Procedure:
1. The circuits should be constructed as shown in figure 7. The input and output waveforms
should be observed simultaneously on the oscilloscope in dual mode, and the waveforms should
be sketched.
2. The circuits should be constructed as shown in figures 8 and 9. The procedure from step 1
should be followed.
Experimental Data:

Figure: 7(A) Figure: 7(B) Figure: 7(C)

Figure: 7(D) Figure: 8(A) Figure: 8(B)

Simulation and Measurement:

Figure: 7(A)

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Figure: 7(B)

Figure: 7(C)

Figure: 7(D)
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Figure: 8(A)

Figure: 8(B)

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Discussion:
In this experiment, different types of clipper and clamper circuits were studied and discussed. A
sine wave was used as the input signal for all clipper circuits, while a rectangular waveform was
used for the clamping circuit. The experiment covered positive series clippers, negative series
clippers, parallel negative and positive clippers, and the clamper circuit. It also explored how
changing the load resistor affects the waveform.

Conclusion:
Although the purpose of this experiment was achieved, the oscilloscope rarely showed a
difference in the waveshape for the Si diode compared to the ideal diode. This is because the
voltage drop across the Si diode is only 0.7V, which is too small to cause a noticeable change in
the waveform. The results were almost identical to those of an ideal diode.

Reference:
[1] Adel S. Sedra, Kennth C. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, Saunders College Publishing,
3rd ed., ISBN: 0-03-051648-X, 1991.
[2] American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) Electronic Devices Lab Manual.
[3] David J. Comer, Donald T. Comer, Fundamentals of Electronic Circuit Design, John Wiley
& Sons Canada, Ltd.; ISBN: 0471410160, 2002.

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