2.

9 CLIPPERS
There are a variety 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 alternat-
ing waveform. The half-wave rectifier of Section 2.7 is an example of the simplest
form of diode clipper—one resistor and diode. Depending on the orientation of the
diode, the positive or negative region of the input signal is “clipped” off.
There are two general categories of clippers: series and parallel. The series con-
figuration is defined as one where the diode is in series with the load, while the par-
allel variety has the diode in a branch parallel to the load.

Series
The response of the series configuration of Fig. 2.67a to a variety of alternating wave-
forms is provided in Fig. 2.67b. Although first introduced as a half-wave rectifier (for
sinusoidal waveforms), there are no boundaries on the type of signals that can be ap-
plied to a clipper. The addition of a dc supply such as shown in Fig. 2.68 can have a
pronounced effect on the output of a clipper. Our initial discussion will be limited to
ideal diodes, with the effect of VT reserved for a concluding example.

+ +
vi R vo
– –

(a)

vi vo vi vo
V V V V

0 t t t t

–V –V

(b)

Figure 2.67 Series clipper.

Figure 2.68 Series clipper with

a dc supply.

There is no general procedure for analyzing networks such as the type in Fig.
2.68, but there are a few thoughts to keep in mind as you work toward a solution.
1. Make a mental sketch of the response of the network based on the direc-
tion of the diode and the applied voltage levels.
For the network of Fig. 2.68, the direction of the diode suggests that the signal vi
must be positive to turn it on. The dc supply further requires that the voltage vi be
greater than V volts to turn the diode on. The negative region of the input signal is

76 Chapter 2 Diode Applications

“pressuring” the diode into the “off” state, supported further by the dc supply. In gen-
eral, therefore, we can be quite sure that the diode is an open circuit (“off” state) for
the negative region of the input signal.
2. Determine the applied voltage (transition voltage) that will cause a change
in state for the diode.
For the ideal diode the transition between states will occur at the point on the
characteristics where vd  0 V and id  0 A. Applying the condition id  0 at vd 
0 to the network of Fig. 2.68 will result in the configuration of Fig. 2.69, where it is
recognized that the level of vi that will cause a transition in state is
vi  V (2.14)

V vd = 0 V
+ – id = 0 A
+ +
vi R vo = iRR = id R = (0)R = 0 V
Figure 2.69 Determining the
– – transition level for the circuit of
Fig. 2.68.

For an input voltage greater than V volts the diode is in the short-circuit state, while
for input voltages less than V volts it is in the open-circuit or “off” state.
3. Be continually aware of the defined terminals and polarity of vo.
When the diode is in the short-circuit state, such as shown in Fig. 2.70, the out- Figure 2.70 Determining vo.
put voltage vo can be determined by applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law in the clock-
wise direction:
vi  V  vo  0 (CW direction)
and vo  vi  V (2.15)

4. It can be helpful to sketch the input signal above the output and determine
the output at instantaneous values of the input.
It is then possible that the output voltage can be sketched from the resulting data
points of vo as demonstrated in Fig. 2.71. Keep in mind that at an instantaneous value
of vi the input can be treated as a dc supply of that value and the corresponding dc
value (the instantaneous value) of the output determined. For instance, at vi  Vm
for the network of Fig. 2.68, the network to be analyzed appears in Fig. 2.72. For Vm
 V the diode is in the short-circuit state and vo  Vm  V, as shown in Fig. 2.71.
At vi  V the diodes change state; at vi  Vm, vo  0 V; and the complete curve Figure 2.71 Determining
for vo can be sketched as shown in Fig. 2.73. levels of vo.

vi vo

Vm
Vm – V
V
0 T T t 0 T T t
2 2
vi = V (diodes change state)

Figure 2.72 Determining vo when vi  Vm. Figure 2.73 Sketching vo.

2.9 Clippers 77
 EXAMPLE 2.20 Determine the output waveform for the network of Fig. 2.74.

Figure 2.74 Series clipper for

Example 2.20.

Solution
Past experience suggests that the diode will be in the “on” state for the positive re-
gion of vi —especially when we note the aiding effect of V  5 V. The network will
then appear as shown in Fig. 2.75 and vo  vi  5 V. Substituting id  0 at vd  0 for
the transition levels, we obtain the network of Fig. 2.76 and vi  5 V.

Figure 2.75 vo with diode in

the “on” state.

– + vd = 0 V

+ 5 V id = 0 A
+
vi R vo = vR = iR R = id R = (0) R = 0 V
Figure 2.76 Determining the
– – transition level for the clipper of
Fig. 2.74.

For vi more negative than 5 V the diode will enter its open-circuit state, while
for voltages more positive than 5 V the diode is in the short-circuit state. The input
and output voltages appear in Fig. 2.77.

vo
vi

20 vi + 5 V = 20 V + 5 V = 25 V

5V vo = 0 V + 5 V = 5 V
–5V T T t 0 T T t
2 2
Transition vo = –5 V + 5 V = 0 V
voltage

Figure 2.77 Sketching vo for Example 2.20.

The analysis of clipper networks with square-wave inputs is actually easier to an-
alyze than with sinusoidal inputs because only two levels have to be considered. In
other words, the network can be analyzed as if it had two dc level inputs with the re-
sulting output vo plotted in the proper time frame.

78 Chapter 2 Diode Applications