Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab LAB 4
Lab Session 4
Name: ____________________ Participant ID: __________________
Study and Implementation of diode Clipping Circuits
4.1 Objectives
The objective of this lab is to calculate, measure and draw the DC output voltages of series and parallel clipper
circuits.
4.2 Equipment Required
Instruments
Oscilloscope, DMM, Function generator, DC supply
Components
2.2kΩ, 1N4007
3.3 Theory
The primary function of clippers is to "clip" away a portion of an applied alternating signal. The process
is typically performed by a resistor-diode combination. DC batteries are used to provide additional shifts or “cuts”
of the applied voltage. The analysis of clippers with square-wave inputs is the easiest to perform since there are
only two levels of input voltage. Each can be treated as a DC input and the output voltage for the corresponding
time interval determined. For sinusoidal and triangular inputs, various instantaneous values can be treated as DC
levels and the output level determined. Once a sufficient number of plot points for the output voltage has been
determined, it can be sketched in total. Once the behavior of clippers is established, the effect of the placement of
elements in various positions can be predicted and the analysis completed.
4.4 Procedure
Part 1: Threshold voltage
Choose one of the four silicon diodes and determine the threshold voltage, V T , using the diode-checking
capability of the DMM or a curve tracer.
V T =¿ ¿
Part 2: Parallel Clipper circuit
Construct the clipping network of Fig. 4.1. Record the measured resistance value and voltage of the DC
supply (set to 1.5V). Note that the input is an 8 Vp-p square wave at a frequency of 1000 Hz.
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Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab LAB 4
Rmeas = ¿ ¿
¿
Fig. 4. 1 Parallel Clipper circuit
Attach the snapshot of waveform obtained by clipper circuit for both square and sinusoidal inputs.
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Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab LAB 4
Using the measured values of R, E, and V T , calculate the output voltage when the applied square wave is
+4 V and -4 V. Show all the steps of your calculations to determine.
V out (cal) =¿ ¿
Reverse the battery polarity and using the measured values of R, E, and V T , calculate the output voltage
when the applied square wave is +4 V and -4 V.
V out (cal) =¿ ¿
Attach the snapshot of waveform obtained by clipper circuit for sinusoidal inputs.
Construct the clipping network of Fig. 4.2. Record the measured resistance value. Note that the input is an
8 Vp-p sine wave at a frequency of 1000 Hz.
Fig. 4. 2 Dual clipper circuit
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Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab LAB 4
Attach the snapshot of waveform obtained by clipper circuit.
Part 3: Series Clipper Circuit
Construct the clipping network of Fig. 4.3. Record the measured resistance value. Note that the input is an
8 Vp-p sine wave at a frequency of 1000 Hz.
Fig. 4. 3 Series Clipper Circuit
Attach the snapshot of waveform obtained by series clipper circuit.
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Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab LAB 4
Using the measured values of R, E, and V T , calculate the output voltage when the applied square wave is
+4 V and -4 V. Show all the steps of your calculations to determine.
V out (cal) =¿ ¿
Reverse the battery polarity and using the measured values of R, E, and V T , calculate the output voltage
when the applied square wave is +4 V and -4 V.
V out (cal) =¿ ¿
Attach the snapshot of waveform obtained by clipper circuit for sinusoidal inputs
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Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab LAB 4
Explanation and Results
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Electronic Devices and Circuits Lab LAB 4
Questions
Q1: What are the applications of clipper circuit?
Q2: What is the difference between clipper and rectifier?
Q3: Why resistor is connected in series with the diode circuit?
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