Electronic Circuits and Devices Laboratory - ELCE-221 Experiment No.

3 Diode Applications (Part B) Clampers, Voltage Regulators

Aim: To study the behaviour of diode as clampers and voltage regulators. Objectives: On completion of this experiment the student should be able to: 1. Understand the behaviour of diode as a clamper. 2. Understand the behaviour of zener diode as a voltage regulator.

Introduction: Clamper:
The clamping circuit is one that will clamp a signal to a different dc level. The circuit consists primarily of a capacitor, a diode, and a resistive element, but it can also employ an independent dc supply to introduce an additional shift. The magnitude of R and C must be chosen such that the time constant =RC is large enough to ensure that the voltage across the capacitor does not discharge significantly during the interval the diode is nonconducting. The circuit Fig. 3.1 will clamp the input signal to the zero level (for ideal diodes). The resistor R can be the load resistor or a parallel combination of the load resistor and a resistor designed to provide the desired level of R.

Figure 3.1: Clamper circuit

Voltage Regulator:
Zener diodes are special diodes designed to maintain fixed voltages across the load. They are designed to "breakdown" in a reliable and non-destructive way when they are biased in the reverse direction by a voltage higher than the breakdown voltage. A typical DC characteristic of the Zener diode is as shown in Fig. 3.2. The knee in the reverse bias region in Fig. 2 is the "break down voltage" of the Zener diode. However, this voltage is also known as the Zener voltage.
+I [mA]
D

I = Io exp qV/kT

V [V]
D

Io

0.5

Vknee

+V [V]
D

I [mA]

Figure 3.2: Zener diode IV characteristic Zener diodes are rated by their breakdown voltage and maximum power. The minimum Zener voltage available is 2.7 V while power ratings of 400 mW and 1.3 W are common. The connection diagram of the Zener diode as a basic voltage regulation circuit is as shown in Fig. 3.3.

Figure 3.3: Zener diode as a voltage regulator.

Procedure: Task 1: Clamper:

1. Build the clamper circuit shown in Figure 3.1, where V is connected to the negative variable supply of your NI ELVIS Board. 2. Set Vin=10V pp, f = 1kHz, R=100K, C=1F and V=0V. 3. Using the oscilloscope sketch the input voltage Vin, as well as the output voltage Vl 4. To which level was the signal clamped to? 5. Increase the value of V and then sketch the input and output waveforms and measure the level to which the signal was clamped to. 6. Now return V1 to 0 V and reverse the polarity of the diode in the circuit and then sketch the input and output waveforms and measure the level to which the signal was clamped to. 7. Increase the value of V and then sketch the input and output waveforms and measure the level to which the signal was clamped to. 8. Are the above output wave forms as expected?

Task 2: Voltage Regulator:

1. Build the voltage regulator circuit using a 3.3V zener diode as shown in Figure 3.4(a). 1. Set RS to 75 and Rl to 180 and carefully measure the regulator output voltages for input DC voltages from 212 V. Record the readings in Table 3.1(a). 2. Repeat step 2 above with Rl = 270. Record the readings in Table 3.1(b). 2. Compare the above results with the ideal transfer characteristics shown in Figure 3.4(b). Vout
+ Rs +

V Z

Vin

V Z -

Rl

Vout Rs + Rl Rl

V Z V in

a)

b)

Figure 3.4: Zener shunt voltage regulator circuit.

Results:
Table 3.1(a) Regulator output voltages Rl =180 Vin Vout 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Table 3.2(a) Regulator output voltages Rl =270 Vin Vout 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Conclusions and Discussion:

Answer the following questions:
1. List two practical applications for clamper circuits 2. Discuss the difference between the PN diode and the zener diode in terms of the basic applications.

You should attach all your results and expected to comment on them. Also, it is required to give your conclusions on the whole experiment.

References:
[1] A. Sedra and K. Smith, Microelectronic Circuits, 6th edition, Oxford University Press, 2010. [2] R. Boylestad and L. Nashelsky, Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory, 10th edition, Prentice-Hall, 2008.

Electronic Circuits and Devices Laboratory ELCE-221

Laboratory Experiment NO: 3 Marking Sheet (Include this as the cover sheet for your report) Students Names and ID Nos: 1-. 2-. 3-. Date of Experiment: ..

Laboratory Section: .

Please note that your work for this laboratory experiment will be assessed according to the marking scheme below. Please take this into account when conducting the experiment and writing the report.

No.
1.

Criteria
Performance in the lab

Description
This is to reflect the students Performance in the Lab Documentation and analysis of the results for each task performed in the lab. Conclusions for each task performed in the lab and the answers of the discussion questions. Overall presentation of the report including layout and clarity of figures, tables and graphs. Correct use of English language.

Weight %

Mark
1.

Comments

20

2. 3.

2.

Results and Analysis

40

3.

Discussion/ Conclusion

20

4.

Report presentation

20

Total

100