Clippers/ Limiters

• Clippers are diode networks that have the ability to

“clip” off a portion of the input signal without
distorting the remaining part of the alternating
waveform.
• Clipping Circuits are also referred to as voltage or
current limiter, amplitude selector , peak limiter, peak
clipper or slicer.

Ronel Vidal, PECE

 2 General Categories of Clippers

1. Series Clipper/ Limiter

◦when the diode is in series with the load
2. Parallel Clipper/ Limiter
◦when the diode is in a branch parallel to the load

Ronel Vidal, PECE

Types of Series Clipper/ Limiter
1. Simple/ Positive Series Clipper
2. Biased/ Positive Series Clipper
◦negative biased
◦positive biased
3. Simple/ Negative Series Clipper
4. Biased/ Negative Series Clipper
◦negative biased
◦positive biased
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Types of Parallel Clipper/ Limiter
1. Simple/ Positive Parallel Clipper 5. Double Clipper
2. Biased/ Positive parallel clipper
◦negative biased
◦positive biased
3. Simple/ Negative Parallel Clipper
4. Biased/ Negative Parallel Clipper
◦negative biased
◦positive biased
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Simple/ Positive Series Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal
waveform
Horizontal: 1msec/ div
Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Positive Biased/ Positive Series Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Negative Biased/ Positive Series Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal
Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform
Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Simple/ Negative Series Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal
waveform Horizontal: 1msec/ div
Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Positive Biased/ Negative Series Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Negative Biased/ Negative Series Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Simple/ Positive Parallel Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Positive Biased/ Positive Parallel Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Negative Biased/ Positive Parallel Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Simple/ Negative Parallel Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div

Ronel Vidal, PECE

Positive Biased/ Negative Parallel Clipper

input signal
waveform
output signal Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Negative Biased/ Negative Parallel Clipper

input signal
waveform

output signal Horizontal: 1msec/ div

waveform Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Double Biased Clipper both half cycles are
partially clipped off

input signal
waveform
output signal
Horizontal: 1msec/ div
waveform
Vertical(channel 1 & 2): 10 V/ div
Ronel Vidal, PECE
Sample Problem #1
• Determine 𝑣𝑜 for the network of figure below for the input
shown

𝑣𝑖 +20𝑉 + +
5V ideal R1
𝑡 𝑣𝑖 6.8k 𝑣𝑜
0
− −
−20𝑉

Ronel Vidal, PECE

Sample Problem #2
• Determine 𝑣𝑜 for the network of figure below for the input
shown
𝑣𝑖
+10𝑉 +
Si 5V +
R1
𝑡 𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑜
0
4.7k

− −
−10𝑉

Ronel Vidal, PECE

Sample Problem #3
• Determine 𝑣𝑜 for the network of figure below for the input
shown
R1

𝑣𝑖 +8𝑉 + 2.2k +
Si
𝑡 𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑜
0
4V
−8𝑉 − −

Ronel Vidal, PECE

Problem Set #3: Clipper
• Determine & sketch 𝑣𝑜 for the network of figure below for
the input shown
R1
𝑣𝑖 +12𝑉 + 2.2k +
Si Si
𝑡 𝑣𝑖 𝑣𝑜
0
4.3 V𝑉
5.3 6.3 V𝑉
7.3
−12𝑉 − −

Ronel Vidal, PECE

Diode Clippers