DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRAPRADESH
Name : Ch. Padmavathi
Designation : Lecturer in ECE
Branch : ECE
Institute : G.P.W, Nellore
Subject : ELECTRONIC circuits - I

Subject Code : EC- 302

Topic : Power Supplies
Duration : 50 Mins.
Sub Topic : Clippers & Clamper
Teaching Aids : Scanned
EC302.11 diagrams 1
Objectives
On the completion of this topic the student will be
able to

• Know about the type of clippers

• Series clippers

• Shunt clippers

• Know about the clampers

• Know about the effect of time constant on clamping

circuit operation
EC302.11 2
Clipper circuit
• The circuit with which the wave form is shaped by
removing or chipping a portion of the applied wave is know

as ‘chipper circuit’
• These are also know as ‘voltage or current limiters of
slicers
• Diodes or transistors used in the chipper circuit .

• This circuit constant a diode , resistor and a dc battery

• DC battery is used to fix the chipping level.

EC302.11 3
 Types of clippers

clippers

series Shunt

Positive negative Simple Positive Negative

Simple
biased clippers biased biased
Biased
clippers clippers clippers clippers
clippers

EC302.11 4
Series diode clippers
• The diode is placed in series with the load.

• Types of series diode clippers.

1. positive series diode clipper.
2. negative series diode clipper.

• Positive series diode clipper clips (or removes )positive

half cycles of input voltage.
• Negative series diode clipper clips (or removes) negative
half cycle of input voltage.
EC302.11 5
Negative series diode clipping circuit

Fig.1
EC302.11 6
 Negative series diode clipping circuit operation

• Applying KVL to the circuit voltage

across the diode v = Vi + Vs

• During positive half cycle of input

wave, the diode is conducting. So
there is output voltage V0.

• During negative half cycle of input

wave, the diode is not conducting.
Output becomes ‘0’
EC302.11 7
Input and Output wave forms for clipper circuit

Fig.2

The input and output wave forms are shown in fig.2

EC302.11 8
Positive series clipping circuit

Fig.3
EC302.11 9
 Positive series diode clipping circuit operation

• This circuit can be used to clip off a portion of positive

amplitude of the input signal

• The voltage across the diode v = Vi – Vs

• During positive half cycle of the input wave, the diode

will be in the OFF state. Therefore, V0 = Vi

• During the negative half cycle of input wave, the diode

will be in the ON state. V0 = Vs + Vr

EC302.11 10
Output of the circuit for sinusoidal Input signal

Fig.4
The input and output wave forms of positive series
clipper circuit are shown in the figure.
EC302.11 11
Positive biased parallel clipping circuit

Fig.5
EC302.11 12
Parallel circuit for positive clipping

• This circuit is used to clip off a portion of positive

amplitude of the input signal

• Voltage across the diode is V = Vi – Vs.

• During positive half cycle of the input signal, the diode is in

the ON state. V0 = Vs + Vr.

• During negative half cycle of the input signal, the diode is in

the OFF state. V0 = Vi EC302.11 13

Input and Output wave forms for Positive biased
clipping

Fig.6
EC302.11 14
Negative biased parallel clipping circuit

Fig.7

EC302.11 15
Working of Parallel Circuit for Negative Clipping

• During the positive half cycle of input signal, output

voltages V0 = Vi. The diode is in the off state.

• During the negative half cycle of input signal, output voltage

V0 = -(Vs + Vr).

• The input and output wave forms are shown in figure.

EC302.11 16
Input and Output wave forms for negative
biased clipping circuit

Fig.8
EC302.11 17
 Clamper circuits
• A circuit that places wither the positive or negative peak
of a signal at a desired dc level is know as ‘clamper
circuit’
• It may also be defined as the circuit that holds either
extreme of an ac voltage to a definite level without
distorting the waveform
• It is also know as dc restores or dc inserter circuit
• The circuit consists of a diode, capacitor , resistor and dc
battery
EC302.11 18
Types of clamper circuits

• Positive clamper : A positive DC voltage is added to input

signal

• Negative clamper : A negative DC voltage is added to input

signal

EC302.11 19
 Positive Clamper Circuit

• In the positive clamper Vab

between the nodes a and b
across the diode is
Vab = Vm + Vm sin wt.

• The diode conducts during

negative half cycle of the
input. Output voltage Fig.9

V0= 2Vm
EC302.11 20
Input and Output wave forms of positive clamper
circuit

Fig.10
EC302.11 21
Negative Clamper Circuit

• The diode will conduct only

during first half of positive cycle.

V0 = -Vm + Vm sin wt.

• The diode is off in the negative

Fig.11
half cycle.

EC302.11 22
Input and Output wave forms of negative clamper

Fig.12
EC302.11 23
Summary

We have discussed about

• Types of clippers

• Types of clampers

EC302.11 24
 Quiz

1. A circuit with which the wave form is shaped

by removing a portion of the applied wave is

(A) clipper

(B) clamper

(C) regulator

(D) bridge rectifier

EC302.11 25
2. A circuit that places wither the positive or
negative peak of a signal at a .desired dc level
is

(A) clipper

(B) clamper

(C) regulator

(D) bridge rectifier

EC302.11 26
 Frequently asked questions in examinations

1. Define the clipper operation and list the types of

clippers

3. With neat diagram explain the operation of biased

clipper

5. With neat diagram explain the operation of clamper

circuit

7. Explain the effect of time constant on operation of

clamper circuit

EC302.11 27