Michael Lance Mioza

BSEE 3

SO12

ACTIVITY 5
DIODE: CLAMPER CIRCUITS
I. OBJECTIVE
To understand the theory of operation of the clamper diode circuits
II. BASIC CONCEPTS
CLAMPER
A clamper is an electronic circuit that fixes either the positive or the negative peak excursions of a signal
to a defined value by shifting its DC value. The clamper does not restrict the peak-to-peak excursion of
the signal, it moves the whole signal up or down so as to place the peaks at the reference level. A diode
clamp (a simple, common type) consists of a diode, which conducts electric current in only one direction
and prevents the signal exceeding the reference value; and a capacitor which provides a DC offset from
the stored charge. The capacitor forms a time constant with the resistor load which determines the
range of frequencies over which the clamper will be effective. [1]
CAPACITOR
A capacitor (originally known as a condenser) is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to
store energy electrostatically in an electric field. The forms of practical capacitors vary widely, but all
contain at least two electrical conductors (plates) separated by a dielectric (i.e., insulator). The conductors
can be thin films of metal, aluminum foil or disks, etc. The "non-conducting" dielectric acts to increase the
capacitor's charge capacity. A dielectric can be glass, ceramic, plastic film, air, paper, mica, etc. Capacitors
are widely used as parts of electrical circuits in many common electrical devices. Unlike a resistor, an ideal
capacitor does not dissipate energy. Instead, a capacitor stores energy in the form of an electrostatic field
between its plates.
When there is a potential difference across the conductors (e.g., when a capacitor is attached across a
battery), an electric field develops across the dielectric, causing positive charge +Q to collect on one plate
and negative charge Q to collect on the other plate. If a battery has been attached to a capacitor for a
sufficient amount of time, no current can flow through the capacitor. However, if a time-varying voltage
is applied across the leads of the capacitor, a displacement current can flow.

An ideal capacitor is characterized by a single constant value for its capacitance. Capacitance is expressed
as the ratio of the electric charge Q on each conductor to the potential difference V between them.
The SI unit of capacitance is the farad (F), which is equal to one coulomb per volt (1 C/V). Typical
capacitance values range from about 1 pF (1012 F) to about 1 mF (103 F).
The capacitance is greater when there is a narrower separation between conductors and when the
conductors have a larger surface area. In practice, the dielectric between the plates passes a small amount
of leakage current and also has an electric field strength limit, known as the breakdown voltage. The
conductors and leads introduce an undesired inductance and resistance.
Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits for blocking direct current while allowing alternating
current to pass. In analog filter networks, they smooth the output of power supplies. In resonant
circuits they tune radios to particular frequencies. In electric power transmission systems, they stabilize
voltage and power flow. [2]

III. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS

Function Generator

Oscilloscope

DC power supply

Breadboard, diodes and resistor

IV. PROCEDURE

Form the circuit of Figure 5.1 on the breadboard. Display both input and output on two separate
DC coupled oscilloscope channels.
C1
100F
D1
1N4001

XFG1

R1
10k

FIGURE 5.1 DIODE CLAMPING CIRCUIT

Wave variance

Use a 10 Volt peak-to-peak triangle wave with zero DC offset at 1000 Hz as the input
signal.

Use a 10 Volt peak-to-peak sinusoidal wave with zero DC offset at 1000 Hz as the input
signal.

Use a 10 Volt peak-to-peak rectangular pulse wave with zero DC offset at 1000 Hz as the
input signal.

Voltage variance

Use a 10, 50 and 100 Volt peak-to-peak sinusoidal wave with zero DC offset at 1000 Hz as
the input signal.

Frequency Variance

Use a 10 Volt peak-to-peak sinusoidal wave with zero DC offset at 1000, 2000 and 3000
Hz respectively as the input signal.

Capacitor Variance

Use a 10 Volt peak-to-peak sinusoidal wave with zero DC offset at 1000 Hz, use 100 500
and 1000 micro Farad capacitor.

INVERSE CLAMPING
With the same procedure used before, reverse the orientation of the diode shown in FIGURE 5.2
and follow the variance procedure.
C1
100F
XFG1

D1
1N4001

FIGURE 5.2 INVERSE DIODE CLAMPING

R1
10k

V. GRAPH AND DATA

Wave Variance

FIGURE 5.3 10 Vp 1kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 100uF)

FIGURE 5.4 10 Vp 1kHz Triangular Wave (C = 100uF)

FIGURE 5. 10 Vp 1kHz Rectangular Wave (C = 100uF)

Voltage Variance

FIGURE 5.5 10 Vp 1kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 100uF)

FIGURE 5.6 50 Vp 1kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 100uF)

FIGURE 5.7 100 Vp 1kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 100uF)

Frequency Variance

FIGURE 5.8 10 Vp 1kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 100uF)

FIGURE 5.9 10 Vp 2kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 100uF)

FIGURE 5.10 10 Vp 3kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 100uF)

Capacitance Variance

FIGURE 5.11 10 Vp 1kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 100uF)

FIGURE 5.12 10 Vp 1kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 500uF)

FIGURE 5.13 10 Vp 1kHz Sinusoidal Wave (C = 1000uF)

VI. CONLCUSION
Clamper is an electronic circuit that changes the y-position of output of the sine wave. It moves the
whole signal with respect to the value of the source the circuit is connected to. This results to a change
in the peak voltage in the output voltage. The reason behind this is due to the component called
capacitor. It stores potential energy when the circuit is closed with respect to the diode. The moment
the input voltage reverses its polarity. The capacitor will replace as the source for the diode and resistor
resulting in a change in y-position of the graph by the output voltage.

REFERENCE LIST
[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clamper_(electronics)
[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor)