EGR220 Than & Bhavin Lab #2

Introduction and Objectives Oscilloscope, we used time varying voltage source

Diodes are non-linear devices and there are many non-
linear circuit applications of diodes. However, limiter
circuits, which involve diodes, can act as a linear
circuit for a certain range. Therefore, in this lab, we
were instructed to measure and analyze transfer
characteristic of limiter circuits. The primary
objectives of this lab are:
( ±10V Sine Wave with frequency of 1kHz). One
oscilloscope probe was directly connect to the voltage
source and the other was placed across the diode to
measure diode voltage. We, then, captured the
oscilloscope images of the both Vi and Vo.

1. To analyze and understand the nature of

limiter circuits and clipping
2. To understand about transfer characteristic of
limiter circuit
3. To be able to approximate the transfer
characteristic of limiter circuit with ideal and
constant voltage drop model.
4. To be able to capture the transfer functions of
limiter circuit Figure 2: 2 Waveforms of Vi (10Vpp) and Vo

Equipments and Components used

In this lab, the equipments and components we used
are:- diodes: 1N914 (x2); resistors: 10KΩ @ 1W (or
more) (x2); a breadboard, a waveform generator,
±20V power supply, a multi-meter, an Oscilloscope to
capture the I-V curve, wires and cords.

Procedures
Figure 3: Transfer Function of Vi and Vo
Procedure 1: Analyzing Transfer Functions of
Half-Wave Rectifier Circuits By moving the cursor, we figured out the
maximum and minimum Vo . We found that the
maximum output voltage is nearly zero and the
minimum output voltage is almost -10.0V and the
maximum current is 1 mA, and Vpp for output voltage
is 10V. Our findings were agreed with our calculations
based on Ideal Model. In oder to calculate the
conduction angle, we solved for θ from the following
equation:

10 Sin (θ) = 0 (1)

Figure 1 θ = 0 or θ = π. Δθ = π; therefore, half cycle of the

input waveform. We could also see that effect on
In order to capture the transfer function on transfer function image, in which the slanted line
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EGR220 Than & Bhavin
represents the half of waveform.
In oder to understand the effect of changing amplitude
of input voltage, we again used the ±8V Sine Wave
with frequency of 1kHz for input voltage, and captured
the oscilloscope images.
Figure 4: 2 Waveforms of Vi (8 Vpp) and Vo
Figure 5: Transfer Function of Vi (8 Vpp) and Vo
From our measurement, we found that the minimum
output voltage of the limiter circuit became smaller as
the input voltage became smaller.
Figure 5: Transfer Function of Vi (8 Vpp) and Vo
(Opposite Polarity of Diode in Circuit 1)
Lab #2
We also found that when we changed the polarity of
the diode, the minimum and maximum output voltage
became 0V and +8V. We could make a conclusion that
we could change the polarity and amplitude of transfer
function by changing the polarity of diode in the
limiter circuit and input voltage source.
Procedure 2: Analyzing Transfer Functions of
Double- Limiter Circuits
Figure 6
We built the circuit as shown in figure 6, and captured
the oscilloscope image of the transfer function. From
our pre-lab, calculation we estimated that the max and
min of output voltage would be ±5V (~6.5V) , since
the diode can give linearity between 0 and 0.65V .
Figure 7: 2 Waveforms of Vi (10Vpp) and Vo
n oder to calculate the conduction angle, we solved for
θ from the following equation:
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EGR220 Than & Bhavin Lab #2

10 Sin (θ1) = 5 (2) Vo = Vi Vi < 2.2

10 Sin (θ2) = -5 (3)
Vo = 1/2Vi 2.2 < Vi < 3.7
θ1 = π/6 or θ1 = 5π/6. Δθ1 = 4π/6; θ2 = -π/6 or θ2 = -
5π/6. Δθ2 = -4π/6. Vo = 0 Vi > 3.7

When we captured the screen image of transfer

function of the circuit in figure 9, we got the following
image.

Figure 8: Transfer Function of Vi (10 Vpp) and Vo

From the screen image, we could see that the

saturation range would be between π/6 and 5π/6, -π/6
and -5π/6.
Procedure 3: Analyzing Transfer Functions of
Limiter Circuits with DC Components
From the screen image, we found that there are 3
regions corresponding to the 3 stages of the output
voltage.
By moving cursors, we found that the first voltage
range in the transfer function is almost +2.5V, the
second range is between 2.5V and 3.7V, and the third
range is over 3.7V.

Discussion

Limiters have many uses in signal processing systems.

Depending on the polarity and existence of DC
components, we are able to change the linear range,
threshold value and saturation range of limiters. The
half-wave rectifier circuits can provide piece-wise
linear transfer function, which has a slope that equals
Figure 9 to ratio of Vo and Vi. Double limiter circuits have
linear transfer function with a certain saturation range.
By using Ideal Model, we got [1]: And finally, saturation range of the limiter circuit could
be changed by adding DC components to the limiter
Vo = Vi Vi < 1.5 circuits.
Vo = ½ Vi 1.5 < Vi < 3
References
Vo = 0 Vi > 3
[1] Sedra, Adel S., and Smith. Kenneth C. “Microelectronics
Circuits”. 5th. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.
By using constant voltage drop Model [1], we got:

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