A diode circuit clipper is significant because it is used in to clip off portions of signals voltages at required levels. On the other hand, a clamper is used to add a level to an electrical signal. Diode limiters are of different kinds, and the variation is due to their uses, For example, a positive limiter limits the positive part of the input voltage. When an input voltage goes positive, the conducts current after becoming forward biased.
In the process of limiting positive alternation, the diode is forward based during positive alternation and reverse biased during negative alternation. Point A in the figure is limited to 0.7 V, and when the voltage falls below this level the rectifying valve is changed to the contrary and biased and seems as though it is open. The output voltage appears as the negative part of the input voltage, and its magnitude is determined by voltage divider formed by R1 and load resistor RL. Therefore, VOUT= (RL/R1+RL) VIN.
When the diode is turned around, and in the process clipping off the negative part of the input voltage. During the negative part, of the input voltage, the diode is forward biased and point A is held at 0.7V by the voltage drop. When the input voltage goes above this value, the diode is no longer forward biased. This illustration is demonstrated below.
A bias voltage is determined by values of resistors according to the voltage divider formula shown below;
VBIAS= (R3/R2+R3) VSUPPLY
The bias resistors must be small compared to R1 so that forward current through the diode does not affect the bias voltage. Certain restrictions are found on certain circuits so that the input level does not destroy the circuit. An example is the case of digital circuits, which should have, an input level that exceeds power provision electromotive force. An input of little more volts could cause damage to the circuit. A diode limiter across the input signal path is used to prevent input from exceeding a specific level.
Diode clampers are sometimes known as DC resistors because a diode clamper adds Dc level to an AC voltage. Therefore, when an input voltage goes negative initially, the diode is forward biased giving the capacitor the time to charge. After the negative peak, the diode is reverse biased. If the capacitor discharges during the period of the input wave, clamping action is affected. The clamping action is excellent if the RC time constant is 100 times the period. Clamping action, therefore, results into the capacitor retaining an electric charge same to the peak value of the input less diode drop. The voltage of the capacitor acts as a battery with the input voltage.
A diode positive limiter or clipper limits the positive segment of the input signal voltage. As the input voltage goes positively charged, the diode becomes frontward biased and comports electric current. Voltage doubler has the output voltage 2xVin. This is shown below;
A voltage triple refers to a circuit that gives output voltage three times the input voltage. The electric potential of all electric condensers and diodes should be more than two times of Vin.
A voltage quadrupler is a circuit with a circuit voltage of four times of Vin. Rated voltage of capacitors and diodes must be greater than two times of Vin. The difference between voltage doubler, voltage tripler, and voltage quadrupler is brought about by the addition of diodes and capacitors.
