Electronics

Clipper Circuits – Features & Applications

A clipper also referred to as a limiter is a circuit which removes the peak of a waveform. A clipper consists of diodes, resistors and sometimes DC sources to clip or limit the output to a certain level.

The input-output characteristics of clipper circuits are typically similar to those of the forward-biased and reverse-biased diode characteristics except that the output is clipped to a certain level.

Figure 1.0 below shows a clipper circuit and its input-output characteristics where the diode does not conduct for vin < 0.6 V and so vout = vin. The diode conducts for vin ≥ 0.7 V.

Clipper circuit where Vout = Vin when diode does not conduct and Vout ≈ 0.7 V when Vin ≥ 0.7 V
Figure 1.0 Clipper circuit where vout = vin when diode does not conduct and vout ≈ 0.7 V when vin ≥ 0.7 V

Figure 1.1 below shows a clipper circuit and its input-output characteristics where the diode does not conduct for vin > -0.6 V but it conducts for vin ≤  -0.7 V and thus vout ≈ -0.7 V.

Figure 1.1 Clipper circuit where vout = vin if diode does not conduct and vout ≈ -0.7 V if vin ≤  -0.7 V

Figure 1.2 below shows a clipper circuit with two diodes in parallel with opposite polarities. This is in fact a combination of two clipper circuits discussed above. Both diodes are not conducting when -0.7 ≤ vin ≤ 0.7 and for this interval vout = vin. Outside this interval, one or the other diode conducts. This circuit is called a hard limiter.

Clipper circuit where vout = vin when -0.7 ≤ vin ≤ 0.7 and vout ≈ ±V outside this interval

To raise the limit level to a value other than vout ≈ ±0.7 V, a DC source can be placed in series with the diode as illustrated below:

Figure 1.3 Clipper circuit where vout = vin if diode does not conduct and vout ≈ VA + 0.7 V if it conducts

Applications of Clipper Circuits

Clipper circuits are used in applications where there is a need to limit the input to another circuit so that the latter would not be damaged.

Examples of uses of clipper circuits are as follows:

  • They are used in radars and digital computers where it is necessary to remove signal voltages above or below a specified voltage level.
  • They are also used in radio receivers’ communication circuits where noise pulses that rise well above the signal amplitude are clipped down to the desired level.
John Mulindi

John Mulindi is an Industrial Instrumentation and Control Professional with a wide range of experience in electrical and electronics, process measurement, control systems and automation. In free time he spends time reading, taking adventure walks and watching football.

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