Clipping and Calmping

What is a clipper circuit?
In electronics, a clipper is a circuit designed to prevent a signal from

exceeding a predetermined reference voltage level. A clipper does not
distort the remaining part of the applied waveform.
What is the use of clipper and clamper?

Clippers and clampers can be defined as clippers that are used to protect
the electronic circuits by applying the AC input signals to the described
voltage range.
What is the application of clipper circuit?

The main purpose of the clipper circuit is to modify the waveform of the signal
which can be used in several applications such as in protection against
overvoltage, noise removal, transmission, etc. The clipper circuit offer
overvoltage protection therefore, it is used in power supplies for limiting the
voltage.
How does a clamping circuit work?
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.
*If you describe an activity as an excursion into something, you mean that it is
an attempt to develop or understand something new that you have not experienced before.
What is the difference between clipper and clamper circuit?
CLAMPER CLIPPER PARAMETERS
Clamper shifts the DC level of Clipper delimits the amplitude of Defintion
the output voltage. the output voltage.
Multiples of input voltage. Less than the input voltage. Output Voltage
Requires (Capacitor is used as Not required Energy storage
energy storage element) component
Shape remains same as input Shape changes (Rectangular, Shape of Output
waveform. sinusoidal, triangular etc.) Waveform
DC level get shifted Remains same DC Level
In voltage multiplying circuits, In transmitters, receivers, Applications
Sonar, Radar system etc. amplitude selector, noise limiter
etc.
The major difference between clipper and clamper is that clipper is a limiting
circuit which limits the output voltage while clamper is a circuit
which shifts the DC level of output voltage. The clipper and clamper circuits
are exactly opposite to each other regarding their working principle. Another
significant difference between clipper and clamper is the shape of the
output waveform. The voltage which is clipped by clipper can assume various
shapes, but the voltage obtained by clamper circuit does not alter in shape.
Clipper is crucial when we want to modify the amplitude of the voltage.

Clipping of signal amplitude is required in some application in which
components cannot withstand the high magnitude of the voltage. While
clamper is used when we need multiples of the input voltage at the output
terminal.
Definition
Clipper circuit is used to limit the amplitude of the input signal by clipping that
part without affecting the remaining signal. It is desirable in some applications
of electronics that excessive voltage should not pass through the components
as they may get demolished. Thus, a particular value is obtained by reducing
the amplitude of the signal using clipper circuit.
Effective of Positive Half of AC Cycle
The clipper circuit consists of a resistor, a diode and an AC source. When the
positive half of AC cycle is introduced in the clipper circuit, the diode D1
becomes forward biased. Due to this the voltage obtained across the load will
be same as the voltage across the diode.
Please remember that if you are using Silicon diode, the voltage drop across it
will be 0.7 V while if you are using Germanium diode the voltage drop across it
will be 0.3 V approximately. Thus, the output voltage during the positive half of
AC cycle will be equal to the voltage drop across the diode.
Now you must have got the idea that how clipper works. It is evident from the
above diagram that the peak voltage (Vp) of input voltage was more, but the
voltage obtained at the output is clipped.
In the above diagram, we have also used a battery in series with the diode. In
this condition, the output voltage during the positive half of AC will be the sum
of the voltage drop across the diode and the voltage of the battery connected
in series with the diode.
Effective of Negative Half of AC
When the negative half cycle of AC strikes the circuit, then the diode D1 will
become reversed biased, and no conduction will take place through it as it will
be like an open circuit. It is clear from the above diagram that during the
negative half of AC, the output voltage will be exactly same as the input
voltage.
This was the example of positive clipper as we have clipped some part of
positive half of AC. We can constitute negative clipper by reversing the diode
and battery. We can also remove the battery but then the output voltage
clipped will be according to the voltage drop across the diode only. Thus, to
customize it according to our requirement we can use the battery. The battery
voltage should be equal to the voltage which we require at the output.
Clamper
Clamper does not clip the input signal, but it shifts the DC level either upward
or downward depending upon whether it is positive clamper or negative
clamper.
It consists of a capacitor, a diode, resistor and input AC source. When

the negative half cycle enters clamping circuit, the diode becomes forward
biased, and the capacitor starts charging. It charges till it acquires its peak
value.
When the positive half of AC is introduced in the circuit, the diode becomes
reverse biased and becomes an open circuit. In this condition,
the capacitor starts discharging, and the complete AC input voltage appears
across the load resistor. Thus, the output voltage in this condition will be equal
to the sum of the input voltage and voltage across the capacitor.
The output voltage becomes two times of input AC voltage. Thus,
from Vp (peak voltage), it gets shifted towards 2Vp. This circuit works like
voltage multipliers. We can also design negative clampers by reversing the
diode. In that case, the output signal will shift downwards.
Key Differences Between Clipper and Clamper
1. The main difference between clipper and clamper is

their function; clipper limits the voltage while clamper shifts in upwards
or downwards.
2. The usage of energy storing element also creates a key difference
between Clipper and Clamper, Clipper does not require capacitor while
clamper circuit cannot be completed without energy storing element, i.e.
capacitor.
3. The output waveform obtained from clipper circuit appears in the
different shape than that of input, while the shape of the waveform in the
clamper circuit remains exactly same after clamping of the signal.
4. The clipper is also known as a current delimiter, voltage delimiter or
amplitude delimiter while clamper circuit is also considered as voltage
multiplier circuit.
Conclusion
Clippers reduce the amplitude while clampers shift the DC level. Both are
relevant circuits in various high-level applications of electronics as well as
communication. Clippers are used in communication circuits such
as transmitters and receivers. Besides, clippers are also used in wave
shaping circuit to generate rectangular, triangular pulses.
Clampers find a significant role in Sonar and Radar system. Apart from this,
they are also used as the voltage doubler.
Difference between Diode and Rectifier
A diode is a two terminal semiconductor device which allows the current to

flow when it is forward biased and blocks the current when it is reverse
biased. Rectifier is a circuit which consists of a diode which has higher current
carrying capability and thus used for rectification of AC signal.The major
difference between diode and rectifier is that the diode is a device which
becomes short circuit when it is forward biased and open circuit when it is
reverse biased.
On the contrary, a rectifier is a device which is used for the conversion of AC

signal into DC signal.
The other crucial difference between diode and rectifier is that both are used
for different application. When we want a switch we will use a diode. On the
other hand when we need to convert AC into DC then we will use a rectifier.
You all are aware of the utility of a switch. But you may or may not know the
use of rectifier in our daily routine. Now you all must be thinking what is that?
Let me tell you the most indispensable part of our day to day life i.e. our
mobile phones; it needs a rectifier for charging. The charger of our mobile
phones comprises a rectifier circuit.
The AC supplied to the rectifier is converted into pulsating DC and that is

used for the charging of our mobile phones. We will discuss some more
differences between diode and rectifier with the help of comparison chart but
before that, let’s put light on the roadmap of this article.

Clipping and Calmping

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What is a clipper circuit?

In electronics, a clipper is a circuit designed to prevent a signal from

What is the use of clipper and clamper?

What is the application of clipper circuit?

How does a clamping circuit work?

A clamper is an electronic circuit that fixes either the positive or the

CLAMPER CLIPPER PARAMETERS

Clamper shifts the DC level of Clipper delimits the amplitude of Defintion

the output voltage. the output voltage.

Requires (Capacitor is used as Not required Energy storage

energy storage element) component

Shape remains same as input Shape changes (Rectangular, Shape of Output

waveform. sinusoidal, triangular etc.) Waveform

DC level get shifted Remains same DC Level

In voltage multiplying circuits, In transmitters, receivers, Applications

Sonar, Radar system etc. amplitude selector, noise limiter

Clipper is crucial when we want to modify the amplitude of the voltage.

Effective of Positive Half of AC Cycle

It consists of a capacitor, a diode, resistor and input AC source. When

Key Differences Between Clipper and Clamper

1. The main difference between clipper and clamper is

Difference between Diode and Rectifier

A diode is a two terminal semiconductor device which allows the current to

On the contrary, a rectifier is a device which is used for the conversion of AC

The AC supplied to the rectifier is converted into pulsating DC and that is

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