Diode Clamper- Positive, Negative Clamper Working and Applications

This article is based on the diode clamper circuit, working of positive and negative clamper circuits and the applications of clamper circuits using different waveforms and circuit.

In our earlier articles, we learn about diodes and the working of diodes and the applications of the diode as half wave rectifier, full wave rectifier, clipper circuits. And in this article, we are moving forward to learn about the clamper circuit and their working.

What is the Diode Clamper?

[adsforwp id=”3715″]
A Diode Clamper (DC restorer) is a circuit which changes the dc reference of an ac signal. Basically, a clamping diode circuit(or a clamper) essentially adds a d.c. component of the ac signal.

In Diode Clampers it is important to understand that the shape of the original signal is same it is not changed in the output just the reference of waveform is shifted vertically, this is achieved with clamper circuit.

There are two types of Clamper Diode circuits:

1. Positive Clamper Circuit
2. Negative Clamper Circuit

Positive Diode Clamper:

If a vertical shift is achieved in Positive direction i.e. if the signal is pushed up so that the negative peaks falls on the zero level then the clamper is called a positive diode clamper.

Negative Diode Clamper:

The negative Diode clamper does the reverse i.e. it pushes the signal downwards so that the positive peaks fall on the zero level.

The following point is important to understand in Diode Clampers:

The clamping circuit does not change the peak-to-peak or r.m.s. value of the waveform. If you measure the input voltage and clamped output with an a.c. voltmeter, the readings will be the same.

 

Working of Positive Diode Clamper:

To understand the working of positive diode clamper we are applying negative half cycle of the input voltage. When the negative input voltage is applied, the diode is forward biased, allowing the capacitor to charge to almost the peak of the input (Vp(in)-0.7). shown in fig (a).

[adsforwp id=”3725″]

 

Just after the negative cycle, the diode is reverse bias and capacitor which was charged during the negative cycle that has to now discharge. Which means all the voltage will be summed producing double of Vp(in) at load. Here the amplitude is same just output is clamped. i.e if input Vp was 5v then the clamped output is nearly 10 practically (10-0.7), as shown in fig (b).

Working of Negative Diode Clamper:

[adsforwp id=”3713″]
Reverse the diode and apply positive half cycle first, during positive half cycle of input the diode is forward bias and the capacitor is charging up to (Vp(in)-0.7) after the positive cycle when a negative cycle of input is received the diode is reverse bias which means the charged capacitor has to discharge so the voltage will be summed (vp+vc1) and the summed voltage will appear at output (Load resistor).

Hence such type of clamper is known as Negative Diode Clamper which clamps or pushes the output waveform downwards to the reference.

Also Read: Difference Between Clipper and Clamper

Video of Clamper Diode Circuit:

Applications of Diode Clamper Circuit:

[adsforwp id=”3715″]

1. Clampers are mostly used in test equipment, sonar, and radar systems.
2. They are widely used for their common application of voltage doubles or voltage multipliers.
3. Clampers are mostly used for removing the distortions
4. In the transmitting and receiving circuitry of television a clamper is used to stabilize to define sections of the luminance signals to preset levels.
5. Clampers are used to provide protection to the amplifiers from large errant signals.
6. They are commonly used for the analysis of synchronized signals from the composite visual signals.

This all about Diode Clamper- Positive, Negative Diode Clamper Working Circuits, If you get the concept and learned something new today then do not forget to leave a comment for us and share our work with your friends’ thanks a lot.