Rectifier, Clipper & Clamper
Course Instructor
Dr. Akhilanand Pati Tiwari
06/03/24 Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, INDIA 1
Introduction
Ø A rectifier is an electrical device that
converts alternating current (AC), which periodically
reverses direction, to direct current (DC), which is in
only one direction, a process known as rectification.
Types of Rectifiers
1. Half wave Rectifier
2. Full wave Rectifier
a) Centre-trapped Full wave Rectifier
b) Full wave Bridge Rectifier
Half Wave Rectifier
Ø In half wave rectification, either the positive or negative half of
the AC wave is passed, while the other half is blocked.
Ø Because only one half of the input waveform reaches the output,
it is very inefficient if used for power transfer.
Half Wave Rectifier
Output Signal
Input Signal
Schematic of a half wave rectifier
Output dc voltage calculation
Ø The output DC voltage of a half wave rectifier can be
calculated with the following two ideal equations:
V peak V peak
Vrms = Vdc =
2 Õ
In a Half Wave Rectifier
v Number of diodes required: 1
v Average value of current, Idc: Imax/pi
v Rms value of current, Irms: Imax/2
v Peak inverse voltage (PIV): Vmax
v Peak load current, Imax: Vmax/(Rload + Rf)
v Dc output voltage, Vdc: Idc x Rload
v Rectification efficiency (max): 40.6 %
v Ripple factor: 1.21
v Fundamental frequency of ripple: f
v Transformer utilization factor (TUF): 0.286
v Form factor: 1.57
v Peak factor: 2
EXAMPLE 1 – Half Wave Rectifier
Determine the currents and voltages of the half-wave rectifier circuit. Consider the half-
wave rectifier circuit shown in Figure.
Assume and . Also assume that
Determine the peak diode current, maximum reverse-bias diode voltage, the fraction of
the wave cycle over which the diode is conducting.
-VR + VB + 18.6 = 0
VR = 24.6 V
- VR +
- A simple half-wave battery charger circuit
+
Cont…
Full wave rectification
Ø For single-phase AC, if the transformer is center-tapped,
then two diodes back-to-back (i.e. anodes-to-anode or
cathode-to-cathode) can form a full-wave rectifier.
Centre-trapped Full Wave Rectifier
Output Signal
Input Signal
Ø In this circuit with a center tapped transformer, two diodes are
required instead of the one needed for half-wave rectification.
Full Wave Bridge Rectifier
Schematic of a full wave bridge rectifier
Input and Output Waveform
Vs = Vpsin wt
Vp
Vg
-Vg
v Notice again that the peak voltage of Vo is lower since Vo = Vs - Vg
v Vs < Vg, diode off, open circuit, no current flow,Vo = 0 V
Full-Wave Rectification –Bridge Rectifier
Ø Positive cycle, D1 and D2 conducts, D3 and D4
off;
+ Vg + Vo + Vg – Vs = 0
Vo = Vs - 2Vg
Ø Negative cycle, D3 and D4 conducts, D1 and D2 off
+ Vg + Vo + Vg – Vs = 0
Vo = Vs - 2Vg
ØAlso notice that the polarity of the output voltage for both cycles is the same
In a Full Wave Rectifier
v Number of diodes required: 2
v Average value of current, Idc: 2Imax/pi
v Rms value of current, Irms: Imax/sqr root(2)
v Peak inverse voltage (PIV): 2Vmax
v Peak load current, Imax: Vmax/(Rload + Rf)
v Dc output voltage, Vdc: Idc x Rload
v Rectification efficiency (max): 81.2 %
v Ripple factor: 0.482
v Fundamental frequency of ripple: 2f
v Transformer utilization factor (TUF): 0.692
v Form factor: 1.11
v Peak factor: sqr root(2)
Clippers
Ø Clipping circuit definition: A wave shaping circuit which controls
the shape of the output waveform by removing or clipping a
portion of the applied wave.
v Half wave rectifier is the simplest example. (It clips negative half cycle).
v Also referred as voltage limiters/ amplitude selectors/ slicers.
v Applications:
• In radio receivers for communication circuits.
• In radars, digital computers and other electronic systems.
• Generation for different waveforms such as trapezoidal, or square
waves.
• Helps in processing the picture signals in television transmitters.
• In television receivers for separating the synchronizing signals from
composite picture signals.
Types of clippers
Ø According to non- linear devices used:
v Diode clippers and Transistor clippers
Ø According to biasing
v Biased clippers and Unbiased clippers
Ø According to level of clipping
v Positive clippers, Negative clippers and combination clippers
Parallel Configurations
1) V = 0.7 V
D
2) V = V = V = 0.7 V
D1 D2 O
3) V = 9.3 V
R
E-V 10 V - .7 V
4) I = D = = 28 mA
R R .33kΩ
28 mA
Schematic of Clipper 5) I =I = = 14 mA
D1 D2 2
18
Diode Clippers
v The diode in a series clipper
• “clips” any voltage that does not
forward bias it:
• A reverse-biasing polarity
• A forward-biasing polarity less than
0.7 V (for a silicon diode)
19
Parallel Clippers
Ø The diode in a parallel
clipper circuit “clips” any
voltage that forward bias
it.
Ø DC biasing can be added
in series with the diode
to change the clipping
level.
20
Clippers Analysis
1. Use nodal analysis concept.
2. Consider positive cycle or negative cycle.
3. Identify VA and VK of Diode.
4. Identify whether diode is FB or RB.
5. Find voltage equation, e.g. VO = VI , VO = 0, etc.
6. For biased clippers, the biasing voltage would affect in one of the half
cycle.
7. Find voltage equation as,
1. VO = VI for positive OR negative half cycle
2. VO = VI for VI < 5V
3. VO = 5 V for VI > 5V
21
Diode Clampers
Ø Clampers can also be referred as DC restorers. Clamping
circuits are designed to shift the input waveform either above
or below the DC reference level without altering the
waveform shape.
Ø This shifting of the waveform results in a change in the DC
average voltage of the input waveform. The levels of peaks in
the signal can be shifted using the clamper circuit, hence
clampers can also be referred as level shifters.
Types of Clamper
Ø Positive Clamper: This type of clamping circuit shifts the input
waveform in a positive direction, as a result the waveform lies
above a DC reference voltage.
Ø Negative Clamper: This type of clamping circuit shifts the
input waveform in a negative direction, as a result the
waveform lies below a DC reference voltage.
Negative Clamper
Cont…
Ø The Negative Clamping circuit consists of a diode connected in
parallel with the load. The capacitor used in the clamping
circuit can be chosen such that it must charge very quickly and
it should not discharge very drastically.
Ø The anode of the diode is connected to the capacitor and
cathode to the ground. During the positive half cycle of the
input, the diode is in forward bias and as the diode conducts
the capacitor charges very quickly.
Cont…
Ø During the negative half cycle of the input, the diode will be in
reverse bias and the diode will not conduct, the output
voltage will be equal to the sum of the applied input voltage
and the charge stored in the capacitor during reverse bias.
The output waveform is same as input waveform, but shifted
below 0 volts.
Thanks
