Clamper examples

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 ZENER DIODES
• The simplest of all voltage regulators is
the Zener diode voltage regulator.
• A Zener diode is a special diode that is
optimized for operation in the breakdown
region.

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ZENER DIODE CHARACTERISTICS
• In the forward region,
the Zener diode acts
like a regular silicon
diode, with a 0.7 volt
drop when it conducts.

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ZENER DIODE CHARACTERISTICS
• In the reverse bias
region, a reverse
leakage current flows
until the breakdown
voltage is reached.
• At this point, the
reverse current,
called Zener current
Iz, increases sharply.

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ZENER DIODE CHARACTERISTICS
• Voltage after
breakdown is also
called Zener
voltage Vz.
• Vz remains nearly a
constant, even
though current Iz
varies
considerably.

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 Basic Zener Regulator
• Fixed Vi and RL
• Step 1: Determine the
state of the Zener
diode by removing it
from the network and
calculating the
voltage across the
resulting open circuit
• If V>Vz, the Zener
diode is "on" else the
Zener diode is "off" RLVi
V  VL 
R  RL 13
• Step 2: Substitute the appropriate
equivalent circuit and solve for the
desired unknowns
• If the Zener is on, then VL=Vz
• Iz=IR-IL
• The power dissipated by the
Zener diode is Pz= Vz Iz which
must be less than the PZM
specified for the device.
• Note that when the system is
turned on the Zener diode will turn
"on" as soon as the voltage
across the Zener diode is Vz volts.
It will then "lock in" at this level
and never reach the higher level
of V volts,
• Zener diode is used as a simple
regulator designed to maintain a
fixed voltage across the load RL.
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 Example
• (a) For the Zener diode network shown,
determine VL, VR, Iz, and Pz.

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 Solution
• (a) V
RLVi
 8.73 V
R  RL

• Since V<Vz then the

diode is off and the
circuit becomes
VL  V  8.73 V
VR  Vi  VL  7.27 V
IZ  0 A
PZ  VZ I Z  0 W
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 Repeat part (a) with RL = 3 kΩ.

• (b) RLVi
V  12 V
R  RL
• Now the diode is on
and the circuit
becomes
VL  VZ  10 V
VR  Vi  VL  6 V
I Z  I R  I L  2.67 mA
PZ  VZ I Z  26.7 W
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 Fixed Vi, variable RL

RVZ
RL min 
Vi  VZ
VL VZ
I L max  
RL RL min

VR  Vi  VZ
VR
• Once the diode is on we have IR 
R
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IZ  IR  IL
• Since Iz is limited to I L min  I R  I ZM
lZM as provided on the
data sheet, it does VZ
RL max 
affect the range of RL I L min
and therefore IL.

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• (a) For the network shown, determine the range
of RL and IL that will result in Vz being
maintained at 10 V
• (b) Determine the maximum wattage rating of
the diode

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 Solution
RVZ VR  Vi  VZ  40V I L min  I R  I ZM  8mA
RL min   250
Vi  VZ VR VZ
IR   40mA RL max   1.25k
R I L min

Pmax  VZ I ZM  320mW 21
 Fixed RL , variable Vi
• For fixed value of RL,
( RL  R )VZ
Vi must be sufficiently Vi min 
large to turn the RL
Zener diode on
• Vi is also limited to a
maximum value I R max  I ZM  I L
limited by IZM Vi max  I R max R  VZ

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 Example
• Determine the range of values of Vi that will maintain the
Zener diode in the "on" state

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 Solution
( RL  R)VZ
Vi min   23.67V
RL

I R max  I ZM  I L  76.67 mA
Vi max  I R max R  VZ  36.87V

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 Voltage-Multiplier Circuits

Voltage multiplier circuits use a combination of diodes and

capacitors to step up the output voltage of rectifier circuits.
• Voltage Doubler
• Voltage Tripler
• Voltage Quadrupler

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 Voltage Doubler

This half-wave voltage doubler’s output can be calculated by:

Vout = VC2 = 2Vm

where Vm = peak secondary voltage of the transformer

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 Voltage Doubler
• Positive Half-Cycle
o D1 conducts
o D2 is switched off
o Capacitor C1 charges to Vm

• Negative Half-Cycle
o D1 is switched off
o D2 conducts
o Capacitor C2 charges to Vm

Vout = VC2 = 2Vm

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 Voltage Multipliers - Triplers
The voltage tripler arrangement adds another diode/capacitor set. +
half-cycle: C1 charges to Vp through D1,
- half-cycle: C2 charges to 2Vp through C2,
Next + half-cycle: C3 charges to 2Vp through C2.
Output is across C1 & C3.
 Voltage Multipliers - Quadruplers
The voltage tripler arrangement adds another diode/capacitor set. +
half-cycle: C1 charges to Vp through D1,
- half-cycle: C2 charges to 2Vp through C2,
Next + half-cycle: C3 charges to 2Vp through C3.
Next - half-cycle: C4 charges to 2Vp through C4
Quadruple Output is across C2 & C4.
Voltage Tripler and Quadrupler

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 Practical Applications

• Rectifier Circuits
– Conversions of AC to DC for DC operated circuits
– Battery Charging Circuits

• Simple Diode Circuits

– clippers and clamper circuits in order to generate different
output voltage waveforms

• Zener Circuits
– Overvoltage Protection
– Setting Reference Voltages

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Voltage Doubler

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+ve half cycle -ve half cycle

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