Clipper circuit explorer

01 / Circuit

Circuit 1 · Series battery

The battery sits between R1 and the default output probe at node B.

Diode OFF

Swipe the schematic sideways to inspect every component.

No current flows through the diode.

Press Play. Green markers show modelled conventional current while the diode conducts. Red markers illustrate blocked drive toward the diode; modelled current remains zero during the red animation.

Node voltages

Instantaneous voltage at each physical node, measured relative to GND. The sign shows polarity.

Vin · source+0.00 V

Node A · R1–battery+0.00 V

Node B · battery–diode−2.00 VVout probe

GND · reference0.00 V

Current0.00 mA

Switching input+2.70 V

02 / Waveforms

Scope · voltage and current

Tap the graph or drag the white cursor grip to change phase. Swipe elsewhere to see the full cycle.

Input and output voltage use the left axis (V); signed current uses the right axis (mA or µA). Drag the vertical dashed cursor to inspect any instant. The horizontal dashed line marks the switching input and may fall outside the graph.

Explore one cycle

Phase angle0°

Playback speed

Drag the graph cursor or phase slider to pause at an instant. Play moves through the cycle.

Orientation Reverse battery+ terminal faces A Reverse diodeAnode faces B

Workbench

Set the circuit

Battery position

Output is initially measured after the battery.

Source

Peak amplitude V0 to 40 V

Components

Resistance R kΩ0.1 to 100 kΩ

Battery V_b V−40 to +40 V

Diode ON voltage V_Don V0.05 to 3 V

A negative battery value reverses battery polarity. The Reverse battery switch reverses the selected polarity again.

Output probe

The output probe measures the voltage at Node A or Node B relative to ground.

Key concepts

The switching input is the source voltage at which the diode changes between conducting and blocking. The battery orientation and diode ON voltage set that voltage. The diode remains in one state throughout a cycle when the source never reaches the switching input. The − mark on the AC source identifies the reference terminal for input voltage; instantaneous polarity can reverse during the cycle. On the scope, the horizontal dashed line marks the switching input, while the movable vertical dashed line selects the instant shown in the node-voltage readings.

Clipper applications

A clipper circuit reshapes an alternating-current (AC) signal by limiting the part of the waveform above or below a selected voltage. Diode orientation determines which side of the waveform is limited, while a bias voltage shifts the clipping level. A single diode can limit one side of the waveform; two suitable diode paths can limit both. Engineers use clipping to restrict the voltage presented to a later circuit stage, suppress unwanted voltage peaks, or deliberately flatten a waveform for signal shaping. The output no longer preserves the clipped peaks, so the chosen level must suit the receiving circuit.