Whereas, in reverse biasing, the diode does not conduct and the input signal is reflected across the diode unaltered. In forward biasing, after a certain voltage drop (0.7V for Silicon & 0.3V for Germanium) the current starts flowing and the voltage drop across the diode remains constant (0.7V or 0.3V). It is known from previous articles that a conventional diode can be put to operate in forward or reverse bias conditions. The conventional diodes, Zener diodes, and Schottky diodes can be used to alter the input signal.Д¬ommonly, the conventional diodes and Schottky diodes are used in signal modifications and Zener diodes in voltage protection circuits. Especially, equipment requiring voltage to not exceed certain voltage levels such as from overvoltages, and spikes, etc. It is eminent from this that the most common use of clipping circuits is in voltage protection and wave-shaping circuits. The half-wave rectifier is an example of a diode clipping circuit because when the diode is forward biased any voltage below zero is clipped off and, similarly, when the diode is reverse biased any voltage above zero is clipped off. The clipped-off signal produced at the output becomes flat when a certain voltage limit has reached and due to this it is also termed as Diode Limiter.

The output of the clipping circuit depends on the diode orientation and input signal. The diode clipper is an electronic circuit consisting of a diode(s) that clips or cuts off an input signal.

Clipping detector circuit limitations