AoE diode limiter

[Blaffetuur]

As many other people, I am reading The Art of Electronics.

On page 37 I come across this:


Why are those two diodes facing the same way ?

[Blaffetuur]

Is this correct ?

[PA0PBZ]

Is this correct ?

No, it's wrong. Expect to find some more errors...

[ConKbot]

Nope not correct, obviously the voltage can swing negative there, without being clamped. They would be facing opposite ways (anti-parallel) to be implemented as a bipolar clamp. This is done a lot of times for protection of RF receivers, as their signal is usually pretty low. Even a nice hot signal coming in of 0dbm is ~320 mV Vp, and as long as the diode capacitance isnt too high, it doesnt cause too much in the way of problems.

[SeanB]

Post the error in an email to the publisher. As they get them they will add it to the errata section on the website of the book. Quick, or you will lose out, they might pay for these.

No book is entirely error free, even though it was initially proof read, went back to the author for a final proof, had galley copies sent out for final edit then finally went to bed with all the errors they found corrected.

[daddylonglegs]

From:

http://artofelectronics.net/errata/

page 37, Fig 1.78: the diodes should point in opposite directions, found by John Larkin

  The website also has contact information for reporting other errors.

[Blaffetuur]

From:

http://artofelectronics.net/errata/

page 37, Fig 1.78: the diodes should point in opposite directions, found by John Larkin

  The website also has contact information for reporting other errors.

I sent an email, this is the reply:

Thanks Blaffetuur, you are correct.  But two others have already pointed out that error; the first one is listed on the errata page at our website.  Keep looking, maybe you'll find a new one!

Win