Talk:Clamper (electronics)

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[edit] ambiguity

"a different dc level" is a very ambiguous statement, at least I don't understand it. Fresheneesz 21:29, 2 February 2006 (UTC)

correction - i do understand it, but don't know how to reword that. Fresheneesz 08:12, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

You mean its not very clear to you--Light current 01:30, 7 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Clipper?

"A different arrangement restricts the input waveform from going beyond a certain voltage."

Would this different arrangment happen to be a clipper rather than a clamper? Fresheneesz 08:12, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

I've seen the term "clamper" used for either circuit. - mako 08:25, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

So should that sentence include "This may also be known as a clipper. " ?? Fresheneesz 20:26, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

Maybe merge clipper here. - mako 20:40, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

The term 'clamping' implies to me that protection of succeeding circuitry is the prime purpose. Although the term 'black level clamp' was in use on earlier analog TVs to get a defined video dc level for the 'black' signal. In this case it probably would have had a level shift- but Id have to look it up to be sure.

The term 'clipping', OTOH implies, to me, chopping off part of a (generally) low power signal. For instance protection diodes across the i/ps of an op amp I would call clampers. Clipping is what happens in an audio power (or any other sort of) amp when overdriven. Clamping on its own does not(without the addition of a dc block or level shift change the dc baseline value of the signal). The difference is subtle, but perhaps the 2 pages could be merged, and the differences explained.--Light current 23:17, 6 March 2006 (UTC)

In Horowitz and Hill, a diode clamp is described thus:

Sometimes it is desirable to limit the range of a signal (ie prevent it from exceeding certain voltage limits) somewhere in a circuit. The cct shown will accomplish this (cct showing series resistor and shunt diode with cathode connected to +5v).

Later in the chapter the following:

One interesting clamp application is 'dc restoration' of a signal that has been ac coupled.. THe fig shows the idea( cct showing series capacitor, then shunt diode with anode to ground.

The term clipping is not mentioned in this chapter on Diode circuits.--Light current 02:14, 7 March 2006 (UTC)