Clamping Circuits

Clamping circuits, also called DC restorers, are electronic circuits that shift the DC level of a signal without altering its shape. They use a diode, a capacitor, and a resistor to add or subtract a DC offset to an AC signal. This is useful in various applications where it's necessary to shift a signal to a specific voltage range or to remove unwanted DC components.

Why Choose Clamping Circuits?

Clamping circuits offer a unique advantage in signal processing by enabling the adjustment of a signal's DC level without affecting its waveform. This capability is crucial in applications where the information is encoded in the shape of the signal, and any alteration to it would result in data loss or distortion. Additionally, clamping circuits can be used to protect sensitive electronic components by limiting the voltage swing of a signal. 

Different Types of Clamping Circuits:

Clamping circuits are classified based on the direction of the DC shift and the presence of a bias voltage, including: 

• Positive Clamper – Shifts the signal upwards, clamping the signal's most negative peak to 0V.  
• Negative Clamper – Shifts the signal downwards so that the most positive peak is clamped to 0V.   
• Biased Clamper – Includes a DC bias voltage that shifts the clamping level to a specific voltage other than 0V.  

Typical Applications of Clamping Circuits:

Clamping circuits are used in a wide range of applications, including:

• Television and Radio Receivers 
• Radar Systems 
• Signal Processing
• Protection Circuits.