A clamper is an electronic circuit that shifts the DC level of an AC signal without distorting its waveform. This is achieved by clamping either the positive or negative peak excursions of the signal to a defined DC voltage level.
How does a clamper work?
Clampers use a diode and a capacitor to achieve this shifting. The diode acts as a switch, allowing current to flow in one direction only. The capacitor stores the charge from the signal, effectively shifting the DC level of the signal.
Types of clampers:
- Positive clamper: The output is clamped to a positive voltage.
- Negative clamper: The output is clamped to a negative voltage.
Applications of clampers:
- Restoring DC level of a signal: Clampers can be used to restore the original DC level of a signal that has been distorted.
- Protecting sensitive circuits: Clampers can protect sensitive circuits from damage caused by high voltage spikes.
- Creating DC voltage from an AC source: Clampers can be used to generate a DC voltage from an AC source.
Examples of clampers:
- Simple clamper: A basic clamper circuit consists of a diode, a capacitor, and a resistor.
- Clamper with a zener diode: A more sophisticated clamper circuit uses a zener diode to provide a more precise voltage clamping level.
