A clipper limits the amplitude of a signal by shunting excess voltage to ground or blocking it entirely once it passes a set threshold. It relies on diodes biased to conduct only when the signal exceeds the limit. They are heavily used to protect sensitive inputs from voltage spikes, to square off a sine wave, or to prevent amplifier overdrive.
Heard on the job
We need a diode clipper on that input line so transients don't fry the logic gate.
Also heard as
- limiter
- amplitude limiter
Do not mix it up with
- Clamper: A clipper slices off part of the wave, while a clamper shifts the entire wave without changing its shape.