Electronics Engineering (ELEX) Board Practice Exam

What type of circuit is indicated by a negative clamper?

1. A circuit that shifts the negative value of the input

2. A circuit that shifts the positive value of the input

3. A rectifying circuit

4. A filter circuit

The correct answer is: A circuit that shifts the negative value of the input

A negative clamper circuit is designed to shift the negative values of an input signal down by a certain voltage level, effectively making the entire waveform move downward on the voltage scale. This type of circuit can be useful in applications where there is a need to ensure that the negative peaks of an input waveform do not exceed a certain threshold, thereby protecting downstream components or conditioning the signal for further processing. In the context of a negative clamper, the circuit modifies the negative portion of the waveform while leaving the positive part of the waveform unaffected. This ensures that the output waveform retains its overall shape but has its negative values adjusted. This is particularly useful in scenarios where a certain voltage reference is necessary, such as in signal conditioning or in both analog and digital circuits where precision is crucial. The other types of circuits listed, such as those that shift the positive value of the input, rectifying circuits, and filter circuits, do not describe the function of a negative clamper. A circuit that shifts positive values would be a positive clamper and would not serve the same purpose. Rectifying circuits specifically convert AC signals to DC and do not merely shift portions of the waveform. Filter circuits are designed to remove unwanted frequencies or smooth out signals rather than shifting their values. Thus