Contrary to popular belief, limiting amplifiers and limiters are NOT the same thing. There’s a subtle difference between the two that has massive implications on their working and their applications.
Today, we’ll be looking at these two components separately in order to better understand the difference between them.
Limiters:
Limiting is a process by which the amplitude of a signal is restricted or confined to safer levels. In the world of electrical components, limiters are diodes that protect components from power surges and high current levels at the input side.
These diodes go a long way in protecting sensitive circuitry like speakers and integrated circuits (ICs) from an abrupt current or voltage spike.
Limiting Amplifiers:
Limiting amplifiers are amplifiers that are installed to ensure that the level of output power is constant throughout the operation of the circuit. They belong to a large family of extremely high-speed logic family that functions instantaneously, and clips the output power, voltage or current from reaching an alarmingly high level.
Before limiting amplifiers were ever developed, engineers had to rely on Schottky diodes to make their own limiting networks. However, these days, owing to their quick response and their ability to effectively limit the output levels of voltage, they make for great comparators. Limiting amplifiers are also used in AM modulation.
These amplifiers are commonly used as buffer for Analog to Digital converters. Furthermore, limiting amplifiers are also commonly being used in place of limiters to protect sensitive circuitry from power surges.
This has made matters worse for people who already struggle in finding a difference between limiting amplifier and a limiter. Not only do they have similar names, but they can be used interchangeably as well!
High Quality Limiting Amplifiers:
Does your electrical circuit have a lot of sensitive components? Make sure they function as required and are protected from power surges by shielding them with our high-quality limiting amplifiers.
We have a vast collection of limiting amplifiers that work over a very wide bandwidth. Furthermore, all our amplifiers come with a variable amplitude control so that you can fine tune them to the requirements of a circuit. These devices suffer from negligible power losses and are designed to perform for long hours so that your circuit can function as long as need it to!
So what are you waiting for? Contact us to order any of our high-quality products and make your complicated designs simpler and safer!