EASA Module 4 · Wave Shaping
A diode plus a reference voltage can chop the top or bottom off a waveform. Choose which peak to clip and set the clip level — the diode conducts and holds the output when the signal tries to pass the reference.
Blue is the input, green is the clipped output. Where the signal exceeds the reference level the diode conducts and clamps the output flat; elsewhere it passes unchanged. Clippers protect inputs, square up signals and limit amplitude in avionics and instrumentation.