Electronic – design: low voltage clamp circuit (0-200mV)

diode-clampprecision-rectifiervoltage-clipping

I need a active safety circuit to clamp voltages to the range of 0-200mV, independent of temperature and very precisely.
I have simulated, using TINA-TI, 4 precision clamps in series to do this, see design below:
the first two precision clamps ensures the lower clamp voltage and the last two ensures the top clamp voltage. There is an offset for some reason if the buffer is not included.
clamp circuit updated

However, this is a very component heavy design, and I'm wondering if there is a simpler method? Thanks for reading.

Edit: Ideally I'd like the full swing (0-200mV) with precision to 0.001V. The input will come from a DAQ with -10~10V swing. Also, the load is around 50 ohms.

Best Answer

low voltage clamp circuit (0-200mV)

I'd amplify the input signal so that the new desired clamping levels were 0V and 5V. Then I'd use a rail to rail amplifier running on a 0V and 5V supply. Then I'd attenuate the output by 25 so that 5v became 0.2V and 0V remained at 0V.

If the frequency isn't too high, a simple R2R op-amp should work nicely but the devil's in the detail so maybe a simulation is called for?

Following question amendment I propose this, a precision rectifier: -

enter image description here

It needs to run from split supply rails but will only produce a positive output i.e. it will "clamp" at 0V. Because the circuit is "inverting", a further inverting amplifier will need to be used before this circuit.

I would also consider using a BJT to aid as a voltage follower in order to drive the load. Maybe like this: -

enter image description here

Rload could be as low as a few ohms but the important thing is that the op-amp has the BJT (or MOSFET) inside the closed loop thus maintaining regulation on the output. The output should be capable of supplying a fair bit of current but as you only need 0.2/50 mA it shouldn't be an issue.