What is the primary purpose of limiting circuits in electronics?

The primary purpose of limiting circuits in electronics is related to circuit protection. These circuits are designed to prevent excessive voltage or current from damaging sensitive components or devices. By setting specific thresholds, limiting circuits can ensure that the signals do not exceed safe levels, effectively protecting downstream components.

For example, in a power supply application, a limiting circuit might be used to prevent overcurrent conditions that can lead to overheating or failure of power components. Similarly, in signal processing, limiting can prevent distortion that occurs when signals exceed defined voltage levels, thereby allowing for more reliable operation of the circuitry.

In contrast, other options such as wave shaping, signal amplification, and frequency modulation serve different purposes: wave shaping alters the shape of a signal, signal amplification increases the strength of a signal, and frequency modulation varies the frequency of a signal to encode information. While these functions are important in electronics, they do not primarily focus on the protective aspect that limiting circuits provide.