Actuator Rail Three-Row Scan - Electronic Circuits IX: Feedback Control and Stability Margins Step by Step

A low, middle, and high command show rails as a numeric clamp, not an afterthought. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

A command below the rail clips to zero

With rails 0 to 5 volts, a command of negative 2 volts becomes output 0 volts.

\operatorname{clip}(-2;0,5)=0\ \text{V}

A command inside the rails passes through

Command 3 volts lies between 0 and 5 volts, so the output remains 3 volts.

\operatorname{clip}(3;0,5)=3\ \text{V}

A command above the rail clips to five volts

Command 7 volts exceeds the 5 volt upper rail, so the actual output is 5 volts.

\operatorname{clip}(7;0,5)=5\ \text{V}