Non-linear Networks
Most electronic designs are, in reality, non-linear. There is very little that does not include some semiconductor devices. These are invariably non-linear, the transfer function of an ideal semiconductor pn junction is given by the very non-linear relationship;
where;
- i and v are the instantaneous current and voltage.
- Io is an arbitrary parameter called the reverse leakage current whose value depends on the construction of the device.
- VT is a parameter proportional to temperature called the thermal voltage and equal to about 25mV at room temperature.
There are many other ways that non-linearity can appear in a network. All methods utilising linear superposition will fail when non-linear components are present. There are several options for dealing with non-linearity depending on the type of circuit and the information the analyst wishes to obtain.
Read more about this topic: Network Analysis (electrical Circuits)
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