Simple implementations of homotopy algorithms for finding DC solutions of nonlinear circuits

Abstract

We describe simple software implementations of parameter embedding (also called continuation and homotopy) algorithms for calculating DC operating points of nonlinear circuits. Past implementation of homotopy algorithms in industrial circuit simulators proved that thy were viable options to resolving convergence difficulties when finding circuits' DC operating points. These software implementations involved proprietary circuit simulation tools and sophisticated software implementation of homotopy algorithms. The implementation described here, relies on commercially available MATLAB tools. In spite of its simplicity, our implementation proved powerful enough to solve benchmark nonlinear circuits with multiple DC operating points.