Techniques for circuit analysis (part four): Conclusion

Abstract

A judicious combination of the most suitable of the mathematical techniques now available makes possible the development of a system of programs for analysing electrical circuits which is both more efficient and more accurate than has hitherto been possible. These improvements are particularly necessary in the field of analogue type circuits, the present requirements for which are not met by existing analysis programs.The first paper1, which was introductory, gave a preliminary survey of the whole material. The second paper2 commenced the detailed description of the techniques of linear analysis. Paper three3 completed the description of linear techniques and commenced an account of the method of steady state nonlinear analysis based on a Picard iteration using the Fast Fourier Transform.The present paper, which ends this series, concludes the description of nonlinear steady state analysis by describing a method of steady state sensitivity analysis. It then considers certain methods of dealing with the problems of transient analysis of nonlinear circuits and concludes by surveying the position which has now been achieved in the field as a whole and discussing some of the problems which remain outstanding.