The tractability index of memristive circuits: branch-oriented and tree-based models

The memory-resistor or memristor is a new electrical element characterized by a nonlinear charge-flux relation. This device poses many challenging problems, in particular from the circuit modeling point of view. In this paper we address the index analysis of certain differential-algebraic models of memristive circuits; specifically, our attention is focused on so-called branch-oriented models, which include in particular tree-based formulations of the circuit equations. Our approach combines results coming from DAE theory, matrix analysis and the theory of digraphs. This framework should be useful in future studies of dynamical aspects of memristive circuits

First order devices, hybrid memristors, and the frontiers of nonlinear circuit theory

Several devices exhibiting memory effects have shown up in nonlinear circuit theory in recent years. Among others, these circuit elements include Chua's memristors, as well as memcapacitors and meminductors. These and other related devices seem to be beyond the, say, classical scope of circuit theory, which is formulated in terms of resistors, capacitors, inductors, and voltage and current sources. We explore in this paper the potential extent of nonlinear circuit theory by classifying such mem-devices in terms of the variables involved in their constitutive relations and the notions of the differential- and the state-order of a device. Within this framework, the frontier of first order circuit theory is defined by so-called hybrid memristors, which are proposed here to accommodate a characteristic relating all four fundamental circuit variables. Devices with differential order two and mem-systems are discussed in less detail. We allow for fully nonlinear characteristics in all circuit elements, arriving at a rather exhaustive taxonomy of C^1-devices. Additionally, we extend the notion of a topologically degenerate configuration to circuits with memcapacitors, meminductors and all types of memristors, and characterize the differential-algebraic index of nodal models of such circuits.Comment: Published in 2013. Journal reference included as a footnote in the first pag

Cyclic matrices of weighted digraphs

We address in this paper several properties of so-called augmented cyclic matrices of weighted digraphs. These matrices arise in different applications of digraph theory to electrical circuit analysis, and can be seen as an enlargement of basic cyclic matrices of the form B W \rsp B^T, where $B$ is a cycle matrix and $W$ is a diagonal matrix of weights. By using certain matrix factorizations and some properties of cycle bases, we characterize the determinant of augmented cyclic matrices in terms of Cauchy-Binet expansions and, eventually, in terms of so-called proper cotrees. In the simpler context defined by basic cyclic matrices, we obtain a dual result of Maxwell's determinantal expansion for weighted Laplacian (nodal) matrices. Additional relations with nodal matrices are also discussed. Finally, we apply this framework to the characterization of the differential-algebraic circuit models arising from loop analysis, and also to the analysis of branch-oriented models of circuits including charge-controlled memristors

Structural characterization of classical and memristive circuits with purely imaginary eigenvalues

The hyperbolicity problem in circuit theory concerns the existence of purely imaginary eigenvalues (PIEs) in the linearization of the time-domain description of the circuit dynamics. In this paper we characterize the circuit configurations which, in a strictly passive setting, yield purely imaginary eigenvalues for all values of the capacitances and inductances. Our framework is based on branch-oriented, semistate (differential-algebraic) circuit models which capture explicitly the circuit topology, and uses several notions and results from digraph theory. So-called P-structures arising in the analysis turn out to be the key element supporting our results. The analysis is shown to hold not only for classical (RLC) circuits but also for nonlinear circuits including memristors and other mem-devices

Hybrid analysis of nonlinear circuits: DAE models with indices zero and one

We extend in this paper some previous results concerning the differential-algebraic index of hybrid models of electrical and electronic circuits. Specifically, we present a comprehensive index characterization which holds without passivity requirements, in contrast to previous approaches, and which applies to nonlinear circuits composed of uncoupled, one-port devices. The index conditions, which are stated in terms of the forest structure of certain digraph minors, do not depend on the specific tree chosen in the formulation of the hybrid equations. Additionally, we show how to include memristors in hybrid circuit models; in this direction, we extend the index analysis to circuits including active memristors, which have been recently used in the design of nonlinear oscillators and chaotic circuits. We also discuss the extension of these results to circuits with controlled sources, making our framework of interest in the analysis of circuits with transistors, amplifiers, and other multiterminal devices