Abstract
In this paper, we present a detailed mathematical analysis of nonlinear resistive networks with multiple dc-operating points. In our approach, we use elementary set theoretical principles of network theory. We propose two new approaches: the TC-method (transfer-characteristic method) and the DPC-method (driving-point characteristic method). We use the TC-method to reduce the computation of dc-operating points of a given nonlinear resistive network to the computation of crossing points between transfer characteristics of associated modified resistive networks with a straight line. It can be proved that at least one operating point of the given network corresponds to each such crossing point. We show that the proposed approaches lead to continuation methods for the finding dc-operating points of resistive networks. These continuation methods can be readily used in standard SPICE-like circuit simulators.