Non-Linear Circuit

Non-linear Circuit
• A linear circuit is a circuit in which the voltage – current
relationship is a linear function.
• Generally, linear circuits obey superposition theorem,
Norton and Thevenins Theorems.
• A non-linear circuit on the other hand is a circuit in which
the voltage current relationship is non-linear.
• It doesn’t obey superposition theorem but rather obeys
Kirchhoff’s current and voltage laws and Nodal analysis.
• Similarities between Linear and Non-linear Circuit.
• They both make use of KCL, KVL, and Nodal Analysis.
• They can both be analysed using computer aided softwares
like Matlab and Spsice.
 Basic Application of Non-linear Circuits
• The basic Application of Non-linear Circuits is in
digital Electronics or Electronic Circuits which is
being used as flipflop, latch circuit, Oscillator
circuit, shift register e.t.c
Types of Non-linear Circuits
There are two types of non-linear circuits
• Non-linear resistive circuit
• Non-linear dynamical Circuit

Non-linear resistive circuit are composed of non-

linear resistive elements like
 2- terminal devices e.g diodes
  3- terminal devices e.g transistors
 Multi-terminal devices e.g Operational
Amplifier
This type of non-linear circuits are governed
by non-linear algebraic equation.

Non-linear dynamical Circuit are composed of:

• non-linear inductors and non-linear capacitors
• They are also governed by non-linear
differential equation.
 Methods of Analysing Non-linear Circuits
 There are about five methods of analysing non-
linear circuits:
• Analytical Method: This method employs KCL, KVL
and Nodal Analysis
• Graphical Method: Uses graphical method to
analyse non-linear circuit with only one non-linear
device.
• Piecewise linear method: Uses the principle of
diode ON (short circuit) and diode OFF(open
circuit)
• Incremental or small signal method: Uses Taylor
series which is complex
• Computer aided software
 Example on Non-linear Circuit
Using three out of the methods of analysis explained above,
show that the circuit below has multiple solutions by finding
the values of VD and ID. Assume that iD= KV2D for VD> 0 and
value of K to be 2 for analytical.
350 Ω

iD

+ +
E = 6V
VD
- -
SOLUTION:
For Analytical Method, using KVL, KCL and Nodal Analysis
Applying KCL to the circuit above gives:

𝐸 −𝑉 𝐷
𝐼𝐷= 1
𝑅
Re-arranging equation 1 gives

𝑉 𝐷 − 𝐸
+ 𝐼 𝐷= 0 2
𝑅
From the question iD= KV2D for VD> 0

So equation 2 can be re-written as

 3

Multiply both sides by R to get

𝑅𝐾𝑉 2 𝐷 +𝑉 𝐷 − E =0 4

Use quadratic equation to solve equation 4

Giving that E = 6, R = 350 and K = 2

= 0.092V. The negative solution is not considered

because the equation is only valid when > 0.

From iD= KV2D = 2 x

Graphical Analysis
Using equation 2
𝑉 𝐷 − 𝐸
+ 𝐼 𝐷= 0 2
𝑅
The current for the diode is given as

( )
𝑉 𝐷
𝑉 𝑇𝐻
𝐼𝐷=𝐼𝑆 𝑒 −1 5

Equations 2 and 5 can be plotted on the same

coordinate and find the point of intersection.
𝑉 𝐷− 𝐸
+ 𝐼 𝐷=0
𝑅
 When = 0, = E = 6V

When = 0 =

These values are then plotted graphically

You may now get approximate solutions which are

= 7.5mA and = 3.7 V
 Piecewise linear
Diode ON (short circuit) means = 0 for all positive
and diode OFF(open circuit) means = 0