Small-signal model: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:10, 11 December 2006

Revision as of 23:47, 23 January 2007

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==Motivation==

Electronic circuits generally involve small time-varying signals carried over a constant [[bias (electrical engineering) | bias]]. This suggests using a method akin to approximation by [[differentials]] to analyze relatively small perturbations about the [[bias point]].

Any nonlinear device which can be described quantitatively using a formula can then be 'linearized' about a bias point by taking partial derivatives of the formula with respect to all governing variables. These partial derivatives can be associated with physical quantities (such as [[capacitance]], [[electrical resistance|resistance]] and [[inductance]]), and a circuit diagram relating them can be formulated.