A network of relaxation oscillators based on intermittently coupled capacitors

Abstract

This paper presents N binary hysteresis relaxation oscillators connected by the intermittently coupled capacitors. The network exhibits various interesting synchronous phenomena. As a powerful analysis tool, we derive a hybrid return map which has one real and N binary states. Using this map, the stability of the periodic synchronization can be analyzed simply by the binary states: it is not necessary to check the real state. Then we classify basic phenomena in a bifurcation diagram. Typical phenomena are verified in the laboratory.