On Dissipativity Conditions for Linearized Models of Locally Active Circuit Blocks

This paper generalizes the concept of dissipativity of linear models to linearized models of nonlinear circuit blocks that may also include locally active behavior. We show that such models can be guaranteed to behave as dissipative, provided they are subjected to certain bounds on the small-signal input amplitude, and provided that total voltage and current signals (including bias) are considered in the energy balance. Potentially severe incorrect dynamic behaviour can result from the violation of such bounds, as illustrated through a linearized reduced-order model of a low dropout voltage regulator.