The use of non-linear capacitors

The paper presents an analytical discussion of the amplitude of a transient process in a simple oscillatory network that includes a non-linear capacitor. Analysis of the transient process became worth white recently because of the appearance of proposals in the technical literature to use non-linear capacitors in electronic starters in fluorescence lamp fixtures, in which transient spikes play a role as ignition pulses, where the increase in the amplitude is important. It is shown to be profitable to study some voltage-voltage functions related to the transient process, to determine parameters of the voltage-charge characteristics of the capacitors. Optimization of the form of the capacitor's characteristics leads directly to the use of a voltage-controlled switched capacitive subcircuit, which can be replaced by a switched non-pure-capacitive circuit. The analysis may be relevant for the specification and standardization of capacitors intended to be used as non-linear elements in special pulse generators.