SCEPTRE: A Program for Automatic Network Analysis

This paper describes the mathematical formulation of a computer program for automatic transient analysis of electronic networks. The formulation is based on the “state-variable” approach to network analysis and differs from other such programs primarily in the way that the network equations are manipulated to produce a solution. SCEPTRE includes a number of features aimed at providing greater flexibility and convenience for users of the program. Important among these features is that no prescribed equivalent circuit for active elements is required for program operation. Also, linearly dependent voltage and current sources in a network can be handled by the program, and provision has been made to allow a free-form format for input data. The paper includes a discussion of the program's ability to solve networks containing time-varying passive elements, and considers the factors that influence program running time.