Diode Network Minimization

This paper discusses conditions which are necessary and sufficient if a
2^n
-segment piecewise-linear driving-point characteristic is to be realizable by a resistive network (which may include negative resistances and dependent sources) and
n
ideal diodes. Additional conditions are then found which are necessary, but not sufficient, for the realization as a network containing only positive resistors, fixed sources, and ideal diodes. These additional conditions reduce the diode minimization problem to the problem of the synthesis of a passive, symmetric conductance matrix.