Magnitude classes in switch-level modeling

The relationship between switch-level circuit models and the linear electric circuits from which they are abstracted were investigated. This is important in determining the accuracy and consistency of switch-level simulation programs. A precise new definition of magnitude or strength classes is presented, which leads to exact bounds on the accuracy of resistance and voltage calculations with magnitude classes relative to the corresponding linear calculations. The applicability to switch-level networks of standard solution methods for linear networks, including Gaussian elimination and Jacobi iteration, is also examined. The results indicate that the potential of switch-level simulators to provide accurate results is far less than previously thought