A multi-harmonic probe technique for computing oscillator steady states

We present a novel method for finding periodic steady states of general classes of oscillators robustly. The new method, which we term the multi-harmonic probe (MHP) technique, generalizes the well-known technique of augmenting harmonic balance (HB) for oscillators using an external probe. By using non-sinusoidal periodic probes, MHP enhances the applicability of the standard probe method (which uses purely sinusoidal probes) to broader classes of oscillators. We thus obtain a general and robust method for the periodic steady state of any kind of oscillator. Results on LC and ring oscillator circuits are presented that testify to the efficacy of our approach.