On the absolute stability of nonlinear sample-data systems

A general form of area inequality is used to develop a frequency domain criterion for absolute stability of single-nonlinear sampled-data (SNSD) systems. By reductions of the general form to specific area inequalities, it is suggested that all known and some new frequency domain criteria applicable to different subclasses of SNSD systems may be derived as special cases. One of the latter involving q is investigated to determine its significance and general applicability to SNSD systems. An example of a SNSD system with dead zone is used to illustrate some of the results presented.