Different Diode Based Nonlinear Circuits for Pulse Activity Generation

The objective of this study is to compare two hardware implementations of a nonlinear neuron-like generator, based on RLC-circuit, operational amplifier and various number of diodes. The first circuit was a simplified version of the previously published FitzHugh–Nagumo circuit. The second one was modified using additional diode in the operational amplifier subcircuit. We discovered that the first one demonstrates only a quasi-linear mode, when the second one can work in two different modes: quasi-linear and strongly nonlinear pulse regimes. We experimentally conducted a simple partial bifurcation analysis to investigate the mechanisms of oscillation nucleation within the circuit. Our findings indicate that adding a diode into the operational amplifier subcircuit significantly improves the circuit ability to generate pulses.