678

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS-I: FUNDAMENTAL THEORY AND APPLICATIONS,VOL. 42, NO. 10, OCTOBER I995

Spatio-Temporal Chaos in
Simple Coupled Chaotic Circuits
Yoshifumi Nishio, Member, IEEE, and Akio Ushida, Membek, IEEE

Abstract-In
this paper, simple autonomous chaotic circuits
coupled by resistors are investigated. By carrying out computer
calculations and circuit experiments, irregular self-switching phenomenon of three spatial patterns characterized by the phasestates of quasi-synchronizationof chaos can be observed fromonly four simple chaotic circuits. This is the same phenomenon
as chaotic wandering of spatial patterns observed very often fromsystems with a large number of degrees of freedom. Namely, oneof spatial-temporal chaos observed from systems of large size canbe also generated in the proposed system consisting of only fourchaotic circuits. A six subcircuits case and a coupled chaotic circuits networks are also studied, and such systems are confirmed
to produce more complicated spatio-temporal phenomena.

I.

INTRODUCTIONM

ANY NONLINEAR dynamical systems in the various
fields have been clarified to exhibit chaotic oscillations,and recently, applications of chaos to engineering systems
attract many researchers’ attentions, for example, chaos noise
generator, control of chaos, synchronization of chaos, and soon. Among the studies on such applications, synchronizationof chaotic systems or signals is extremely interesting [l]-[3],because the chaotic solution is unstable, and small error of
initial values must be expanded as’ time goes. As far as
we know, such phenomena have been first reported to begenerated in simple real circuits by a group of Saito [ 11. Since
Pecora et al. have investigated such phenomena theoretically[2], many papers have been published until now. We haveproposed coupled chaotic circuits generating various types ofquasi-synchronizations [4]-[7].
On the other hand, a network of chaotic one-dimensional
maps has been investigated earnestly by Kaneko [8]-[ll].
He has discovered various kinds of phenomena called spatiotemporal chaos such as diffusion and Brownian motion of
defect, clustering, spatio-temporal intermittency, and so on.
The study of such systems are very important not only asmodels for nonlinear systems with many degrees of freedom
but also for the clarification of biological information processing [12] and for engineering applications. Actually, Aihara etal. have proposed chaotic neural networks whose cell is a onedimensional chaotic map, and they have confirmed that such
systems produce dynamical chaotic search for memorized patterns [13], [ 141. Recently, Chua and his colleagues published
Manuscript received January 19, 1995; revised June 8, 1995. This paper
was recommended by Guest Editor L. 0. Chua.
The authors are with me Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Tokushima University, Tokushima, 770 Japan.
IEEE Log Number 9414464.

their papers on spatio-temporal chaos observed in a chain of
coupled Chua’s circuits, which are real physical continuous
systems [15]-[17]. For the purpose of the clarification ofvarious phenomena in natural fields, it is very important toinvestigate spatial-temporal phenomena observed from such
real physical circuit models.
In this paper, we investigate four simple autonomous chaotic
circuits coupled by one resistor. This is a four subcircuits caseof the circuit proposed in [7]. In [7], we briefly mentioned
the generation of some phenomena discussed in this paper. By
carrying out computer calculations and circuit experiments,
irregular self-switching phenomenon of three spatial patterns
characterized by the phase states of quasi-synchronization ofchaos can be observed. The irregularity of the change of spatial
patterns is investigated by using the Poincare map. This is thesame phenomenon as chaotic wandering of spatial patterns
observed very often from systems with a large number ofdegrees of freedom. Namely, one of spatial-temporal chaos
observed from systems of large size can be also generated in
the proposed system consisting of only four chaotic circuits.
Usually, the ‘term “spatio-temporal chaos” is used for irregular
dynamical phenomena observed from a large number of coupled chaotic systems that is spatially extensive. However, there
are many spatial-temporal phenomena observed from both thelarge size and small size of coupled systems, for example,
chaotic wandering of spatial patterns discussed in this paper,
clustering of spatially arranged chaotic cells, and so on: In suchcases, we consider that the basic mechanism of the generationof some spatial-temporal phenomena is almost the same inspite of the system size. Namely, the number of chaotic
cells is not essential, and it seems to be better to analyze
simple systems of small size first and to extend the study tosystems of large size with reference to the results obtained
from small size. If observed phenomena are almost the same,
we had better not make distinctions between systems of large
size and small size. Because the most important subject isclarification of observed phenomena. Hence, we use the term
“spatio-temporal chaos” in this paper as irregular dynamicalchanges of spatial patterns observed from coupled chaotic
systems arranged spatially. Please note we pay attention to
the phenomena without restriction on the size of systems. We
consider that the irregular self-switching phenomenon of threespatial patterns observed from the four chaotic circuits is oneof the simplest spatio-temporal chaos (in the sense of abovementioned definition) observed from continuous dynamicalsystems.

NISHIO AND USHIDA: SPATIO-TEMPORAL CHAOS IN SIMPLE COUPLED CHAOTIC CIRCUITS

679

resistor, which is realized by connecting some diodes, andis one of the simplest chaotic circuits. We have confirmedthat this subcircuit exhibits the bifurcation phenomena thatare similar to those reported in [20]. By using the same
method in [20], we will be able to prove the generation oflogistic chaos and two types of windows from the subcircuit.
Fig. 2 shows a typical example of chaotic attractors obtained
from the uncoupled chaotic subcircuit. In the following circuit
experiments, the values of the inductors and the capacitor
in each chaotic subcircuit are fixed, and those values aremeasured as Li = 204.15 mH f0.073%, Lz = 9.933 mH
f0.030%, and C = 0.03425 &F *0.29%.
At first, we approximate the i - w characteristics of the nonlinear resistor consisting of diodes by the following function.

By changing the variables and parameters,
Fig. 1. Basic circuit model.

(where a =’ /z)(2)

the circuit equation is normalized as
--$x1
(a)

N

(b)
ik=ij(2k+1Jk)-Zk-~~xj

Fig. 2. Typical example of chaotic attractors observed from the chaotic
subcircuit. (a) Computer calculation for (Y = 24.0 and /3 = 0.295. (b) Circuit
experiment for L1 = 204.15 mH, Lz = 9.933 mH, C = 0.03425 pF, andT = 630 R. Horizontal: 0.4 mA/div. Vertical: 1 V/div.

j=l
Ijk = a{p(xkik

We also study on the six subcircuits case as an extended
example and confirm the generation of more complicatedirregular self-switching phenomenon of spatial patterns. Moreover, in order to show the possibility of the extension tosystems of large size, we carry out computer simulation fora 3 x 3 network based on the coupled oscillators network[18] and confirm the generation of the chaotic wanderingof many spatial patterns. This result also indicates that the
self-switching phenomenon observed from only four chaotic
circuits is the same as the chaotic wandering observed fromsystems of large size.
II.

BASIC CIRCUIT

+ Yk)

-

(k

= %k + ykzk =.f(!/k)}1,2,3,4)

(3)

where
f(Yk)

=

(4)

i?hii.

Please note that when the coupling parameter y, which is
proportioned to R, is equal to zero, the coupling term in (3)vanishes.
For computer calculations, in order to consider the difference of real circuit elements, (3) is rewritten using an
additional parameter Aw as follows:

MODEL

Basic circuit model is shown in Fig. 1. Please note that thisis a four subcircuits case of the circuit proposed in [7]. In
this system, four of the same chaotic circuits are coupled by
one resistor R. When the coupling resistor R is equal to zero,
all Li ‘s are grounded, and four subcircuits become completely
independent. Each chaotic subcircuit is a symmetric version of
the circuit model proposed by Inaba et al. [19]. It consists ofthree elements, one linear negative resistor, and one nonlinear$k = a{p(xkik= (1 ++ ?Jk) (k -l)Aw}(xr,zk -f(!/k)}+ yk)(lc = 1,2,3,4).

(5)

In the following computer calculations, we fix the parametera! as 24.0 and (5) is calculated by using the Runge-Kutta
method with step size At = 0.01.

680IEEE TRANSACTIONSON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS--I:

FUNDAMENTAL

THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, VOL. 42, NO. 10, OCTOBER ,995(a)Fig. 3. In- and opposite-phases quasi-synchronization (4 subcircuits). (a) Computer calculation for p = 0.29,yAU = 0.0. (b) Circuit experiment for T = 570 0 and R = 2.4 kR. Horizontal and Vertical: 0.4 mA/div.

III. QUASI-SYNCHRONIZATION

OF CHAOS

Before we treat spatio-temporal chaos, we introduce two
types of quasi-synchronizations of chaos in this section. We
use the term quasi-synchronization only for qualitative explanation of the observed phenomena. The term means that phaseshift between two chaotic signals is not completely constant
but almost within some relatively small range. The generationof these quasi-synchronization phenomena have been alreadyreported in [7]. Because these phenomena are deeply relatedwith spatio-temporal chaos in the next section, we show someexamples briefly.
The first type is the in- and opposite-phases quasisynchronization. Fig. 3 shows an example of the in- andopposite-phases quasi-synchronizations. In this case, each
subcircuit exhibits chaos as Fig. 2. But, two of the four
subcircuits are almost synchronized at the in-phase, and therest is almost synchronized to the two subcircuits with nphase difference. Namely, phase difference with respect tothe subcircuit 1 is described as (0, rr, 0, rr} for the example
in Fig. 3. Though we omit other phase states in Fig. 3, there
coexists more two different phase states, namely (0, O,r, X}
and {0,~,~,0}.
The second type is the two pairs of opposite-phases quasisynchronization. Fig. 4 shows an example of the two pairs of= 0.40, andopposite-phases quasi-synchronizations. In this case, subcircuits 1 and 2 are almost synchronized at the opposite-phase.
Also, subcircuits 3 and 4 are almost synchronized at the
opposite-phase. However, a pair of subcircuits l-2 and theother pair of 3-4 are independent. We had considered that there
coexists more two different phase states, namely { l-3,2-4}
and { l-4,2-3}.
However the combination of the decoupling
into two pairs is decided by the slight difference of real circuit
elements, and other combination states cannot be observed.
Namely, this quasi-synchronization is based on the asymmetryof the coupling and cannot be generated in the case ofcompletely symmetric coupling as Aw = 0.0. We consider
that this phenomenon is deeply related with the clustering[ll]. However, in this paper, this phenomenon is not treatedas spatio-temporal chaos because the spatial pattern is always
the same.
IV. SPATIO-TEMPORAL CHAOS
For a large region in parameter space, we observed complex
chaotic motion. Namely, we observed that three phase statesof the in- and opposite-phases quasi-synchronizations are
switched automatically and randomly as shown in Fig. 5.
The order of the appearance of three phase states is truly
unpredictable. Further switching period is also chaotic, namely

NISHIO AND USHIDA: SPATIO-TEMPORAL CHAOS IN SIMPLE COUPLED CHAOTIC CIRCUITS

681@J Att: Xl-X2
HI

Fig. 4. Two pairs of opposite-phases quasi-synchronization (4 subcircuits). (a) Computer calculation for p = 0.295, y = 0.34, andAti = 0.01. (b) Circuit experiment for T = 580 0 and R = 850 R. Horizontal and Vertical: 0.4 mA/div.

Fig. 5. Spatio-temporal chaos: Self-switching of in- and opposite-phases
quasi-synchronization (4 subcircuits). T = 630 R and R = 1.3 kR.
Horizontal and Vertical: 1.0 mA/div.

Fig. 6. Spatio-temporal chaos: Self-switching of two pairs of opposite-phases quasi-synchronization (4 subcircuits). T = 630 R and R = 96 Ci.
Horizontal and Vertical: 1.0 mA/div.

a state may be switched to the next state instantly, and a state
may be switched after about a few seconds. We also observed
similar self-switching phenomenon of three phase states of thetwo pairs of opposite-phases quasi-synchronizations as shownin Fig. 6. This is the same phenomenon as chaotic wanderingof spatial patterns observed very often from systems witha large number of degrees of freedom. The unpredictabilityof chaotic wandering is caused by local chaotic motions.
Because we cannot predict low-dimensional chaotic motion,
the change caused by the chaotic motion of subcircuits is also

682IEEE TRANSACTIONSON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS-I: FUNDAMENTAL THEORY AND APPLICATIONS,VOL. 42, NO. 10, OCTOBER1995

*

SC000

72: iteration-

7x iteration-tn: iteration-tn: iteration(a)Fig. 7. Time series of Poincark map: Self-switching of in- and opposite-phases quasi-synchronization (4 subcircuits). /3 = 0.295, y = 0.10, and
Aw = 0.0.

I

50000--+ 72: iteration(b)

Fig. 8. Time series of Poincark map: Self-switching of two pairs of opposite-phases quasi-synchronization (4 subcircuits). /3 = 0.295, y = 0.01, and
Aw = 0.0.

unpredictable. We treat this phenomenon as one of spatiotemporal chaos. Because three spatial patterns characterized byphase states of quasi-synchronization of chaos changes irregularly as time goes, and it is caused by the local chaotic motionof subcircuits arranged spatially. The physical mechanism of
the generation of self-switching will be explained as follows.
In the case that unstability of the chaotic solution from each
subcircuit is very strong, the current flowing into the coupling
resistor R will often take relatively large value. It influences
the motion of the solution in other subcircuits via coupling
resistor R and at the moment the quasi-synchronization state
will be disturbed. The self-switching is considered to begenerated when the disturbance happens to act to switch thephase states of two of the four subcircuits.
In order to investigate this phenomenon, we define thePoincart section as z1 = 0 where dzl/dt > 0 and plot thevalues of zi (i = 1,2,3,4) on zi - n (n denotes thenumber of iterations of the Poincark map) plane when thesolution hits the Poincark section. Fig. 7 shows the timeseries of ‘attractors corresponding to the self-switching of
the in- and opposite-phases quasi-synchronizations obtained
from computer simulations. For example, the phase state of(0, 7r, 7r,-0) appears in the shaded area. In the figure, we canconfirm that three phase states appear chaotically.
Fig. 8 shows the time series of attractors corresponding to
the self-switching of the two pairs of opposite-phases quasisynchronizations obtained from computer simulations. For
example, the phase state of { l-4,2-3} appears in the shaded

3ocoo

0
Cc)

Fig. 9. Effect of the value of Aw (4 subcircuits). /3 = 0.295 and y = 0.10.
(a) Au = 0.000 (same as Fig. 7). (b) Aw = 0.003. (c) Aw = 0.005.

area. In the figure, we can confirm that three phase states
appear chaotically.
Fig. 9 shows the effect of Aw, namely asymmetry of thecircuit. Though we have not investigated detailed statisticalcharacteristics, we can see that both of the appearing frequencies for some pattern and switching speed are deeply relatedwith the value of Aw.
V. SIX SUBCIRCU~~S CASE
In this section, we consider the six subcircuits case as anextended example. The coupling structure is the same as Fig. 1
except that the six Ll’s from the six subcircuits are connectedto the coupling resistor R located in the center. We can expect
the, generation of more complicated irregular self-switching ofphase states.
Fig. 10 shows an example of the in- and opposite-phases
quasi-synchronization. In the six subcircuits case, there

683

NISHIO AND USHIDA: SPATIO-TEMPORAL CHAOS IN SIMPLE COUPLED CHAOTIC CIRCUITSr( 1Att:

Xl-X2

1, [Att: Xl-X6,,, ]Att: Xl-X3

I

Fig. 10. In- and opposite-phases quasi-synchronization (6 subcircuits). p = 0.29, y = 0.10, and Aw = 0.0.

X(

0

+

50000
n: iteration

Fig. 11. Time series of Poincare map: Self-switching of in- and opposite-phases quasi-synchronization (6 subcircuits). /3 = 0.294, y = 0.07, and
Aw = 0.0.

coexists sC2 = 10 phase states. The phase state in the figure
is described as’(0, 0, 0, X, r, 7r).
Moreover, the number of the phase states for the three pairsof opposite-phases quasi-synchronization will be
6C2.4C2/3P3 = 15. Though this type of quasi-synchronization
seems to be unstable, we can observe these phase states asswitching patterns in spatio-temporal chaos.
Fig. 11 shows the self-switching of the in- and oppositephases quasi-syncmonizations obtained from computer simulations. We can see six different phase states in the figure.
Fig. 12 shows the self-switching of the three pairsof opposite-phases quasi-synchronizations obtained fromcomputer simulations. For example, the phase state of{I-3,2-4,5-6}
appears in the shaded area.
We consider that 2N subcircuits can exhibit spatio-temporalchaos as shown in this section. Because the number of phasestates increases for large N, more complicated irregular selfswitching will be observed.
VI.

COUPLED CHAOTIC

0-+

71: iteratiE?

Fig. 12. Time series of Poincare map: Self-switching of three pairs of
opposite-phases quasi-synchronization (6 subcircuits). p = 0.295, y = 0.01,
and Aw = 0.0.

synchronization. If the in- and opposite-phases quasisynchronization is generated around four coupling resistors,
the number of the spatial pattern is seven as follows:

CIRCUITS NETWORKIn this section, we develop the simple coupled chaotic circuitin Fig. 1 to coupled chaotic circuits network. We have alreadyproposed coupled oscillators network consisting of van der Pol
oscillators coupled by resistors as in Fig. 13 [18] and haveconfirmed the generation of various phase states. Based on the
study, we propose the chaotic circuits network with resistor
coupling.
At first, let us consider the number of frozen spatial
patterns corresponding to the in- and opposite-phases quasisynchronization or the two pairs of opposite-phases quasi-(6)
where 0 or r means the phase difference with respect tosubcircuit 1. The number of this type of spatial pattern forthe size of Ni x Nz can be calculated as 2N1-1 + 2NZ-1 - 1
using the scaling technique.

684

Fig. 13.

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS--I: FUNDAMENTAL THEORY AND APPLICATIONS,VOL. 42, NO. IO, OCTOBER 1995

Coupled oscillators network.

Fig. 14. Coupled chaotic circuits network.

While if the two pairs of opposite-phases quasisynchronization are generated around four coupling resistors,
the number of the spatial pattern is’also seven as follows:

We investigate the network with the size of 3 x 3 shown in
Fig. 14. Though this size is the smallest, and wave phenomena
cannot be seen, this small network can produce spatio-temporalchaos.
Fig. 15 shows the self-switching of the spatial patterns represented in (6) obtained from computer simulations where theposition of subcircuits corresponding to ~1 N 2s is as follows:)
where different characters represent independent phase, and 2means the opposite phase of A.

appear in the shaded areas I and II, respectively. As we can see
from Fig. 15, the change of spatial patterns observed from the685

NISHIO AND USHIDA: SPATIO-TEMPORAL CHAOS IN SIMPLE COUPLED CHAOTIC CIRCUITS

Fig. 16 shows the self-switching of ‘the spatial patterns
represented in (7) obtained from computer simulations. For
example, phase states ofappear in the shaded areas I, II, and III, respectively.
This network is easily extended to large size. We can expectthat various complicated spatio-temporal chaos based on the
result in this section will be generated in such large scale of
networks.
VII. CONCLUDING
Fig. 15. Time series of Poincare map: Self-switching of seven spatial patterns in (6) (3 x 3 network). /3 = 0.30,~ = 0.10, and Aw = 0.0.

REMARKSIn this paper, we have investigated simple autonomouschaotic circuits coupled by resistors. By carrying out computer
calculations and circuit, experiments, irregular self-switching
phenomenon of three spatial patterns characterized by thephase states of quasi-synchronization of chaos could be observed from only four simple chaotic circuits coupled by one
resistor. We consider that this is one of the simplest spatiotemporal chaos observed from continuous dynamical systems.
The six subcircuits case and the coupled chaotic circuits
network were also studied, and such systems were confirmed
to produce more complicated spatio-temporal phenomena.
Our future research is the theoretical approach to spatiotemporal chaos including statistical .study. Extension to thelarge size of coupled chaotic networkand the transmission
delay of the change of spatial pattern in it will be also studied
in the near future.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors would like to thank Professor S. Mori of
Keio University and Associate Professor T. Saito of Hosei
University for their valuable comments and encouragement.
REFERENCES

111Y. Ohmori, M. Nakagawa, and T. Saito, “Mutual coupling of oscillators

*9
0

I

‘II

III
-

lcoo0
n; iteration

Fig. 16. Time series of Poincare map: Self-switching of seven spatial patterns in (7) (3 x 3 network). p = 0.298, y = 0.10, and Aw = 0.0.

chaotic network is more complicated compared with Figs. 7
or 11. This may be caused by the transmission delay. Detailed
investigation on the relation between the clear switching andtransmission delay is one of our important future research.

with chaos and period doubling bifurcation,” in Proc. ZSCAS’86, 1986,
pp. 61-64.
I21 L. M. Pecora and T. L. Carroll, “Synchronization in chaotic systems,”
Phys. Rev. Left., vol. 64, no. 8, pp. 821-824, 1990.
[31 M. J. Ogorzalek, “Taming chaos-Part I: Synchronization,” IEEE Trans.
Circuits Syst. I, vol. 40, no. 10, pp. 693-699, Oct. 1993.
[41 Y. Nishio, K. Suzuki, S. Mod, and A. Ushida, “Synchronization inmutually coupled chaotic circuits, ” in Proc. ECCTD’93, Sept. 1993, pp.
637-642.
151Y. Nishio and A. Ushida, “Multimode chaos in two coupled chaotic
oscillators with hard nonlinear&s,” in Proc. ISCAS’94, May 1994, vol.
6, pp. 109-112.
“On a ring of chaotic circuits coupled by inductors,” IEZCE
t61~‘Fmdamenrals,
vol. E78-A, no. 5, pp. 608617, May 1995.
“Quasi-synchronization phenomena in chaotic circuits coupled[71 -,
by one resistor,” to be published in IEEE Trans. Circuits Sysf. I.
PI K. Kaneko, “Period-doubling of kink-antikink patterns, quasiperiodicity
in antiferro-like structures and spatial intermittency in coupled logistic
lattice,” Progress of Theoretical Physics, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 480-486,
Sept. 1984.
“Spatiotemporal intermittency in coupled map lattices,” Progress[91 -,of Theoretical Physics, vol. 74, no. 5, pp. 1033-1044, Nov. 1985.

IEEE TRANSACTIONS

686

ON CIRCUITS AND SYSTEMS-I:

HOI -,“Pattern dynamics in spatiotemporal chaos,” Physica D, vol. 34,
pp. I-41, 1989.
“Clustering, coding, switching, hierarchical ordering, and control
r111 __,
in a network-of chaotic elements,” Physica D, vol. 41, pp. 137-172,
1990.
[12] I. Tsuda, E. Koemer, and H. Shimizu, “Memory dynamics in asynchronous neural networks,” Progress of Theoretical Physics, vol. 78,
no: 1, pp. 51-71, July 1987. _1131 M. Tovoda, M. Adachi, K. Shimizu. and K. Aihara, “Pattern dynamics ofchaotic neural networks,” Tech. Rep. IEICE, vol. NC89-8, pp. 4348,
1989.

K. Aihara, T. Takabe, and M. Toyoda, “Chaotic neural networks,”
Physics Lett. A, vol. 144, nos. 6 and 7, pp. 333-340, 1990.
[15] V. I. Nekorkin and L. 0. Chua, “Spatial disorder and wave fronts in achain of coupled chua’s circuits,” ht. J. Bifurc. and Chaos, vol. 3, no.
5, pp. 1281-1291, Oct. 1993.
[16] A. P.-Mufiuzuri, V. P.-Muiiuzuri, V. P.-Villar, and L. 0. Chua, “Spiralwaves on a 2-D array of nonlinear circuits,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst.
I, vol. 40, no. 11, pp. 872-877; Nov. 1993.
1171_ _ A. L. Zheleznvak and L. 0. Chua, “Coexistence of low- and highdimensional spatiotemporal chaos in a chain of dissipatively coupled
Chua’s circuits,” ht. J. Bifurc. and Chaos, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 639-674,
June 1994.
[18] Y. Nishio, S. Mori, and A. Ushida, “On coupled oscillators network-For the cellular neural network,” in Proc. ISCAS’93, May 1993,
vol. 4, pp. 2327-2330.
1191 N. Inaba and S. Mori. “Chaotic phenomena in circuits with a linear
negative resistance and an ideal diode,” in Proc. MWSCAS’SS, Aug.
1988, pp. 211-214.
[14]

FUNDAMENTAL

THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, VOL. 42, NO. 10, OCTOBER 1995

[20] Y. Nishio, N. Inaba, S. Mori, and T. Saito, “Rigorous analyses ofwindows in a symmetric circuit,” IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst., vol. 37,
no. 4, pp. 473-487, Apr. 1990.

Yoshifumi Nishio (S’91-M’93) received the B.E., M.E., and Ph D. degrees inelectrical engineering from Keio University, Yokohama Japan, in 1988,’1990,
and 1993, respectively.
In 1993. he ioined the Deuartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineeringat Tokushima University, Tokushima Japan, where he is currently an Assis&
Professor. His research interests are in chaos and synchronization phenomena
in nonlinear circuits,.

Akio Ushida (M’76) received the B.E. and M.E. degrees in electricalengineering from Tokushima University in 1961 and 1966, respectively, and
the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Osaka
Prefecture in 1974.
He was an Associate Professor from 1973 to 1980 at Tokushima University.
Since 1980, he has been a Professor with the Department of ElectricalEngineering at the.University. From 1974 to 1975, he spent one year as a
Visiting Scholar with the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Sciences at the University of California at Berkeley. His current researchinterests include numerical methods and computer-aided analysis of ,nonlinear
systems.