Linear Periodically Time Varying Circuits and Systems

Linear periodically time varying (LPTV) circuits form the foundation of many modern RF, analog, and mixed signal systems, including switched capacitor and N-path filters, mixers, sampling circuits, chopped amplifiers etc. Despite their ubiquity, LPTV systems are often analyzed using simplified time invariant approximations that obscure their true behavior. This talk presents a rigorous yet intuitive exploration of LPTV theory and its application to practical circuit design. Beginning with the fundamentals of periodic modulation and harmonic transfer functions, the talk explains the operation of LPTV systems and draws parallels with linear time-invariant networks. The goal is to demystify this conventionally math-heavy material and make it accessible.