ELECTRON ICS & POWER 4 SEPTEMBER 1975

Automatic controlclassical linear theory

G.J.Thaler(Ed.)
Dowden, Hutchinson &
Ross. 1974 431pp. 12-50
It would be hard to criticise
the contents of this book,
which consists of a collection
of 21 classic papers on control
theory, from Maxwell on governors in 1868 to Evans on root locus
in 1950. Only the choice of
material could be open to question, but Prof. Thaler has undoubtedly done an excellent job of
selection and classification, and
the resulting volume is a fine
collector's piece. In retrospect, the
Bell Laboratories contributions of
Nyquist, Black and Bode still
bestride the others like a colossus,
but for pure nostalgia one must
select Hazen on servomechanisms
in 1934, which commences 'In this
age characterised by huge resources of mechanical and electrical power. . . ' . Sic transit gloria
mundi.

H.A. Barker

Non-linear
networks:
theory and analysis
Alan H. Wilson, Jun. (Ed.)
Wiley, 1975

9-15
When one considers that nonlinearity is an essential feature of
Nature it is surprising to realise that
no general theory exists for nonlinear networks. The mathematical
difficulties have, in the past,
caused network theorists to either
assume everything is linear or treat
each circuit on an ad hoc basis.
However, the widespread use of
the transistor with its nonlinear
characteristic and the possibility of
doing more involved calculations
using the digital computer have
stimulated a recent interest in
nonlinear network theory. For
almost the first time such questions as 'Does a nonlinear network
have a solution?', 'Is it unique?', 'Is
it stable?' and 'How can I calculate
it?' are being seriously investigated. The work is still in the
research phase and the results have
really only begun to appear in the
literature in the last ten years. This
volume contains a collection of 23
of the most significant papers to
have appeared, together with a
very brief introduction.
Although the choice of papers
naturally reflects the editor's interests, the field is well covered,
except possibly in the area of
computation, and no paper of
major significance has been omitted. The editor's own survey paper
from 1973 is probably the most
valuable to the newcomer to the
field as it gives an excellent review,
putting all the papers into context
and interpreting their major results
in a more uniform notation. The
remaining papers were not written
from a tutorial point of view and a
newcomer may find some of them
rather heavy going. The variations
in style and notation, inevitable in
a book of this nature, make it
unsuitable as a reference work. It is

probably aimed at the serious

research worker who wants to
study the subject in detail and may
find some convenience in having
these papers under one cover.

BOOKS RECEIVED
Energy environment and building*
by Philip Steadman. Cambridge
University Press, 1975 5*40

Inners and stability of dynamic

systems* by E. I. Jury. John Wiley
& Sons, 1975.308pp. 9-70

Introduction to digital filtering*

by Bogner and Constantinides
(Eds.). John Wiley & Sons, 1975.
198pp.7-50

Magnetic bubbles* by T. H. O'Dell.

Macmillan, 1975.159pp. 8-50

E. J.Purslow

Satellite communication
systems technology
IEE Conf. Pub/. 126, 1975
314 pp. 11 -30 (7-40 to IEE
members)
A collection of 43 papers by
independent authors can hardly
form a textbook, but it is a
stimulating and up-to-date survey
at an interesting period of a rapidly
developong subject.
The existing global satellitecommunication system has
achieved in ten years an advancedtechnology state, partly based on
established microwave-link techniques, to support a rapidly expanding high-quality public service. The recent London conference attracted papers that indicate
the technologies which are being
developed for future years.
The main interest in satellite
transmission of international telephone traffic is in providing more
channels of communication in the
satellite bandwidth, for which the
basic change is to replace the
existing frequency-division multiple access method by a timedivision digital multiplex on routes
with large blocks of preassigned
channels. Work in many countries
is directed towards perfecting the
modulation and transmission
characteristics for both the global
and the
European satellite
communication.
As in other fields, frequencyspectrum limitation is encouraging
satellite communication to utilise
bands above 11 GHz, where propogation problems require more
attention. To increase the channel
capacity through the satellite it is
proposed to use the same frequency on two paths, with orthogonal antenna polarisations to
provide isolation; however, there
are problems of propagation
through rain which reduces this
isolation and the antenna design
presents special problems.
The telephony channels available can carry more conversations
if they are used only when the user
is speaking, normally less than half
the time in each direction. Digital
transmission simplifies the rapid
switching and signalling needed to
provide the illusion of continuous
connection, and the SPEC system
from Comsat realises this is an
effective way. It may be felt that
other proposals for route switching
in the satellite are somewhat
further in the future.
The organisation of a satellite
system for African satellite communication reveals problems of
geography and language which
indicates more orthodox technologies.
The satellite communication for
ships is increasing its pace of
development, and the aeronautical
proposals, which had a head start,
did not yield new contributions.

G.L Grisdale

877

IEEE orange bookt. John Wiley &

Sons, 1974.111pp. 5-40

Power electronics* by F. Csaki, K.

Ganszky, I. Ipsits and S. Marti.
Akademiai Kiado, 1975. 708pp.
18-70

A review of the principles of

electrical and electronic engineering*. Chapman & Hall, 1975.
213pp.

Automated design of control

systems* by C. W. Merriam. Gordon & Breach, 1974. 339pp.
14.10

Computer communications*. IEE

Press, 1975.615pp.

Practical approach to pattern class*

ification* by Bruce G. Batchelor.
Plenum Press, 1974. 243pp.
21-60

Applications of linear integrated

circuits* by Eugene R. Hnatek.
John Wiley & Sons 1975. 518pp.
13
Nearly ninetythe story of PD* by
Percy Dunsheath. Mitre Press,
1975.223pp.3-50
Electric circuit problems with
solutions* by F. A. Benson.
Chapman & Hall, 1975. 257pp.
2-95

An introduction to on-line computers* by W. W. Black. Gordon &

Breach, 1974.449pp. 11 -80
Electronic circuits and applications* by Senturia Wedlock.
John Wiley & Sons, 1975. 623pp.
9-15
Photometry and radiometry for
engineers* by Allen Stimpson.
John Wiley & Sons, 1974. 446pp.
10-80

Introduction to optimization
methods* by P. R. Adby and M. A. .
H. Dempster. Chapman & Hall, The development of coding
1974.204pp.2-50
theory* by Elwyn R. Berlekamp.
John Wiley & Sons, 1975. 288pp.
A code of practice for the detailed 3-80
statement of accuracy* by P. J.
Campion, J. E. Burns and A. Tashenbuch der Unterhattings
Williams.
National Physical elektronik 1975* by Prof. Clans
Laboratory, 1973.51 pp. 1*05
Reuber. Fachverlag Schiele, 1975.
304pp.
Analytical methods of optimization* by D. F. Lawden. Scottish Electrical safety code* by The
Academic Press, 1975. 157pp. Institute of Petroleum. Applied
3-50
Science. 1975.22pp.
Comprehension and data analysis
questions in advanced physics* by
D. J. Hustings. 1975. 102pp. 95p

The solid state* by H. M. Resenberg. Oxford University Press,

1975.234pp.2-25

Solid state devices*. Series 23.

Institute of Physics. Bristol Publishing, 1974.167pp.16

The design of electrical services for

buildings* by F. Porges. E . & F . N .
Spon Ltd., 1975.264pp. 6-30

Gallium arsenide and related compounds*. Series 24. Institute of

Physics. Bristol Publishing, 1974.
378pp.18

Electronic and switching circuits*

by S. M. Bozic, R. M. H. Cheng and
J. D. Parsons. Edward Arnold Ltd.,
1975.380pp.4-95

Lattice defects in semiconductors*. Series 23. Institute of

Physics. Bristol Publishing, 1974.
599pp.19-50

International dictionaries of
science and technologyt by
Franko Angeli. Crosby Lockwood
Staples, 1975.853pp. 15

Revue roumaine des sciences techniques* by Remus Radnlet.

Editura Academiei Republica,
1974.690pp.

Microwave integrated circuits* by

K. C. Gupta and Amarjit Singh.
Vinod Kumar, 1975.380pp.

Electrotechnique et energetique*
by Remus Radnlet. Editura
Academiei Republica, 1974.
143pp
International telemetering. Vol.
10*. John Wiley & Sons, 1974.
617pp.15

American power conference* by

A. P. Corf. 1974.1135pp. 25
Telephony and telegraphy A.* by
Sidney F. Smith. Oxford University Press, 1975. 282pp. 2-20
Beitrage zur Werterentwicklingder
theorie der* by O. Benedikt.
Akademiai Kiako, 1975. 479pp.
23-10

An introduction to random vibrations and spectral analysis* by D.

E. Newland. Longman Group, Exploitation of seismograph net1975.285pp.6*95
works* by K. G. Beauchamp (Ed.).
'available for loan to members
Noordhoff International, 1975.
t available for reference only
647pp.