Electronic chaos generators - Design and applications

Chaotic systems are known to generate noise-like signals with a power density spectrum distributed over a certain frequency range. These signals are similar to random noise and can be used as broadband signals for system simulation and measurement, for simulation of random signals and for communication purposes. Since very simple nonlinear dynamic systems can show chaotic behaviour, its use for generating broadband signals could be an interesting and cost effective alternative to the classical application of noise from natural sources, such as resistors or semiconductor devices. For this purpose, chaotic signal generators have to be tailored to the special purposes and demands of the application. In this paper, the design of chaotic systems generating signals with prescribed probability distribution and power spectrum properties will be considered, their realization as discrete-time, digital and analogue systems will be regarded and design examples will be given. Finally some application examples of broadband signals are presented.