4. Switching cell models

Once we've highlighted this model, which is based on instantaneous switching, we need to ask ourselves whether it's valid outside this switching context. This is obviously a legitimate question, as these "sources" are in fact nothing more than "inertias" capable of storing energy either in electrostatic form (voltage inertia), or in electromagnetic form (current inertia), and can therefore a priori only prevent a rapid variation in voltage (for the capacitor) or current (for the inductor). This variation after switching obviously depends on the value of the reactive elements (values expressed in farads or henrys), but also on the duration over which it is likely to occur.

To specify this duration, we need to consider the different time or frequency scales that can be found in CVSs. At least three can be distinguished:

• ...