Free-matrix-based time-dependent discontinuous Lyapunov functional for synchronization of delayed neural networks with sampled-data control

This paper is concerned with the synchronization of delayed neural networks via sampled-data control. A new technique, namely, the free-matrix-based time-dependent discontinuous Lyapunov functional approach, is adopted in constructing the Lyapunov functional, which takes advantage of the sampling characteristic of sawtooth input delay. Based on this discontinuous Lyapunov functional, some less conservative synchronization criteria are established to ensure that the slave system is synchronous with the master system. The desired sampled-data controller can be obtained through the use of the linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and the improvements of the proposed methods