Periodic orbits for planar piecewise smooth dynamical systems with a line of discontinuity

In this work we examine the existence of periodic orbits for planar piecewise smooth dynamical systems with a line of discontinuity. Unlike existing works, we consider the case where the line does not contain the equilibrium point. Most of the analysis is for a family of piecewise linear systems, and we discover new phenomena which produce the birth of periodic orbits, as well as new bifurcation phenomena of the periodic orbits themselves. A model nonlinear piecewise smooth systems is examined as well.