<p> The realization of inductorless filters by means of RC-gyrator structures has been investigated, and the sensitivity of their response characteristics with respect to supply voltage variations has been measured. A critical appraisal is made of the various multiparameter sensitivity functions which have already been proposed in the literature, and the methods by which these sensitivity criteria may be computed are surveyed. A new index of performance, by which the multiparameter sensitivity of a linear, time-invariant network may be evaluated, is proposed. Furthermore, a new method of computing sensitivity indices is described and is shown to be highly efficient from a computational point of view. The index has been used to investigate the sensitivity performance of a wide range of passive and active filter structures. It has also been used to generate a so called "optimum tolerance set" for the elements of such filters and the effect of employing these optimum tolerance sets has been investigated.</p> <p> The index of perfonnance and the concept of the optimum tolerance set is extended to the case of RC active filters. A "two-level" optimization procedure is proposed, whereby an optimum nominal element value set may be combined with the corresponding optimum tolerance set to obtain a marked improvement in the sensitivity performance of the network. Finally, the synthesis of a highly selective RC-active filter is considered, and it is shown how an optimal structure and tolerance set can be obtained for such a network.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)