Synthesis of Minimum-Sensitivity Networks Through Some Classes of Equivalent Transformations

This paper considers the synthesis of passive networks with minimum sensitivity to element tolerances through some classes of continuously equivalent transformations. The methods of transformations to be discussed are those transformerless ones in which the port structures of networks are invariant. Two approaches to the problem are to be considered. The first is the procedure in which an additional network is sought such that the augmented network, obtained by the parallel connection of the given network and the additional one, is equivalent to the original one. The second is based on linear transformations discussed by a number of authors. Of practical interest is the choice of transformation parameters that minimizes the sensitivity to element tolerances. The solution procedure to this problem depends on a penalty function approach that converts the constrained problem into a sequence of unconstrained minimizations for which efficient algorithms have recently been proposed.