This paper introduces the dual parameter set of a piecewise affine (PWA) system. This is a key concept to enable a convex formulation of PWA controller synthesis for PWA slab differential inclusions using a new convex relaxation. Another important contribution of the paper is to present PWA L-2-gain analysis and synthesis results for PWA systems whose output is also a PWA function of the state (as opposed to a piecewise-linear (PWL) function). Unlike other results existing in the literature, the sufficient LMI conditions in this paper are valid for synthesis, even when the PWA systems include sliding modes. A numerical example with sliding modes illustrates the new approach. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.