Smith Chart The Smith chart is one of the most useful graphical tools for high frequency circuit applications. The chart provides a clever way to visualize complex functions and it continues to endure popularity, decades after its original conception. From a mathematical point of view, the Smith chart is a 4-D representation of all possible complex impedances with respect to coordinates defined by the complex reflection coefficient. Im(Γ ) 1 Re(Γ ) The domain of definition of the reflection coefficient for a loss-less line is a circle of unitary radius in the complex plane. This is also the domain of the Smith chart. In the case of a general lossy line, the reflection coefficient might have magnitude larger than one, due to the complex characteristic impedance, requiring an extended Smith chart. Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 165
The goal of the Smith chart is to identify all possible impedances on the domain of existence of the reflection coefficient. To do so, we start from the general definition of line impedance (which is equally applicable to a load impedance when d=0) Zd ( ) ( ) ( ) V d = = I d Z 0 1 +Γ 1 Γ ( d) ( d) This provides the complex function Zd ( ) f{ Re ( ),Im( )} = Γ Γ that we want to graph. It is obvious that the result would be applicable only to lines with exactly characteristic impedance Z 0. In order to obtain universal curves, we introduce the concept of normalized impedance z n ( d) ( ) 1+ Γ( d) 1 ( d) = Z d Z = Γ 0 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 166
The normalized impedance is represented on the Smith chart by using families of curves that identify the normalized resistance r (real part) and the normalized reactance x (imaginary part) ( ) Re( ) Im( ) z d = z + j z = r+ jx n n n Let s represent the reflection coefficient in terms of its coordinates Now we can write ( d) Re( ) jim( ) Γ = Γ + Γ ( ) j ( ) ( ) j ( ) 1 Re Im r + jx = + Γ + Γ 1 Re Γ Im Γ ( ) ( ) j ( ) ( ) 1 Re Γ Im Γ + Im Γ = ( 1 Re Γ ) + Im ( Γ) Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 167
The real part gives r = ( ) ( ) 1 Re Γ Im Γ ( 1 Re( Γ )) + Im ( Γ) Add a quantity equal to zero = 0 r ( ) 1 1 Re Γ 1 + Re Γ 1 + rim ( Γ ) + Im ( Γ ) + = 0 1+ r 1+ r ( ( ) ) ( ) ( ( ) ) ( ( ) ) 1 1 r Re Γ 1 + Re Γ 1 + + ( 1 + r) Im ( Γ ) = 1+ r 1+ r r r 1 1+ Re Γ Re Γ + + ( 1+ r) Im ( Γ ) = 1+ r 1+ r ( r) ( ) ( ) ( 1 + r) r ( ) ( ) 1 Im ( ) Re Γ + Γ = 1+ r 1+ r Equation of a circle Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 168
The imaginary part gives x x = Im ( Γ) ( 1 Re( Γ )) + Im ( Γ) ( ( )) ( ) x ( ) 1 Re Γ + Im Γ Im Γ + 1 1 = 0 1 1 Γ + Γ Γ + = x x x ( 1 Re( )) Im ( ) Im ( ) ( ( )) 1 Re Im ( ) Im ( ) ( ( ) ) Re 1 Im( ) 1 1 Γ + Γ Γ + = x x x 1 1 Γ + Γ = x x Multiply by x and add a quantity equal to zero = 0 Equation of a circle Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 169
The result for the real part indicates that on the complex plane with coordinates (Re(Γ), Im(Γ)) all the possible impedances with a given normalized resistance r are found on a circle with r 1,0 1+ r 1+ r Center = Radius = As the normalized resistance r varies from 0 to, we obtain a family of circles completely contained inside the domain of the reflection coefficient Γ 1. r = 0 Im(Γ ) r = 1 Re(Γ ) r = 5 r = 0.5 r Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 170
The result for the imaginary part indicates that on the complex plane with coordinates (Re(Γ), Im(Γ)) all the possible impedances with a given normalized reactance x are found on a circle with 1 1 1, x x Center = Radius = As the normalized reactance x varies from - to, we obtain a family of arcs contained inside the domain of the reflection coefficient Γ 1. x = 0.5 Im(Γ ) x = 1 x ± x = 0 x = - 0.5 Re(Γ ) x = -1 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 171
Basic Smith Chart techniques for loss-less transmission lines Given Z(d) Find Γ(d) Given Γ(d) Find Z(d) Given Γ R and Z R Find Γ(d) and Z(d) Given Γ(d) and Z(d) Find Γ R and Z R Find d max and d min (maximum and minimum locations for the voltage standing wave pattern) Find the Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) Given Z(d) Find Y(d) Given Y(d) Find Z(d) Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 17
1. Normalize the impedance Given Z(d) Find Γ(d) ( d) Z R X zn ( d) = = + j = r+ j x Z Z Z 0 0 0. Find the circle of constant normalized resistance r 3. Find the arc of constant normalized reactance x 4. The intersection of the two curves indicates the reflection coefficient in the complex plane. The chart provides directly the magnitude and the phase angle of Γ(d) Example: Find Γ(d), given ( ) 0 Z d = 5 + j100 Ω with Z = 50 Ω Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 173
1. Normalization z n (d) = (5 + j 100)/50 = 0.5 + j.0 3. Find normalized reactance arc 1 x =.0. Find normalized resistance circle r = 0.5 0. 05 3 50.906 0 0. 0.5 1 5 4. This vector represents the reflection coefficient -0. Γ (d) = 0.5 + j0.64 Γ (d) = 0.846 Γ (d) = 0.8885 rad -0 5 = 50.906 - -3-1 1. 0.846 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 174
Given Γ(d) Find Z(d) 1. Determine the complex point representing the given reflection coefficient Γ(d) on the chart.. Read the values of the normalized resistance r and of the normalized reactance x that correspond to the reflection coefficient point. 3. The normalized impedance is n ( d) z = r+ jx and the actual impedance is ( d) ( ) Z(d) = Z z = Z r+ j x = Z r+ j Z x 0 n 0 0 0 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 175
Given Γ R and Z R Find Γ(d) and Z(d) NOTE: the magnitude of the reflection coefficient is constant along a loss-less transmission line terminated by a specified load, since ( d) exp( j d) Γ = Γ β = Γ R Therefore, on the complex plane, a circle with center at the origin and radius Γ R represents all possible reflection coefficients found along the transmission line. When the circle of constant magnitude of the reflection coefficient is drawn on the Smith chart, one can determine the values of the line impedance at any location. The graphical step-by-step procedure is: 1. Identify the load reflection coefficient Γ R and the normalized load impedance Z R on the Smith chart. R Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 176
. Draw the circle of constant reflection coefficient amplitude Γ(d) = Γ R. 3. Starting from the point representing the load, travel on the circle in the clockwise direction, by an angle π θ= β d= d λ 4. The new location on the chart corresponds to location d on the transmission line. Here, the values of Γ(d) and Z(d) can be read from the chart as before. Example: Given Z = 5 + j 100 Ω with Z = 50 Ω R find Zd ( ) and Γ ( d) for d= 0.18λ 0 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 177
Circle with constant Γ 1 0.5 0. Γ R Γ R z R 3 0 0. 0.5 1 5 θ = β d = (π/λ) 0.18 λ =.6 rad = 19.6-0. Γ(d) = 0.846-78.7 = 0.161 j 0.809-0.5 Γ (d) θ -3 z n (d) = 0.36 j1.19 - Z(d) = z(d) Z 0 = 11.79 j59.6 Ω -1 z(d) Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 178
Given Γ R and Z R Find d max and d min 1. Identify on the Smith chart the load reflection coefficient Γ R or the normalized load impedance Z R.. Draw the circle of constant reflection coefficient amplitude Γ(d) = Γ R. The circle intersects the real axis of the reflection coefficient at two points which identify d max (when Γ(d) = Real positive) and d min (when Γ(d) = Real negative) 3. A commercial Smith chart provides an outer graduation where the distances normalized to the wavelength can be read directly. The angles, between the vector Γ R and the real axis, also provide a way to compute d max and d min. Example: Find d max and d min for Z = 5 + j100 Ω ; Z = 5 j100 Ω ( Z = 50 Ω ) R R 0 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 179
Im(Z R ) > 0 ZR = 5 + j 100 Ω ( Z0 = 50 Ω) 1 Transmission Lines β d max = 50.9 d max = 0.0707λ 0.5 Γ R z nr 3 0. Γ R 0 0. 0.5 1 5-0. -3-0.5 - -1 β d min = 30.9 d min = 0.307λ Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 180
Im(Z R ) < 0 ZR = 5 j 100 Ω ( Z0 = 50 Ω) 1 Transmission Lines β d max = 309.1 d max = 0.493 λ 0.5 3 0. 0 0. 0.5 1 5-0. Γ R Γ R -3 β d min = 19.1 d min = 0.1793 λ -0.5-1 - z nr Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 181
Given Γ R and Z R Find the Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) The Voltage standing Wave Ratio or VSWR is defined as 1 Vmax +Γ VSWR = = R V min 1 Γ R The normalized impedance at a maximum location of the standing wave pattern is given by ( dmax ) ( d ) 1+ Γ 1+Γ z R n ( dmax ) = = = VSWR!!! 1 Γ 1 Γ max This quantity is always real and 1. The VSWR is simply obtained on the Smith chart, by reading the value of the (real) normalized impedance, at the location d max where Γ is real and positive. R Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 18
The graphical step-by-step procedure is: 1. Identify the load reflection coefficient Γ R and the normalized load impedance Z R on the Smith chart.. Draw the circle of constant reflection coefficient amplitude Γ(d) = Γ R. 3. Find the intersection of this circle with the real positive axis for the reflection coefficient (corresponding to the transmission line location d max ). 4. A circle of constant normalized resistance will also intersect this point. Read or interpolate the value of the normalized resistance to determine the VSWR. Example: Find the VSWR for Z 5 j100 ; Z 5 j100 ( Z 50 ) = + Ω = Ω = Ω R1 R 0 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 183
Circle with constant Γ 1 z R1 0.5 0. Γ R1 3 Circle of constant conductance r = 10.4 0 0. 0.5 1 5-0. Γ R z(d max )=10.4-3 -0.5 - -1 z R For both loads VSWR = 10.4 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 184
Given Z(d) Find Y(d) Note: The normalized impedance and admittance are defined as ( d) ( d) 1+ Γ 1 Γ zn( d) = yn( d) = 1 Γ 1+Γ ( d) ( d) Since λ Γ d + = Γ( d) 4 λ 1+Γ d + λ 4 1 Γ( d ) zn d + = = = yn d 4 λ 1+Γ 1 ( d Γ d ) + 4 ( ) Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 185
Keep in mind that the equality λ zn d + = yn d 4 ( ) is only valid for normalized impedance and admittance. The actual values are given by λ λ Z d + = Z0 zn d + 4 4 y ( ) ( ) 0 ( ) n d Yd = Y yn d = Z where Y 0 =1 /Z 0 is the characteristic admittance of the transmission line. The graphical step-by-step procedure is: 0 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 186
1. Identify the load reflection coefficient Γ R and the normalized load impedance Z R on the Smith chart.. Draw the circle of constant reflection coefficient amplitude Γ(d) = Γ R. 3. The normalized admittance is located at a point on the circle of constant Γ which is diametrically opposite to the normalized impedance. Example: Given Z = 5 + j 100 Ω with Z = 50 Ω R find Y R. 0 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 187
Circle with constant Γ 1 z n (d) = 0.5 + j.0 Z(d) = 5 + j100 [ Ω ] 0.5 3 0. 0 0. 0.5 1 5-0. θ = 180 = β λ/4-3 -0.5 y n (d) = 0.11765 j 0.4706 Y(d) = 0.00353 j 0.00941 [ S ] z n (d+λ/4) = 0.11765 j 0.4706-1 Z(d+λ/4) = 5.884 j 3.594 [ Ω ] - Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 188
The Smith chart can be used for line admittances, by shifting the space reference to the admittance location. After that, one can move on the chart just reading the numerical values as representing admittances. Let s review the impedance-admittance terminology: Impedance = Resistance + j Reactance Z = R + jx Admittance = Conductance + j Susceptance Y = G + jb On the impedance chart, the correct reflection coefficient is always represented by the vector corresponding to the normalized impedance. Charts specifically prepared for admittances are modified to give the correct reflection coefficient in correspondence of admittance. Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 189
Smith Chart for Admittances y n (d) = 0.11765 j 0.4706 Transmission Lines -3 - -1 Γ -0.5 Negative (inductive) susceptance -0. 5 1 0.5 0. 0 0. 3 0.5 Positive (capacitive) susceptance 1 z n (d) = 0.5 +.0 Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 190
Since related impedance and admittance are on opposite sides of the same Smith chart, the imaginary parts always have different sign. Therefore, a positive (inductive) reactance corresponds to a negative (inductive) susceptance, while a negative (capacitive) reactance corresponds to a positive (capacitive) susceptance. Analytically, the normalized impedance and admittance are related as 1 zn = r+ jx yn = g+ jb= r + jx r jx r jx yn = = ( r+ jx)( r jx) r + x r x g = b= r + x r + x Amanogawa, 006 - Digital Maestro Series 191