Transmission Line Basics II - Class 6

Prerequisite Reading assignment: CH2

Acknowledgements: Intel Bus Boot Camp:

Michael Leddige
 2

Real Computer Issues

data
Dev a Dev b

Signal
Measured
Clk here Switch
Threshold

An engineer tells you the measured clock is non-

monotonic and because of this the flip flop internally
may double clock the data. The goal for this class is
to by inspection determine the cause and suggest
whether this is a problem or not.
Transmission Lines Class 6
 3

Agenda
 The Transmission Line Concept
 Transmission line equivalent circuits and
relevant equations
 Reflection diagram & equation
 Loading
 Termination methods and comparison
 Propagation delay
 Simple return path ( circuit theory, network
theory come later)

Transmission Lines Class 6

 4

Two Transmission Line Viewpoints

 Steady state ( most historical view)
Frequency domain
 Transient
Time domain
Not circuit element Why?
 We mix metaphors all the time
Why convenience and history

Transmission Lines Class 6

 5

Transmission Line Concept

Power Frequency (f) is @ Power
60 Hz Plant
Wavelength (λ ) is 5×
106 m
( Over 3,100 Miles)

Consumer
Home

Transmission Lines Class 6

PC Transmission Lines
6

Signal Frequency (f) is

approaching 10 GHz Integrated Circuit
Stripline
Wavelength (λ ) is 1.5 cm
( 0.6 inches) Microstrip T

PCB substrate
Cross section view taken here
Stripline
W
Via
Micro
FR4 Dielectric
Copper Trace
Cross Section of Above PCB
-
Strip
Signal (microstrip)

Ground/Power
T Copper Plane Signal (stripline)
Signal (stripline)
Ground/Power
Signal (microstrip)

W
Transmission Lines Class 6
 7

Key point about transmission line operation

Voltage and current on a transmission line is
a function of both time and position.
I2

V = f ( z, t )
I1

I = f ( z, t )
V1 V2

The major deviation from circuit theory with transmission

dz
line, distributed networks is this positional dependence
of voltage and current!
Must think in terms of position and time to understand
transmission line behavior
This positional dependence is added when the
assumption of the size of the circuit being small
compared to the signaling wavelength

Transmission Lines Class 6

 8

Examples of Transmission Line

Structures- I
 Cables and wires
(a) Coax cable
(b) Wire over ground
(c) Tri-lead wire
(d) Twisted pair (two-wire line)
 Long distance interconnects

-
+
(a) (b)
-

- + -
Transmission Lines + - 6
Class
(c) (d)
 9

Segment 2: Transmission line equivalent

circuits and relevant equations

 Physics
Physicsof oftransmission
transmissionline
line structures
structures
 Basic
Basic transmission
transmission line
lineequivalent
equivalentcircuit
circuit
 ?Equations
?Equations for
fortransmission
transmission line
line propagation
propagation

Transmission Lines Class 6

 10

E & H Fields – Microstrip Case

How does the signal move Signal path

from source to load? Y

Z (into the page)

X

Electric field

Remember fields are setup given Magnetic field

an applied forcing function.

(Source) Ground return path

The signal is really the wave

propagating between the conductors

Transmission Lines Class 6

Transmission Line “Definition”
11

 General transmission line: a closed system in which power is transmitted

from a source to a destination

 Our class: only TEM mode transmission lines

A two conductor wire system with the wires in close proximity, providing
relative impedance, velocity and closed current return path to the source.
Characteristic impedance is the ratio of the voltage and current waves at any
one position on the transmission line

Propagation velocity is the speed with which signals are transmitted through
the transmission line in its surrounding medium.
V
Z0 =
I

c
v=
εr
Transmission Lines Class 6
 12

Presence of Electric and Magnetic Fields

H
I I +∆ I I I +∆ I
+ + + +

E
V V +∆V V V +∆ V
H
I I +∆I I I +∆ I
- - - -

 Both Electric and Magnetic fields are present in the transmission lines
These fields are perpendicular to each other and to the direction of wave propagation for TEM
mode waves, which is the simplest mode, and assumed for most simulators(except for microstrip
lines which assume “quasi-TEM”, which is an approximated equivalent for transient response
calculations).
 Electric field is established by a potential difference between two conductors.
Implies equivalent circuit model must contain capacitor.
 Magnetic field induced by current flowing on the line
Implies equivalent circuit model must contain inductor.

Transmission Lines Class 6

 13

T-Line Equivalent Circuit

 General Characteristics of Transmission
Line
Propagation delay per unit length (T0) { time/distance} [ps/in]
Or Velocity (v0) {distance/ time} [in/ps]
Characteristic Impedance (Z0)
Per-unit-length Capacitance (C0) [pf/in]
Per-unit-length Inductance (L0) [nf/in]
Per-unit-length (Series) Resistance (R0) [Ω /in]
Per-unit-length (Parallel) Conductance (G0) [S/in]

lR0 lL0
lG0 lC0

Transmission Lines Class 6

 14

Ideal T Line
 Ideal (lossless) Characteristics of Transmission
Line
Ideal TL assumes: lL0
Uniform line
Perfect (lossless) conductor (R0→0) lC0
Perfect (lossless) dielectric (G0→0)
We only consider T0, Z0 , C0, and L0.
 A transmission line can be represented by a
cascaded network (subsections) of these
equivalent models.
The smaller the subsection the more accurate the model
The delay for each subsection should be no
larger than 1/10th the signal rise time.

Transmission Lines Class 6

 Signal Frequency and Edge Rate
15

vs.
Lumped or Tline Models
In theory, all circuits that deliver transient power from
one point to another are transmission lines, but if the
signal frequency(s) is low compared to the size of the
circuit (small), a reasonable approximation can be
used to simplify the circuit for calculation of the circuit
transient (time vs. voltage or time vs. current)
response.

Transmission Lines Class 6

 16

T Line Rules of Thumb

So, what are the rules of thumb to use?

May treat as lumped Capacitance

Use this 10:1 ratio for accurate
modeling of transmission lines

Td < .1 Tx

May treat as RC on-chip, and treat as

LC for PC board interconnect

Td < .4 Tx
Transmission Lines Class 6
Other “Rules of Thumb”
17

 Frequency knee (Fknee) = 0.35/Tr (so if Tr is

1nS, Fknee is 350MHz)
 This is the frequency at which most energy is
below
 Tr is the 10-90% edge rate of the signal
 Assignment: At what frequency can your thumb be
used to determine which elements are lumped?
Assume 150 ps/in

Transmission Lines Class 6

When does a T-line become a T-Line?
18

 Whether it is a
bump or a
mountain depends
on the ratio of its
When do we need size (tline) to the
to use size of the vehicle
transmission line (signal
analysis wavelength)
techniques vs.
lumped circuit  Similarly, whether or
analysis? not a line is to be
considered as a
transmission line
depends on the ratio
of length of the line
(delay) to the
wavelength of the
applied frequency or
Wavelength/edge rate Tline the rise/fall edge of
the signal

Transmission Lines Class 6

Equations & Formulas

How to model & explain

transmission line behavior
 20

Relevant Transmission Line Equations

Propagation equation

γ = ( R + jωL)(G + jωC ) = α + jβ
α is the attenuation (loss) factor
β is the phase (velocity) factor

Characteristic Impedance equation

( R + j ωL )
Z0 =
(G + jωC )
In class problem: Derive the high frequency, lossless approximation for Z0

Transmission Lines Class 6

 21

Ideal Transmission Line Parameters

 Knowing any two out of Z0, Td, C0,
and L0, the other two can be
calculated. L0
 C0 and L0 are reciprocal functions
Z0 = ; Td = L0 C0 ;
C0
of the line cross-sectional
dimensions and are related by T0
constant me. C0 = ; L0 = Z 0 T 0 ;
Z0
 ε is electric permittivity
1
= C0 L0 =µ ε ;
ε 0= 8.85 X 10-12 F/m (free space)
v0 ;
ε ri s relative dielectric constant
µ ε
 µ is magnetic permeability
µ 0= 4p X 10-7 H/m (free space) µ = µ rµ 0 ; ε = ε rε 0 .
µ r is relative permeability

Don’t
Don’t forget
forget these
theserelationships
relationshipsand
andwhat
what they
theymean!
mean!

Transmission Lines Class 6

Parallel Plate Approximation
22

 Assumptions TC
TEM conditions
ε TD
Uniform dielectric (ε ) between
conductors
TC<< TD; WC>> TD
 T-line characteristics are ε * PlateArea Base
WC
function of: C=
Material electric and magnetic
properties
d equation
WC  F WC  pF
Dielectric Thickness (TD) C0 ε⋅ ⋅  8.85⋅ε r ⋅ ⋅ 
Width of conductor (WC) TD  m TD  m 
 Trade-off TD  F  T D  µH
TD ; C0 , L0 , Z0  L0 µ⋅ ⋅  0.4 ⋅π ⋅µ r ⋅ ⋅ 
WC ; C0 , L0 , Z0  WC  m WC  m 
TD µr
Z0 377⋅ ⋅ ⋅Ω
WC εr

To a first order, t-line capacitance and inductance can

be approximated using the parallel plate approximation.
Transmission Lines Class 6
 23

Improved Microstrip Formula

 Parallel Plate Assumptions +
Large ground plane with
zero thickness
 To accurately predict
microstrip impedance, you
must calculate the effective
dielectric constant.
87  5.98TD 
Z0 ≈ ln
εr + 1.41  0.8WC + TC 
WC
TC
ε TD
From Hall, Hall & McCall:
 Valid when:
0.1 < WC/TD < 2.0 and 1 < r < 15

εr + 1 εr − 1 TC
εe = + + F − 0.217( εr − 1)
2 12TD WCTD
2 1+
WC
2 You can’t
 WC 
0.02 (εr −1)1 −
WC

T
 for
TD
<1
beat a field
F=  D 
0 for
WC
>1 solver
TD

Transmission Lines Class 6

 24

Improved Stripline Formulas

 Same assumptions as used for
microstrip apply here WC TD1
TC
ε
TD2
From Hall, Hall & McCall:
Symmetric (balanced) Stripline Case TD1 = TD2

60  4(TD1 + TD1) 
Z 0 sym ≈ ln 

εr  0. 67π ( 0.8WC + T C ) 
Valid when WC/(TD1 +TD2 ) < 0.35 and TC/(TD1 +TD2 ) < 0.25
You can’t
Offset (unbalanced) Stripline Case TD1 > TD2 beat a field
solver
Z 0 sym(2 A, WC , TC , εr ) ⋅ Z 0 sym(2 B, WC , TC , εr )
Z 0offset ≈ 2
Z 0 sym(2 A,WC , TC , εr ) + Z 0 sym(2 B,WC , TC , εr )

Transmission Lines Class 6

 25

Refection coefficient
 Signal on a transmission line can be analyzed by
keeping track of and adding reflections and
transmissions from the “bumps” (discontinuities)
 Refection coefficient
Amount of signal reflected from the “bump”
Frequency domain ρ =sign(S11)*|S11|
If at load or source the reflection may be called gamma (Γ L
or Γ s)
Time domain ρ is only defined a location
The “bump”
Time domain analysis is causal.
Frequency domain is for all time.
We use similar terms – be careful
 Reflection diagrams – more later

Transmission Lines Class 6

Reflection and Transmission
26

Incident 1+ρ Transmitted

ρ Reflecte
d
Reflection Coeficient Transmission Coeffiecent
Zt − Z0
ρ
Zt − Z0 τ (1 + ρ) "" → "" τ 1+
Zt + Z0
Zt + Z0
2⋅ Zt
τ
Zt + Z0

Transmission Lines Class 6

 27

Special Cases to Remember

A: Terminated in Zo
Zs −
Zo Zo ρ = Zo Zo = 0
Vs Zo + Zo

B: Short Circuit
Zs −
Zo ρ = 0 Zo = −1
Vs 0 + Zo

C: Open Circuit
Zs ∞ −Zo
Zo ρ= =1
Vs ∞ + Zo

Transmission Lines Class 6

 28

Assignment – Building the SI Tool Box

Compare the parallel plate
approximation to the improved
microstrip and stripline formulas
for the following cases:
Microstrip:
WC = 6 mils, TD = 4 mils, TC = 1 mil, ε r =4
Symmetric Stripline:
WC = 6 mils, TD1 = TD2 = 4 mils, TC = 1 mil, ε r =4
Write Math Cad Program to calculate Z0, Td, L
& C for each case.
What factors cause the errors with the parallel
plate approximation?
Transmission Lines Class 6
 29

Transmission line equivalent circuits and

relevant equations

 Basic
Basic pulse
pulselaunching
launchingonto
ontotransmission
transmissionlines
lines
 Calculation
Calculation of
of near
nearand
andfar
far end
endwaveforms
waveformsfor
for
classic
classic load
load conditions
conditions

Transmission Lines Class 6

Review: Voltage Divider Circuit
30

 Consider the simple

circuit that contains RS
source voltage VS,
source resistance RL
RS, and resistive VS VL
load RL.

 The output voltage,

VL is easily
calculated from the
RL
source amplitude VL = VS
and the values of RL + R S
the two series
resistors.

Why
Why do
do we
we care
care for?
for?
Next
Next page….
page….
Transmission Lines Class 6
 31

Solving Transmission Line Problems

The next slides will establish a procedure that will
allow you to solve transmission line problems
without the aid of a simulator. Here are the steps
that will be presented:
1. Determination of launch voltage & final “DC” or
“t =0” voltage
2. Calculation of load reflection coefficient and
voltage delivered to the load
3. Calculation of source reflection coefficient and
resultant source voltage

These
These are
are the
the steps
steps for
for solving
solving
all
all t-line
t-line problems.
problems.
Transmission Lines Class 6
Determining Launch Voltage
32

TD
Rs A B
Vs
Zo
0 Vs Rt

(initial voltage)
t=0, V=Vi

Z0 Rt
Vi = VS Vf = VS
Z 0 + RS Rt + RS

Step 1 in calculating transmission line waveforms

is to determine the launch voltage in the circuit.
 The behavior of transmission lines makes it easy
to calculate the launch & final voltages – it is
simply a voltage divider!
Transmission Lines Class 6
 33

Voltage Delivered to the Load

TD
Vs Rs A B
Vs Zo Rt
0

(initial voltage)
t=0, V=Vi

(signal is reflected)
t=2TD,
V=Vi − +Zo
Rt+ρB(Vi) ρ A( ρ B)(Vi ) t=TD, V=Vi +ρ B(Vi )
= ρ Β (Vincident )
ρ Β =
Vreflected
Rt + Zo VB = Vincident + Vreflected
Step 2: Determine VB in the circuit at time t = TD
 The transient behavior of transmission line delays the
arrival of launched voltage until time t = TD.
 VB at time 0 < t < TD is at quiescent voltage (0 in this case)
 Voltage wavefront will be reflected at the end of the t-line
 VB = Vincident + Vreflected at time t = TD
Transmission Lines Class 6
 34

Voltage Reflected Back to the Source

Rs A B
Vs
Zo
0 Vs ρ A ρ B Rt

TD
(initial voltage)
t=0, V=Vi

(signal is reflected)
t=2TD,
V=Vi + ρ B (Vi) +ρ A( ρ B )(Vi ) t=TD, V=Vi +ρ B (Vi )

Transmission Lines Class 6

 Voltage Reflected Back to the Source 35

ρ Rs − Zo Vreflected = ρ Α (Vincident )
Α =
Rs + Zo VA = Vlaunch + Vincident + Vreflected

Step 3: Determine VA in the circuit at time t = 2TD

 The transient behavior of transmission line delays the
arrival of voltage reflected from the load until time t =
2TD.
 VA at time 0 < t < 2TD is at launch voltage
 Voltage wavefront will be reflected at the source
 VA = Vlaunch + Vincident + Vreflected at time t = 2TD

In the steady state, the solution converges to

VB = VS[Rt / (Rt + Rs)]

Transmission Lines Class 6

 36

Problems Solved Homework

 Consider the circuit

shown to the right
with a resistive load,
assume propagation RS I1
Z0 ,Τ 0
I2

delay = T, RS= Z0 . VS V1
l
V2 RL

Calculate and show

the wave forms of
V1(t),I1(t),V2(t), and
I2(t) for (a) RL= ∞
and (b) RL= 3Z0

Transmission Lines Class 6

 37

Step-Function into T-Line: Relationships

 Source matched case: RS= Z0
V1(0) = 0.5VA, I1(0) = 0.5IA
Γ S = 0, V(x,∞ ) = 0.5VA(1+ Γ L)
 Uncharged line
V2(0) = 0, I2(0) = 0
 Open circuit means RL= ∞
Γ L = ∞ /∞ = 1
V1(∞ ) = V2(∞ ) = 0.5VA(1+1) = VA
I1(∞ ) = I2 (∞ ) = 0.5IA(1-1) = 0

Solution
Transmission Lines Class 6
 38

Step-Function into T-Line with Open Ckt

 At t = T, the voltage wave reaches load end
and doubled wave travels back to source end
V1(T) = 0.5VA, I1(T) = 0.5VA/Z0
V2(T) = VA, I2 (T) = 0
 At t = 2T, the doubled wave reaches the
source end and is not reflected
V1(2T) = VA, I1(2T) = 0
V2(2T) = VA, I2(2T) = 0

Solution
Transmission Lines Class 6
 39

Waveshape:
Step-Function into T-Line with Open Ckt
I1
IA
I2 RS I1 I2
0.75IA Z0 ,Τ 0
Current (A)

l
0.5IA VS V1 V2 Open

0.25IA

0 Τ 2Τ 3Τ 4Τ Time (ns) This is called

VA
V1 “reflected wave
V2 switching”
0.75VA
Voltage(V)

0.5VA

0.25VA Solution
Transmission Lines Class 6
 40

Problem 1b: Relationships

 Source matched case: RS= Z0
V1(0) = 0.5VA, I1(0) = 0.5IA
Γ S = 0, V(x,∞ ) = 0.5VA(1+ Γ L)
 Uncharged line
V2(0) = 0, I2(0) = 0
 RL= 3Z0
Γ L = (3Z0 -Z0) / (3Z0 +Z0) = 0.5
V1(∞ ) = V2(∞ ) = 0.5VA(1+0.5) = 0.75VA
I1(∞ ) = I2(∞ ) = 0.5IA(1-0.5) = 0.25IA

Solution
Transmission Lines Class 6
 41

Problem 1b: Solution

 At t = T, the voltage wave reaches load end
and positive wave travels back to the source
V1(T) = 0.5VA, I1(T) = 0.5IA
V2(T) = 0.75VA , I2(T) = 0.25IA
 At t = 2T, the reflected wave reaches the
source end and absorbed
V1(2T) = 0.75VA , I1(2T) = 0.25IA
V2(2T) = 0.75VA , I2(2T) = 0.25IA

Solution
Transmission Lines Class 6
Waveshapes for Problem 1b
42

I1
IA
I2 RS I1 I2
0.75IA Z0 ,Τ 0
Current (A)

l
0.5IA VS V1 V2 RL

0.25IA

0 Τ 2Τ 3Τ 4Τ Ti me (ns)
Note that a
I1
VA properly
I2
0.75V
terminated wave
A
settle out at 0.5
Voltage(V)

0.5VA
SolutionV
0.25V
A Solution
Transmission Lines Class 6
Transmission line step response
43

 Introduction
Introductionto
tolattice
latticediagram
diagram analysis
analysis
 Calculation
Calculationof
of near
near and
andfar
far end
end waveforms
waveformsfor
for
classic
classicload
load impedances
impedances
 Solving
Solvingmultiple
multiplereflection
reflectionproblems
problems

Complex
Complexsignal
signal reflections
reflectionsat
atdifferent
different types
typesof
of
transmission
transmissionlineline“discontinuities”
“discontinuities”will
will be
be analyzed
analyzed
in
in this
thischapter.
chapter. Lattice
Latticediagrams
diagramswill
will be
beintroduced
introduced
as
as aasolution
solution tool.
tool.

Transmission Lines Class 6

 44

Lattice Diagram Analysis – Key Concepts

V(source) Zo V(load)
Vs Rs
The lattice diagram is a 0 TD = N ps
Vs Rt
tool/technique to simplify
the accounting of ρ source ρ load
reflections and waveforms V(load)
Time V(source)
 Diagram shows the boundaries 0 a
(x =0 and x=l) and the reflection A’
coefficients (GL and GL )
N ps A
 Time (in T) axis shown b
vertically
 Slope of the line should 2N ps
c
B’
indicate flight time of signal
Particularly important for multiple
reflection problems using both 3N ps B
microstrip and stripline mediums. d
 Calculate voltage amplitude C’
for each successive reflected 4N ps
e
wave
 Total voltage at any point is the 5N ps
sum of all the waves that have
reached that point
Transmission Lines Class 6
 Lattice Diagram Analysis – Detail 45

ρ ρ
source load

V(source) V(load)

0 Vlaunch
0

Time Vlaunch N ps
Vlaunch ρ load

Vlaunch (1+ρ load ) Time

2N ps
Vlaunch ρ load ρ source

Vlaunch (1+ρ load +ρ load ρ source ) 3N ps

Vlaunch ρ 2
load ρ source

Vlaunch (1+ρ load +ρ 2

load ρ source +ρ 2
load ρ 2
source
4N ps
Vlaunch ρ 2
load ρ 2
source
V(source) Zo V(load)
Vs Rs 5N ps
0 Vs TD = N ps
Rt

Transmission Lines Class 6

Transient Analysis – Over Damped 46

V(source) Zo V(load) Assume Zs=75 ohms

2v Zs Zo=50ohms
0 TD = 250 ps Vs=0-2 volts
Vs
Zo  50 
Vin it ia l= Vs = (2)  = 0.8
ρ source = 0.2 ρ load = 1 Zs + Zo  75 + 50 
Time V(source) V(load) Zs − Zo 75 − 50
0
ρ s o ur ce = = = 0.2
0.8v Zs + Zo 75 + 50
0v
Zl − Zo ∞ − 50
500 ps 0.8v
ρ lo a d = = =1
Zl + Zo ∞ + 50
0.8v

1000 ps 1.6v Response fr om lattice diagram

0.16v
2.5
1500 ps 1.76v 2
0.16v
1.5
V olt s
1.92v 1 Sour ce
2000 ps
0.032v 0.5
Load

0
2500 ps 0 2 50 500 750 1000 1250

Tim e , ps

Transmission Lines Class 6

Transient Analysis – Under Damped 47

V(source) Zo V(load) Assume Zs=25 ohms

2v Zs Zo =50ohms
0 Vs TD = 250 ps Vs=0-2 volts

Zo  50 
Vinitial = Vs = (2)  = 1.3333
ρ source = −0 . 3333 ρ load = 1 +
Zs Zo +
 25 50 
Time V(source) V(load)
Zs −Zo 25 −50
0 ρsource = = = −0.33333
1.33v + +
Zs Zo 25 50
0v
Zl −Zo ∞ −50
500 ps 1.33v ρload = = =1
1.33v +
Zl Zo ∞ + 50

1000 ps 2.66v Response from lattice diagram

-0.443v

3
1500 ps 2.22v
-0.443v 2.5
2
Volts
1.77v 1.5
2000 ps
0.148v 1 Source
0.5 Load
2500 ps 1.92 0
0.148v 0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250

Time, ps
2.07

Transmission Lines Class 6

Two Segment Transmission Line Structures
48

X X
Rs
Zo1 Zo2 Rt
Vs
TD TD A= a A' = b + e
T3 T2 B = a+c+d B' = b + e + g + i
ρ1 ρ 2 ρ3 ρ4 C = A+ c+ d + f + h C' = b + e + g + i + k + l
a a = vi
Z o1
vi = Vs
TD A c b Rs + Z o1 b = aT2

2TD Rs − Z o1 c = aρ 2
d e ρ1 =
Rs + Z o1
3TD B g
A’ d = cρ 1
f
Z o 2 − Z o1
4TD
ρ2 = e = bρ 4
h i Z o 2 + Z o1
B’ f = dρ 2 + eT3
5TD C j k Z − Zo2
ρ 3 = o1 g = eρ 3 + dT2
Z o1 + Z o 2
l
Rt − Z o 2 h = fρ 1
C’ ρ4 =
Rt + Z o 2 i = gρ 4

T2 = 1 + ρ 2 j = hρ 2 + iT3

T3 = 1 + ρ 3 k = iρ 3 + hT2
Transmission Lines Class 6
 49

Assignment Previous examples are

the preparation
 Consider the two segment
transmission line shown to
the right. Assume RS= 3Z01
and Z02 = 3Z01 . Use Lattice
RS I1 I2 I3
diagram and calculate Z0 1,Τ 01 Z0 2,Τ 02
reflection coefficients at l1 l2
V1 V3 S h o rt
the interfaces and show theS
V V2

wave forms of V1(t), V2(t),

and V3(t).
 Check results with PSPICE

Transmission Lines Class 6