Signal Flow Graph

Prof. D. Kannadassan,
School of Electronics Engineering
ECE102 - Microwave Engineering Fall 2012_13 1
Problems with Port parameter analysis
Port parameters like [Z], [Y] and [S], the fundamental definition on the
confirmation is current/incident components at all ports will flow inside





So, they all can be useful for single network analysis, but they fails or
become complex when series/parallel connection of networks are made. To
solve this issue, ABCD parameter and Signal Flow graph were introduced.
Signal flow graph is a graphical, easy, more effective and flexible method
to solve
Signal Flow Graph
A signal flow graph (SFG) is a graphical representation of signals that are
flowing from one port to another, or ratio of signals. Here in our
Microwave Engineering, we are going to use S parameters as key element
in Signal Flow graph.

Primary components:
Nodes: To represent the system variables. The each port has two nodes, 1.
incident/entering ( a
i
) and 2. reflected/leaving ( b
i
) components
Braches: Directed path between nodes, representing the flow of signal from
one node to other. Every branch will be associated with S parameters
(reflection or Transmission coefficients)

Signals (branches) should travel in only one direction
If a braches m is traveling from Node 2 to 1. The reverse path, 1 to 2,
should be defined by another branch, may be n
1
2
m
n
Note carefully..
Two Port
N/W
Load
Source
Cascading of three diff n/w
Solving SFG and Rules
Using SFG, we can solve a network problem for a particular parameter
calculation, signals. Its also useful to reduce the unwanted components by
reducing with balance in network.
The solvation can be done by Decomposition, they have rules

Decomposition Rules
Rule-1 (Series Rule): Two braches, whose common node has one incoming and one
outgoing braches, may be combined to form a single branch. The resultant branch will
have the product of confidents of original two branched.
Rule-2: (Parallel Rule) Two branches, are traveling from one common node to another
common node, shall be combined to a single branch. The new branch will be addition on
both the coefficients of original two branches





Rule-3: (Self-loop Rule) A node with one self loop (the branch which starts and ends in
same node) of coefficient S
ij
can be eliminated by multiplying 1/(1- S
ij
) with coefficients
the feeding branches
Rule-4: (Splitting Rule) A node may be split into two (in different variable name), as
long as the resulting SFG contains each combination of separate branches (input/output)
that connected to original node
Only for outgoing branch
Problem 1.7
Construct a Signal Flow graph for the following network






Determine Input reflection coefficient
in
using Signal flow graph
Solution:
Step -1: Construction of Signal Flow Graph. Check the incoming/outgoing
signal of network carefully
Starting the solution need some logical idea, it will come by solving many
problems.

Step-2: Use splitting rule for the node a
2






Step-3: Series Rule at node a
2

Original common Node
Remember:
While duplication
of nodes, there
should not be any
change in
operation of
network
Step-4: Apply Self-loop rule at b
2





Step-5: Use series rule at b
2




Step-6: Use parallel rule at a
1
and b
1

in
Problem 1.8
Find the input reflection coefficient
in
at port-1 and P
2
/P
1
P
1
P
2
P
3

3
| |
(
(
(

=
0 0
0
0 0
23
23 12
12
S
S S
S
S
in