Lecture 21

Transmission Lines: RF and Microwave Circuits

In this lecture you will learn:

More about transmission lines

Impedance transformation in transmission lines
Transmission line circuits and systems

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Transmission Lines: A Review

V

V+
Zo

Voltage at any point on the line can be written as:

Some common examples of

transmission lines

V (z ) = V+ e j k z + V e + j k z
Current at any point on the line can be written as:

V
V
I (z ) = + e j k z e + j k z
Zo
Zo

Co-axial line

The characteristic impedance of a transmission line is:

Zo =

L
C

The dispersion relation for a transmission line is:

k =

LC

Wire on a ground plane

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Transmission Line Circuits

Consider a transmission line connected as shown below:

Zs
Zo

Vs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

ZL

z = l

z=0

Zo = Transmission line impedance

ZL = Load impedance
Z s = Source impedance
In general, voltage on a transmission line is a superposition of forward and backward
going waves:
jkz
+jkz

V (z ) = V+ e

+ V e

The corresponding current is also a superposition of forward and backward going

waves:

V
V
I (z ) = + e j k z e + j k z
Zo
Zo

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Load Boundary Condition

Zo

Zs
Vs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

V+

ZL

V
z = l

V (z ) = V+ e j k z + V e + j k z
Boundary condition:

z=0
V + j k z V + j k z

e
e
I (z ) =
Zo
Zo

At z = 0 the ratio of the total voltage to the total current must equal the load impedance:

V (z = 0 )
V+ + V
=
= ZL
I ( z = 0 ) V+ Z o V Z o

V Z L Z o 1
=
V+ Z L Z o + 1

This gives us the backward going

wave amplitude in terms of the
forward going wave amplitude

Define a load reflection coefficient L as:

Z Z 1
V
L = = L o
V+ Z L Z o + 1
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Load Reflections
Suppose ZL = 0 (short):

Zs

V+

Zo

Vs

z = l
Z Z 1
V
L = = L o
= 1
V+ Z L Z o + 1

V (z = 0 ) = V+ + V = 0

Zs

V = V+

V
V
V
I (z = 0 ) = + = 2 +
Zo
Zo
Zo

and

Suppose ZL = (open):

V+

Zo

Vs

z=0

z = l
V Z L Z o 1
L =
=
= +1
V+ Z L Z o + 1
and
V (z = 0 ) = V+ + V = 2V+

z=0

V = V+
V
V
I (z = 0 ) = + = 0
Zo
Zo

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Impedance Transformation - I
Zs
Zo

Vs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

ZL

z=0

z = l

V (z ) = V+ e j k z + L e + j k z

V
I (z ) = + e j k z L e + j k z
Zo

Question: What is the impedance Z(z) looking towards the load at the location z in the
transmission line?
resistance

Z (z ) =

V (z )
1 + L
= Zo
I (z )
1 L

e2 j k z

Z (z ) = R (z ) + j X (z )

e2 j k z

reactance

Check: What is the impedance Z(z=0)?

Z (z = 0 ) = Zo

1 + L e 2 j k z
1 L e

2 jkz

= Zo
z =0

1 + L
= ZL
1 L

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Impedance Transformation - II
Zs
Zo

Vs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

ZL

z=0

z = l

V (z ) = V+ e j k z + L e + j k z

V
I (z ) = + e j k z L e + j k z
Zo

Question: What is the impedance Z(z=-) looking towards the load at the location
z=- in the transmission line

Z (z = l ) =

V (z = l )
1 + L e 2 j k z
1 + L e 2 j k l
= Zo
= Zo
2
j
k
z
I (z = l )
1 L e
1 L e 2 j k l
z =l

Knowing the impedance looking into the line at z=- we can use the following
equivalent circuit:

Zs

Z (z = l )

Vs

The load impedance ZL has been transformed

by the transmission line into the impedance
Z(z=- ) at the other end

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Equivalent Circuit
Zs
Zo

Vs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

Zs
Vs

z = l
+
-

ZL

z=0

(
)
V
I (z ) = + (e j k z L e + j k z )
Z

V (z ) = V+ e j k z + L e + j k z

Z (z = l )

The voltage across the impedance Z(z=-) in the above circuit is:

Vs

Z (z = l )
Z s + Z (z = l )

So on the transmission line we must have:

Z (z = l )
V (z = l ) = V+ e j k l + L e j kl = Vs
Z s + Z (z = l )

V+ can be found from the above equation

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Example Short Circuit Load - I

Zs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

ZL = 0 implies:

L =

z = l

Z L Zo 1
= 1
Z L Zo + 1

z=0
Z (z = l ) = Zo

and

kl << 1

Suppose k << 1:

kl << 1

l << 1

l << 1

Z (z = l ) = Zo j tan(k l ) j Zo kl = j

Then:

ZL = 0

Zo

Vs

1 + L e 2 j k l
1 L e 2 j k l

l <<

= Zo j tan(k l )

2
v
<<
l
L
LC l = j (Ll )
C

Impedance seen at the source end is inductive

The transmission line appears like one big inductor
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Example Short Circuit Load - II

Zs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

ZL = 0 implies:

L =

ZL = 0

Zo

Vs

z = l

Z L Zo 1
= 1
Z L Zo + 1

z=0
Z (z = l ) = Zo

and

1 + L e 2 j k l
1 L e 2 j k l

= Zo j tan(k l )

capacitive

Z (z = l ) = j Zo tan(k l )
= jX

inductive

kl

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Example Open Circuit Load - I

Zs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

ZL = implies:

L =

Z L Zo 1
= +1
Z L Zo + 1

z = l

z=0

Z (z = l ) = Zo

and

kl << 1

Suppose k << 1:

kl << 1
Then:

ZL =

Zo

Vs

l << 1

l << 1

Z (z = l ) = Zo j cot (k l ) j

1 + L e 2 j k l
1 L e 2 j k l
l <<

= Zo j cot (k l )

2
v
<<
l

1
1
Zo
L
= j
=
kl
C LC l j (Cl )

Impedance seen at the source end is capacitive

The transmission line appears like one big capacitor
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Example Open Circuit Load - II

Zs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

ZL = implies:

L =

ZL =

Zo

Vs

Z L Zo 1
= +1
Z L Zo + 1

z = l

z=0
Z (z = l ) = Zo

and

1 + L e 2 j k l
1 L e 2 j k l

= Zo j cot (k l )

capacitive

Z (z = l ) = j Zo cot (k l )
= jX

inductive

kl

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Example Matched Load

Zs
Vs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

ZL = Zo implies:

L =

V+

Zo

Zo

z = l

Z L Zo 1
=0
Z L Zo + 1

z=0

Z (z = l ) = Zo

and

1 + L e 2 j k l
1 L e 2 j k l

= Zo

For matched loads:

The load reflection coefficient L is zero
There is no reflected wave generated at the load end ( i.e. V_ = 0 )
The impedance seen at the source end is Zo irrespective of the length of the
transmission line

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Periodicity of Impedance Transformation

Zs
Zo

Vs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

ZL

z = l
Z L Zo 1
L =
Z L Zo + 1

z
Z ( z ) = Zo

and

z=0
1 + L e 2 j k z
1 L e 2 j k z

For locations z such that 2kz = 2m (m is an integer) then:

Z (z ) = Zo

1 + L e 2 j k z
1 L e 2 j k z

Note that: 2k z = 2m

= Zo

1 + L
= ZL
1 L

but k =

z=m

Impedance seen at
locations z = m/k is
also ZL

Impedance seen at locations z that are integer multiples of half-wavelength from the
load end is the load impedance ZL
More generally:

Z z m = Z (z )
2

Impedance is periodic with

period equal to half-wavelength

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Standing Wave Ratio

Zs

V+

Zo

Vs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

z = l

ZL

L =

V Z L Z o 1
=
V+ Z L Z o + 1

V (z ) = V+ e j k z + V e + j k z = V+ e j k z + L e + j k z

[ 1+

V (z ) = V+

V ( z ) = V+

1 + L + 2 L cos(2 k z + )

+ 2 L cos(2 k z + )

z=0

L = L e j

The interference of forward and backward going waves leads to standing-wave-like

behavior

Standing Wave Ratio = SWR =

V (z ) max
V (z ) min

1 + L
1 L

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Thevenin Equivalents of the Source - I

So far we have taken a transmission line circuit:

Zs
Zo

Vs

Vs (t ) = Re Vs e j t

z = l

ZL

z=0

And reduced it to the equivalent circuit:

Zs
Vs

Z (z = l )

Now we want to reduce it to the equivalent circuit:

Zth
Vth

ZL

i.e. we want to produce the Thevenin equivalent of the source + transmission

line as seen by the load How do we do that?
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Thevenin Equivalents of the Source - II

STEP 1: To find Zth short the voltage source and find the impedance looking in from
the load terminals

Zs

V+

Zo

ZL

z = l

z=0

Z Z 1
V
s = + = s o
V Z s Zo + 1

Zth = Zo

and

1 + s e 2 j k l
1 s e 2 j kl

STEP 2: To find Vth remove the load and find the voltage at the load terminals

Zs
Vs

V+

Zo

Vth

z = l

ZL

z=0

jZo cot (kl )

Vs
Vth = 2V+ =
cos(kl ) Z s jZo cot (kl )
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Unmatched Infinite Transmission Lines

infinitely long

Zo1

V+ 1

V+ 2

Zo 2

V 1

infinitely long

z=0

Consider the situation above where we have two unmatched transmission lines
connected together

V2 (z ) = V+ 2 e j k 2 z

V1(z ) = V+ 1 e j k1 z + V1 e + j k1 z
I1(z ) =

V+ 1 j k 1 z V 1 + j k 1 z

e
e
Z o1
Z o1

I 2 (z ) =

V+ 2 j k 2 z
e
Zo2

Boundary Conditions
(1) At z=0 the voltage on both the transmission lines must be the same
(2) At z=0 the current on both the transmission lines must be the same

(1) V+1 + V1 = V+ 2
=

V1 Zo 2 Zo1 1
=
V+ 1 Zo 2 Zo1 + 1

and

(2 ) V+1 V1 = V+ 2
Z o1

T =

Z o1

Zo2

V+ 2
2 Z o 2 Z o1
=
V+ 1 Z o 2 Z o 1 + 1

How does one avoid reflections at the junction of the two transmission lines?
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Power Splitting in Microwave Circuits

V+ 1

ZL
Zo1

Zo 2

V 1

V+ 2

z=0
Input wave: Vi (z ) = V+ 1 e

j k1 z

Transmitted wave: Vt (z ) = V+ 2 e j k 2 z

Reflected wave: Vr (z ) = V1 e + j k1 z
Goal: Need to find V+2 and V-1 in terms of V+1
STEP 1: Cast the circuit in the following equivalent form and find V-1

V+ 1

ZL
Zo1

V 1

Zo 2
-

V 1 (Z L + Z o 2 ) Zo1 1
=
V+ 1 (Z L + Z o 2 ) Zo1 + 1

STEP 2: Voltage V+2 is the same as the voltage across the impedance Zo2 in the
equivalent circuit

V+ 2 = [Vi (z = 0 ) + Vr (z = 0 )]

Zo2
Zo2
= V+ 1 (1 + )
Z L + Zo 2
Z L + Zo 2

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

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