Smith Chart: Introduction

Introduction
A graphical tool used to solve
transmission-line problems.
Today, a presentation medium in
computer-aided design (CAD) softwares
and measuring equipment for displaying
the performance of microwave circuits.

Smith Chart and

The Smith chart lies in the
complex plane of
A = 0 .3 + j 0 .4
or A = 0 .5e j 53

B = 0 .5 j 0 .2 or B = 0 .54 e j 202

Smith Chart: Refection Coefficient at z

In a lossless transmission line, there is no attenuation and a wave
traveling along the line will only have a phase shift. So the reflection
coefficient (z) at a point of distance l from the load at the end of the
line is related to the load reflection coefficient
L by:
j z

Vo e
( z ) = + j z = L e j 2 z
Vo e

( z)

z =-l

z=0

ZL Note : L = ( z = 0 )

It means the reflection coefficient has same magnitude but only a

phase shift of 2z if we move a length z along the line

Smith Chart: Refection Coefficient at z

Reflection coefficient has
same magnitude but only a
phase shift of 2l if we move
a length l along the line
( rotates clockwise on the
Smith Chart when moving
away from the load and anticlockwise when moving
towards the load).

( z)

z =-l

z=0

Im
(z)
L

2z
Re

ZL

Example: Special cases

The unit circle corresponds to ||=1
SC = 1
OC = 1

** Load impedances can be

represented by points on a Smith chart **
5

Special curves (circles)

Impedance on a Smith chart is represented by normalized
impedance:
Z ( z ) R + jX
z=
=
r + jx
Zo
Zo
Z Zo z 1
=
=
Z + Zo z + 1

From this equation, we can obtain expressions for r and x in

terms of :
2

1
2

=
r

i
1+ r

1+ r

(r 1)2 + i 1

1
=
x x

Families of circles
These equations define family of circles on the ( r , i )
plane corresponding to constant resistance r, and constant
reactance x. The reflection coefficient at a point on the
line with normalized input impedance z = r+jx is then the
intersection point between the constant r and x circles.
2

1
2

=
r

i
1+ r

1+ r

(r 1)2 + i 1

1
=
x x

2
2
2
(
)
(
)
x

x
+
y

y
=
a
Note: The equation
o
o

is a circle in the x-y plane with center at (xo,yo) and

radius a
7

Examples
2
2
1
1
For r=1, we have r + i2 =
2
2

For r=2, we have

2

1
2
r + i =
3
3

For x=+1, we have

(r 1)2 + (i 1)2 = 1
For x=-1, we have

(r 1)2 + (i + 1)2 = 1
8

Example

(a)
(b)
(c)
(e)
(g)
9

Example

(a)
z L = 1 + j 0; l = 0.25
zin = z L = 1 + j 0

10

(b)
z L = 1 + j1; l = 0.5
zin = z L = 1 + j1

11

(c )
z L = 1 j1; l = 0.3
zin = 0.76 + j 0.84

12

(d )
z L = 0.5 j 0.5; l = 1.2
zin = 0.59 + j 0.66

13

(e)
z L = 0; l = 0.1
zin = 0 + j 0.73

14

(f)
z L = j 3; l = 0.4
zin = 0 + j 0.72

15

(g)
z L = ; l = 0.2
zin = 0 j 0.32

16

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