Introduction

Transmission line solutions such as reflection coefficients, standing wave ratio and input
impedance can be obtained from Smith chart. IT is an attempt to use Matlab to obtain
transmission line parameters with the help of smith chart.

Objective

 Distinguish the concept of displaying transmission line parameters from Smith chart.
 Realize the significant of using smith chart.
 Recognize the imitations of using Smith chart in transmission line calculations.

Pre-lab preparation

1. Obtain the relationship between the real and imaginary part of reflection coefficient
and the real and imaginary part of normalized load.

We start from the general definition of line impedance (which is equally applicable to the
load impedance)
𝑉(𝑑) 1+Γ(𝑑)
Z(d) = = 𝑍0 1−Γ(𝑑)
𝐼(𝑑)

This provides the complex function Z(d) = f {Re(Γ), Im(Γ)}

that we want to graph. It is obvious that the result would be applicable only to lines with
exactly characteristic impedance Z0. In order to obtain universal curves, we introduce the
concept of normalized impedance
𝑍(𝑑) 1+Γ(𝑑)
zd) = =
𝑍0 1−Γ(𝑑)

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)

z(d) = Re(Γ) + j Im(Γ)

now we can write

1+Re(Γ) + j Im(Γ)
r +jx = 1−Re(Γ)− j Im(Γ)

1−Re2 (Γ)−lm2 (Γ)+ j2Im(Γ

= (1−Re(Γ))2 +lm2 (Γ)
The real part gives

1−Re2 (Γ)−lm2 (Γ)

r = (1−Re(Γ))2 +lm2 (Γ)

1 1
r(Re(Γ) − 1)2 +()+ r lm2 (Γ)+ lm2 (Γ) +1+𝑟 − =0
1−𝑟

1 1
⌊r(Re(Γ) − 1)2 + (Re(Γ)2 − 1) + ⌋ + (1 + 𝑟)𝑙𝑚2 (Γ) = 1+𝑟
1+𝑟

r r2 1
(1+r) [Re2 (Γ) − 2Re(Γ) 1+r + (1+r)2 ] + (1 + 𝑟)𝑙𝑚2 (Γ) = 1+𝑟

𝑟 2 1 2
[𝑅𝑒(Γ) − ] + 𝑙𝑚2 (Γ) = [ ] ----------- Equation of a Circle
1+𝑟 1+𝑟

The imaginary part gives

2𝑙𝑚(Γ)
𝑥=
(1 − Re(Γ))2 + lm2 (Γ)

𝑥 2 [(1 − Re(Γ))2 + lm2 (Γ)] -2𝑥 𝑙𝑚(Γ) +1 -1 = 0

2 1 1
[(1 − Re(Γ))2 + lm2 (Γ)] − 𝑙𝑚(Γ) + 𝑥 2 =
𝑥 𝑥2

2 1 1
(1 − Re(Γ)) + [lm2 (Γ) − 𝑥 𝑙𝑚(Γ) + ] = 𝑥2
𝑥2

1 2 1
(Re(Γ) − 1) + [𝑙𝑚(Γ) − ] = 2 ----------- Equation of a Circle
x 𝑥

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
Center = {1+𝑟 , 0 } radius = 1+𝑟

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 .
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
Center = {1 , 𝑥 } radius = 𝑥

As the normalized reactance x varies from -∞ to ∞ , we obtain a family of arcs contained

inside the domain of the reflection coefficient | Γ | ≤ 1 .
 Implementation

1. A Smith chart showing few normalized resistance circles and normalized reactance
circles were drawn by using Matlab.

Figure 1 Smith Chart for normalized resistance circles and normalized reactance circle
2. The load impedances and the input impedance for respective distance from the load
on the smith chart for different characteristics impendences of the transmission lines
were indicated.

Figure 2 Smith chart for ZL = 50+75j , Z0 = 50 , 𝝀= 0.35

Figure 3 Smith chart for ZL = 100-100j , Z0 = 50 , λ= 0.10

Figure 4 Smith chart for ZL = 50+20j , Z0 = 50 , λ= 0.20

Figure 5 Smith chart for ZL = 50-40j , Z0 = 50 , λ= 0.60

Figure 6 Smith chart for ZL = 50 , Z0 = 75 , λ= 0.45

Figure 7 Smith chart for ZL = 75+100j , Z0 = 75 , λ= 0.25

Figure 8 Smith chart for ZL = 100-75j , Z0 = 75, λ= 0.50

 3. The reflection coefficients at load, standing wave ratios (SWR) at load, input
impedances at given distance , reflection coefficient at given distance and SWR’s at
the given distances were calculated.

Input Reflection
Reflection SWR’s at SWR’s at
Tx lines impedance at coefficient at
Coefficient Input load Given distance
given distance Given distance

12.8230 + -0.5678 +
ZL = 50+75j , Z0 = 50 0.3600 + 4.0000
4.0000 7.7761 0.1941i
, 𝝀= 0.35 0.4800i

0.5385 - -0.1262 -
ZL = 100-100j , Z0 = 4.2656 18.7950 - 4.2656
0.3077i 0.6072i
50 , λ= 0.10 37.0895i

0.0819 -
ZL = 50+20j , Z0 = 50 , 0.0385 + 1.4879 54.9688 - 1.4879
0.1782i
λ= 0.20 0.1923i 20.3731i

0.1379 - 25.2276 - -0.2853 -

ZL = 50-40j , Z0 = 50 , 2.1816
0.3448i 13.9143i 0.2377i 2.1816
λ= 0.60

ZL = 50 , Z0 = 75 , λ= -0.2000 52.8011 - -0.1618 - 1.5000

1.5000
0.45 12.9316i 0.1176i

0.3077 + 27.0000 - -0.3077 -

ZL = 75+100j , Z0 = 75 3.4914
0.4615i 36.0000i 0.4615i 3.4914
, λ= 0.25

ZL = 100-75j , Z0 = 75, 1.0000e+02 - 0.2759 -

0.2759 - 2.4201
λ= 0.50 2.4201 7.5000e+01i 0.3103i
0.3103i
Discussion

1. Advantages and Disadvantages of Smith charts

Advantages

 Quick qualitative analysis can be done as follows,

o The circuit is matched at the center frequency.

o The circuit has the same amount of mismatch at the edge frequencies.
o Pulling the real impedance lower (shifting the curve to the left) will improve the
overall match.

 Simply representation of all possible complex impedance with respect to coordinates

defined by the reflection coefficients.

Disadvantages

 In smith chart there is no frequency axis therefore have difficulties in reading the
actual impedance and frequencies.

2. How to obtain SWR using the Smith chart

 The VSWR is simply obtained on the Smith chart, by reading the value of the
(real) normalized impedance, at the location dmax where Γ is real and positive.
 Step by Step Procedure
i. Identify the load reflection coefficient ΓR and the normalized load
impedance ZR on the Smith chart.
ii. Draw the circle of constant reflection coefficient amplitude
|Γ(d)| =|ΓR|
iii. Find the intersection of this circle with the real positive axis for the
reflection coefficient (corresponding to the transmission line location
dmax).
iv. A circle of constant normalized resistance will also intersect this point.
Read or interpolate the value of the normalized resistance to
determine the SWR.
3. How to obtained susceptance of given impedance
i. Identify the load reflection coefficient ΓR and the normalized load impedance
ZR on the Smith chart.
ii. Draw the circle of constant reflection coefficient amplitude |Γ(d)| =|ΓR|.
iii. The normalized admittance is located at a point on the circle of constant |Γ|
which is diametrically opposite to the normalized impedance.

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.

Review of 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.
Figure 9 Pictorial explanation of Admittance and Impedance

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.