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By Anthony N. Gerkis
Motorola Canada Limited
Z11
Lossless LC
Matching Network
Z22 ZL(w)
quency dependence of the load data. This
paper describes the implementation
details of the “Real Frequency” broad-
band matching iterative network synthe-
sis technique. It is designed to synthesize
■ Figure 1. This figure shows a generalized impedance
minimum impedance low pass LC ladder
matching problem for a complex load and a complex
networks to match a user-defined gain
source impedance.
response to tabulated load impedance
data. This synthesis algorithm is shown
to determine the optimum matching net-
work for a given topology. Examples are provid- these new techniques are designed to generate a
ed that illustrate the advantages and limita- matching network that matches a table of com-
tions of the algorithm; also, a brief comparison plex load impedances over frequency to either
is presented between different synthesis tech- an arbitrary resistive source, or a source that is
niques. also represented as a table of complex frequency
The purpose of this paper is to describe the points.
implementation details of the Carlin “Real Introduced by Carlin in 1977, the “Real-
Frequency” broad-band matching network syn- Frequency” Technique (RFT) is a popular
thesis technique. This algorithm synthesizes an impedance matching iterative technique for
LC ladder network to match a complex load synthesizing broad-band impedance matching
impedance to a user-specified gain, as a function networks. Carlin’s research papers show that
of specified frequencies, to an arbitrary source the algorithm yields results superior to the clas-
resistance. sical approach by Fano using analytic gain-
Matching complex load impedances is an bandwidth theory, as well as Chen’s explicit for-
integral part of RF amplifier design and many mulas for computing optimum matching net-
other applications. The practice of arbitrarily works [2], [3]. Although there are several other
selecting a matching network topology and excellent techniques for broad-band matching
using an optimization program to select compo- synthesis (parametric broad-band matching
nent values may not always yield the best algorithms utilizing Bruene functions [8], man-
results over wide frequency bands. Many ually intensive Smith chart graphical methods,
researchers in the field of network theory recog- and Cuthbert’s grid based approach to imped-
nize that this is a common, but flawed practice. ance matching [5]), the RFT algorithm remains
Sophisticated synthesis algorithms have been an effective and elegant means of synthesizing
developed that utilize a combination of princi- broad-band matching networks.
ples from network theory and optimization at “The revolutionary aspect of the RFT is not
various points in the synthesis process. Many of the particular optimization program used, but
=
bg bg
4 RL w R22 w (1) Goal = ÂG desired bw g - G
i actual bw g
i
2
(6)
2 2
bg
RL w + R22 bw g + X bw g + X bw g
L 22
N
Hence, the first task in formulating an impedance func- after the best polynomial fit is found.
tion to approximate a set of discrete impedance points is
to determine the resistance function that approximates C. Construct impedance function uniquely defined by
the resistive (real) part of the desired matching network the resistance function
output impedance, Z22(wi). This resistance function is The resistance function resulting from the interpola-
assumed to be of the form: tion procedure is the resistive part of the minimum
impedance function that interpolates the desired output
A0 impedance of the matching network [2]. The next step is
bg
Rw =
B0 + B1w 2 + L + w 2n
(7) to find the corresponding minimum impedance function.
This minimum impedance function must be positive real
to ensure that the function is realizable, and is in the fol-
where this function interpolates the resistive (real) part lowing form:
of the desired matching network output impedance,
R22(wi) = real (Z22(wi)), as well as the source impedance, a0 + a1s + L + am sm
RS. The source resistance must be included because the bg
Zs =
b0 + b1s + L + sn
(9)
impedance looking into the output of the matching net-
work also includes RS at DC. Also, for the technique to
find a realizable ladder network, the impedance function The technique employed to perform this operation is
approximating Z22(wi) must have no real zeros in the w- the Gewertz Procedure:
plane. This property results from the requirement that • Compute the roots of the denominator of the resis-
a passive network must be stable. tance function, represented by the complex numbers s1,
The steps in forming the resistance function are as s2, ... sN. The denominator of the impedance function is
follows: formed by the product of these right-half-plane root fac-
• In order to facilitate using a least squares polyno- tors, (s–s1)(s–s2) ... (s–sN).
mial curve fitting algorithm, R(w) is changed to have the • The numerator of the impedance function can be
following form (where x = w2): found by solving the following linear system [4]:
r
b g Rb1w g = a ew j
Tw = 2m
2
m
+ a2b m-1g w 2
e j m-1
+ L + a0 Ar = Âa r + s br - s b-1g s
(10)
(8) s=- r
= bm x m + bm-1 x m-1 + L + b0
which has a matrix form:
6 b5
b2
- b4 b3 L a3
PP MM PP
A3
MM PP
work.
• The roots of T(w) are computed to ensure that the
MN M M M M OPQ MN M PQ MN M PQ
stability requirement is satisfied — the function T(w)
must not have any roots on the imaginary axis. A root on where Ar is formed from the numerator of Equation 7.
the imaginary axis maps to a real zero in the matching This linear system is solved using the Gauss-Jordon
network impedance function, resulting in an unrealiz- method.
able network.
• In many cases, T(w) will have roots on the imagi- D. Synthesis of source terminated LC ladder networks
nary axis. A root on the imaginary axis implies that the The circuit synthesis in this implementation of the
function is “too slow” at high frequencies. The problem Carlin method is restricted to an LC ladder network that
is solved by adding an additional frequency point, has a shunt capacitor as the element adjacent to the load
Z22(wN+1), outside the domain of the frequency points impedance. This results from the assumption (in the
considered in the original load impedance data set. original problem formulation) that a low pass minimum
Recall that it is only necessary for R(w) to approximate impedance network will be designed [3].
the resistive (real) part of the desired matching net- • Separate the denominator of the impedance trans-
work output impedance at the frequencies specified fer function, Z22(s) = P(s)/Q(s), into a function of the
(and at DC where the source impedance is defined). As even powers, Qe(s), and a function of odd powers, Qo(s).
a result, any arbitrary impedance at any frequency • For a source-terminated minimum-impedance lad-
greater than the last load impedance frequency can be der network, the reactance function, ZLC(s), is formed as
added to the data set without changing the synthesis Qe(s)/Qo(s) if the numerator of the impedance transfer
goals. This extra data point is only used to ensure T(w) function, P(s), is an even function of s, or ZLC(s) is
has no roots on the imaginary axis — it is discarded formed as Qo(s)/Qe(s) if P(s) is an odd function [4].
C=0.9279 F
L=2.939 H L=2.3 H
C=.3599 F
T(w^2) Fitted Polynomial
1.4
C=1.2 F
R=1.0 OH
PORTNUM=1 C1 C3 CLOAD
CMP61 R=2.2 OH C C C RLOAD
PORT_SPAR R
JX=0.0 OH
1.2
B
A
0.6
0.4
B1
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Frequency^2 [rad^2/s^2]
S11LOAD
Output Impedance of Matching Network
S11
j1
B1
A1
j0.5 j2
0
0.2 0.5 1 2
■ Figure 5. Output impedance required to achieve desired from a receiver front-end. In this example, a comparison
gain, and the output impedance of the synthesized imped- is made between the RFT algorithm, Cuthbert’s grid-
ance network. based impedance matching approach, GRABIM. This
technique employs an exhaustive grid search of element
values in multidimensional logarithmic space to find a
fit R22(wi) as required by the given gain response. promising matching topology and near optimal element
Figure 5 shows the required output impedance of the values. A constrained network optimizer is then used to
matching network, Z22(wi) (as determined by the piece- refine the solution. That algorithm is presented here as
wise linear optimization) compared to the synthesized an alternative synthesis technique that claims to be
output impedance function, Z(s). superior to real frequency polynomial strategies [5] and
The final load and circuit and input impedance of this the MDS random-gradient optimizer. In addition, the
final network were simulated in HP EEsof’s MDS. The component values computed by the RFT method were
circuit and Smith chart are shown in Figures 6 and 7 used as the starting point for a 200 iteration gradient
respectively. In this example, the synthesized network optimization to “tweak” the matching network. The
achieves the specified power gain over the load imped- goal is to achieve at least a 20 dB return loss across the
ance frequency range. operating band with the minimum number of compo-
nents. The results are shown in Table 2.
B. Preamplifier design example The RFT algorithm failed to synthesize matching net-
This impedance matching problem uses the measured works other than of order four. This was due to its
input impedance from a single stage RF preamplifier inability to find an appropriate polynomial to fit the
July/August 1998 33
Impedance Matching
Optimize
only provide a starting point for
3. Order of matching network
“physical” circuit design due to dis- Compute output impedance using
Hilbert transform
crete-value component parts and
varying load, source and device Z22(wi)
impedances.
Calculate power gain at discrete GT(wi) (continued from below left)
frequencies specified by load data
Conclusions
The Carlin synthesis technique is Z22(wi)
effective in determining the opti- Form the corresponding
mum low pass minimum impedance Find resistance function to approx. reactance function
Optimize
output resistance of match network
LC ladder network to match a load ZLC(s)
impedance to a desired gain R22(s)
response. The main disadvantage of Perform continued fraction
Ensure resistance function is a expansion
the Carlin technique is that a topol- stable transfer function
ogy must be chosen a priori; howev-
er, the output of the synthesis R22(s)
process can definitely aid in the Utilize Gewertz procedure to
Frequency and impedance
scaling
selection of the minimum required form impedance function
order of the matching network. The
Carlin technique will give results Z22(s)
that are better than blindly using a (continued above right) Final Circuit Component Values
gradient optimization routine on a
given topology; however, a combina-
tion random-gradient optimization ■ Flow chart diagram for the Carlin RFT algorithm.
will yield results nearly identical to
the Carlin method, and the tech-
nique may not yield a network satisfying the desired 5. Cuthbert, T., “Broadband Impedance Matching
gain response for all load impedance problems. In gen- Methods", RF Design,” August 1994.
eral, the technique can be used to confidently synthesize 6. Rorabaugh, C., Circuit Design and Analysis -
optimum LC matching networks and can be useful to Featuring C Routines, McGraw-Hill, 1992.
expedite the design process. 7. Van Valkenburg, M., Introduction to Modern
From a theoretical point of view, the Carlin technique Network Synthesis, John Wiley & Sons, 1960.
provides an elegant means of integrating network theo-
ry with optimization to improve the design process. The Author Information
algorithm described in this report can be further refined Anthony Gerkis (B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., P.Eng.) is an RF
to perform double matching synthesis; however, the design engineer with Motorola's Toronto Design Center
technique presented here provides a fast and effective in the Land Mobile Products Sector. Recently published
tool for matching network design. ■ papers include presentations at the Symposium for
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine in Nice, France (1995)
References and New York (1996) on new magnetic resonance imag-
1. Abrie, P. L. D., The Design of Impedance-Matching ing (MRI) techniques. For information on obtaining a
Networks for Radio-Frequency and Microwave copy of a MatlabTM implementation of the “Real
Amplifiers, Artech House, 1985. Frequency” algorithm, contact the author at
2. Carlin, J. and Yarman, B., “A Simplified Real gerkis@ibm.net. Several example data sets from pub-
Frequency Technique Applied to Broad-Band Multistage lished synthesis resources, as well as “real-world” mea-
Amplifiers,” IEEE-MTT, Vol. 30, 12, December 1982. sured data from actual design projects are included with
3. Carlin, J. and Amstutz, P., “On Optimum Broad- the source code.
Band Matching,” IEEE-CAS, Vol. 28, 5, May 1981. The author would like to acknowledge T. Cuthbert for
4. Cuthbert, T., Circuit Design Using Personal assisting in performing analysis using the GRABIM
Computers, John Wiley & Sons, 1983. technique.