Transmission Line Impedance Matching

1. Quarter-wave Transformer Matching

It is a quarter-wave section of a transmission line used to match transmission lines
to purely resistive loads whose resistance is not equal to the characteristic impedance of the
line.

Impedance Transformation:
RL = Zo : 1:1 turns ratio transformer
RL > Zo : step-down transformer
RL < Zo : step-up transformer
2. Shorted Stub Impedance Matching
It is a one-half wavelength or shorter piece of additional transmission line that is
placed across the primary line as close to the load as possible to tune out the reactive
component of the load. Shorted stubs are preferred than open stubs because open stubs
have a tendency to radiate, especially at the higher frequencies.

Process:
1. Locate a point as close to the load as possible where the conductive component of the
input impedance is equal to the characteristic admittance of the transmission line:

Yin = G – jB, where G = 1 / Zo

2. Attach the shorted stub to the point on the transmission line identified in step 1.
3. Depending on whether the reactive component at the point identified in step 1 is
inductive or capacitive, the stub length is adjusted accordingly:

Yin = Go – jB + jBstub
Yin = Go ( if B = Bstub )
3. Directional Coupler
It is a coupling unit that is used to measure the power being delivered to a load
or an antenna through a transmission line. This is done by a sampling
technique, in which a known fraction of the power (only of the forward wave
and not of the reflected wave) is measured, so that the total may be calculated.
4. Baluns
It is a simple form of transmission line transformer
designed to convert between balanced and
unbalanced transmission parallel line.
5. Slotted Line
It is a piece of coaxial line with a long narrow longitudinal
slot in the outer conductor that permits convenient and
accurate measurement of the position and size of the first
voltage maximum from the load.
6. Smith Chart
It was invented by Philip Smith in 1939 to show how
the complex impedance of a transmission line varies along
its length.
Finding the Input Impedance using the Smith Chart

1. Normalize the load impedance (z = ZL / Zo) then

plot.
2. Draw the impedance circle. You may also read
the SWR along the purely resistive line.
3. Trace the length of the line and intersect the
location to the normalize impedance circle to get
the normalized input impedance (zi).
4. Find the actual input impedance (Zi = Zo x zi)
Quarter-Wave Transformer Matching using the
Smith Chart
1. Normalize the load impedance (z = ZL / Zo)
then plot.
2. Draw the impedance circle. You may also read
the SWR along the purely resistive line.
3. Extend the point to the outermost scale.
4. Get the distance of the point on the outermost
scale to the nearest X=0 line. This is the
distance of the transformer from the load.
5. Find the actual input impedance : Zi = Zo x zi
(note: zi = SWR)
6. Find the Zo of the transformer: Zo(λ/4) = √ZoZi
Stub Matching using the Smith Chart
1. Normalize the load impedance (z = ZL / Zo) then plot.
2. Use admittance rather than impedance because stubs are
shunted across the load. The circles and arcs are now used for
conductance and susceptance.
3. Normalize the admittance (y) by rotating the impedance plot 180
degrees.
4. Intersect “y” to R=1 ( call this y’); y’=1 ± j
5. The distance between y and y’ is the distance from the load that
the stub must be placed.
6. Get the reciprocal of y’ with R=0; call this stub admittance (ys); ys
=0∓j
7. Move around the outside circle of the Smith chart (the circle
where R=0) to the ys point. This is the shorted stub length.
8. Move around the outside circle of the Smith chart (the circle
where X=0) to the ys point. This is the open stub length.
A 150 ohm transmission line
is terminated to a load with
an impedance of 30-j50
ohms. Find the following:

a. SWR
b. Reflection coefficient
c. Zin if length is 1.15λ
d. Apply λ/4 transformer
e. Apply shorted stub
A 150 ohm transmission line is
terminated to a load with an
impedance of 30-j50 ohms. Find the
following:

a. SWR
b. Reflection coefficient
c. Zin if length is 1.15λ
d. Apply λ/4 transformer
e. Apply shorted stub
Special Kinds of Transmission Lines

1. Microstrip Transmission Line

Microstrip transmission line is a kind of "high grade"
printed circuit construction, consisting of a track of copper or
other conductor on an insulating substrate. There is a
"backplane" on the other side of the insulating substrate,
formed from similar conductor.
Where: Zo = characteristic impedance (Ω)
εr = dielectric constant
w = width of copper trace
t = thickness of copper trace
h = distance between copper trace and the ground plane
Stripline
Stripline is simply a flat conductor sandwiched between two ground planes. It is more
difficult to manufacture than microstrip but is less likely to radiate, thus losses are
lower.

Where: Zo = characteristic impedance (Ω)

εr = dielectric constant
d = dielectric thickness
w = width of conducting copper trace
t = thickness of conducting copper trace
h = distance between copper trace and the ground plane

ln
d