Transmission lines and Antennas

Course code 13.493B (10 lectures) G. E. Peckham

Contents
1 Transmission lines 1
1.5 The Smith chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.5.2 Loci on the chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.5.3 Graphical solution of the matching problem . . . . . . 3
1.5.4 Graphical solution to two-stub matching . . . . . . . . 4

1.5.1 Introduction
The Smith Chart is an Argand diagram of the complex reflection coefficient,
Γ, of a load connected to a line of impedance Z0 .

1.5.2 Loci on the chart

Moving along the transmission line
As the sampling point moves away from the load toward the generator, the
amplitudes of the incident and reflected waves do not change, so that |Γ| is
also unchanged. However moving a phase distance θ toward the generator,
the phase of v + changes by +θ and that of v − by −θ , so that the phase
of Γ changes by −2θ. Γ traces a locus on the Smith Chart which is a
circle centred on the origin. The motion is clockwise (decreasing phase) for
movement toward the generator and anticlockwise for movement toward the
load.

Load impedance
It is convenient to plot normalised impedances, that is the impedance value
divided by the impedance of the standard line. With this convention,
Z −1 1−Y
Γ= =
Z +1 1+Y
for the standard line terminated in a load of normalised impedance Z or
normalised admittance Y . Writing Y = G + jH
1 − G − jH
Γ=
1 + G + jH
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Transmission lines and Antennas Section 1.5

Figure 1: The Smith chart

The loci of Γ for fixed G are circles centred on the real axis and passing
1+G , 0) for H = 0 and through (−1, 0) for H → ∞.
through the points ( 1−G
Loci for fixed H intersect these circles at right angles. These loci serve as
curved axes for plotting admittance points on the chart (figure 1). Note
that if impedance values Z were plotted on the admittance axes, the value
of Γ would be wrong only in sign. This can be corrected simply by rotating
the chart through 180◦ .

Shorted stub
The reflection coefficient has magnitude 1 (|Γ| = 1), but the phase angle
is equal to −2θ where θ is the phase length of the stub. The impedance
of a shorted stub (a pure reactance) may be read from the Smith chart by
noting the value of the reactive co-ordinate which cuts the outer circle at a
position corresponding to a phase angle 2θ measured clockwise from the zero
impedance point. The admittance of the stub is read from the diametrically
opposed point corresponding to a phase angle 2θ measured clockwise from
the infinite impedance point.

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Transmission lines and Antennas Section 1.5

Figure 2: Single stub matching

1.5.3 Graphical solution of the matching problem

A single stub is connected in parallel with the transmission line at a position
close to the mismatched terminating load. The position of the stub and its
length are to be adjusted to match the load to the line. The problem is
solved in stages:
1. Plot the load admittance YL on the chart using the curved admittance
co-ordinates (figure 2).
2. Move along the transmission line toward the generator (i.e. move on a
circle centred on the chart origin) until the real part of the admittance
is equal to one. (i.e. until the circle intersects the conductance co-
ordinate curve labelled 1 at point P ). The angle of the circular arc is
twice the required phase length of the line.
3. Read the required reactive admittance from the reactive co-ordinate
passing through P .
4. Find the length of shorted stub to cancel this reactance by following
the reactive co-ordinate to the circumference of the diagram (point
Q). The angle measured around the circumference from the point S
representing a short circuit (Y = ∞) is twice the required phase length
of the stub.

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c G. E. Peckham
Transmission lines and Antennas Section 1.5

Figure 3: Two stub matching

1.5.4 Graphical solution to two-stub matching

It is often mechanically inconvenient to vary the length of a section in series
with a transmission line. A load may be matched by introducing two variable
shorted stubs at fixed distances from the load, typically 3/8 of a wavelength
apart. The transformation of the load admittance, YL , on moving along the
line to the position of the first stub is described by the circle A in figure 3.
The first stub adds a reactive admittance corresponding to movement along
the reactive co-ordinate curve B. Circle C describes the transformation
along the line to the position of the second stub. The length of the first
stub must be chosen so that at this point the real part of the admittance is
equal to 1 (normalised value). The second stub adds a reactive component
to move along curve D to the origin.

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c G. E. Peckham