Lab 12:Two Port Network Characteristics Spring 2016

Experiment 12
 To study the two port network.
Scope: This experiment establishes to calculate and verify ‘Z’ and ‘Y’ parameters of a two port
network:

The last lab in your manual is an introduction to two-port circuits and to the methodology for
developing the sets of parameters that may be used to relate the output variables of voltage and
current, typically designated as V2 and I2, respectively, to the input variables of voltage and current,
typically designated as V1 and I1, respectively. This approach is used to characterize a variety of
components and circuit element combinations from filters, through transistors, to microwave circuits.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this laboratory exercise are to gain familiarity with three alternative two-port
network parameter sets, to learn to measure the parameter sets, and to demonstrate the operational
definition of these parameters

EXPERIMENTAL OBJECTIVES:
To determine the impedance, admittance, and hybrid parameter sets for an unknown two-port
network.

PRE-LAB:
Reading:
1. Read the chapter in your textbook on two-port networks. Pay particular attention to the
way in which the various parameters in each set (i.e., the z parameters, the y parameters,
the h parameters, etc.) are defined.
2. Study the Background section.
Written:
1. Review the steps in the procedure below and plan how you will make your
measurements to determine the required parameter values.
2. Sketch the test circuits you will use to make the measurements.
3. Construct suitable tables to record the measured values.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
 Digital Function Generator
 Digital Oscilloscope with Probes.
 Bread Board
 Capacitors
 Inductors

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 Lab 12:Two Port Network Characteristics Spring 2016

 Resistors

Background:

A port consists of a pair of terminals; current enters through one of the terminals and the same
current leaves through the other terminal. A resistor is a one-port network. In this lab we will
study two-port networks with one input port and one output port. Such networks are often treated
as “black boxes” or modules that may be plugged into a circuit to accomplish some task, such as
filtering the signal or providing a controlled voltage. Engineers need a way to characterize the
behavior of such a network and have developed several sets of parameters to do that. Each of
these parameter sets relates the input (side 1) and output (side 2) voltages and currents.

In this lab we will use impedance, admittance, and hybrid parameter sets to characterize a simple
circuit. Impedance and admittance parameters are commonly used to characterize filters, and are
often useful in designing and characterizing impedance matching and power distribution networks.
The term immittance is often applied to the use of either impedance or admittance parameters.
Be aware that because the voltages and currents are phasors with magnitude and phase angle, the
parameters also have magnitude and phase angle. A simple RMS measurement will not suffice.

In Z parameters of a two port network, the input and output voltages V1 and V2 can be expressed in
terms of input and output currents I1 and I2. Out of four variables i.e (V1, V2, I1, I2) V1 and V2 are
dependent variables whereas I1 and I2 are independent variables. The impedance parameters (z
parameters) relate the input and output voltages to the input and output currents by the following two
equations:

𝑽𝟏=𝒛𝟏𝟏𝑰𝟏 + 𝒛𝟏𝟐𝑰𝟐

𝑽𝟐=𝒛𝟐𝟏𝑰𝟏 + 𝒛𝟐𝟐𝑰𝟐

or in matrix notation:
𝑽𝟏 𝒛𝟏𝟏 𝒛𝟏𝟐 𝑰𝟏
[ ] =[𝒛 𝒛𝟐𝟐] [𝑰𝟐]
𝑽𝟐 𝟐𝟏

The z parameters have units of ohms and are most easily found by applying a set of open-circuit
tests on the circuit. When we apply a voltage to the input with the output open-circuited, we can
measure the input current and output voltage and find the first two z parameters as follows:

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 Lab 12:Two Port Network Characteristics Spring 2016

𝒛𝟏𝟏 =
𝑽𝟏 𝒛𝟐𝟏 =
𝑽𝟐
] 𝑰𝟐=𝟎 ] 𝑰𝟐=𝟎
𝑰𝟏 𝑰𝟏

We can determine the other two z parameters by applying a similar test to the output with the
input open-circuited:

𝒛𝟏𝟐 =
𝑽𝟏 𝒛𝟐𝟐 =
𝑽𝟐
] 𝑰𝟏=𝟎 ] 𝑰𝟏=𝟎
𝑰𝟐 𝑰𝟐

Sometimes the impedance parameters do not exist because the voltages cannot be described by
equation 9.1. Therefore, we need alternatives, such as the admittance parameters.

The admittance parameters (y parameters) relate the input and output currents to the input and
output voltages by the following two equations:

𝑰𝟏=𝒚𝟏𝟏𝑽𝟏 + 𝒚𝟏𝟐𝑽𝟐

𝑰𝟐=𝒚𝟐𝟏𝑽𝟏 + 𝒚𝟐𝟐𝑽𝟐

or in matrix notation:
𝑰𝟏 𝒚𝟏𝟏 𝒚𝟏𝟐 𝑽𝟏
[ ] =[𝒚 𝒚𝟐𝟐] [𝑽𝟐]
𝑰𝟐 𝟐𝟏

The y parameters have units of siemens (or mhos) and are most easily found by applying a set of
short-circuit tests on the circuit. When we apply a voltage to the inputs with the output shortcircuited,
we can measure the input current and output current to find the first two y parameters:
𝑰𝟏 𝑰𝟐
𝒚𝟏𝟏 = ] 𝒚𝟐𝟏 =
𝑽𝟏 𝑽𝟐=𝟎
] 𝑽𝟐=𝟎
𝑽𝟏

We can determine the other two y parameters by applying a similar test to the output with the
input short-circuited:
𝑰 𝑰𝟐
𝒚𝟏𝟐 = 𝟏 ]
𝒚𝟐𝟐 = ]
𝑽𝟐 𝑽𝟏=𝟎 𝑽𝟐 𝑽𝟏=𝟎

There are occasions where neither the impedance nor the admittance parameters exist, so there is
need for still another set of parameters.

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The hybrid parameters (h parameters) are based on making V1 and I2 the dependent variables,
and relating them to cross-variables V2 and I1. The h parameters satisfy the equations

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 Lab 12:Two Port Network Characteristics Spring 2016

𝑽𝟏=𝒉𝟏𝟏𝑰𝟏 + 𝒉𝟏𝟐𝑽𝟐

𝑰𝟐=𝒉𝟐𝟏𝑰𝟏 + 𝒉𝟐𝟐𝑽𝟐

or in matrix notation:
𝑽𝟏 𝒉𝟏𝟏 𝐈𝟏
𝒉𝟏𝟐
[ ] =[ ][ ]
𝑰𝟐 𝒉𝟐𝟏 𝒉𝟐𝟐 𝑽𝟐

The h parameters are found using a mix of short- and open-circuit tests as follows:
Short-circuit tests
𝑰𝟐
𝒉𝟏𝟏 = 𝒉𝟐𝟏 = ]
𝑽𝟏 𝑰𝟏 𝑽𝟐=𝟎
] 𝑽𝟐=
𝟎
𝑰𝟏

Open-circuit tests
𝑽𝟏 𝑰𝟐
𝒉𝟏 = ] 𝒉𝟐 = ]
𝑽𝟐 𝑰𝟏=𝟎 𝑽𝟐 𝑰𝟏=𝟎
𝟐 𝟐

PROCEDURE

Warning: Unless you are careful in your planning, in carrying out the experiment, and in recording
your data, you are very likely to make errors. Here in this last laboratory you must figure
out how to do most steps on your own.

Hint: Performing this lab is actually very straightforward, if you take it a step at a time. Think
about what you have learned during this semester. If you need to measure the phase angle of a
voltage or current, you will need to use the oscilloscope. When necessary, insert a sense resistor
of about 10 ohms and measure the voltage across it, including its phase shift, then calculate the
magnitude of the current flowing through the sense resistor. Be sure that you have accurately
measured the resistor value, though, and not just relied on the nominal value. Use only one resistor
decade box (it will make your life easier), and be careful where you put the resistor, so you
don’t make a grounding error on the oscilloscope.

Carefully record each of the measurementsand calculations in tables that you have constructed for
that purpose.

Think about what you are doing, sketch the circuits, work meticulously and methodically, and
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 Lab 12:Two Port Network Characteristics Spring 2016

record your data carefully in tables.

1. Z parameters:
 Use the function generator to apply a 1 kHz sine wave of about 10 VPP to the input terminals
of the circuit in figure below.
 Make the current and voltage measurements necessary to calculate the parameters z11 and
z21 for the z-parameter set. Note that you must determine not only the magnitude but also
the phase of the voltages and currents involved.
 Now apply the 10 VPP, 1 kHz sine wave to the output terminals.
 Make the current and voltage measurements necessary to calculate the parameters Z12 and
Z22.
 Describe your procedure in your laboratory notebook and record the data necessary
to calculate the values for these parameters, including magnitude and phase.

2. Repeat Part 1 to determine the two-port parameter values for the y-parameter set.
3. Repeat Part 1, as needed, to determine the two-port parameter values for the h-parameter
set.

Figure 1: Network to acquire impedance and admittance parameters

Figure 2Network to acquire hybrid parameters

Post lab:
1. Are the parameter values, which you have calculated for the various two-port network
representations in this exercise valid for, say, 10 kHz? Why or why
not?
2. The z and y parameters should be related by a matrix inversion. Invert the 2x2 z parameter matrix
and see if it matches with the y parameters you calculated in lab.

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OBSERVATION TABLES:

Table 1: Z Parameters

When I/p is open circuited When O/p is open circuited

𝑽𝟐 𝑽𝟏 𝑰𝟐 𝑽𝟐 𝑽𝟏 𝑽𝟏
S.NO

𝒛𝟏𝟏 =

𝒛𝟐𝟏 =

𝒛𝟏𝟐 =

𝒛𝟐𝟐 =

Table 2: Y Parameters

When I/p is short circuited When O/p is short circuited

𝑽𝟐 𝑰𝟏 𝑰𝟐 𝑽𝟏 𝑰𝟏 𝑰𝟐

S.NO

𝒚𝟏𝟏 =

𝒚𝟏𝟐 =

𝒚𝟐𝟏 =

𝒚𝟐𝟏 =

Table 3: h Parameters

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 Lab 12:Two Port Network Characteristics Spring 2016

S.NO When I/p is short circuited When O/p is open circuited

𝑽𝟏 𝑰𝟏 𝑰𝟐 𝑽𝟐 𝑽𝟏 𝑰𝟐

𝒉𝟏𝟏 =

𝒉𝟏𝟐 =

𝒉𝟐𝟏 =

𝒉𝟐𝟐 =

References:

1. "Microwave Engineering", Third Edition, David M. Pozer

2. "Microwave Devices and Circuits", Third Edition, Edition, Samuel Y. Liao

3. "Field and Wave Electromagnetics", Second Edition, David K. Cheng

4. "Electromagnetic Waves and Radiating System", Edward C. Jordan, Keith G. Balmain

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