Transmission Lines

Determination of various Parameters & Procedures

Based on the important properties, a Smith chart may be used to determine, among other things,

•  = |  | and S
• Zin or Yin
• Locations of Vmax and Vmin

provided that Z0, ZL, and the length l of a line are given.

Instruments needed to work out transmission line Problems with the aid of Smith chart
• Smith chart
• compass needle
• plain straightedge (scale)
• Pencil
• Eraser

EXAMPLE : A 30-m-long lossless transmission line with Z0 = 50  operating at 2 MHz is

terminated with a load ZL = 60 + j40 . If u = 0.6c on the line, find (a) reflection coefficient ,
(b) standing wave ratio S, (c) input impedance Zin

Solution : This problem may be solved with and without using a Smith chart.

Method 1 : (Without a Smith chart)

For a lossless line, |  | = | L | =  all along the line

ZL − Z0 60 + j40 − 50 10 + j40
(a) L = = = = 0.3523560
Z0 + ZL 60 + j40 + 50 110 + j40

1 +  L 1 +  1 +  1 + 0.3523
(b) S= = = = = 2.088
1 −  L 1 −  1 −  1 − 0.3523

Since u =
 
or  = , l = =
( 6
)
l 2 2 10 ( 30 ) 2
= = 1200
( )
(c)
 u u 0.6 3 108 3

(
 Z + jZ 0 tan l  50 60 + j 40 + j 50 tan120
Zin = Z 0  L
) (
50 6 + j 4 − j5 3)
= =
 Z 0 + jZ L tan l  50 + j ( 60 + j 40 ) tan120  (5 + 4 3 − j6 3 )
= 24.013.220 = 23.97 + j1.35 

Class Note by Santanu Das 1

 Transmission Lines

Method 2 : (Using a Smith chart)

(a) Reflection Coefficient () Magnitude & Phase

Procedure :
ZL 60 + j40
(i) Calculate the normalized load impedance, ZL = = = 1.2 + j0.8
Z0 50
(ii) Enter ZL at point P on Smith chart where r = 1.2 circle and x = 0.8 circle cut each other.
(iii) Join O, the center of the chart to P point.
(iv) Extend OP to meet the r = 0 circle at Q.
(v) Measure OP and OQ (OQ corresponds to maximum |  | = 1)
(vi) Calculate OP / OQ
OP 3.2cm
Then at P,  = L = = = 0.3516
OQ 9.1cm

OP = 3.2 cm and OQ = 9.1 cm (for example) are taken from the used Smith chart.
OP 3.2 unit
It may be more generally written as L = = = 0.3516
OQ 9.1 unit

Note that a Smith chart may be reduced or enlarged but the ratio OP / OQ remains the same.

Class Note by Santanu Das 2

 Transmission Lines

Phase angle  of L is read directly on the chart from the innermost scale at Q point as the
angle between OS and OP; that is,
 = angle POS = 560
Thus, L = 0.3516560

(b) Standing Wave Ratio (S)

Procedure :
(i) Draw a circle passing through P with radius OP and center at O.
This is the constant s- or |  | circle.

(ii) Locate point S where the s-circle cuts the +ve r -axis. The value of r at this point is S.

Therefore, S = r = 2.1 (for r  1)

Note: If i = 0 (zero reactance), the value of r gives the value of S

1 1
For r  1, S = or r = (s-circle cuts the –ve r –axis)
r S

Theory

Apart from the r- and x-circles (shown on the Smith chart), the s-circles or constant Standing-
Wave-Ratio circles can be drawn (not shown on any Smith chart).
These are centered at the origin (0, 0) with S (SWR) varying from 1 to .

Typical examples of s-circles for S = 1, 2, 5 and  are shown in Figure.

Class Note by Santanu Das 3

 Transmission Lines

The value of the standing wave ratio S is determined by locating a point where an s-circle
crosses the r -axis.

Proof : This is obtained by setting i = 0 (zero reactance).

1 −  2r − i2 1 −  2r 1 + r
Putting i = 0 , r= = =
(1 − r ) 2
+ i2 (1 − r ) 2
1 − r

Since  = |  | = | r + ji | = | r |
1 + r 1 + 
If r is +ve (on +ve axis) r= = =S
1 − r 1 − 

1 + r 1 + (− | r |) 1 −  1
If r is –ve (on –ve axis) r= = = =
1 − r 1 − (− | r |) 1 +  S

Thus, if i = 0, the value of r gives the value of S

(c) Input Impedance Zin

Procedure :
(i) Express l in terms of  or in degrees.

u 0.6 3 10
= =
(8
= 90 m
) So,
l 30 m 1
= =  l=

= 0.33
f 2 106  90 m 3 3
 7200
l = 30 m = = 0.33 →
or = 2400
3 3
[Since  corresponds to an angular movement of 720 on the chart,
0

/3 corresponds to an angular movement of 2400.]

(ii) Move 0.33 or 2400 (560 + 1800 + 40) on the s-circle from point P to point G toward the
generator in the clockwise direction.
(iii) At G, obtain Zin = 0.47 + j0.035

Hence, Zin = Zin Z0 = 50(0.47 + j0.035) = 23.5 + j1.75 

Note: Although the results obtained using a Smith chart are only approximate,
for engineering purposes, they are close enough to the exact ones obtained by analytical
method.
We can see how much Time and Effort is saved using a Smith Chart.

Class Note by Santanu Das 4

 Transmission Lines

EXAMPLE : Find the load impedance at the end of a /8 line if the sending-end impedance is
50 + j7 . Z0 = l00 .
(This type of problem is frequently encountered in practice, since generally the load is
electrically somewhat remote from the measuring point at high frequencies.)

Procedure :

(i) Plot the normalized impedance (50 + j7)/100 = 0.5 + j.07 on the Smith chart. Label this
point with C.
(ii) Rotate /8 = 0.125 (or 7200/8 = 900) on a constant |  |-circle or constant VSWR circle
toward the load. This point, labeled D will be the normalized load impedance.

ZL = 0.73 – j0.53 ZL = ZL Z0 = 100(0.73 – j0.53) = 73 – j53 

 Z − jZ 0 tan l 
For Analytical verification : Calculate by Z L = Z 0  S  → Note –ve sign
 Z 0 − jZ S tan l 
Class Note by Santanu Das 5
 Transmission Lines

EXAMPLE : The VSWR on a lossless line is measured to be 5, with a voltage minimum

occurring /3 from the load. Determine the load impedance if Z0 = 50 .

Procedure :
(i) Draw VSWR 5 circle on the Smith chart.
(ii) Find the minimum voltage point on the chart.
[The minimum voltage point on the line corresponds to the minimum impedance point (Zin, min)
which is resistive. This occurs where the VSWR circle intersects with the –ve r -axis (zero
reactance line) - point A.]
(iii) From this minimum voltage point rotate /3=0.33 (or 7200/3 = 2400) on the VSWR circle
toward the load to obtain the normalized load impedance (point B).

This results in ZL = 0.77 + j1.48 ZL = ZL Z0 = 50 (0.77 + j1.48) = 38.5 + j74 

Class Note by Santanu Das 6

 Transmission Lines

For Analytical verification : Calculate by Zin, min = Z0 / S = 50/5

Z − jZ 0 tan l 
& Z L = Z 0  in,min  → Note –ve sign
 Z 0 − jZ in,min tan l 

Theory

➢ Impedance Zin, max and Zin, min

Zin,max = S → Resistive (R > Z0)

Zin ,min = 1/S → Resistive (R < Z0)

Procedure :
(a) Zin,max (resistive, no reactance) is located at S point on positive r -axis or on OPOC line
where s-circle crosses positive r -axis (R > Z0).
(b) Zin,min (resistive, no reactance) is located at T point on negative r -axis or on OPSC line
where s-circle crosses negative r -axis (R < Z0).

➢ Locations of Vmax (or Imin or Zin,max) and Vmin (or Imax or Zin,min)

Zin, max = Vmax / Imin = SZ0

or Zin,max = S → resistive
Procedure :
(a) Vmax (or Imin) or Zin,max (resistive) is located at S point on positive r -axis or on OPOC
line where s-circle crosses positive r -axis (R > Z0).
(b) Measure distance Q-POC towards generator.
(c) Add n  (0.5 ) to that distance to find additional locations. n = 1, 2, 3 …..

Class Note by Santanu Das 7

 Transmission Lines

Zin, min = Vmin / Imax = Z0 / S

or Zin ,min = 1/S → resistive

(a) Vmin (or Imax) or Zin,min (resistive) is located at S point on negative r -axis or on OPSC
line where s-circle crosses negative r -axis (R < Z0).
(b) Measure distance Q-PSC towards generator.
(c) Add n  (0.5 ) to that distance to find the other locations.

Notice that Vmax and Vmin (or Zin,max and Zin,min or Imax and Imin) are spaced /4 (or 1800) apart.

EXAMPLE : Two voltage minima are noted on a mismatched line a distance of 10 cm and 50
cm from the load. With a measured VSWR of 3, determine the load impedance.

Procedure :

(i) Draw VSWR 5 circle on the Smith chart.

(ii) Find the minimum voltage point on the chart.

[The minimum voltage point on the line corresponds to the minimum impedance point (Zin, min)
which is resistive. This occurs where the VSWR circle intersects with the –ve r -axis (zero
reactance line) - point A.]

(iii) Distance between voltage Nodes or voltage minimum points is one-half wavelength (/2)
Therefore, /2 = 40 cm or  = 80 cm

Thus, the load is (10/80) or /8 = 0.125 away from the first voltage minimum point.

(iv) From this minimum voltage point rotate /8 = 0.125 (or 7200/8 = 900) on the VSWR
circle toward the load to obtain the normalized load impedance (point B)

This results in ZL = 0.6 – j0.8 ZL = ZL Z0 = 50(0.6 – j0.8) = 30 – j40 

Class Note by Santanu Das 8

 Transmission Lines

For Analytical verification : Calculate by Zin, min = Z0 / S = 50/3

Z − jZ 0 tan l 
& Z L = Z 0  in,min  → Note –ve sign
 Z 0 − jZ in,min tan l 

Class Note by Santanu Das 9