Prof. David R.

Jackson
Dept. of ECE
Notes 15
ECE 5317-6351
Microwave Engineering
Fall 2011
Signal-Flow Graph
Analysis
1
This is a convenient technique to represent and analyze circuits
characterized by S-parameters.

It allows one to see the flow of signals throughout a circuit.

Signals are represented by wavefunctions (i.e., a
i
and b
i
).

Signal-flow graphs are also used for a number of other engineering
applications (e.g., in control theory).
Signal-Flow Graph Analysis
Note: In the signal-flow graph, a
i
(0) and b
i
(0) are denoted as a
i
and b
i
for simplicity.
2
Signal-Flow Graph Analysis (cont.)
3
Construction Rules for signal-flow graphs

1) Each wave function (a
i
and b
i
) is a node.
2) S-parameters are represented by branches between nodes.
3) Branches are uni-directional.
4) A node value is equal to the sum of the branches entering it.
S
o
u
r
c
e
N
e
t
w
o
r
k
L
o
a
d
g
b
g
a
1
b
L
a
L
b
2
a
2
b
1
a
In this circuit there are eight nodes in the signal flow graph.
0
Z L
Z
L
a
L
b
L L L
b a = I
L
I
1
1

L
a
L L L
b a = I
0
0
L
L
L
Z Z
Z Z

I =
+
Example (Single Load)
Signal flow graph Single load
4
g
a
Th
Z
g
b
g
a
s
I
0
Z

Th
V
+
s
b
1 1
1
g
b
-
0
0
0
1
g g s Th
Th
Z
V
Z
b a
Z Z
| |
= I +
|
+
\ .
0
0
Th
s
Th
Z Z
Z Z

I =
+
g s g s
b b a = + I
Example (Source)
Hence
0
0
s Th
Th
Z
b V
Z Z
| |
= |
|
+
\ .
g g s s
b a b = I +
5
where
1
a
1
b
1 1
1 1
22
S
12
S
21
S
11
S

1
b
2
a
2
b
1
a
0
Z
2
b
2
a
0
Z
Example (Two-Port Device)
6
1 11 1 12 2
2 21 1 22 2
b S a S a
b S a S a
= +
= +
1
a
1
b
22
S
12
S
21
S
11
S
2
b
2
a
g
a
g
b
s
b
L
I
s
I
1
1
1 1
L
a
L
b
Complete Signal-Flow Graph
A source is connected to a two-port device, which is terminated by a load.
7
S
o
u
r
c
e
N
e
t
w
o
r
k
L
o
a
d
g
b
g
a
1
b
L
a
L
b
2
a
2
b
1
a
When cascading devices, we simply connect the signal-flow graphs together.

a) Masons non-touching loop rule:
Too difficult, easy to make errors, lose physical understanding.

b) Direct solution:
Straightforward, must solve linear system of equations, lose physical
understanding.

c) Decomposition:
Straightforward graphical technique, requires experience, retains physical
understanding.
Solving Signal-Flow Graphs
8
1
a
1
b
22
S
12
S
21
S
11
S
2
b
2
a
L
I
1
a
1
b
Example: Direct Solution Technique
1
1
in
b
a
I =
A two-port device is connected to a load.
9
N
e
t
w
o
r
k
L
o
a
d
1
b
L
a
L
b
2
a
2
b
1
a
1
a
1
b
22
S
12
S
21
S
11
S
2
b
2
a
L
I
1
a
1
b
Example: Direct Solution Technique (cont.)
1
1
in
b
a
I =
2 1 21 22 2
2 2
1 11 1 12 2
L
b a S S a
a b
b S a S a
= +
= I
= +

1 21 12
11
1 22
1
L
in
L
b S S
S
a S
I
I = = +
I
Solve :
10
For a given a
1
, there are three equations and three unknowns (b
1
, a
2
, b
2
).
1
a
2
a
3
a
1
a
3
a
21
S
32
S
1
21 32
S S
1
1 1

Decomposition Techniques
1) Series paths
3 21 32 1
a S S a =
2 21 1
3 32 2
a S a
a S a
=
=

Note that we have removed the node a

2
.
11
1
a
2
a
1
a
2
a
a
S
b
S
a b
S S +

2) Parallel paths
2 1 1 a b
a S a S a = +

( )
2 1 a b
a S S a = +
Decomposition Techniques (cont.)
Note that we have combined the two parallel paths.
12
1
a
2
a
1
a
2
a
21
S
b
S

1
a'
1
a
2
a
21
S
1
a'

2
a'
2
a'
21 b
S S
21
1
1
b
L
S S
=

1
a'
2
a'
21
S
L
3) Self-loop
1 1 1 21 b
a a a S S
' '
= +
1 1
21
1
1
b
a a
S S
| |
'
=
|

\ .
Decomposition Techniques (cont.)
Note that we have removed the self loop.

13
1 1 2
2 1 21
b
a a a S
a a S
' '
= +
' '
=
1
a
2
a
3
a
1
a
3
a
21
S
32
S

42
S
21 42
S S
4
a
4
a
21 32
S S
4) Splitting
4 2 42
3 2 32
2 1 21
a S
a a S
a S
a
a
=
=
=
4 21 42 1
3 21 32 1
a S S a
a S S a
=
=

Decomposition Techniques (cont.)

Note that we have shifted the splitting point.
14
Example
A source is connected to a two-port device, which is terminated by a load.
Solve for I
in
= b
1
/ a
1
15
Two-port device
Th
Z
Th
V
+
-
L
Z
in
I
| |
S
1
a
1
b
0
Z
0
Z
Note: The Z
0
lines are assumed to be very short, so they do not affect the
calculation (other than providing a reference impedance for the S parameters).
1
a
1
b
22
S
12
S
21
S
11
S
2
b
2
a
L
I
s
I
s
b
Example
16
Two-port device
The signal flow graph is constructed:
22
S
12
S
21
S
11
S
2
b
L
I
s
I
s
b
1
a
2
a
1
b
22
S
12
S
21
S
11
S
2
b
L
I
s
I
s
b
1
a
2
a
1
b

Consider the following decompositions:
Example (cont.)
17
The self-loop at the end is rearranged
To put it on the outside (this is optional).
22 L
S I
12 L
S I
21
S
11
S
2
b
s
I
s
b

21 1
S L
11
S
2
b
12 L
S I
s
I
s
b

1
a
1
b
1
a
1
b
22
S
12
S
21
S
11
S
2
b
L
I
s
I
s
b
1
a
2
a
1
b
1
22
1
1
L
L
S
=
I
Example (cont.)
18
Remove self-loop
Next, we apply the self-loop formula to remove it.
Rewrite self-loop
( ) ( )
1
11 21 1 12
1
in L
b
S S L S
a
I = = + I
Example (cont.)
Hence:
19
( )( )
1 1 11 1 21 1 12 L
b a S a S L S = + I
21 12
11
22
1
L
in
L
S S
S
S
I
I = +
I
1
22
1
1
L
L
S
=
I
We then have
21 1
S L
11
S
2
b
12 L
S I
s
I
s
b
1
a
1
b
Example
20
A source is connected to a two-port device, which is terminated by a load.
Solve for b
2
/ b
s
Two-port device
Th
Z
Th
V
+
-
L
Z
in
I
| |
S
1
a
1
b
2
a
2
b
s
b
0
Z
0
Z
( )( ) ( )
2 2 02
0 1 1
L L L
V V b Z

= +I = +I
Note :
(Hence, since we know b
s
, we could find the load voltage from b
2
/b
s
if we wish.)
Example (cont.)
Using the same steps as before, we have:
21
1
22
1
1
L
L
S
=
I
21 1
S L
11
S
2
b
12 L
S I
s
I
s
b
1
a
1
b

21 1
S L
2
b
12 L
S I
11 S
S I

2
L
2
b
s
b
12 L
S I
21 1
S L
11
S
2
b
12 L
S I
s
I
s
b
1
a
1
b
1
a
s
b
s
I
s
I
1
a
( )
2 21 1 3
L S L L
2
b
s
b
1
a

21 1
S L
( )
2
2 21 1 3
2 21 1
2 21 1 12
1
s
L S
b
L S L L
b
L S L
L S L S
=
=
I I
2
11
1
1
S
L
S
=
I
Example (cont.)
22
Remove self-loop
Rewrite self-loop on the left end
3
2 21 1 12
1
1
L S
L
L S L S
=
I I
Remove final self-loop
( )( )
1 1 11 1 21 1 12 s s s L
a b a S a S L S = + I + I I
( )( )
2 21 1 2
21 12 1 2
21
21 12
1 2
21
11 22 21 12
1
1
1 1
s L s
L s
S L L s
b S L L
b S S L L
S
S S
L L
S
S S S S
=
I I
=
I I
=
I I I I
Example (cont.)
Hence
23
( ) ( )
2 21
22 11 21 12
1 1
s L S s L
b S
b S S S S
=
I I I I
Two-port device
Th
Z
Th
V +
-
L
Z
in
I
| |
S
1
a
1
b
2
a
2
b
s
b
0
Z
0
Z
22
S
12
S
21
S
11
S
2
b
L
I
s
I
s
b
1
a
g
b
1
b
2
a
1
1
1 11 1 12 2
2 21 1 22 2
2 2
g s s
g
L
b b b
a b
b S a S a
b S a S a
a b
= + I
=
= +
= +
= I
( )( )
2 21
11 22 21 12
1 1
s S L s L
b S
b S S S S
=
I I I I
Solve to find
Alternatively, we can
write down a set of
linear equations:
Example (cont.)
24
There are 5 unknowns: b
g
, a
1
, b
1
, b
2
, a
2
.