Chapter 3

Matching and Tuning

By
Professor Syed Idris Syed Hassan
Sch of Elect. & Electron Eng
Engineering Campus USM
Nibong Tebal 14300
SPS Penang

©Prof Syed Idris Syed Hassan

Why matching or tuning is important?
•To maximize power delivery and minimize power
loss.

•To improve signal to noise ratio as in sensitive

receiver components such as LNA, antenna, etc.

•To reduce amplitude and phase error as in distributed

network such as antenna array.

Zo Matching
Load ZL
Network

Basic idea of impedance matching

Concept of maximum power transfer
In lump circuit
Zo PL

Vi I ZL VL

Zo ZL

Power deliver at ZL is
2
1 1 2 1  Vi 
PL  VL I  I Z L    Z L
2 2 2  Z L  Zo 

Power maximum whence ZL = Zo

 continue
In transmission line

Z L  Zo
The important parameter is reflection coefficient  
Z L  Zo

No reflection whence ZL = Zo , hence  0

The load ZL can be matched as long as ZL not equal to

zero (short-circuit) or infinity (open-circuit)
 Factors in selecting matching network

• Complexity: simpler, cheaper, more reliable and

low loss circuit is preferred.
• Bandwidth: match over a desirable bandwidth.
• Implementation: depend on types of transmission
line either cable, stripline, microstripline,
waveguide, lump circuit etc.
• Adjustability:some network may need adjustment
to match a variable load.
 Matching with lumped elements
The simplest matching network is an L-section using two reactive elements

jX

Configuration 1
Whence RL>Zo Zo jB ZL

ZL=RL+jXL

jX

Configuration 2
Whence RL<Zo Zo jB ZL
 continue
If the load impedance
(normalized) lies in unity
circle, configuration 1 is
used.Otherwise configuration
2 is used.

The reactive elements are

either inductors or capacitors.
So there are 8 possibilities for
matching circuit for various Configuration 2 Configuration 1
load impedances.

Matching by lumped elements

are possible for frequency
below 1 GHz or for higher
frequency in integrated
circuit(MIC, MEM).
 Impedances for serial lumped elements

Serial circuit

Reactance relationship values

+ve X=2pfL L=X/(2pf)

-ve X=1/(2pfC) C=1/(2pfX)
L C

R R
 Impedances for parallel lumped elements

Parallel circuit

Susceptance relationship values

+ve B=2pfC C=B/(2pf)

-ve B=1/(2pfL) L=1/(2pfB)

C
L R R
 Lumped elements for microwave integrated circuit

Lossy film

Planar resistor Chip resistor Loop inductor Spiral inductor

r
r
Dielectric

Interdigital gap Metal-insulator-

capacitor metal capacitor Chip capacitor
 Matching by calculation for configuration 1
jX

Zo jB ZL

For matching, the total impedance of L-section plus ZL should equal to Zo,thus

1
Z o  jX 
jB  1 / RL  jX L 

Rearranging and separating into real and imaginary parts gives us

B XRL  X L Z o   RL  Z o *

X 1  BX L   BZ o RL  X L **
 continue
Solving for X from simultaneous equations (*) and (**) and substitute X in (**)
for B, we obtain

X L  RL / Z o RL2  X L2  Z o RL +ve capacitor

B -ve inductor
RL2  X L2
Since RL>Zo, then argument of the second root is always positive, the series
reactance can be found as

1 X L Zo Zo +ve inductor
X   -ve capacitor
B RL BR L

Note that two solution for B are possible either positive or negative
 Matching by calculation for configuration 2
jX

Zo jB ZL

For matching, the total impedance of L-section plus ZL should equal to 1/Zo,thus

1 1
 jB 
Zo RL  j  X  X L 

Rearranging and separating into real and imaginary parts gives us

BZ o  X  X L   Z o  RL *

 X  X L   BZ o RL **
 continue
Solving for X and B from simultaneous equations (*) and (**) , we obtain

X   RL Z o  RL   X L
+ve inductor
-ve capacitor

Zo  RL  / RL +ve capacitor

B -ve inductor
Zo

Since RL<Zo,the argument of the square roots are always positive, again
two solution for X and B are possible either positive or negative
 Matching using Smith chart

(+ve)
parallel capacitance
serial inductance

(+ve)

(-ve) serial capacitance

parallel inductance
(-ve)
 Serial Matching using lumped
L components
Parallel
Serial C C2
C
L2
10 50
C1 L1

Parallel
L
L2 C1

50 L! 10
C2
 Example
Design an L-section matching network to match a series RC load with an
impedance ZL=200-j100 , to a 100  line, at a frequency of 500 MHz.

Solution
Normalized ZL we
have : ZL= 2-j1
Parallel L
(-j0.7)
Serial C
(-j1.2)

ZL= 2-j1
Parallel C
Serial L (+j0.3)
(j1.2)

Solution 1
Solution 2
 continue
b 38.8nH
C  0.92 pF
2p f Z o 0.92pF 200-j100

x Zo
L  38.8nH
2p f
2.61pF
1
C  2.61 pF
2p fx Z o 46.1nH ZL=200-j100
 Zo
L  46.1nH
2p f b
Reflection coefficient

1.2
reflection coefficient

1
0.8
solution 1
0.6
Solution 2 seems to be better 0.4
solution 2

matched at higher frequency 0.2

0
0 0.5 1 1.5
freq (GHz)
 Single stub-matching
Parallel configuration short-stub

x
ZL
Short-stub matching Zo

open-stub

x
ZL
Zo
Open-stub matching

d
 Example
Design two single–stub shunt tuning networks to match a load ZL=15+j10 to
50 at 2GHz. The load consists of a resistor and inductor in series. Plot the
reflection magnitude from 1 GHz to 3 GHz for each solution.

Solution
•Normalized the load zL=0.3+j0.2
•Construct SWR circle and convert load to admittance
•Then move from load to generator to meet a circle (1+jb) to obtain two
points i.e y1=1-j1.33 and y2=1+j1.33.
•The distance d from the load to stub is obtained either of these two points i.e.
d1= 0.044l and d2=0.387l.
• To improve bandwidth, the stub is chosen as close as possible to the load.
•The tuning requires a stub of j1.33 for y1 and –j1.33 for y2.
•For open circuit-stub i1 =0.147l and i2=0.353l.

Smith Chart
 Continue
0.147l 0.353l

15 15
50 50 50 50
0.796nH 0.796nH

0.044l 0.387l
Solution 1 Solution 2

Convert j0.2 to inductance value, thus

Reflection coefficient
0.2  50
L  0.796nH 1

2p  2 109 refl. coeff.

0.8
0.6 Solution 1

Use this value to calculate reflection 0.4 Solution 2

0.2
coefficient
Z L  Zo
0


1 1.5 2 2.5 3

Z L  Zo
f (GHz)
 Formulas for calculation
Let ZL=RL+jXL, then the impedance at distance d from the load is

Z L  jZo tan  d ( R  jX L )  jZo tan  d

Zd  Zo  Zo L
Z o  jZ L tan  d Z o  j ( RL  jX L ) tan  d
Admittance at this point is 1
Yd  G  jB 
Zd
Thus, by substituting Zd and separating real and imaginary, we have

G

RL 1  tan 2  d 
RL2   X L  Z o tan  d 2

RL 2 tan  d  Z o  X L tan  d  X L  Z o tan  d 

B

Z o RL2   X L  Z o tan  d 2 
 continue
Equating G = Yo = 1/Zo,and t  tan  d , thus we have

1
 2

RL 1  t 2 
Z o RL   X L  Z ot 2

 
RL2   X L  Z ot 2  Z o RL 1  t 2  0

Z o ( RL  Z o )t 2  2 X L Z ot  ( RL Z o  RL2  X L2 )  0
Solving

t

X L  RL Z o  RL 2  X L2 / Z o for RL  Z o
RL  Zo 
 XL
t for RL  Z o
2Z o
 continue
The two principle solution are

 1 1
d  2p tan t for t  0


l  1 p  tan 1 t
 2p
 for t  0

To find the stub length,

  1 1 B 
 tan   for open  stub
l 2p  Yo 
 1 1  Yo 
 tan   for short  stub
l 2p B
 Single stub-matching
Serial configuration
Zo ZL
Zo

Short-stub matching
i
d
short-stub

Zo ZL
Zo

Open-stub matching
i
d
open-
stub
 Example
Match a load impedance of ZL=100+j80 to a 50 W line using a single series
open-stub.Assuming the load consists of resistor and inductor in series at
2GHz. Plot the reflection coefficient from 1 GHz to 3 GHz.
Solution
•Normalized the load zL=2+j1.6
•Construct SWR circle
•Then move from load to generator to obtain two points on unity circle(1+jx)
z1=1-j1.33 and z2=1+j1.33.
•The distance d from the load to stub is obtained either of these two points i.e.
d1= 0.120l and d2=0.463l.
• To improve bandwidth, the stub is chosen as close as possible to the load.
•The tuning requires a stub of j1.33 for z1 and –j1.33 for z2.
•For open circuit-stub i1 =0.397l and i2=0.103l.

Smith Chart
 Continue
0.397 l 0.103 l
0.120l 0.463l
50 50

100 100

50 50 50

50
6.37nH 6.37nH

Solution 1 Solution 1

Convert j1.6 to inductance value, thus Reflection coefficient

1.6  50
L  6.37nH
1

2p  2 10
0.8
9
refl. coeff. 0.6 Solution 1
0.4 Solution 2
Use this value to calculate reflection 0.2

coefficient 0
Z L  Zo 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
 f (GHz)

Z L  Zo
 Formulas for calculation
Let YL=GL+jBL, then the load admittance at distance d from the load is

YL  jYo tan  d (GL  jBL )  jYot

Yd  Yo  Yo Where t = tan d
Yo  jYL tan  d Go  j (GL  jBL )t
1
Impedance at this point is Z d  R  jX 
Yd
Thus, by substituting Yd and separating real and imaginary, we have

R

GL 1  t 2 
GL2  BL  Yot 2
GL 2t  Yo  BLt BL  Yot 
X

Z o GL2  BL  Yot 2 
 continue
Equating R = Zo = 1/Yo , thus we have

1
 2

GL 1  t 2 
Yo GL  BL  Yot 2

 
GL2  BL  Yot 2  YoGL 1  t 2  0

Yo (GL  Yo )t 2  2BLYot  (GLYo  GL2  BL2 )  0

Solving

t
 
BL  GL Yo  GL 2  BL2 / Yo
for GL  Yo
GL  Yo 
 BL
t for GL  Yo
2Yo
 continue
The two principle solution are

 1 1
d  2p tan t for t  0


l  1 p  tan 1 t
 2p
 for t  0

To find the stub length,

  1 1 X 
 tan   for short  stub
l 2p  Zo 
 1 1  Z o 
 tan   for open  stub
l 2p  X 
 Double-stub matching
S1 S2
Open or short
stubs

Zo ZL

d x

The advantage of this technique is the position of stubs

( d and x) are fixed. The matching are done by changing
the length of stubs. The disadvantage of this technique
is not all impedances can be matched.
 x

S1
admittance cannot be
matched B’
2
S

A= load admittance A
A’
A’=admittance of A at
stub 2
B= Adjust of stub S2 to
bring to the S2 circle
B’=Admittance of B at S1
Then by adjusting stub 1
will bring the admittance x
to the center of the chart
 Example
Design a double-stub shunt tuner to match a load ZL=60-j80 to a 50  line.
The stubs are to be short circuited stubs, and are spaced l/8 apart. The load
consists of a series resistor and capacitor that match at 2 GHz. Plot the
reflection coefficient magnitude versus frequency from 1 GHz to 3GHz.

Solution
•Plot normalized load zL=1.2 –j 1.6  and convert to admittance we have
yL= 0.3 +j0.4.
•Construct a rotated 1+ j b circle which is a distance d=l/8 from a 1+jb
circle. Get two possible points on the rotated 1+jb circle, y1 and y1’ by
adding susceptance of the first stubs. In this case we take x=0(match
section immediate after the load . I.e b1=1.314 and b1’=-0.114.The length
of stub will be i1=0.396l and i1’=0.232l.
•Now transform both point onto 1+jb circle along SWR circles.This
bring two solution y2 =1-j3.38 and y2’=1+j1.38.
•Then the second stub should be b2= 3.38 and b2’=-1.38. The length of
stub will be i2=0.454l and i2’=0.100l.
Rotated 1+jb
continue
circle
l/8
b1 y1

y2’
yL
y1’ b1’ b2’

b2 y2
 continue
Reflection Coefficient vs frequency

1
Reflection coefficient

0.8
0.6 Solution 1
0.4 Solution 2
0.2
0
1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Frequency(GHz)

The shorter the stubs the wider will be the bandwidth

 Formulas for calculation
Let YL=GL+jBL, then the load admittance at distance x from the load is

YL  jYo tan  x x is distance between stub

YL  Yo
'
 GL'  jBL' and load
Yo  jYL tan  x

Admittance at first stub 

Y1  GL'  j BL'  B1 
After transforming to stub 2 , we have

GL '  j ( BL'  B1  Yot )

Y2  Yo
 
Where t = tan d
Yo  j GL'  jBL'  jB1 t
 continue
At this point the ral part of Y2 =Yo ,thus

GL '2 GL 'Yo

1 t 2

Yo  BL ' t  B1t 2
0
2 2
t t
Solving
 
1 t 2  4t 2 Yo  BL ' t  B1t 2 
GL '  Yo 1 1
2t 2 
 Yo
'
1  t 2 2


 
Since GL’ is real, the quantity in square root must be nonnegative, thus

4t Yo  BL ' t  B1t 

2 2 1 t 2 Yo
Simplified to 0  GL  Yo 
'
0 1

Yo' 1  t 
2 2
t2 sin 2  d
 continue
So susceptances of stubs are

B1   BL '

Yo  1  t 2
 '2 2
GL ' Yo  GL t
t
and B2 
 Yo   '2 2
1  t GL ' Yo  GL t  GL ' Yo
2

GL ' t
To find the stub length ,

 1 1 B 
 tan   for open  stub
l 2p  Yo 
 1 1  Yo 
 tan   for short  stub
l 2p B
B either B1 or B2
 continue
The two principle solution are

 1 1
d  2p tan t for t  0


l  1 p  tan 1 t
 2p
 for t  0

To find the stub length,

  1 1 X 
 tan   for short  stub
l 2p  Zo 
 1 1  Z o 
 tan   for open  stub
l 2p  X 
 Graphical method

Suitable for load impedance laying inside the unity circle.

• Plot ZL normalised to 50 ohm

•Find bisector and point intersect the chart axis (I.e A)
•Draw circle at center A touching the center of the chart
•Obtain R1 and calculated new characteristic impedance of the
line ZT  R1 Zo
•Renormalised the ZL to ZT, thus we have ZL2 . Then plot on the
chart.
•Obtain x for the length of the matching section by moving
towards generator.
 Graphical method

ZL2
ZL

R1 A R2

Unity circle
 Transmission line transformer
l
Quarter-wave
transformer Z1 Z o  Z1Z 2 Z2

Matching at one frequency .For other frequency the impedance at the

input of matching section will be

Z 2  jZot
Z in  Z o Where t = tan d
Z o  jZ 2t

At matched frequency tan d = tan (p/2)

 continue
Reflection coefficient

Zin  Z1 Z o Z 2  Z1   jt Z o2  Z1Z 2 
 

Zin  Z1 Z o Z 2  Z1   jt Z o2  Z1Z 2 
Since Zo2=Z1Z2, this reduces to

  2 p2   m 
Z 2  Z1  
 
Z 2  Z1   j 2t Z1Z 2
m
1

1  4Z Z
1 2 / Z 2  Z1  sec 
2 2
 12

Z 2  Z1 0 m p pm p
 cos for  near p / 2 2
2 Z1Z 2
 continue
Fractional bandwidth is given by

f 2 f o  f m  4   2 Z Z 
  2  cos 1  m 1 2
fo fo p  1   2 Z 2  Z1 
 m 

Reflection coeff. vs frequency

1
0.8
Ref. Coeff.

10:01
0.6
4:01
0.4
2:01
0.2
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
f/fo

Reflection coefficient with different ratio of Z1:Z2

 Example
Design a single section quarter-wave matching transformer to match a 10 
load to a 50  line at fo =3GHz. Determine the percentage bandwidth for
which the SWR < 1.5
For a pure resistive load we can just calculate directly

Z0  Z1Z 2  10  50  22.36 and the length of transformer is l/4

Then determine reflection coefficient for SWR=1.5

SWR  1 1.5  1
m    0.2
SWR  1 1.5  1
Hence fractional bandwidth is
   
f  2 Z Z 2 50  50 
 2  cos 1 
4 4 0.2
 2  cos 1  m 1 2
 0.29
fo p  1   2 Z 2  Z1  p  1  0.2 2 50  10 
 m   
or 29%
 Multisection transformer

Zo  Z1  Z2  Z3  Zn N
o   ZL

•Binomial multisection
Two types of transformer
•Chebyshev multisection

Reflection coefficient for multisection can be written as

    A cos 
N
   A 1  e  j 2  N Or its magnitude     2 N

At center frequency   
p
2
(i.e =l/4)  2  0
p
 Binomial transformer
For binomial expansion the reflection coefficient can be written as

N N!
    A(1  e )  A
 j 2  N
CnN e  j 2n  where CnN 
n0
N  n !n!

Note CnN=CN-nN, C0N=1 and C1N=N=CN-1N

Z n1  Z n 1 Z n1
Let n  ACnN then n   ln
Z n1  Z n 2 Zn
Solving for    0 to obtain value of A

Z L  Z0 Z L  Z0
0  2 A 
N or A  2 N
Z L  Zo Z L  Zo
1 Z n1 Z  Zo N Z
Hence n  ln  ACnN  2 ( N 1) L Cn  2 ( N 1) CnN ln L
2 Zn Z L  Zo Zo
 continue
For bandwidth

m  2 N A cos N  m
Therefore
  
1/ N 
1 
 m  cos 1   m  
2  A  
 
The fractional bandwidth, thus

  1/ N 
f 2 f o  f m  4 4 1  
  2  m  2  cos 1   m  
fo fo p p 2  A  
 
 Example
Design a three section binomial transformer to match 50 load to a 100 line

Solution
N Z L  Z0 1 Z
N=3 , ZL=50 , Z0=100 then A  2  N 1 ln L  0.0433
Z L  Zo 2 Zo
3! 3! 3!
C03  1 C13  3 C23  3
3!0! 2!1! 1!2!
But 1 Z n1
ln  ACnN
2 Zn
Z1
ln  2 AC03  2(0.0433)1 Z1=91.7 
Z0
Z
ln 2  2 AC13  2(0.0433)3 Z2=70.7
Z1 
Z
ln 3  2 AC23  2(0.0433)3 Z3=54.5 
Z2
 Chebyshev transformer
Chebyshev polinomial in general

Tn ( x)  cos( n cos 1 x) for x 1

Tn ( x)  cosh( n cosh 1 x) for x 1

Useful forms of Chebyshev polinomial are

T1 (sec  m cos )  sec m cos

T2 (sec  m cos )  sec 2  m 1  cos 2   1

T3 (sec  m cos )  sec3  m cos 3  3 cos   3 sec m cos

T4 (sec  m cos )  sec 4  m cos 4  4 cos 2  3

 4 sec 2  m cos 2  1  1
 continue
For N section,Chebyshev expansion the reflection coefficient can be written as

   2e  jN o cos N  1 cos( N  2)  ....  n cos( N  2n) 

 Ae jN TN sec m cos 

Solving for      0 to obtain value of A

Z L  Z0 Z L  Z0 1
0  ATN sec  m   or A 
Z L  Z o TN sec  m 
Z Z
L o

For maximum reflection coefficient magnitude A  m

Z L  Z0 1
TN sec m  
1 Z
Therefore  ln L
Z L  Z o m 2m Z o
1 1  1 Z 
or sec  m  cosh  cosh  ln L 
 N  2m Z o 
 Example
Design a three section Chebyshev transformer to match a 100 load to a 50 line.
Taking m=0.05.
Solution
1 1  1 Z L  1 1  1 100 
sec  m  cosh  cosh   ln   cosh  cosh  ln 

 N  2m Z o  3  2  0.05 50 
 1.408

   Ae jN T3 sec m cos   2e jN o cos 3  1 cos  *
T3 (sec  m cos )  sec3  m cos 3  3 cos   3 sec m cos **
Equating * and ** and A=m=0.05

cos 2o  A sec3  m   0.05 sec3 1.408

o  0.0698
 continue
cos   
21  3 A sec3  m  sec m  3  0.05 sec3 1.408  sec(1.408) 
1  0.1037

For symmetrical 3  0  0.0698 and 2  1  0.1037

1  Z n1  ln Z n1  2n  ln Z n

But n  ln   Then
2  Zn 

Start n=0 ln Z1  2o  ln Zo  20.0698  ln 50  4.051

Z1  57.5 
n=1 ln Z2  21  ln Z1  20.1037  ln 57.5  4.259
Z2  70.7 

n=2 ln Z3  22  ln Z 2  20.1037  ln 70.7  4.466

Z3  87.0 
 Simple form of multisection
transformers
2-quarter-wave l
l
transformer
Z1 ZA ZB Z2

1/ 4 3/ 4
Z A  Z1 2  Z B  Z1 2 
Z Z
 Z1   Z1 

l l
l
3-quarter-wave Z1 Z2
ZA ZB ZC
transformer

1  1  Z 2 
1   ln   Z A  Z1e 21
Z B  Z1
Z2 ZC  Z2e21
8  2  Z1  Z1
 Tapered Transmission line transformer
l
1 L 2 j z d  Z 
  
2 z o
e ln  dz
dz  Z o  Z1 Z2

Impedance distribution Reflection

Exponential Taper Z ( z )  Z 0e az for 0  z  L ln Z L Z o 2 j z sin  L
 e
transformer 2 L
1  ZL 
where a  ln  
L  Zo 

Z e 2 z / L 2 ln Z L / Zo  Z  sin  L / 2

2
Triangular Taper for 0  z  L / 2 1
Z ( z)   0   e2 j z ln  L 
transformer  Z 0e 4 z / L 2 z 2 / L2 1ln Z L / Z o
for 0  z  L / 2 2  
Z o   L / 2 



Klofenstein Taper ln Z ( z )  ln Z 0 Z L  o A2 2 z / L  1, A    e j z cos  L  A
1 2 2
2 cosh A o
transformer cosh A
for 0  z  L
 A 1  y 2  for  L  A
I
x 
 
1

where  x , A  o A 1  y 2 dy for x  1
 Transmission line transformer
Nonsynchronous transformer
T
T

Z1 Z2 Z1 Z2

E.g matching Z1=75 

Z Z
T  arctan 2  1  1 to Z2=50 
Z1 Z1

T = 29.3o
 Transformer Frequency Response for 100 /10

0
0.5 1 1.5
-1
Amplitude (dB)

-2
Quarter-wave
-3
Nonsynchronous
-4

-5

-6
Normalised frequency f/fo
 Complex to Complex Impedance Matching

Transmission line
jXa Zo jXb

Ra Rb

Zo 
Ra2  X a2 Rb  Rb2  X b2 Ra   tan 
Z o Rb  Ra  
1 

Ra  Rb  a b
X R  X b a
R