EEE 3513

Microwave Techniques

Prof. Dr. Bahadır S. Yıldırım

 Contents

 Power transfer efficiency

 Z and Y Smith charts
 Basic impedance matching using transmission lines

 Deciding on matching circuit topology: Reading data from Z and Y Smith

charts
 Impedance matching using lumped (=discrete) elements
 L-type two-element matching circuits
 Pi-type matching circuits

 Impedance matching using distributed elements

 Bandwidth considerations
 Power Transfer Efficiency
RS

RL
Load Power (normalized)

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
RL / R S

Maximum power is transferred when RL = RS

 Power Transfer Efficiency

 For complex impedances, maximum power transfer occurs when Z L = ZS*

(conjugate match) .

ZS = RS + jX
RS +jX

-jX
RL

ZL = ZS* = RS - jX

Z0

 At high frequencies, maximum power

Z0
transfer occurs when RS = RL = Z0
 Smith Chart
Im{Γ}  At first glance the Smith chart
may seem intimidating, but the key
to its understanding is to realize
that it is essentially a polar plot of
the voltage reflection coefficient,
Γ.

 Γ can be expressed in magnitude

and phase in polar form.

Re{Γ}
   e j
 Then the magnitude |Γ| is plotted
as radius <=1 from the center of
the chart. And the angle is
measured from the right side of the
horizontal diameter.
Γ plane

 Any passively realizable |Γ|<=1 reflection coefficient can then be plotted as a unique point
on the chart.
 Smith Chart

 Smith chart can be used to convert from reflection coefficients to normalized

impedances (or admittances), and vice versa, using the impedance (or
admittance) circles printed on the chart.

 When dealing with impedances, normalized quantities are generally used,

which we will denote by lowercase letters.

 Normalization constant is usually the characteristic impedance of the line.

Thus z=Z/Z0 represents the normalized version of the impedance Z.
 Smith Chart

If a lossless line of characteristic impedance Z0 is terminated with a load

impedance ZL, the reflection coefficient at the load can be written as

zL 1
   e j
zL  1

where zL=ZL/Z0 is the normalized load impedance. This relation can be solved for
zL in terms of Γ to give

1   e j
zL 
1   e j
 Smith Chart
This complex equation can be reduced to two real equations by writing Γ and zL in
terms of their real and imaginary parts. Let Γ = u + jv, and zL = r + jx. Then

1  u  jv
r  jx 
1  u  jv
The real and imaginary parts of this equation can be found by multiplying the numerator
and denominator by the complex conjugate of the denominator to give

1 u 2  v2
r
1  u   v 2
2

2v
x
1  u 2  v 2
 Smith Chart
Rearranging gives us the following equations.

2 2
 r  2  1 
 u    v    Constant resistance circles
 1 r  1 r 
2 2
 1 1
u  1   v     
2
Constant reactance circles
 x  x

Which are seen to represent two families of circles in the u-v plane (Γ
plane).
Constant Resistance Circles

2 2
 r  2  1 
 u    v   
 1 r  1 r 

 All of the constant resistance

circles have their centers on the
horizontal v=0 axis, and pass
through the u=1 point on the right
hand side of the Smith chart.
Remember that u and v are the
real and the imaginary parts of Γ,
respectively.
Constant Resistance Circles

2 2
 r  2  1 
u   v  
 1 r  1 r 

 For example, center of r=1

circle is u=0.5 and v=0 point, and
its radius is 0.5.
u=0 v=0
u=0.5 v=0  Center of r=0 circle is u=0 and
v=0 point and its radius is 1.
 Center of r=∞ circle is u=1 and
v=0 point and its radius is 0 (it is
a point basically).
 It can be seen that centers of all
r circles are on the horizontal v=0
axis.
 Constant Reactance Circles
2 2

u  12   v  1 
1
 
 x  x
x 1
v u=1 v=1
 The centers of all of the reactance
circles lie on the vertical u=1 axis (off
the chart). And these circles also pass
x through the u=1 and v=0 point.
x0  For example, center of x=1 circle is
u u=1 and v=1 point, and its radius is 1.
 Center of x=0 circle is u=1 and v=∞
u=1 v=0 point, and its radius is ∞.
 Center of x=∞ circle is u=1 and v=0
point, and its radius is 0.
u=1
 Smith Chart
 The Smith Chart can also be used to graphically solve the transmission line
impedance equation, since this can be written in terms of the generalized
reflection coefficient.

Z in    jl

V  l  V0 e jl  e  jlZ0 
1  e  2 jl
Z0

I  l  V0 e  e  jl
 1  e  2 j l

Z L  jZ 0 tan l
Z in  Z 0
Z 0  jZ L tan l

 Thus, if we have plotted the reflection coefficient |Γ|ejθ at the load, the
normalized input impedance seen looking into a length l of transmission line
terminated with ZL can be found by rotating the point clockwise an amount 2βl
(subtracting 2βl from θ) around the center of the chart. The radius stays the
same, since the magnitude of Γ does not change with position along the line.
 Smith Chart
 Smith chart has scales around
its periphery calibrated in
electrical wavelengths, toward
and away from the generator
(which just means the direction
away from the load).
 These scales are relative, so
only the difference in
wavelengths between two
points on the Smith chart is
meaningful. The scales cover a
range of 0 to 0.5 wavelengths).

 Thus a line length of λ/2 (or any multiple) requires a rotation of 2βl = 2π around the center
of the chart, bringing the point back to its original position, showing that the input impedance
of a load seen through a λ/2 line is unchanged.
 Example 1
A load impedance of 40 + j70 Ω terminates a 100 Ω transmission line that is
0.3 λ long. Find the following:

(a) Reflection coefficient at the load (Γ at z=0 load position)

(b) Reflection coefficient at the input to the line (Γ at z=-0.3λ)
(c) Input impedance Zin
(d) SWR on the line
(e) Return loss

Answers

|Γ| = 0.59∟105°
Zin = 36.5 - j61.5 Ω
SWR = 3.87
RL = 4.6 dB
 Example 1
 First, we calculate the normalized load impedance:

ZL
zL   0.4  j 0.7
Z0
zL
 Second, we locate zL on the
Smith chart at the intersection of
r=0.4 and x=0.7 circles. |Γ|
 After that, we draw an SWR
circle through the load impedance
point.
 Radius of this circle gives the
magnitude of the reflection
coefficient Γ (radius of the Smith
chart is 1. So by scaling the
distance you can have the correct
Γ value).
 Example 1
0.106λ

zL

zin
 We then read the reference position of  After that, we move on the line
the load on wavelengths-towards- 0.3λ and come to the point 0.406λ
generator (WTG) scale. (=0.106λ + 0.3λ).
 0.106 λ
Example 1
0.3 λ rotation
 Drawing a radial clockwise
line at 0.406λ zL
position at the
intersection of the
SWR circle gives us
the normalized input
impedance zin

 This zin value is

0.365 - j0.611 .

 Then the input

impedance is

Z in  zin Z 0  36.5  j 61.1  zin

0.406 λ
 0.106 λ
Example 1
0.3 λ rotation
 Reflection coefficient clockwise
at input still has the same zL
magnitude 0.59.
However, phase angle
varies. The new phase
angle is read from the
radial line at the phase
scale as 248°.

Θ=248°
|Γ|

zin

0.406 λ
Combined Impedance-Admittance Chart
 The Smith chart can be used for normalized admittance in the same way it is
used for normalized impedances. And it can be used to convert between
impedance and admittance. The latter technique is based on the fact that, in
normalized form, the input impedance of a load zL connected to a λ/4 line can be
found from the general input impedance equation
Z L  jZ 0 tan l
Z in  Z 0
Z 0  jZ L tan l

and since βl=90° for a λ/4 line,

Z 02  So a λ/4 line has the effect of
Z in  converting a normalized
ZL impedance to a normalized
Z in 1 1 admittance.
  zin 
Z0 Z L Z0 zL
zin  y L
Combined Impedance-Admittance Chart

 Since a complete revolution around the Smith chart corresponds to a length

of λ/2, a λ/4 transformation is equivalent to rotating the chart by 180°.

 This is also equivalent to imaging a given impedance (or admittance) point

across the center of the chart to obtain the corresponding admittance (or
impedance) point.

 Thus, the same Smith chart can be used for both impedance and admittance
calculations during the solution of a given problem.
Combined Impedance-Admittance Chart

zL

180°

yL
 Example 2

 A load impedance ZL= 100 + j50 Ω terminates a 50 Ω line. What are the load
admittance and the input admittance if the line is 0.15λ long?
 Example 2
 First, we calculate the normalized load impedance:

ZL
zL   2  j1
Z0

 A standard Smith chart can be used for this problem by initially considering it
as an impedance chart and plotting zL and the SWR circle.

 Conversion to admittance can be accomplished with a λ/4 rotation of zL (easily

obtained by drawing a straight line through zL and the center of the chart to
intersect the SWR circle).

 After that, the chart can be considered as an admittance chart, and the input
admittance can be found by rotating 0.15λ from yL.
 Example 2

zL = 2 + j1

SWR circle
yL = 0.4 - j0.2
 Example 2
0.463λ + 0.15λ = 0.613λ
0.613λ – 0.5λ = 0.113λ

+ 0.15λ

yL = 0.4 - j0.2
SWR circle

0.463λ
 Example 2
0.463λ + 0.15λ = 0.613λ
0.613λ – 0.5λ = 0.113λ

yin = 0.55 + j0.68

+ 0.15λ 1 Z
yin   0
zin Z in
yin  Yin Z 0
yin
Yin 
Z0
yL = 0.4 - j0.2 So, since yin= 0.55
SWR circle
+ j0.68, then
0.55  j 0.68
Yin 
0.463λ 50
Yin  0.011  j 0.0136 S
 Quarter Wave Transformer
 Let’s consider the following geometry. There is a load resistor RL connected to
a λ/4 line whose characteristic impedance is Z1. And this line is connected to
another line with Z0.

 We want to calculate Zin. Remember the general formula for input impedance
calculation:
Z L  jZ 0 tan l
Z in  Z 0
Z 0  jZ L tan l
 Quarter Wave Transformer
 Zin for this geometry can be expressed as

RL  jZ1 tan l
Z in  Z1
Z1  jRL tan l
 For βl=(2π/λ)*(λ/4)=90° for a λ/4 line section with Z1, the above equation is
reduced to:
Z12
Z in 
RL

 And for Γ=0 (perfect match)

condition
Z12
Z in   Z 0  Z1  Z 0 RL
RL
Frequency Response of a
Quarter Wave Line

l=λ/4 l=3λ/4
(why we get Γ=0 here?)
 Example 3
 Quarter wave transformers are usually employed in matching a real load
impedance to another real impedance. A good example is a microstrip patch
antenna.

 Assume that a patch antenna has an impedance of 200 Ω, and it has to be

matched to a 50 Ω line. We can use the following formula:

Z1  Z 0 RL  50  200  100 
Q. Wave Matching for Patch Antenna
 The S11 of this nearly square
patch is poor and about -5.5 dB
at 3.5 GHz.
Patch antenna
 In order to match the antenna
impedance to 50 Ω, a matching
circuit is needed.

 This circuit has been designed

using a λ/4 transformer section.
The width and the length of this
λ/4 microstrip transformer section have been
found as wq=0.6 mm and lq=12.6
mm, respectively.
50 Ω microstrip
Quarter Wave Transformer

Matched at 1, 3, and 5 GHz

 Reading the Smith Chart

+ (INDUCTIVE) + (CAPACITIVE)
z=0 z=∞ y=0 y=∞
(z=∞) (z=0)

- (CAPACITIVE) - (INDUCTIVE)

Z Smith chart Z Smith chart is interpreted as Y chart

 Upper half has positive reactances, so  Upper half has positive reactances, so
we have series inductive reactances there. we have shunt capacitive susceptances
there.
 Example 4
A 50 Ω line is terminated with a load impedance of 30+j80 Ω.
(a) Show this impedance on the Smith chart.
(b) Which component should be added to the load to cancel its reactance?
(c) Calculate the component value if the operating frequency is 1 GHz.

Locate r=0.6 and x=1.6 circles on the

Z 30  j80
zL  L   0.6  j1.6 Smith chart. At their intersection, there
Z0 50 is zL.

We have to add –j80 Ω to cancel +j80 Ω. So we need to add a series capacitor basically.

1
 j80   j
2fC
1 12
C 9
 1.989  10 F
2 1 10  80
C  2 pF
 Example 5
A 50 Ω line is terminated with a normalized load admittance of 1.2+j1.5 S (=y L).
(a) Show this admittance on the Smith chart.

(b) Which component do you add in shunt if you add +j0.7 to yL?

(c) Which component do you add in shunt if you add –j0.7 to yL?

(a) Locate r=1.2 and x=1.6 circles on the Smith chart. At their intersection, there is z L.

(b) 1.2+j1.5+j0.7=1.2+j2.2. Basically we add a shunt capacitor since y C=jωC

(c) 1.2+j1.5-j0.7=1.2 +j0.8. Basically we add a shunt inductorsince yL=-j(1/ωL)