FILPAL

Level 1:
RF fundamental
&
measurement basics
Duration: 4 days (32 hours)
Level 1 – Module 2: Transmission lines and
impedance matching techniques

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Level 1: RF Fundamental & Measurement Basics

4 days, 5 modules (3 theory & 2 practical)
• Module 1: RF and microwave
systems and RF engineering
fundamentals
• Module 2: Transmission lines and
impedance matching techniques
• Module 3: Passive and active RF and
Microwave components
• Module 4: EDS HF software
• Module 5: Vector Network Analyzer
(VNA) practical lab works

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Outline
Module 2: Transmission lines and impedance matching techniques
1. Transmission lines theory
2. Smith chart & impedance matching
3. Narrowband and broadband matching

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1. Transmission lines theory

General considerations
• A transmission line connects a generator to a load
• Transmission lines include two parallel wires, coaxial cable, Microstrip
line, optical fiber, and waveguide

Zg
+
Sending-end Receiving-end
Vg port Transmission line (TL) ZL
port
- .
.
Source circuit Load circuit

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1. Transmission lines theory

The role of wavelength and propagation modes
• Transmission line effects may be ignored if the ratio l/λ is very small
• It may be necessary to account for the phase shift due to the time
delay, but also for the presence of reflected signals towards the
generator if l/λ ≥ 0.01.
i A B
+ +
+
Vg vAA’ Transmission line (TL) vBB’ ZL
-
- -
A’ B’
Source circuit l Load circuit

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1. Transmission lines theory

The role of wavelength and propagation modes
• Transmission lines may be classified into two basic types
• Transverses electromagnetic (TEM) transmission lines
• Higher-order transmission lines.
• Waves propagating along TEM lines are characterized by electric and
magnetic fields that are entirely transverse to the direction of propagation.
• Such an orthogonal configuration is called a TEM mode.
• Coaxial line is a good example.
• Waves propagating along higher-order transmission lines (TE or TM) have
at least one significant field component (E filed or H field) orthogonal to
the direction of propagation but not both simultaneously.
• Thus, at least one component of E or H is along direction of propagation.
• The TWO (2) most commonly used are the optical fiber and the metal waveguide.

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1. Transmission lines theory

The role of wavelength and propagation modes
• In a coaxial line, the electric field is in the radial direction between the
inner conductor and outer conductors, and the magnetic field forms
circles around the inner conductor.
• The coaxial line is a TEM transmission line because both the electric
and magnetic fields are orthogonal to the direction of propagation
between source and the load

Zg
+
Sending-end Receiving-end
Vg port Transmission line (TL) ZL
port
-

Source circuit Load circuit

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1. Transmission lines theory

The role of wavelength and propagation modes
• TEM Transmission Lines

Microstrip (Quasi-TEM)

Coaxial line

Strip line Suspended Strip line

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1. Transmission lines theory

Lumped-element model and the transmission line equations
• Regardless of its cross-sectional shape, a TEM transmission line is represented by the
parallel-wire configuration.
• The line is subdivided into small differential section to obtain equations relating voltages
and currents
• At Node N and note N+2, the equivalent circuit is shown as

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1. Transmission lines theory

Wave propagation on a transmission line
• The wave equations  2V
−  2
V =0
z 2

2 I
−  2
I =0
z 2

 , the propagatio n constant = (R + jL)(G + jC ) =  + j

• The travelling wave solutions ii A B iL

+
+ (V+
, I 0+ ) e − z Incident wave +
V ( Z ) = V0+ e − z + V0− e z
0
Vg vi vL ZL
- (V , I ) e Reflected wave
− − z

I ( Z ) = I 0+ e − z + I 0− e z - -
0 0

A’ B’
Source circuit z
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1. Transmission lines theory

Characteristic Impedance
• If the forward waves only are considered, the characteristic
impedance Z0 of the transmission line is defined as the ratio of
voltage to current at any point along the line

V (0,0) V0+ R + jL

Z0 = = + =
I (0,0) I 0 G + jC

• For a lossless lines, Z0 =

L
C

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1. Transmission lines theory

Reflection coefficient and standing waves
• A lossless transmission line, characteristic impedance Z0, terminated
in a load impedance ZL.
• The voltage reflection coefficient at the load, z = 0, is defined as

reflected voltage wave at the load V0− Z L − Z 0

L = = + =
incident voltage wave at the load V0 Z L + Z0

Vmax 1 + 
• VSWR is given by S= = (dimensionless)
Vmin 1 − 

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1. Transmission lines theory

Reflection coefficient and standing waves
 =  e jr
• Magnitude and phase of the
reflection coefficient for various
types of load
• The normalized load impedance

z L = Z L Z 0 = ( R + jX ) Z 0 = r + jx

• r = R Z 0 is the real part of z L

• x = X Z 0 is the imaginary part of zL

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1. Transmission lines theory

Wave impedance of the lossless line
• A lossless transmission line, the input
impedance ii A B iL
+ +
 Z L + jZ0 tan (l )  +
vi
Z in = Z 0   Vg Transmission line vL ZL
 Z 0 + jZ L tan (l ) 
- Zi
- -
A’ B’
Source circuit z
• Quarter wavelength line d= l d=0

 jZ0  Z 02
Z in l =  = Z 0   =
4  jZ L  Z L
Z 0 = Z in Z L
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1. Transmission lines theory

Practical – TL in EDS
• It can be shown that the series inductance and shunt capacitance can
be realized with distributed microstrip transmission lines.
• In EDS, construct the flowing circuit and plot the Imaginary [Z]
response. Observe the value at 500 MHz.

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1. Transmission lines theory

Practical – TL in EDS
• Tune EL to higher than 900, say 1000.
• Observe the value at 500 MHz.

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1. Transmission lines theory

Practical – TL in EDS
• Open circuited transmission line.

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1. Transmission lines theory

Practical – TL in EDS
• Short/Open (SC/OC) Terminated Transmission Line

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1. Transmission lines theory
Practical – TL in EDS (Application of short-circuit/open-circuit
technique) Z = Z Z
0 in= 86.6025403784438  28.8675134594813 = 50 
S .C O .C
in

• 1 GHz, find ZinOC and ZinSC

• Verify that Z0 is the square root of ZinOC*ZinSC

86.6025403784438 28.8675134594813

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2. Smith chart & impedance matching

Introduction
• Developed in 1939 by P. H. Smith as a graphical
tool to analyze and design transmission-line
circuits.
• It was originally intended to facilitate
calculations involving complex impedances.
• Today, it is used to characterize the performance
of microwave circuits

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2. Smith chart & impedance matching

Parametric Equations
• rL circles are contained inside the unit circle

• Only parts of the xL circles are contained

within the unit circle

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2. Smith chart & impedance matching

The Smith chart Constant
Susceptance
Circle (+j)

Inductive
Constant
Resistance Circle

Short Circuit
Z=0 Open Circuit
Z=∞

Capacitive

22

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2. Smith chart & impedance matching

The Smith chart in EDS
• Plot of Γ in Smith Chart

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2. Smith chart & impedance matching

The Smith chart in EDS
• Plot of Impedance in Smith Chart

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2. Smith chart & impedance matching

Impedance Matching - Introduction
• When a transmission line is not terminated by its characteristic
impedance, maximum power is not transferred to the load and power
will be wasted due to reflection from the load.
• This reduces the efficiency of transmission.

Baseband
Sub System
50 Ω 50 Ω 50 Ω 50 Ω 50 Ω 50 Ω 50 Ω 50 Ω 50 Ω 50 Ω

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

EDS-HF Observation
• Adding Series Inductor
• Inductor: CW
• Capacitor: CCW
• Real part remains as 1 (50
Ω); hence moving along the
resistance circle.
• Similarly for Shunt:
• Inductor: CCW
• Capacitor: CW

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

L-Section
• In narrowband applications, impedance matching can be achieved, at
a single frequency, with a lossless two-element network, known as L-
network or L-section

jX jX
Z0 jB ZL Z0 jB ZL

zL inside the 1 + jx circle zL outside the 1 + jx circle

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

L-Section
• Design an L-section matching network to match ZL = 200-j100 Ω, to a
100 Ω line, at a frequency of 500 MHz
1+jx circle or
constant
resistance circle

jX
Z0 jB ZL

zL inside the 1 + jx circle

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

L-Section

Matched point
Center of the chart

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

L-Section

Matched point
Center of the chart

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

L-Section

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

Transmission Line
• For a load impedance ZL = 60 - j80 Ω, design two single-stub (short circuit)
shunt tuning networks to match this load to a 50 Ω line at 100 MHz.

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

Transmission Line

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

Transmission Line

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

Quarter-wave Transformer
• l = 0 / 4 or EL = 90 degree at the ZS = RS Z0 ZL = RL
design frequency f0.
90 Degree
Z 0 = Z S Z L = RS RL
• Design a single-section quarter-
wave matching transformer to
match a 10 Ω load to a 50 Ω line, at
f0 = 3 GHz.

Z0 = ZS ZL = (50)(10) = 22.36 

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

Quarter-wave Transformer

• Design a single-section quarter-wave

matching transformer to match a 2 Ω load to
a 50 Ω line, at f0 = 100 MHz.
Z 0 = RS RL Z0 = (50)(2) = 10 

• The fractional bandwidth (FBW) at 20 dB return

loss
5.2 100
FBW20dB = = 5.20%
102.6  97.4

• 5.2% indicates a narrowband matching network. BW20dB=102.6 – 97.4 = 5.2 MHz

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

Broadband Matching
• The general equation for the calculation of any number of
intermediate resistors is given by
2 i −1
 RL  2N
Ri = RS   i = 1, 2, 3, ...N -1
 RS 
N is the number of the cascading networks
Rs is the source resistor value
Ri is the intermediate resistor value

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

Broadband Matching
• Design a THREE-section quarter-wave
transformer network to match a load resistance
RL=2 Ω to a resistive source RS=50 Ω at 100
MHz.

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

Broadband Matching
• Design a FIVE-section quarter-wave transformer
network to match a load resistance RL=10 Ω to
a resistive source RS=50 Ω at 100 MHz.

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3. Narrowband and broadband matching

Broadband Matching
• Design a broadband quarter-wave transformer network to match
a complex load ZL=10-j2 Ω to a 50 Ω at 100 MHz.

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Thank You

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