SMITH CHART

Smith Chart - Introduction

• Smith Chart Provides graphical solutions of transmission-line problems
• The Smith chart consists of a plot of the normalized impedance or
admittance with the angle and magnitude of a generalized complex
reflection coefficient in a unity circle
• The chart is applicable to the analysis of a lossless line as well as a lossy line
• By simple rotation of the chart, the effect of the position on the line can be
determined
• consider the equation of reflection coefficient at the load for a transmission
line
𝑍𝑙 −𝑍0
Γ𝑙 = = Γ𝑙 𝑒 𝑗𝜃𝑙 = Γ𝑟 + 𝑗Γ𝑖 (1)
𝑍𝑙 +𝑍0
• Since Γ𝑙 ≤ 1, the value of Γ𝑙 must lie on or within the unity circle with a
radius of 1
 Smith Chart
• The reflection coefficient at any other location along a line is given by
Γ𝑑 = Γ𝑙 𝑒 −2𝛼𝑑 𝑒 −𝑗2𝛽𝑑 = Γ𝑙 𝑒 −2𝛼𝑑 𝑒 𝑗 𝜃𝑙 −2𝛽𝑑 (2)
Which is also on or within the unity circle
• Figure below shows circles for a constant reflection coefficient 𝑟 and
constant electrical-length radials 𝛽𝑑
• The normalized impedance along a line is given by
𝑍 1+Γ𝑙 𝑒 −2𝛾𝑑
𝑧= = (3)
𝑍0 1−Γ𝑙 𝑒 −2𝛾𝑑
• With no loss of generality, it is assumed that 𝑑 = 0, then
1+Γ𝑙 𝑧𝑙 𝑅𝑙 +𝑗𝑋𝑙
𝑧= = = = 𝑟 + 𝑗𝑥 4
1−Γ𝑙 𝑍0 𝑍0
𝑧−1
and Γ𝑙 = = Γ𝑟 + 𝑗Γ𝑖 (5)
𝑧+1
Smith Chart
 Smith Chart
• Substitution of equation (5) into (4),
1+Γ𝑟 +𝑗Γ𝑖
𝑟 + 𝑗𝑥 = (6)
1−Γ𝑟 −𝑗Γ𝑖
• Rationalizing, separating real and imaginary part yields
1−Γ2𝑟 −Γ2𝑖
𝑟= (7)
1−Γ𝑟 2 +Γ2𝑖

2Γ𝑖
𝑥= (8)
1−Γ𝑟 2 +Γ2𝑖
• Equations (7) and (8) can be rearranged as follows
𝑟 2 1 2
Γ𝑟 − + Γ𝑖2 = (9)
1+𝑟 1+𝑟

1 2 1 2
(Γ𝑟 − 1)2 + Γ𝑖 − = (10)
𝑥 𝑥
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
 Smith Chart
• Equation (9) represents a family of circles in which each circle has a constant
resistance r
1 𝑟
• The radius of any circle is and the center of any circle is along the
1+𝑟 1+𝑟
real axis in the unity circle, where r varies from zero to infinity
• All constant resistance circles are plotted in Fig. below according to Eq.(9)
 Smith Chart
• Equation (10) also describes a family of circles, but each of these circles
specifies a constant reactance x
1
• The radius of any circle is , and the center of any circle is at
𝑥
1
Γ𝑟 = 1 Γ𝑖 = (where −∞ ≤ 𝑥 ≤ ∞)
𝑥
• All constant reactance circles are plotted in Fig, below according to eq.(10)
 Smith Chart
• There are relative distance scales in wavelength along the circumference of
the Smith chart
• Also, there is a phase scale specifying the angle of the reflection coefficient
• When a normalized impedance z is located on the chart, the normalized
impedance of any other location along the line can be found by use of Eq. (3)
1+Γ𝑙 𝑒 −2𝛾𝑑
𝑧= (11)
1−Γ𝑙 𝑒 −2𝛾𝑑

Where Γ𝑙 𝑒 −2𝛾𝑑 = Γ𝑙 𝑒 −2𝛼𝑑 𝑒 𝑗 𝜃𝑙 −2𝛽𝑑

(12)
 Smith Chart
• The Smith chart may also be used for normalized admittance
• This is evident since
1 1
𝑌0 = = 𝐺0 + 𝑗𝐵0 and 𝑌 = = 𝐺 + 𝑗𝐵 (13)
𝑍0 𝑍
• Then the normalized admittance is
𝑌 𝑍0 1
𝑦= = = = 𝑔 + 𝑗𝑏 (14)
𝑌0 𝑍 𝑧
• Figure shows a Smith chart which superimposes both constant resistance and
constant reactance circles into one chart
• The characteristics of Smith chart are summarized as follows:
(1)The constant 𝑟 and constant 𝑥 loci form two families of orthogonal circles in
the chart
• (2) The constant 𝑟 and constant 𝑥 circles all pass through the point (Γ𝑟 = 1,
Γ𝑖 = 0).
Smith Chart
 Smith Chart
(3) The upper half of the diagram represents +𝑗𝑥
(4) The lower half of the diagram represents −𝑗𝑥
(5) For admittance the constant 𝑟 circles become constant 𝑔 circles, and the
constant 𝑥 circles become constant susceptance 𝑏 circles
(6) The distance around the Smith chart once is one-half wavelength 𝜆 2
(7) At a point of 𝑧𝑚𝑖𝑛 =1 𝜌, there is a 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 on the line
(8) At a point of 𝑧𝑚𝑎𝑥 =1 𝜌, there is a 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 on the line
(9) The horizontal radius to the right of the chart center corresponds to 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 ,
𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑛 , 𝑧𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝜌 (SWR)
(10) The horizontal radius to the left of the chart center corresponds to 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 ,
1
𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 , 𝑧𝑚𝑖𝑛 and (SWR)
𝜌
 Smith Chart
(11) Since the normalized admittance 𝑦 is a reciprocal of the normalized
impedance 𝑧, the corresponding quantities in the admittance chart are 180°
out of phase with those in the impedance chart
(12) The normalized impedance or admittance is repeated for every half
wavelength of distance
(13) The distances are given in wavelengths toward the generator and also
toward the load
• The magnitude of the reflection coefficient is related to the standing-wave
ratio by the following expression:
𝜌−1
Γ = (15)
𝜌+1
• A Smith chart or slotted line can be used to measure a standing-wave pattern
directly and then the magnitudes of the reflection coefficient, reflected
power, transmitted power, and the load impedance can be calculated from it
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
 Smith Chart
• Thus, the first step in analyzing a transmission line is to locate the normalized
load impedance on the chart
• Next, a circle is drawn that represents the reflection coefficient or SWR. The
center of the circle is the center of the chart. The circle passes through the
normalized load impedance
• Any point on the line is found on this circle. Rotate clockwise to move toward
the generator (away from the load)
• The distance moved on the line is indicated on the outside of the chart in
wavelengths
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Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
Smith Chart
 Smith Chart – Impedance Matching
• Impedance matching is very desirable with radio frequency (RF) transmission
lines
• Standing waves lead to increased losses and frequently cause the transmitter
to malfunction
• A line terminated in its characteristic impedance has a standing-wave ratio of
unity and transmits a given power without reflection
• Also, transmission efficiency is optimum where there is no reflected power
• A "flat" line is non resonant; that is, its input impedance always remains at
the same value 𝑍𝑜 when the frequency changes

• In transmission-line problems matching means simply terminating the line in

its characteristic impedance
 Smith Chart – Impedance Matching
• A common application of RF transmission lines is the one in which there is a
feeder connection between a transmitter and an antenna
• Usually the input impedance to the antenna itself is not equal to the
characteristic impedance of the line
• Furthermore, the output impedance of the transmitter may not be equal to
the 𝑍𝑜 of the line
• Matching devices are necessary to flatten the line
• A complete matched transmission-line system is shown
 Smith Chart – Impedance Matching
• For a low-loss or lossless transmission line at radio frequency, the
characteristic impedance 𝑍𝑜 of the line is resistive
• At every point the impedances looking in opposite directions are conjugate
• If 𝑍𝑜 is real, it is its own conjugate
• Matching can be tried first on the load side to flatten the line; then
adjustment may be made on the transmitter side to provide maximum power
transfer
• At audio frequencies an iron cored transformer is almost universally used as
an impedance-matching device
• Occasionally an iron-cored transformer is also used at radio frequencies
• In a practical transmission-line system, the transmitter is ordinarily matched
to the coaxial cable for maximum power transfer
 Smith Chart – Impedance Matching
• Because of the variable loads, however, an impedance-matching technique is
often required at the load side
• Since the matching problems involve parallel connections on the transmission
line, it is necessary to work out the problems with admittances rather than
impedances
• The Smith chart itself can be used as a computer to convert the normalized
impedance to admittance by a rotation of 180°
 Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
• Although single-lumped inductors or capacitors can match the transmission
line, it is more common to use the susceptive properties of short-circuited
sections of transmission lines
• Short-circuited sections are preferable to open-circuited ones because a good
short circuit is easier to obtain than a good open circuit
• For a lossless line with 𝑌𝑔 = 𝑌𝑜 , maximum power transfer requires 𝑌11 = 𝑌𝑜 ,
where 𝑌11 is the total admittance of the line and stub looking to the right at
point 1-1 (see Fig. 3-6-2)
• The stub must be located at that point on the line where the real part of the
admittance, looking toward the load, is 𝑌𝑜
• In a normalized unit 𝑌11 must be in the form
𝑦11 = 𝑦𝑑 ± 𝑦𝑠
if the stub has the same characteristic impedance as that of the line
 Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
• Otherwise 𝑌11 = 𝑌𝑑 ± 𝑌𝑠 = 𝑌𝑜

• The stub length is then adjusted so that its susceptance just cancels out the
susceptance of the line at the junction
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching
Smith Chart – Single – Stub Matching