Time Domain

Reflectometry Theory
Application Note 1304-2

For Use with

Agilent 86100 Infiniium DCA
Introduction The most general approach to evaluating the time domain response
of any electromagnetic system is to solve Maxwell’s equations in the
time domain. Such a procedure would take into account all the
effects of the system geometry and electrical properties, including
transmission line effects. However, this would be rather involved for
even a simple connector and even more complicated for a structure
such as a multilayer high-speed backplane. For this reason, various
test and measurement methods have been used to assist the
electrical engineer in analyzing signal integrity.

The most common method for evaluating a transmission line and its
load has traditionally involved applying a sine wave to a system and
measuring waves resulting from discontinuities on the line. From
these measurements, the standing wave ratio (σ) is calculated and
used as a figure of merit for the transmission system. When the
system includes several discontinuities, however, the standing wave
ratio (SWR) measurement fails to isolate them. In addition, when
the broadband quality of a transmission system is to be determined,
SWR measurements must be made at many frequencies. This method
soon becomes very time consuming and tedious.

Another common instrument for evaluating a transmission line is the

network analyzer. In this case, a signal generator produces a sinusoid
whose frequency is swept to stimulate the device under test (DUT).
The network analyzer measures the reflected and transmitted signals
from the DUT. The reflected waveform can be displayed in various
formats, including SWR and reflection coefficient. An equivalent TDR
format can be displayed only if the network analyzer is equipped
with the proper software to perform an Inverse Fast Fourier
Transform (IFFT). This method works well if the user is comfortable
working with s-parameters in the frequency domain. However, if
the user is not familiar with these microwave-oriented tools, the
learning curve is quite steep. Furthermore, most digital designers
prefer working in the time domain with logic analyzers and
high-speed oscilloscopes.

When compared to other measurement techniques, time domain

reflectometry provides a more intuitive and direct look at the DUT’s
characteristics. Using a step generator and an oscilloscope, a fast
edge is launched into the transmission line under investigation.
The incident and reflected voltage waves are monitored by the
oscilloscope at a particular point on the line.

2
This echo technique (see Figure 1) reveals at a glance the
characteristic impedance of the line, and it shows both the
position and the nature (resistive, inductive, or capacitive) of
each discontinuity along the line. TDR also demonstrates whether
losses in a transmission system are series losses or shunt losses.
All of this information is immediately available from the
oscilloscope’s display. TDR also gives more meaningful information
concerning the broadband response of a transmission system than
any other measuring technique.

Since the basic principles of time domain reflectometry are easily

grasped, even those with limited experience in high-frequency
measurements can quickly master this technique. This application
note attempts a concise presentation of the fundamentals of TDR
and then relates these fundamentals to the parameters that can be
measured in actual test situations. Before discussing these principles
further we will briefly review transmission line theory.

X
e x(t)

Ei ex Zo ZL
Ei +Er
Ei

Zo ≠ Z L
t
Transmission Line Load

Figure 1. Voltage vs time at a particular point on a mismatched

transmission line driven with a step of height Ei

3
Propagation on a The classical transmission line is assumed to consist of a continuous
structure of R’s, L’s and C’s, as shown in Figure 2. By studying this
Transmission Line equivalent circuit, several characteristics of the transmission line
can be determined.

If the line is infinitely long and R, L, G, and C are defined per unit
length, then

√
R + j ωL
Zin = Zo —————
G + jωC

where Zo is the characteristic impedance of the line. A voltage

introduced at the generator will require a finite time to travel down
the line to a point x. The phase of the voltage moving down the line
will lag behind the voltage introduced at the generator by an amount
β per unit length. Furthermore, the voltage will be attenuated by
an amount α per unit length by the series resistance and shunt
conductance of the line. The phase shift and attenuation are defined
by the propagation constant γ, where

γ = α + jβ =√ (R + jωL) (G + jωC)

and α = attenuation in nepers per unit length

β = phase shift in radians per unit length

ZS L R L R

ES C G C G ZL

Figure 2. The classical model for a transmission line.

The velocity at which the voltage travels down the line can be defined
in terms of β:

ω
Where νρ = — Unit Length per Second
β

The velocity of propagation approaches the speed of light, νc, for

transmission lines with air dielectric. For the general case, where er
is the dielectric constant:
νc
νρ = ———
√ er

4
The propagation constant γ can be used to define the voltage and the
current at any distance x down an infinitely long line by the relations

Ex = Eine –γ x and Ix = Iine–γ x

Since the voltage and the current are related at any point by the
characteristic impedance of the line

Eine–γ x Ein
Zo = ———— = —— = Zin
Iine–γ x Iin

where Ein = incident voltage

Iin = incident current

When the transmission line is finite in length and is terminated in a load

whose impedance matches the characteristic impedance of the line, the
voltage and current relationships are satisfied by the preceding equations.

If the load is different from Zo, these equations are not satisfied
unless a second wave is considered to originate at the load and to
propagate back up the line toward the source. This reflected wave is
energy that is not delivered to the load. Therefore, the quality of the
transmission system is indicated by the ratio of this reflected wave
to the incident wave originating at the source. This ratio is called the
voltage reflection coefficient, ρ, and is related to the transmission
line impedance by the equation:

Er ZL – Zo
ρ = —— = ————
Ei ZL + Zo

The magnitude of the steady-state sinusoidal voltage along a line

terminated in a load other than Zo varies periodically as a function
of distance between a maximum and minimum value. This variation,
called a standing wave, is caused by the phase relationship between
incident and reflected waves. The ratio of the maximum and
minimum values of this voltage is called the voltage standing wave
ratio, σ, and is related to the reflection coefficient by the equation

1 + ⎥ ρ⎥
σ = ————
1 – ⎥ ρ⏐

As has been said, either of the above coefficients can be measured

with presently available test equipment. But the value of the SWR
measurement is limited. Again, if a system consists of a connector, a
short transmission line and a load, the measured standing wave ratio
indicates only the overall quality of the system. It does not tell which
of the system components is causing the reflection. It does not tell
if the reflection from one component is of such a phase as to cancel
the reflection from another. The engineer must make detailed
measurements at many frequencies before he can know what must
be done to improve the broadband transmission quality of the system.

5
TDR Step Reflection A time domain reflectometer setup is shown in Figure 3.
Testing The step generator produces a positive-going incident wave that is
applied to the transmission system under test. The step travels down
the transmission line at the velocity of propagation of the line. If the
load impedance is equal to the characteristic impedance of the line,
no wave is reflected and all that will be seen on the oscilloscope is
the incident voltage step recorded as the wave passes the point on
the line monitored by the oscilloscope. Refer to Figure 4.

If a mismatch exists at the load, part of the incident wave is

reflected. The reflected voltage wave will appear on the oscilloscope
display algebraically added to the incident wave. Refer to Figure 5.

Device Under Test

High Speed Oscilloscope

Ei Er
Sampler ZL
Circuit

Step
Generator

Figure 3. Functional block diagram for a time domain reflectometer

Ei

Figure 4. Oscilloscope display when Er = 0

Er

Ei

Figure 5. Oscilloscope display when Er ≠ 0

6
 Locating The reflected wave is readily identified since it is separated in time
Mismatches from the incident wave. This time is also valuable in determining
the length of the transmission system from the monitoring point to
the mismatch. Letting D denote this length:

T νρΤ
D = νρ • —— = ———
2 2

where νρ = velocity of propagation

T = transit time from monitoring point to the mismatch and

back again, as measured on the oscilloscope (Figure 5).

The velocity of propagation can be determined from an experiment

on a known length of the same type of cable (e.g., the time required
for the incident wave to travel down and the reflected wave to travel
back from an open circuit termination at the end of a 120 cm piece
of RG-9A/U is 11.4 ns giving νρ = 2.1 x 10 cm/sec. Knowing νρ and
reading T from the oscilloscope determines D. The mismatch is then
located down the line. Most TDR’s calculate this distance
automatically for the user.

Analyzing The shape of the reflected wave is also valuable since it reveals both
Reflections the nature and magnitude of the mismatch. Figure 6 shows four typical
oscilloscope displays and the load impedance responsible for each.
Figures 7a and 7b show actual screen captures from the 86100A.
These displays are easily interpreted by recalling:

Er ZL – Zo
ρ = ——— = ——————
Ei ZL + Zo

Knowledge of Ei and Er, as measured on the oscilloscope, allows ZL

to be determined in terms of Zo, or vice versa. In Figure 6, for
example, we may verify that the reflections are actually from the
terminations specified.

7
 Z L– Z o
(A) E r = E i Therefore –––––––– = +1
Ei Z L+Zo
Which is true as ZL –– ∞
Ei ZL •
• • Z = Open Circuit

(A) Open Circuit Termination (ZL = ∞)

Z L– Z o
ZL (B) E r = E i Therefore –––––––– = –1
Ei –E i Z L+Zo
Which is only true for finite Z
(B) Short Circuit Termination (Z L = 0) When ZL = 0
•
• • Z = Short Circuit

1 Z L– Z o
–– E i 1 1
3 (C) E r = + –– Ei Therefore –––––––– = + ––
3 Z L+Zo 3
ZL 2Z o and Z L = 2Zo
Ei

(C) Line Terminated in Z L = 2Zo

1
– –– E i Z L– Z o
3 1 1
ZL 1 (D) E r = – –– Ei Therefore –––––––– = – ––
Ei –– Z o 3 Z L+Zo 3
2
1
1 and Z L = –– Z o
(D) Line Terminated in Z L = –– Z o 2
2

Figure 6. TDR displays for typical loads.

Assuming Zo is real (approximately true for high quality commercial

cable), it is seen that resistive mismatches reflect a voltage of the
same shape as the driving voltage, with the magnitude and polarity
of Er determined by the relative values of Zo and RL.

Also of interest are the reflections produced by complex load imped-

ances. Four basic examples of these reflections are shown in Figure 8.

These waveforms could be verified by writing the expression for ρ (s)

in terms of the specific ZL for each example:

R
( i.e., ZL = R + sL , ———— , etc. ) ,
1 + RCs

Ei
multiplying ρ (s) by —— the transform of a step function of Ei,
s

8
 and then transforming this product back into the time domain to
find an expression for er(t). This procedure is useful, but a simpler
analysis is possible without resorting to Laplace transforms. The
more direct analysis involves evaluating the reflected voltage at t = 0
and at t = ∞ and assuming any transition between these two values
to be exponential. (For simplicity, time is chosen to be zero when the
reflected wave arrives back at the monitoring point.) In the case of
the series R-L combination, for example, at t = 0 the reflected voltage
is +Ei. This is because the inductor will not accept a sudden change
in current; it initially looks like an infinite impedance, and ρ = +1 at t
= 0. Then current in L builds up exponentially and its impedance
drops toward zero. At t = ∞, therefore er(t) is determined only by the
value of R.

R – Zo
( ρ = ———— When τ = ∞ )
R + Zo

The exponential transition of er(t) has a time constant determined

by the effective resistance seen by the inductor. Since the output
impedance of the transmission line is Zo, the inductor sees Zo in
series with R, and

L
γ = ————
R + Zo

Figure 7a. Screen capture of open Figure 7b. Screen capture of short
circuit termination from the 86100 circuit termination from the 86100

9
 R–Z R–Z o –t
A E i (1+ ––––o )+(1– –––– )e /τ
R+Z o R+Z o
Series
R–L Ei L R
Where τ = –––––
R+Z o
ZL
L
Ei
t R–Z
0 (1+ ––––o )Ei
R+Zo

B
Shunt
R–C R–Z
(1+ ––––o )Ei ZL R C
Ei –E i R+Zo

R–Z –t
E i (1+ ––––o ) (1–e /τ )
t R+Z o
Zo R
0 Where τ = ––––– C
Z o+R

R–Z –t
C E i (1+ ––––o )e /τ
R–Z R+Z o
Shunt ( ––––o )E i
R+Zo
R–L ZL L R

Ei R+Z o
Where τ = ––––– L
t RZ o
0

D R–Z
( ––––o )E i
Series R+Zo
R–C R
R–Z –t
E i (2–(1 ––––o )e /τ 2E i ZL
R+Z o
C
Ei

t
0
Where τ = (R+Zo) C

Figure 8. Oscilloscope displays for complex ZL.

10
 A similar analysis is possible for the case of the parallel R-C
termination. At time zero, the load appears as a short circuit since
the capacitor will not accept a sudden change in voltage. Therefore,
ρ = –1 when t = 0. After some time, however, voltage builds up on
C and its impedance rises. At t = ∞, the capacitor is effectively an
open circuit:

R – Zo
ZL = R and = ————
R + Zo

The resistance seen by the capacitor is Zo in parallel with R, and

therefore the time constant of the exponential transition of er(t) is:

Zo R
———— C
Zo + R

The two remaining cases can be treated in exactly the same way.
The results of this analysis are summarized in Figure 8.

Discontinuities So far, mention has been made only about the effect of a mismatched
on the Line load at the end of a transmission line. Often, however, one is not
only concerned with what is happening at the load, but also at
intermediate positions along the line. Consider the transmission
system in Figure 9.

The junction of the two lines (both of characteristic impedance Zo)

employs a connector of some sort. Let us assume that the connector
adds a small inductor in series with the line. Analyzing this
discontinuity on the line is not much different from analyzing a
mismatched termination. In effect, one treats everything to the right
of M in the figure as an equivalent impedance in series with the small
inductor and then calls this series combination the effective load
impedance for the system at the point M. Since the input impedance
to the right of M is Zo, an equivalent representation is shown in
Figure 10. The pattern on the oscilloscope is merely a special case
of Figure 8A and is shown on Figure 11.

Zo Zo ZL

Assume ZL = Zo

Figure 9. Intermediate positions along a transmission line

11
 M

L
Zo Zo

Figure 10. Equivalent representation

L
Ei τ = –––
2Z o

Ei

Figure 11. Special case of series R-L circuit

Evaluating Time domain reflectometry is also useful for comparing losses in

Cable Loss transmission lines. Cables where series losses predominate reflect a
voltage wave with an exponentially rising characteristic, while those
in which shunt losses predominate reflect a voltage wave with an
exponentially-decaying characteristic. This can be understood by
looking at the input impedance of the lossy line.

Assuming that the lossy line is infinitely long, the input impedance is
given by:

Zin = Zo = √ R + jωL
—————
G + jωC

Treating first the case where series losses predominate, G is so small

compared to ωC that it can be neglected:

Zin = √ R + jωL
————— =
jωC
√ L R
—— ( 1 + —— )
C jωL
1/
2

Recalling the approximation (1 + x)a ≈ (I + ax) for x<1, Zin can be

approximated by:

Zin ≈ √ L R
—— ( 1 + ——— ) When R < ωL
C j2ωL

Since the leading edge of the incident step is made up almost entirely
of high frequency components, R is certainly less than ωL for t = 0+.
Therefore the above approximation for the lossy line, which looks
like a simple series R-C network, is valid for a short time after t = 0.
It turns out that this model is all that is necessary to determine the
transmission line’s loss.

12
In terms of an equivalent circuit valid at t = 0+, the transmission line
with series losses is shown in Figure 12.

Zs

R'
E Z in e in

C'

1
Z in= R' + ––––
jωC'

Figure 12. A simple model valid at t = 0+ for a line with series losses

The series resistance of the lossy line (R) is a function of the skin
depth of the conductor and therefore is not constant with frequency.
As a result, it is difficult to relate the initial slope with an actual
value of R. However, the magnitude of the slope is useful in
comparing conductors of different loss.

A similar analysis is possible for a conductor where shunt losses

predominate. Here the input admittance of the lossy cable is
given by:

1
Yin = —— =
Zin
√ G + jωC
————— =
R + jωL
√ G + jωC
—————
jωL

Since R is assumed small, re-writing this expression for Yin:

Yin =√ C

L
G
— ( 1 + ——— )
jωC
1/
2

Again approximating the polynominal under the square root sign:

Yin ≈√ C

L
G
— ( 1 + ——— ) When G <ωC
j2ωC

13
 Going to an equivalent circuit (Figure 13) valid at t = 0+,

Zs

E Y in e in G' L'

1
Y in= G' + ––––
jωL'

Figure 13. A simple model valid at t = 0+ for a line with shunt losses

A qualitative interpretation of why ein(t) behaves as it does is quite

simple in both these cases. For series losses, the line looks more
and more like an open circuit as time goes on because the voltage
wave traveling down the line accumulates more and more series
resistance to force current through. In the case of shunt losses, the
input eventually looks like a short circuit because the current
traveling down the line sees more and more accumulated shunt
conductance to develop voltage across.

Multiple One of the advantages of TDR is its ability to handle cases involving
Discontinuities more than one discontinuity. An example of this is Figure 14.

ρ
1 ρ
2

Zo Z' o ZL

Z o ≠ Z'o ≠ Z L ρ' Z'o – Z o

1
ρ = ––––––– = –ρ '
1 Z'o + Z o 1

Z L – Z'o
ρ = –––––––
2 Z L + Z'o

Figure 14. Cables with multiple discontinuities

The oscilloscope’s display for this situation would be similar to the

diagram in Figure 15 (drawn for the case where ZL<Zo< Z′o:

Er
E r1 2

Ei

Z o>Z'o <ZL

Figure 15. Accuracy decreases as you look further down a line with multiple
discontinuities

14
It is seen that the two mismatches produce reflections that can be
analyzed separately. The mismatch at the junction of the two
transmission lines generates a reflected wave, Er , where

Z′o – Zo
Er = ρ1 Ei = ( ———— ) Ei
Z′o + Zo

Similarly, the mismatch at the load also creates a reflection due to

its reflection coefficient

ZL – Z′o
ρ2 = ————
ZL + Z′o
Two things must be considered before the apparent reflection from
ZL, as shown on the oscilloscope, is used to determine ρ2. First,
the voltage step incident on ZL is (1 + ρ1) Ei, not merely Ei. Second,
the reflection from the load is

[ ρ2 (1 + ρ1) Ei ] = ErL

but this is not equal to Er2 since a re-reflection occurs at the

mismatched junction of the two transmission lines. The wave that
returns to the monitoring point is

Er2 = (1 + ρ1′) Er = (1 + ρ1′) [ ρ2 (1 + ρ1) Ei ]

L

Since ρ1′ = –ρ1, Er2 may be re-written as:

Er2 Er2 = [ ρ2 (1 – ρ12 ) ] Ei

The part of ErL reflected from the junction of

ErL Z′o and Zo (i.e., ρ1′ ErL)

is again reflected off the load and heads back to the monitoring
point only to be partially reflected at the junction of Zo′ and Zo.
This continues indefinitely, but after some time the magnitude of
the reflections approaches zero.

In conclusion, this application note has described the fundamental

theory behind time domain reflectometry. Also covered were some
more practical aspects of TDR, such as reflection analysis and
oscilloscope displays of basic loads. This content should provide a
strong foundation for the TDR neophyte, as well as a good brush-up
tutorial for the more experienced TDR user.

15
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