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ECE 4380/5390
Spring 2013
Instructor: Dr. Raymond Rumpf
Office: A-337
E-Mail: [email protected]

Topic #6

Smith Charts
Smith Charts 1

Outline
• Construction of the Smith Chart
• Admittance and impedance
• Circuit theory
• Determining VSWR and 
• Impedance transformation
• Impedance matching

Smith Charts 2

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Construction of the
Smith Chart

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Polar Plot of Reflection Coefficient

The Smith chart is based on a polar plot of the voltage reflection
coefficient . The outer boundary corresponds to || = 1. The
reflection coefficient in any passive system must be|| ≤ 1.

    e j 

  radius on Smith chart

  angle measured CCW from right side of chart

Smith Charts 5

Normalized Impedance

All impedances are normalized. This is usually done with respect to

the characteristic impedance of the transmission line Z0.

Z
z
Z0

Smith Charts 6

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Reflection Coefficient form

Normalized Impedance
We can write the reflection coefficient in terms of normalized
impedances.

ZL Z0

Z L  Z0 Z0 Z 0 zL  1
  
Z L  Z0 Z L  Z0 zL  1
Z0 Z0

Smith Charts 7

Derivation of Smith Chart:

Solve for Load Impedance
Solving the previous equation for load impedance, we get

zL  1

zL  1
  z L  1  z L  1
1 
zL     zL  1
zL 
zL  zL   1   1 
z L 1     1  
1 
zL 
1 

Smith Charts 8

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Derivation of Smith Chart:

Real and imaginary parts
The load impedance and reflection coefficient can be written in
terms of real and imaginary parts.
z L  rL  jxL    r  j i

Substituting these into the load impedance equation yields

1 
zL 
1 
1    r  j i 
rL  jxL 
1    r  ji 

rL  jxL 
1   r   ji
1   r   ji
Smith Charts 9

Derivation of Smith Chart:

Solve for rL and xL
We solve or previous equation for rL and xL by setting the real and
imaginary parts equal.

rL  jxL 
1   r   ji
1   r   ji 1   2r   i2
1   r   ji  1   r   ji rL 

1   r 
2
1   r   ji 1   r   ji  i2

1   r 1   r   j 1   r   i  j i 1   r   i2
1   r   i2
2

1   2r  j i  j r i  ji  j r i  i2
 2 i
1   r  xL 
2
 i2

1   r 
2
1      j 2 i
 i2
2 2
 r i

1   r   i2
2

1   2r   i2 2i
 j
1   r  1   r 
2 2
  i2  i2
Smith Charts 10

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Derivation of Smith Chart:

Rearrange equation for rL
We rearrange the equation for rL so that it has the form of a circle.
1   2r  i2
rL 
1   r 
2
 i2
2 2
1   2r  i2  rL   rL  rL  1
1   r 
2
 r      i  0
2
  i2 
rL  rL  1   rL  1  rL  1
1  2r  i2  rL 
2 2
 rL  rL  1
1   r 
2
  i2    0
 r    i    
2
rL rL rL
 rL  1   rL  1  rL  1
 2r 2 1
 r  1 rL  1
2
2 r   2r    i2  i  1   0  rL  rL2
 r    i   L
2
rL rL rL
 L   rL  1
2 2
 rL 1  r  1
2rL  r  rL  2r   2r  rL i2  i2  rL  1  0 2
 rL  rL2 r 2 1
2rL  r   rL  1  2r   rL  1  i2  rL  1  0  r    i 
2
 L
  rL  1  rL  1
2 2
 r 1 
r r 1 L
 2r  2 L r   i2  L 0 2
rL  1 rL  1  rL  1
  r    i 
2

L 1   rL  1
2
can be factored
 r

Smith Charts 11

Derivation of Smith Chart:

Rearrange equation for xL
We rearrange the equation for xL so that it has the form of a circle.

2i
xL 
1   r 
2
 i2
2i
1   r 
2
 i2 
xL
2

1   r   i2 
2
i  0
  xL
swap terms 
can be factored
2
 1  1
  r  1   i    2  0
2

 xL  xL

Smith Charts 12

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Derivation of Smith Chart:

Two families of circles
Constant Resistance Circles Constant Reactance Circles
2 2 2 2
 rL   1   1   1 
  r  1   i     
2
 r    i  
2

 rL  1   1  rL   xL   xL 
These have centers at These have centers at
rL 1
r  i  0 r  1 i 
rL  1 xL
Radii Radii
1 1
1  rL xL

Smith Charts 13

Derivation of Smith Chart:

Putting it all together
Lines of constant Lines of constant Lines of constant
resistance inductive reactance reflection coefficient Superposition

+ + =
Lines of constant
capacitive reactance

We ignore what is outside the || = 1 circle.

We don’t draw the constant || circles.

This is the Smith chart!

Smith Charts 14

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Alternate Way of Visualizing the

Smith Chart

Lines of constant resistance Lines of constant reactance Reactance Regions

open
L circuit

short
circuit C
Smith Charts 15

3D Smith Chart
The 3D Smith Chart unifies passive and active circuit design.

2D 3D

EE3321 ‐‐ Final Lecture

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Summary of Smith Chart

Smith Charts 17

Impedance
and
Admittance
on the
Smith Chart

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Admittance Coordinates
We could have derived the Smith chart in terms of admittance.

You can make an admittance Smith

chart by rotating the standard
Smith chart by 180.

Smith Charts 19

Impedance/Admittance
Conversion
The Smith chart is just a plot of complex numbers. These could be admittance as
well as impedance.
To determine admittance from impedance (or the other way around)…
1. Plot the impedance point on the Smith chart.
2. Draw a circle centered on the Smith chart that passes through the point (i.e.
constant VSWR).
3. Draw a line from the impedance point, through the center, and to the other side of
the circle.
4. The intersection at the other side is the admittance.

impedance admittance

Smith Charts 20

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Visualizing Impedance/Admittance
Conversion

Smith Charts 21

Example #1 – Step 1
Plot the impedance on the chart
z  0.2  j 0.4

Smith Charts 22

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Example #1 – Step 2
Draw a constant VSWR circle
z  0.2  j 0.4

Smith Charts 23

Example #1 – Step 3
Draw line through center of chart
z  0.2  j 0.4

Smith Charts 24

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Example #1 – Step 4
Read off admittance
z  0.2  j 0.4

y  1.0  j 2.0

Smith Charts 25

Example #2 – Step 1
Plot the impedance on the chart
z  0.5  j 0.3

Smith Charts 26

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Example #1 – Step 2
Draw a constant VSWR circle
z  0.5  j 0.3

Smith Charts 27

Example #2 – Step 3
Draw line through center of chart
z  0.5  j 0.3

Smith Charts 28

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Example #2 – Step 4
Read off admittance
z  0.5  j 0.3
y  1.5  j 0.9

Smith Charts 29

Circuit Theory

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Example #2 – Circuit Analysis

All together
3.3157 nH

50 
1.9894 pF

Z in  20  j 40 

Smith Charts 45

Determining
VSWR and 

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The Horizontal Bar on the

Smith Chart

VSWR
2
Reflectance 

Reflection Coefficient 

Smith Charts 47

Determining VSWR
1. Plot the normalized load impedance on the Smith chart.
2. Draw a circuit centered on the Smith chart that intersections this point.
3. The VSWR is read where the circle crosses the real axis on right side.

Example: 50  line connected to 75+j10  load impedance.

Z L 75  j10
z   1.5  j 0.2
Z0 50

1
impedance
VSWR

VSWR = 1.55

Smith Charts 48

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Example #1 – Circuit Analysis

What is the VSWR?
3.3157 nH

50 
1.9894 pF

Z in  20  j 40 

VSWR  4.6

Smith Charts 49

Example #1 – Circuit Analysis

What is the reflection coefficient?

  0.62

Smith Charts 50

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Impedance
Transformation

Normalized Impedance
Transformation Formula
Our impedance transformation formula was
Z L  jZ 0 tan   z L  j tan  
Z in  Z 0 zin 
Z 0  jZ L tan   1  jz L tan  
We can write this in terms of the reflection coefficient.
Z L cos    jZ 0 sin   0.5Z L  e j    e  j     0.5Z 0  e j    e  j   
Z in  Z 0  Z0
Z 0 cos    jZ L sin   0.5Z 0  e j    e  j     0.5Z Z  e j    e  j   

 Z0
Z L e j   Z L e j   Z 0e j   Z 0e j   Z  Z 0  e j    Z L  Z 0  e j 
 Z0 L
Z 0e j   Z 0e j   Z L e j   Z L e j   Z L  Z 0  e j    Z L  Z 0  e j 
 Z L  Z 0  e j 
1
 Z0
 Z L  Z 0  e j   Z0
1  e  j 2  

1 L
Z  Z0  e j  1  e  j 2  
 Z L  Z 0  e j 
We normalize by dividing by Z0.

1  e  j 2  
zin 
1  e  j 2  
Smith Charts 52

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Normalized Admittance
Transformation Formula
Our impedance transformation formula was
Z L  jZ 0 tan   Y  jY0 tan  
Z in  Z 0  Yin  Y0 L
Z 0  jZ L tan   Y0  jYL tan  

z L  j tan   y  j tan  
zin   yin  L
1  jz L tan   1  jyL tan  

We can write this in terms of the reflection coefficient.

1  e  j 2   1  e  j 2  
zin   yin 
1  e  j 2   1  e  j 2  

Smith Charts 53

Interpreting the Formula

The normalized impedance transformation formula was

1  e  j 2  
zin    
1  e  j 2  
Recognizing that  = ||ej, this equation can be written as

1   e j e  j 2   1   e j   2   
zin     
1   e j e  j 2   1   e j  2   

Thus we see that traversing along the transmission line simply changes the phase of the
reflection coefficient.

As we move away from the load and toward the source, we subtract phase from . On the
Smith chart, we rotate clockwise (CW) around the constant VSWR circle by an amount 2l.
A complete rotation corresponds to /2.

Smith Charts 54

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Impedance Transformation
on the Smith chart
1. Plot the normalized load impedance on the Smith chart.
2. Move clockwise around the middle of the Smith chart as we move away from the
load (toward generator). One rotation is /2 in the transmission line.
3. The final point is the input impedance of the line.

Smith Charts 55

Example #1 – Impedance Trans.

Normalized the parameters
0.67

Z 0  50  Z L  50  j 25 

0.67

z L  1  j 0.5 

zL  j tan   1  j 0.5   j tan  2  0.67 

zin       1.299  j 0.485
1  jz L tan   1  j 1  j 0.5 tan  2  0.67 

Smith Charts 56

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Example #1 – Impedance Trans.

Plot load impedance
0.67

zL  1  j 0.5 

Smith Charts 57

Example #1 – Impedance Trans.

Walk away from load 0.67 0.145
0.67

zL  1  j 0.5 

Since the Smith chart

repeats every 0.5,
traversing 0.67 is the
same as traversing 0.17.

Here we start at 0.145 on

the Smith chart.

We traverse around the

chart to
0.145 + 0.17 = 0.315.

Smith Charts 58

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Example #1 – Impedance Trans.

Determine input impedance
0.67

Z in zL  1  j 0.5 

Reflection at the load will be

the same regardless of the
length of line.

Therefore the VSWR will the

same.

The input impedance must

lie on the same VSWR plane.

zin  1.3  j 0.5

Smith Charts 59

Example #1 – Impedance Trans.

Denormalize
0.67

Z in zL  1  j 0.5 

To determine the actual

input impedance, we
denormalize.

Z in  Z 0 zin   50  1.3  j 0.5   65  j 25 

Smith Charts 60

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Example #2 – Calculate Line Length

3.5 cm
30 

L  200 nH m
Z in 5 nH
C  163 pF m

f  1.5 GHz

Free Space Wavelength

c0 3 108
0    20 cm
f 1.5  109

Wavelength on the Line

2   2 f
1
   LC   
 f LC
1
  11.68 cm
1.5 109   200 109 163 1012 
Note:  ≠ 0 so these are NOT the same.
Use  instead of 0 for Smith chart analysis.
Smith Charts 61

Example #2 – Calculate Z’s

3.5 cm
30 

L  200 nH m
Z in 5 nH
C  163 pF m

f  1.5 GHz

Line Impedance
L 200 109
Z0    35.0 
C 163  1012

Load Impedance
Z L  R  j L
 30  j 2 1.5  109  5  10 9 
 30  j 47.1 

Smith Charts 62

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Example #2 – Normalize
3.5 cm
30 

L  200 nH m
Z in 5 nH
C  163 pF m

f  1.5 GHz

Normalize Load Impedance

L 200  109
Z0    35.0 
C 163  1012

Load Impedance
Z L 30  j 47.1
zL    0.86  j1.34
Z0 35.0

Smith Charts 63

Example #2 – Transform
0.168
3.5 cm
30 

L  200 nH m
Z in 5 nH
C  163 pF m

f  1.5 GHz

Line Length in Wavelengths

 3.5 cm
  0.3
 11.68 cm

Azimuthal Distance
Start: 0.168
0.468
End: 0.168  0.30  0.468

Transformed Impedance
zin  0.26  j 0.19

Smith Charts 64

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Example #2 – Denormalize
0.168
3.5 cm
30 

L  200 nH m
Z in 5 nH
C  163 pF m

f  1.5 GHz

Denormalize Input Impedance

Z in  Z 0 zin
  35.0   0.26  j 0.19 
 9.21  j 6.65 

0.468
Exact Answer
Z in  9.42  j 7.03

Smith Charts 65

Example #2 – Component Values

0.168
3.5 cm
30 

L  200 nH m
Z in 5 nH
C  163 pF m

f  1.5 GHz

Component Values
1
Z in  R   9.21  j 6.65 
jC
R  9.21 
1
C  15.9 pF
2 1.5  109   6.65 
0.468

9.21 

Z in 15.9 pF

Smith Charts 66

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