The Smith Chart

• The analysis of transmission-line problems and of

matching circuits at microwave frequencies can
be cumbersome in analytical form. The smith
chart provides a very useful graphical aid to the
analysis of these problems.
• Matching circuits can be easily and quickly
designed using the normalized impedance and
admittance Smith chart (Z and Y charts).
• The Smith chart is also used to present the
frequency dependence of scattering parameters
and other amplifier characteristics.
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Development of the Smith Chart (I)
• The Smith chart is the representation in the reflection coefficient plane,
called the  plane, of the relation
Z  Zo
x 
Z  Zo

for all values of Z, such that Re{Z}≥0. Zo is the characteristic impedance

of the transmission line or a reference impedance value.

• Defining the normalized impedance z as

Z R  jX
z   r  jx
Zo Zo

• Reflection Coefficient

z  1  r  1  jx r 2  1 x 2 2x
   U  jV where U  and V
z  1  r  1  jx  r  1
2
 x2  r  1
2
 x2

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 Essential (Key) Reference Points
On The Smith Chart
1) Center (z = r = 1): matched condition
– Also represents Γ = 0 and VSWR = 1
– Becomes the destination (objective) for
impedance matching problems (HOME !)
2) Right Extreme (z = r = ∞): open circuit
– Also Γ = 1∠0° and VSWR = ∞
– An open circuited stub has Zin that begins here
 Essential (Key) Reference Points
On The Smith Chart
3) Left Extreme (z = r = 0): short circuit
– Also Γ = 1∠180° and VSWR = ∞
– A short circuited stub has Zin that begins here

• Key Reference Points on the Smith Chart

* Center Point: matched condition (HOME)
O Right Extreme: open circuit termination
• Left Extreme: short circuit termination
 Development of the Smith Chart (II)
z 1 V
 Pure Imaginary: inductive
z 1
z-plane  z  r  jx    190
x

z  j1
z 1   1  1
r U
z0 0
z   j1
Short Load Open

z  1   0
z  0    1  1180   1  90
z     1 Pure Imaginary: capacitive
Γ-plane   U  jV 
z  j1  j1  190
z   j1     j1  1  90

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Constant Resistance Circles (I)
V

z-plane  z  r  jx  j1
x j2
z  1 j 2   0.44763.4   0.70745

z  1  j1
r U
z0
z  1  j1

z  1 j 2   0.447  63.4   0.707  45

 j2
z  1  j 1   0.44763.43  j1
z  1  j1   0.447  63.43 Γ-plane    U  jV 
z  1  j 2   0.70745
z  1  j 2   0.707  45

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 Constant Resistance Circles (II)
V

z-plane  z  r  jx 
x

r 0 r 1 r 3 zr 0 r 1 r 3
r U
r  0.5 r  0.5

z  0  jx
z  0.5  jx
z  1  jx z  3  jx

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 Constant Reactance Loci
V

z-plane  z  r  jx  j1
j 0.5
x j3
z  j3

z  j1
z  j 0.5
r j0 U
z   j 0.5
z   j1

z   j3
 j3
z  j 0.5   1126.87  j 0.5  j1
z  0.5  j 0.5   0.447116.56
z  1  j 0.5   0.24375.97
z  1.5  j 0.5   0.277333.69

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 Complete the Smith Chart

+jx

Inductive
Capacitive

Short Load Open

-jx

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 Reactance in the Smith Chart
+j0.6 +j1.6
+j1.7
+j0.5 +j1.8
+j2.0
+j0.4

+j0.3 x  0.4 +j3.0

+j4.0
+j0.2 +j5.0
x  0.4 +j6.0
+jx +j0.1
x  0.4
Inductive
Capacitive

Short Load Open

-jx

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 Example – Impedance in the Smith Chart
z1  1  j 1
z2  0.4  j 0.5
z3  3  j 3
z4  0.2  j 0.6 z2
z1
z5  0

z5
z3

z4

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Example – Find  from Impedance

z1  3  j 3

z1
  19.44

  0.721  19.44

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Example – Find Impedance from 
  0.44726.56

26.56
z  2  j1

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 Use Smith Chart as an Admittance (Y) Chart
y1  1  j 1 y  g  jb
y 2  0.4  j 0.5
y 3  2  j1.4
y 4  0.5  j 0.2 y2
y1
y5  

y5
y4
y3

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Example

Consider a characteristic impedance of 50 Ω with the following

impedances and represent them in the smith chart:
• Z5 = ∞ (an open circuit)
• Z1 = 100 + j50 Ω
• Z6 = 0 (a short circuit)
• Z2 = 75 − j100 Ω
• Z4 = 150 Ω
• Z3 = j200 Ω
• Z8 = 184 − j900 Ω
• z4 = 3
• Z7 = 50 Ω
• z8 = 3.68 − j18
 Input impedance
• Since β = 2π/λ, shifting by 2 βl is equal to phase change of 2π.
• Equating:
2π
2βl = 2 l = 2π
• Hence, for one complete rotationλ corresponds to l = λ/2.
• The objective of shifting Γ to ΓL is to find Zin at an any distance l
on the transmission line.
 Example 5
• A 50-Ω transmission line is terminated with ZL=(100-j50)Ω. Find
Zin at a distance l =0.1λ from the load.
Solution to Example 5

at B, zin = 0.6 –j0.66

VSWR, Voltage Maxima and Voltage Minima
 VSWR, Voltage Maxima and Voltage Minima
• Point A is the normalized load impedance with zL=2+j1.
• VSWR = 2.6 (at Pmax).
• The distance between the load and the first voltage maximum is
lmax=(0.25-0.213)λ.
• The distance between the load and the first voltage minimum is
lmin=(0.037+0.25)λ.
Impedance to admittance transformations

zL=0.6 + j1.4

yL=0.25 - j0.6
 Example 6
• Given that the voltage standing-wave ratio, VSWR = 3. On a 50-Ω
line, the first voltage minimum occurs at 5 cm from the load, and
that the distance between successive minima is 20 cm, find the
load impedance.
 Solution to Example 6
• The distance between successive minima is
equal to λ/2. Hence, λ = 40 cm.
• First voltage minimum (in wavelength unit) is at
5
l min = = 0.125λ on the WTL scale from point B.
40

• Intersect the line with constant SWR circle = 3.

• The normalized load impedance at point C is:
z L = 0.6 − j 0.8
• De-normalize (multiplying by Z0) to get ZL:
Z L = 50(0.6 − j 0.8) = (30 − j 40 )Ω
Solution to Example 6
 Impedance Matching
• Transmission line is matched to the load when Z0 = ZL.
• This is usually not possible since ZL is used to serve other
application.
• Alternatively, we can place an impedance-matching network
between load and transmission line.
 Single- stub matching
• Matching network consists of two sections of transmission lines.
• First section of length d, while the second section of length l in
paralllel with the first section, hence it is called stub.
• The second section is terminated with either short-circuit or open
circuit.
Single- stub matching
 Single- stub matching
• The distance d is chosen so as to transform the load admittance,
YL=1/ZL into an admittance of the form Yd = Y0+jB when looking
towards the load at MM’.
• The length l of the stub is chosen so that its input admittance, YS
at MM’ is equal to –jB.
• Hence, the parallel sum of the two admittances at MM’ yields Y0,
which is the characteristic admittance of the line.
 Example 7
50-Ω transmission line is connected to an antenna with load
impedance ZL = (25 − j50)Ω. Find the position and length of the
short-circuited stub required to match the line.
 Solution to Example 7
• The normalized load impedance is
Z 25 − j 50
zL = L = = 0.5 − j (located at A).
Z0 50

• Value of yL at B is yL = 0.4 + j 0.8 which locates at

position 0.115λ on the WTG scale.
• Draw constant SWR circle that goes through
points A and B.
• There are two possible matching points, C and D
where the constant SWR circle intersects with
circle rL=1 (now gL =1 circle).
Solution to Example 7
 Solution to Example 7
First matching points, C.
• At C, yd = 1 + j1.58 is at 0.178λ on WTG scale.
• Distance B and C is d = (0.178 − 0.155)λ = 0.063λ
• Normalized input admittance yin = ys + yd
at the juncture is: 1 + j 0 = ys + 1 + j1.58
ys = − j1.58
E is the admittance of short-circuit stub, yL=-j∞.
Normalized admittance of −j 1.58 at F and
position 0.34λ on the WTG scale gives:
l1 = (0.34 − 0.25)λ = 0.09λ
 Solution to Example 7
Second matching point, D.
• At point D, yd = 1 − j1.58
• Distance B and C is d 2 = (0.322 − 0.115)λ = 0.207λ
• Normalized input admittance ysat= +
G.j1.58
• Rotating from point E to point G, we get
l2 = (0.25 + 0.16 )λ = 0.41λ
Solution to Example 7