Smith Chart

Smith Chart:
Graphical Chart by P. H. Smith

In a lossless transmission line, the voltage reflection coefficient is

defined as

Z L R0

e j
Z L R0
The normalized load impedance can be written as

Z L RL jX L
zL

r jx
R0
R0
where r and x are normalized resistance and normalized reactance

zL 1
r j i
zL 1
where i and r and x are normalized resistance and normalized
reactance
j

1 1 e
zL

1 1 e j

1 r j i

r jx
1 r ji
1 r ji . 1 r ji
r jx
1 r ji 1 r ji

1 r ji . 1 r ji
r jx
1 r ji 1 r ji

1 2r i2

1 r
2

1 2r i2

2
1

r i

2i

2
1

r i
2

2
i

2i

1 r

i2

1
2
r
i

r
1

1 1

r 1 i
x x

Resistive Circles

Centre

r
r
; i 0
1 r

1
2
r
i

r
1

Radius

1
1 r

1
2
The centers of all r-circles lie on the r axis. r
i

r
1

The r = 0 circle, unity radius, centre at origin

The r-circles becomes progressively smaller as r increases from 0 toward

ending at (r = 1, i = 0) point for open circuit
All r circles pass through the (r = 1, i = 0) point

Reactance Circles

Centre

1
r 1; i
x

1 1

r 1 i
x x

Radius

1
x

1 1

r
i

The centers of all x-circles lie on the r = 1 lines;
x x

for x > 0 (inductive reactance) lie above r axis.

2

for x < 0 (capacitive reactance) lie below r axis.

The x = 0 circle becomes the r axis
The x-circles becomes progressively smaller as x from 0 toward
ending at (r = 1, i = 0) point for open circuit
All xcircles pass through the (r = 1, i = 0) point

Smith Chart: a chart of r and x circle in r and I plane for 1

R and x circle are everywhere orthogonal to one another
The intersection of r and x circle defines a points that represents a
normalized load impedance z r jx
L

Actual Impedance is ZL R0 (r + jx)

1 .0

2.0

0.5

3.0

-1

2.0

5.0

.2
=-0

-3
.0

- 1 .0

r = 1 and i = 0 corresponds to
infinite impedance: open circuit

1.0

-0
.5

X/Z

0.5

.0
-2

r = -1 and i = 0 corresponds to r = 0
and x = 0: short circuit

=0.
2

R/ZO=0.2

X/Z
O

Smith chart can also be marked as polar coordinates:

Magnitude of
Phase angle of

SC 1
OC 1

Pm

PM

Each circle intersect the real axis at two points:

PM on positive real axis

Pm on negative real axis

Since x = 0 along the real axis: PM and Pm both represents a purely
resistive load
RL > R0 (r > 1) : PM
RL > R0 (r < 1) : Pm

if

RL R0

RL
S
r
R0

The value of the r-circle passing through the point PM is numerically

equal to the standing wave ratio

if

RL R0

R0 1
S

RL r

1
r
S

The value of the r-circle passing through the point Pm on negative real
axis is numerically equal to the 1/S

Constant Circle

1. All the circles are centered at the origin and their radii vary from 0 to
1.

2. The angle measured from the positive real axis, of the line drawn from
the origin through the point representing zL equal .
3. The value of the r-circle passing through the intersection of the circle
and the positive real axis equals the standing wave ratio

The input impedance looking towards the load end at a distance z

from the load is

IL
z'
2 z '

Z
e
1

L
0

V z '
Zi z '
2
IL
I z '
Z L Z0 e z ' 1 e2 z '
2Z 0

1 e2 j z '
Zi z ' Z 0
2 j z '
1 e

Normalized input impedance

zi

Zi z '
Z0

2 j z '

1 e

1 e2 j z '

zi

Zi z '
Z0

1 e 2 j z '
1 e 2 j z '

zi

zi

Zi z '
Z0

Zi z '
Z0

At z = 0;

1 e 2 j z '
1 e 2 j z '

1 e
1 e

2 j z '
zi zL

2 j z '

1
1

1 e

1 e j

The magnitude of remains constant, therefore VSWR

are not changed by additional length

Keeping

an angle to

constant, subtract (rotate clockwise direction) from

2 z '

4 z '

This will locate the point for

, which determine

zi

2 j z '
The outer scale on smith chart is marked wavelength toward
generator in clockwise direction (increasing z)
The inner scale is marked wavelength toward load in counter
clockwise direction (decreasing z)

2 z '
if z ' / 2;

4 z '

2 z '

4 z '

Therefore complete revolution gives the z of /2

Example:1 Find L if the load impedance ZL is 25+j100 and characteristic

impedance of transmission line is 50

zL 0.5 j 2.0

Example:2: ZL = 25 + j 100; z = length of transmission line d = 0.18;

Find Zin and (d)

L 0.8246
L 50.906
0.1793

zL 0.5 j 2.0

0.3593

Example:3: ZL = 25 + j 100; Find the location of first voltage maximum (dmax)

and first voltage minimum from load end (dmin)

zL 0.5 j 2.0

Example:4: ZL = 25 - j 100; Find the location of first voltage maximum (dmax)

and first voltage minimum from load end (dmin)

zL 0.5 j 2.0
0.3207

Example:5: Find the VSWR on transmission line

(i) if ZL1 = 25 + j 100 and Z0 = 50 ; (ii) if ZL1 = 25 - j 100 and Z0 = 50

Circle of Constant
resistance r = 10.4

Example:5:
Given: R0 = 50 , S = 3.0, = 0.4 m, First voltage minima zm = 0.05 m:
Find (i) , (ii) ZL

zm'

0.05
0.125
0.4

zL 0.6 j 0.8
Z L 50 0.6 j 0.8

Z L 30 j 40

 d e

d / 4 e

j 2 / 4

e e j

e j d
zn d

1 d
1 d

yn d

1 d

1 d

1 d

4 1 d

zn d

yn d
1 d
4

1 d
4

zn d yn d
4

Actual Impedance

Actual Admittance

For l = /4

Z d Z 0 .z n d
4
4

Y d Y0 . yn d

Z L jZ 0 tan l
Zin Z 0
Z0 jZ L tan l
jZ 0
Zin Z 0
Z 02
jZ L

where

Y0 1/ Z0

Z in Z 0

Z0 Z L

1
zin
yL
zL

Example:5: ZL = 25 + j 100 and Z0 = 50 ; Find YL

zn d

1 d
1 d

yn d

Impedance = Resistance + j Reactance

Z=R+jX

1 d

1 d

Short Circuit

Open Circuit

Admittance Chart

Transmission Line Impedance Matching:

Quarter Wave Transformer

Z L jR0 tan l
Zin R0
R0 jZ L tan l

tan l

2
0

R
Zi
ZL

50

R0 50.100 70.7

R0 Zi Z L
/4
70.7

100

Single Stub Matching:

yB

yi

Yi YB YS
For matching

1
Yi Y0
R0

Yi YB YS

Y0 Y0 Y0

yL
ZL

ys
R0

B
R0

yi yB yS
1 yB yS

B
yB

yi

yL
ZL

ys
R0

The input admittance of short circuited stub is

purely susceptive ys

1 yB yS
yB 1 jbB
ys jbB

B
R0

Example: A 50 transmission line is connected to a load impedance ZL

= 35 j 47.5 . Find the position and length of a short-circuited stub
required to match the line.
Solution:

R0 50
Z L 35 j 47.5
ZL
zL
0.70 j 0.95
R0

P1: zL = 0.70 j 0.95

P2: yL = 0.50 + j 0.68

P2: 0.109

Move Constant || circle from

P2 to P3 or P2 to P4 and
reach g = 1 circle

P3: yB1= 1 + j1.2 = 1 + jbB1

P4: yB2= 1 - j1.2 = 1 + jbB2

P3: 0.168
P4:0.332

Solution for location of stub

For P3: (from P2 to P3) d1 = 0.168 - 0.109 = 0.059
For P4: (from P2 to P4) d2 = 0.332 - 0.109 = 0.223
Solution for length of stub
yS = - jbB
For P3: (PSC on the extreme right of chart to P3 which represents jbB1
= -j 1.2
l1 = 0.361 - 0.250 = 0.111

For P4: (from PSC to P4: + j 1.2) l2 = 0.139 + 0.250 = 0.389

First Solution: d1 = 0.059 and l1 = 0.111

Second Solution: d2 = 0.223 and l2 = 0.389

Double Stub Matching:

d0

yB

yi

A
yA
ZL
ySA
A

ySB
R0

B
R0

yA = ySA + yL
yi = ySB + yB

lB

d0 is constant and can be arbitrary chosen as /8 or 3/8

lA

R0

d0

yB

yi

A
yA
ZL
ySA
A

ySB
R0

Yi YB YSB

B
R0

yA = ySA + yL
yi = ySB + yB

For matching

lB

1
Yi Y0
R0

Yi YB YSB

Y0 Y0 Y0

yi yB ySB
1 yB ySB

lA

R0

The input admittance of short circuited stub is purely susceptive ysB

1 yB ySB

yB 1 jbB
ysB jbB

Example: A 50 transmission line is connected to a load impedance ZL

= 60 + j 80 . A double stub tuner spaced /8 apart is used to matched
the load as shown below. Find the required lengths of short circuited
stubs.
d0

Solution:

yB

yi

A
yA
ZL
ySA
A

ySB
R0

B
R0

yA = ySA + yL
yi = ySB + yB

1 R0
50
yL

0.30 j 0.40
zL Z L 60 j80

lB

lA

R0

Draw g0 = 1 circle
Rotate this circle by /8 towards
load
yL = 0.30 j 0.40 as PL
Move on constant g circle
(g = 0.3) which intersects
rotated g circle at PA1 and
PA2.
PA1: yA1 = 0.30 + j 0.29

PA2: yA2 = 0.30 + j 1.75

Move /8 on Constant ||
circle from PA1 or PA2
and reaches PB1 or PB2
respectively
PB1: yB1 = 1 + j 1.38
PB2: yB2 = 1 j 3.5

PA1: yA1 = 0.30 + j 0.29

PA2: yA2 = 0.30 + j 1.75
yL = 0.30 j 0.40 as PL

First stub length

(ySA)1 = yA1 yL = j 0.69
(ySA)2 = yA2 yL = j 2.15

A1: j 0.69
lA1 = (0.096 + 0.25) = 0.346
A2: j 2.15
lA2 = (0.181 + 0.25) = 0.431

PB1: yB1 = 1 + j 1.38

PB2: yB2 = 1 j 3.5
Second stub length
(ySB)1 = - j 1.38
(ySB)2 = + j 3.5

B1: - j 1.38

lB1 = (0.35 - 0.25) = 0.10

B2: + j 3.5
lB2 = (0.206 + 0.25) = 0.456

If yL lies inside the g0 = 1 circle; no value of stub susceptance b1 could

bring the load point to intersect the rotated 1 + jb circle.

Then the region inside g0 = 1 circle is called forbidden range of load

admittance, which can not be matched with this particular double stub tuning
arrangement.
The solution for this problem is that if first stub is connected at some
distance from load end such that it comes out of forbidden region
d0

B
yi

yB

yA
ySA

ySB
R0

yA = ySA + yL
yi = ySB + yB

dL

ZL

A
R0

lB

lA