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Explanation of the Smith Chart
For some electronic people the smith chart is a secret cobweb. But its easy to understand. Here is a careful explanation of the Smith Chart . This RF
development diagram is the sum of four circle diagrams :
- Rotation circles of the reflection pointer
- Normalized Constant Resistance Circles
- Normalized Constant Reactance Circles
- Normalized wave line reflection versus line length
1. Reflection circles
Reflection is the result of mismatched electronic devices, cables, connectors and so on. It is a complex pointer
This leads to a pointer 360 degree circle. The pointer is 0 for a matched system or 1 at totally reflection. The
total reflection circle is the basis circle of the Smith diagram. Fig1. shows the reflection circles over the background of a Smith diagram. In the Smith diagram, only the outer total mismatch circle is obvius.The other reflection circles are invisible, and the designer has to know, that
this circles exist. In the paper smith charts, outside the circles ,a measurement line of reflection are shown, either as S11/S22, VSWR, w or other reflection values. In smith chart software’s the reflection circles
can be switched on and off.
2. 3. Normalized resistance and reactance circles.
As reflection is always the result of a complex unit input impedance ore load, we can write the reflection in the following equation:
A simplified formula is:
Doing some algebraic work, the reflection comes out as a quadratic equation including to circles. One for the
resistances and an other for the reactances.
Fig.1 Reflection in the smith chart
The organization of this circles inside the maximum reflection circle leads then to the basic smith diagram. Fig.2 . The
reactance circles are cut off outside the reflection circle p =1. As it is shown, impedance’s are normalized to a the standard, Wave Line or Unit input Impedance Z.
4.Normalized Wavelength.
Using Wave lines, the reflection is an other circle Pointer: The reflection here is dependent on the propagation . We get : The reflection circle for wave lines therefore is scaled in normalized values of the line length to Wave Length . Fig. 3 shows this circles, one in the direction to the load and another from
the load.This are only scales, the reflection is inside the maximum reflection circle. In a paper smith chart all 4 circles are combined in one chart Fig.4, to work with
reflection . The main purpose of the Smith Chart is to match RF. units inputs and outputs in a way to get a reflection S11/ S22 greater then 15 to 20 dB. Fig. 3
shows a typical input reflection (S11) versus frequency of a RF Unit. (black line). Matching lumped elements and wave lines can improve the reflection and move the curve
near to the zero reflection value (brown line).
5. Application using the Smith Chart:
- Transform Resistances to Admittances and vice versa
- Matching of RF Units and cables
- Stability of RF-Amplifiers
- Noise figure optimization
- Improvement of Wave Line Resonators
Fig.2 Resistance circles (above)
6.Examples working with the the Smith Chart, readings:
Dr. Henne Fachhochschule Augsburg : Die Smith Chart 1963
Microwaves, Dez.1975 page 58 ....
Norm Dye and Helge Grandberg :Radio Frequency Transistors / Butterwoth Heinemann 1993...
Z-Match for Windows / Number ONE System Limited 1994
To work with a paper Smith Chart, copy the readable high resolution smith chart of Fig.4 using
the Browser
Fig.3 Wavelength circle
Fig.4 Paper Smith Chart ( Free to copy with the browser)
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