S-Parameters

At high RF and Microwave frequencies direct

measurement of Y- , Z-, or H- parameters is
difficult due to:
• Unavailability of equipment to measure
RF/MW total current and voltage.
• Difficulty of obtaining perfect opens/shorts
• Active devices may be unstable under
open/short conditions.

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 S-Parameters
z For a two-port device there are four S-
parameters S11, S21, S12, and S22
z S11, and S22 are simply the forward and
reverse reflection coefficients, with the
opposite port terminated in Z0 (usually 50
ohms.)
z S21 and S12 are simply the forward and
reverse gains assuming a Z0 source and load
(again usually 50 ohms).
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 S-Parameters (cont’d)

z S-Parameters:
b S a s a
1 11 1 12 2 ªb1 º ªS 11 S 12 º ª a 1 º
!« » «S
b
2
S a S a
21 1 22 2 ¬b 2 ¼ ¬ 21 S 22 »¼ «¬a 2 »¼

a1 b1 b2 a2

2-port

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 S-Parameters (cont’d)

z Q. So what’s the deal with the a’s and b’s?

a1 b1 b2 a2
Zs
Vg V1 2-port V2 ZL

z A. a1 and a2 are incident waves; b1 and b2 are

reflected waves

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 Incident & Reflected Waves:
Simplified Case: Z1=Zs=Z2=ZL=Zo (real)
V1  Z 0 I 1 Incident port 1 voltage E i1
a1
2 Z0 Z0 Z0

V2  Z 0 I 2 Incident port 2 voltage E i2

a2
2 Z0 Z0 Z0
V1  Z 0 I 1 reflected port 1 voltage E r1
b1
2 Z0 Z0 Z0

V2  Z 0 I 2 reflected port 2 voltage E r2

b2
2 Z0 Z0 Z0
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 S-Parameter Determination
b1 = Input reflection coefficient *in
s11 |
a 1 a2 0 for case of ZL=Z0
b2
s21 | = Forward transmission (insertion) gain
a1 a2 0 for case of ZL=Z0
b1
s12 |
a2 a1 0 = Reverse transmission (insertion) gain
for case of Zs=Z0
b2
s22 | = Output reflection coefficient *out
a2 a1 0 for case of Zs=Z0
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 Desired Measurement Conditions
b1 b2 a2 = 0
Zs = Z0 a1

2-port ZL =
Vg Z0 Z0 V2
Z0

Note…the input and output are terminated in Z0

a1 b1
Zs = Z0

Vg Z0 1-port

* S11=*
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 GRAPHICAL VIEW OF S-
PARAMETERS
S12

Reverse Gain
Insertion Loss,
S11, Transmission Phase
Input S22,
Refl. Output
Device Refl.
Coeff. *in, Under Test
Return Coeff. *out,
Loss, Return
VSWR Loss,
S21, Forward Gain VSWR
Insertion Loss,
Transmission Phase
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 S-Parameters in Decibels
dB Meaning or interpretation

S11 20 log10 |S11| Corresponds to the algebraic negative of the input

return loss of a 2-port with an R0 termination on
the opposite port.

S12 20 log10 |S12| Reverse isolation (active device or amplifier), or

algebraic negative of the insertion loss (I.L.) for a
passive device, with R0 at ports 1 and 2.

S21 20 log10 |S21| Power gain (active device or amplifier), or algebraic

negative of the insertion loss (I.L.) for a passive
device, under matched R0 at ports 1 and 2.

S22 20 log10 |S22| Corresponds to the algebraic negative of the

output return loss of a 2-port with an R0
termination on the opposite port.

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 WHAT TO EXPECT
Ideal Lossless T-line
T Ed
S11=S22=0
S21=S12=1e-jT
Zo, Hr S21DB=0

Ideal “X” dB Attenuator S11=S22=0

S21=S12=xe-jTpad
PAD S21DB= X=20log(|S21|)
x =10-X/20
Ideal “G” dB Gain Amp
S11 = S22 = 0 = S12
S21 = gve-jTamp
S21DB= G=20log(S21)
G
gv 10 20 15
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 WHAT TO EXPECT: Ideal Filters

Ideal Band Pass Ideal Low Pass Ideal High Pass

S21 S21 0dB
S21

fc1 fc2 fc fc

GENERAL “IN-BAND” GENERAL “OUT-OF-BAND”

S11=S22=0 |S11|=|S22|=1
S21=S12=1e-jTf) S21=S12=0
S21(dB)=S12(dB)=0dB S11(dB)=S22(dB)=0dB

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