Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik

Professur für Hochfrequenztechnik und Theoretische Elektrotechnik

Wintersemester 18/19
Basics of Microwave and Photonic Systems
Impedance Matching with L-Section Networks

Impedance Matching with Lumped Elements

(L-Section Networks)

Introduction
The topic of impedance matching is often an important part of a larger design process for a microwave
component or system. The basic idea of impedance matching is illustrated in Figure 1, which shows an
impedance matching network placed between a load impedance and a transmission line. The matching
network is ideally lossless, to avoid unnecessary loss of power, and is usually designed so that the
impedance seen looking into the matching network is 𝑍0 . Then reflections will be eliminated on the
transmission line to the left of the matching network, although there will usually be multiple
reflections between the matching network and the load. This procedure is sometimes referred to as
tuning. Impedance marching or tuning is important for the following reasons:

 Maximum power is delivered when the load is matched to the line (assuming the generator is
matched), and power loss in the feed line is minimized.

 Impedance matching sensitive receiver components (antenna, low-noise amplifier, etc.) may
improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the system.

 Impedance matching in a power distribution network (such as an antenna array feed network)
may reduce amplitude and phase errors.

Figure 1: A lossless network matching an arbitrary load impedance to a transmission line.

As long as the load impedance, 𝑍L , has a positive real part, a matching network can always be found.
Many choices are available, however, and we will discuss the design and performance of several types
of practical matching networks. Factors that may be important in the selection of a particular matching
network include the following:

-1-
Lecturer: Dr.-Ing. T. Rommel
Reference: David M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2011, ISBN: 978-
0-470-63155-3.
Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik
Professur für Hochfrequenztechnik und Theoretische Elektrotechnik
Wintersemester 18/19
Basics of Microwave and Photonic Systems
Impedance Matching with L-Section Networks

 Complexity – As with most engineering solutions, the simplest design that satisfies the
required specifications is generally preferable. A simpler matching network is usually cheaper,
smaller, more reliable, and less lossy than a more complex design.

 Bandwidth – Any type of matching network can ideally give a perfect match (zero reflection)
at a single frequency. In many applications, however, it is desirable to match a load over a
band of frequencies. There are several ways of doing this, with, of course, a corresponding
increase in complexity.

 Implementation – Depending on the type of transmission line or waveguide being used, one
type of matching network may be preferable compared to another. For example, tuning stubs
are much easier to implement in waveguide than are multi-section quarter-wave transformers.

 Adjustability – In some applications the matching network may require adjustment to match a
variable load impedance. Some types of matching networks are more amenable than others in
this regard.

Matching with Lumped Elements (L-Section Networks)

Probably the simplest type of matching network the L-section, which uses two reactive elements to
match an arbitrary load impedance to a transmission line. There are two possible configurations for
this network, as shown in Figure 2. If the normalized load impedance, 𝑧L = 𝑍L /𝑍0 , is inside the 1 + j𝑥
circle on the Smith chart, then the circuit of Figure 2a should be used. If the normalized load
impedance is outside the 1 + j𝑥 circle on the Smith chart, the circuit of Figure 2b should be used. The
1 + j𝑥 circle is the resistance circle on the impedance Smith chart for which 𝑟 = 1.

In either of the configurations of Figure 2, die reactive elements may be either inductors or capacitors,
depending on the load impedance. Thus, there are eight distinct possibilities for the matching circuit
for various load impedances. If the frequency is low enough and/or the circuit size is small enough,
actual lumped-element capacitors and inductors can be used. This may be feasible for frequencies up
to about 1 GHz or so, although modern microwave integrated circuits may be small enough such that
lumped elements can be used at higher frequencies as well. There is, however, a large range of
frequencies and circuit sizes where lumped elements may not be realizable. This is a limitation of the
L-section matching technique. We will now derive the analytic expressions for the matching network
elements of the two cases in Figure 2, and then illustrate an alternative design procedure using the
Smith chart.

-2-
Lecturer: Dr.-Ing. T. Rommel
Reference: David M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2011, ISBN: 978-
0-470-63155-3.
Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik
Professur für Hochfrequenztechnik und Theoretische Elektrotechnik
Wintersemester 18/19
Basics of Microwave and Photonic Systems
Impedance Matching with L-Section Networks

(a)

(b)

Figure 2: L-section matching network. (a) Network for 𝒛𝐋 inside the 𝟏 + 𝐣𝒙 circle. (b) Network for 𝒛𝐋
outside the 𝟏 + 𝐣𝒙 circle.

Analytic Solutions
Although we will discuss a simple graphical solution using the Smit chart, it is also useful to have
simple expressions for the L-section matching network components. These expressions can be used in
a computer-aided design program for L-section matching, or when it is necessary to have more
accuracy than the Smith chart can provide.

Consider first the circuit or Figure 2a, and let 𝑍L = 𝑅L + j𝑋L . We stated that this circuit would be used
when 𝑧L = 𝑍L /𝑍0 is inside the 1 + j𝑥 circle on the Smith chart, which implies that 𝑅L > 𝑍0 for this
case. The impedance seen looking into the matching network, followed by the load impedance, must
be equal to 𝑍0 for an impedance-matched condition:

1
𝑍0 = j𝑋 + . (1)
j𝐵 + 1/(𝑅L + j𝑋L )

Rearranging and separating into real and imaginary parts gives two equations for the two unknowns, 𝑋
and 𝐵:

𝐵(𝑋𝑅L − 𝑋L 𝑍0 ) = 𝑅L − 𝑍0 , (2a)

𝑋(1 − 𝐵𝑋L ) = 𝐵𝑍0 𝑅L − 𝑋L . (2b)

-3-
Lecturer: Dr.-Ing. T. Rommel
Reference: David M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2011, ISBN: 978-
0-470-63155-3.
Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik
Professur für Hochfrequenztechnik und Theoretische Elektrotechnik
Wintersemester 18/19
Basics of Microwave and Photonic Systems
Impedance Matching with L-Section Networks

Solving (2a) for 𝑋 and substituting into (2b) gives a quadratic equation for 𝐵. The solution is

𝑋L ± √𝑅L /𝑍0 √𝑅L2 + 𝑋L2 − 𝑍0 𝑅L

(3a)
𝐵= .
𝑅L2 + 𝑋L2

Note that since 𝑅L > 𝑍0 , the argument of the second square root is always positive. Then the series
reactance can be found as

1 𝑋L 𝑍0 𝑍0
𝑋= + − . (3b)
𝐵 𝑅L 𝐵𝑅L

Equation (3a) indicates that two solutions are possible for 𝑋 and 𝐵. Both of these solutions are
physically realizable since both positive and negative values of 𝑋 and 𝐵 are possible (positive 𝑋
implies an inductor and negative 𝑋 implies a capacitor, while positive 𝐵 implies a capacitor and
negative 𝐵 implies an inductor). One solution, however, may result in significantly smaller values for
the reactive components, or may be the preferred solution if the bandwidth of the match is better, or it
the SWR on the line between the matching network and the load is smaller.

Next consider the circuit of Figure 2b. This circuit is used then 𝑧L is outside the 1 + j𝑥 circle on the
Smith chart, which implies that 𝑅L < 𝑍0 . The admittance seen looking into the matching network,
followed by the load impedance, must be equal to 1/𝑍0 for an impedance-matched condition:

1 1
= j𝐵 + . (4)
𝑍0 𝑅L + j(𝑋 + 𝑋L )

Rearranging and separating into real and imaginary parts gives two equations for the two unknowns, 𝑋
and 𝐵:

𝐵𝑍0 (𝑋 + 𝑋L ) = 𝑍0 − 𝑅L , (5a)

(𝑋 + 𝑋L ) = 𝐵𝑍0 𝑅L . (5b)

Solving for 𝑋 and 𝐵 gives

𝑋 = ±√𝑅L (𝑍0 − 𝑅L ) − 𝑋L , (6a)

√(𝑍0 − 𝑅L )/𝑅L
𝐵=± . (6b)
𝑍0

Because 𝑅L < 𝑍0 , the arguments of the square roots are always positive. Again, note that two
solutions are possible.

-4-
Lecturer: Dr.-Ing. T. Rommel
Reference: David M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2011, ISBN: 978-
0-470-63155-3.
Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik
Professur für Hochfrequenztechnik und Theoretische Elektrotechnik
Wintersemester 18/19
Basics of Microwave and Photonic Systems
Impedance Matching with L-Section Networks

In order to match an arbitrary complex load lo a line of characteristic impedance 𝑍0 , the real part of
the input impedance to the matching network must be 𝑍0 , while the imaginary part must be zero. This
implies that a general matching network must have at least two degrees of freedom; in the L-section
matching circuit these two degrees of freedom are provided by the values of the two reactive
components.

-5-
Lecturer: Dr.-Ing. T. Rommel
Reference: David M. Pozar, Microwave Engineering, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2011, ISBN: 978-
0-470-63155-3.