Smith Chart

Salma M. Elkawafi
You can find me at [email protected]

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 Smith Chart
Smith chart is a graphical plot (polar plot) of the
normalized resistance and reactance functions in
the complex reflection-coefficient plane.
It was developed in 1939 by P. Smith

A graphical method to solve many

transmission line problems.
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 Smith Chart.. Why ?
• Convenient for transmission line and circuit calculations.
• Useful tool in impedance matching circuit design.

This is why the chart was developed..

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 1
Impedance =
Admittance

Impedance = resistance + j reactance

Admittance = Conductance + j susceptance

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• When dealing with impedances on a Smith chart, normalized quantities are generally
𝑍
used. 𝑧𝑛 =
𝑍0
• If a lossless line of characteristic impedance 𝑍𝑜 is terminated with a load impedance
𝑍𝐿 , the reflection coefficient at the load can be written from
𝑍𝐿 − 𝑍𝑜
Г= → (1)
𝑍𝐿 + 𝑍𝑜
𝑧𝐿 − 1
Г= = Г ejθ → (2)
𝑧𝐿 + 1
1 + Г ejθ
𝑧𝐿 = jθ
→ (3)
1− Г e
This complex equation can be reduced to two real equations: if Г = Г𝑟 + 𝑗Г𝑖 and 𝑧𝐿 = 𝑟𝐿 + 𝑗𝑥𝐿
1 + Г𝑟 + 𝑗Г𝑖
𝑟𝐿 + 𝑗𝑥𝐿 =
1 − Г𝑟 − 𝑗Г𝑖
2Г𝑖
𝑥𝐿 =
1 − Г𝑟 2 + Г2𝑖
1 + Г2𝑟 + Г2𝑖
𝑟𝐿 =
1 − Г𝑟 2 + Г2𝑖 5
 2Г𝑖 1 + Г2𝑟 + Г2𝑖
𝑥𝐿 = 𝑟𝐿 =
1 − Г𝑟 2 + Г2𝑖 1 − Г𝑟 2 + Г2𝑖

Rearranging 𝑟𝐿 1
2 2
(Г𝑟 − ) + Г𝑖 = ( )2 Resistance Circle
1 + 𝑟𝐿 1 + 𝑟𝐿
2
1 2 1 2
(Г𝑟 −1) + (Г𝑖 − ) = ( ) Reactance Circle
𝑥𝐿 𝑥𝐿

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 𝑟𝐿 1
Resistance Circle (Г𝑟 − )2 + Г2𝑖 = ( )2
1 + 𝑟𝐿 1 + 𝑟𝐿

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 2
1 2 1 2
Reactance Circle (Г𝑟 −1) + (Г𝑖 − ) = ( )
𝑥𝐿 𝑥𝐿

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 Top Half: Inductive Reactance
Real Impedance
Axis

Y Open Y short
(Z Short ) (Z open )
Imaginary
Impedance Axis

Bottom Half: Capacitive Reactance

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 Constant Refle
The following points should be noted about Coefficient Cir
the Smith chart:
• The combination of intersecting
circles inside the chart allow us to
locate the normalized impedance
and then to find the impedance Y short
anywhere on the line (Z open
• At point 𝑃𝑠𝑐 on the chart r = 0, x = 0;
that is, 𝑍𝐿 = 0 + 𝑗0 showing that 𝑃𝑠𝑐 𝑃𝑜𝑐
𝑃𝑠𝑐 represents a short circuit on the
transmission line. At point 𝑃𝑜𝑐 , 𝑟 Y Open
= ∞ and 𝑥 = ∞, or 𝑍𝐿 = ∞ + 𝑗∞, (Z Short )
which implies that 𝑃𝑜𝑐 corresponds to
an open circuit on the line.
• The Smith chart is used both as
impedance chart and admittance
chart
Scale in
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Wavelengths
• A complete revolution (360°) around the Smith chart
𝜆
represents a distance of on the line.
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• Clockwise movement on the chart is regarded as
moving toward the generator
• Similarly, counterclockwise movement on the chart
corresponds to moving toward the load.
• There are three scales around the periphery of the
Smith chart. The scales are used in determining the
distance from the load or generator in degrees or
wavelengths.
• The outermost scale is used to determine the
distance on the line from the generator end in terms
of wavelengths, and the next scale determines the
distance from the load end in terms of wavelengths.
The innermost scale is a protractor (in degrees) and is
primarily used in determining θГ .

Full Circle is One Half

Wavelength Since
Everything 14Repeats
• 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 occurs where 𝑍𝑖𝑛,𝑚𝑎𝑥 is located on the
chart and that is on 𝑃𝑂𝐶 .

• 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 is located at the same point where we

have 𝑍𝑖𝑛,𝑚𝑖𝑛 on the chart; that is, on 𝑃𝑠𝑐 .

• Notice that 𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝜆/4 (or 180°)

apart.

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Reflection coefficient and VSWR
• At the bottom of Smith’s chart (left side), nomograph is added to read
out with a ruler the following:
(1𝑠𝑡 ruler ) above : SWR
below : VSWR (dB)
(2𝑠𝑡 ruler ) above : Return loss
below : power reflection
(3𝑠𝑡 ruler ) above : reflection coefficient

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Impedance to Admittance
Transformation
Any point reflected
through
the center point
converts an
impedance to an
admittance
and vice versa.

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• Convert the normalized impedance 𝑧 = 0.2 + 𝑗0.4 to normalized
admittance

𝑧 = 0.2 + 𝑗0.4

𝑦 = 1.0 − 𝑗2.0

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Determination of input impedance
If the line is terminated by a known load impedance and it is desired
to find input impedance then follow the following steps
1. Normalize the load impedance 𝑧𝐿 .
2. Locate the normalized load impedance on the chart.
3. Draw a circle (VSWR circle) with its center at the center of the chart
and passing through the point 𝑧𝐿 .
4. Move a distance around the circle equal to the length of the line.
5. The point thus located is the normalized input impedance 𝑧𝑖𝑛.
6. Find the actual input impedance 𝑍𝑖𝑛 = 𝑧𝑖𝑛 ∗ 𝑍𝑜

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Example:

Find 𝑍𝑖𝑛 if 𝑍𝐿 = 100 − 𝑗50 Ω and 𝑍𝑜 = 50Ω

𝑍𝑖𝑛
𝑍𝐿

𝑍𝐿
1. Normalize the load impedance 𝑧𝐿 = =2−𝑗.
𝑍𝑜

2. Locate the normalized load impedance on the

chart. (A)
3. Draw a circle (VSWR circle) with its center at the
center of the chart and passing through the point
𝑧𝐿 .
4. Move a distance around the circle equal to the
length of the line. (0.1𝜆)
5. The point thus located is the normalized input
impedance 𝑧𝑖𝑛. = 0.6 − 𝑗0.66
6. Find the actual input impedance 𝑍𝑖𝑛 = 𝑧𝑖𝑛 ∗ 𝑍𝑜 21
= (30 − 𝑗33) Ω
Example:
A 30 long lossless transmission line with 𝑍0 = 50 ohm operating at 2 MHz is terminated with a
load
𝑍𝐿 = 60 + 𝑗40 ohm. If 𝑢 = 0.6 𝑐 on the line, find
• Refection coefficient
• The standing wave ratio
• The input impedance
Using without Smith chart and with Smith chart

𝑍𝐿 − 𝑍𝑜 60 + 𝑗40 − 50
Γ= = = 0.3523∠56°
𝑍𝐿 + 𝑍0 60 + 𝑗40 + 50

1 + |Γ|
𝑉𝑆𝑊𝑅 = = 2.088
1 − |Γ|

𝑍𝐿 + 𝑗𝑍0 tan 𝛽𝑙
𝑍𝑖𝑛 = 𝑍0 = 23.97 + j1.345Ω
𝑍0 + 𝑗𝑍𝐿 tan 𝛽𝑙
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The normalized load impedance is
𝑧𝐿 = (60 + 𝑗40)/50 = 1.2 + 𝑗0.8
Angle = 56 degree
L= 30 m
𝜆= velocity/ frequency = 90m
L=30 m= λ /3
P
In Smith Chart, 360 degree corresponds to 0.5 λ.
So one λ corresponds to 720 degree.
Thus, L=720/3=240 degree.
Point P is at 56 degree. Rotate point P by 240 degree in VSWR=2.1
clockwise direction. Zin on the VSWR circle in the required
normalized input impedance
zin is the normalized load impedance.
The value from Smith Chart is 0.47+ j0.035
Hence 𝑍𝑖𝑛 = 50 ∗ (0.47 + 𝑗0.335) = 23.5 + 𝑗1.75

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0.351
Exercise : A load impedance of 40+j70 Ω terminated
a 100 Ω transmission line that is 0.3  long. Find:
A. The reflection coefficient at the load,
B. The reflection coefficient at the input to the line
C. The input impedance
D. The VSWR on the line
E. The return loss.

A. |Г| = 0.59 , 𝜃 = 104𝑜

B. |Г| = 0.59 , 𝜃 = 248𝑜
C. 𝑍𝑖𝑛 = 100 0.365 − 𝑗0.611 Ω
D. VSWR= 3.87,
E. RL= 4.58dB

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