582 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES, VOL. MTT-35, NO.

6, JUNE 1987

Unconditional Stability of a Three-Port

Network Characterized with S-Parameters
JOHN F. BOEHM, MEMBER, IEEE, AND WILLIAM G. ALBRIGHT

AMiwct —An analytical solution is presented which establishes nine Both of these circuits would require a three-port uncondi-
conditions necessary for determining the unconditional stability of a
tional stability criterion if the port terminations providing
network described with three-port S-parameters. In contrast to the uncon-
the appropriate conjugate match conditions are to be
ditional stability conditions of a two-port network the unconditional
stability conditions of a three-port network are dependent on both the easily determined. Such circuits will be of major impor-
three-port S-parameters and the port terminations. These criteria form the tance in silicon and GaAs MMIC’S.
basis for three-port amplifier design, and are used to anafyze measured
three-port S-parameter data of a silicon BJT at 2.4 GHz. II. THE APPROACH TO UNCONDITIONAL STABILITY
OF A THREE-PORT NETWORK
1. lNTRODUCTION
In the past, two works have dealt with the problem of
HE IDEA OF using three-port S-parameters in the
T
[1], but
design of high-frequency
only recently
transistor
have three-port
circuits
S-parameters
is not new
been
unconditional
negative-resistance
stability of a three-port
approach.
network
An early work employing
from a

three-port Z-parameters [6] established unconditional sta-

exploited in such designs, particularly in microwave oscil-
bility conditions for a two-port network with series feed-
lator design [2], [3]. The use of three-port S-parameters in
back. The analysis is based on the envelope of a function
the design of microwave amplifiers has not materialized
[7], which, though mathematically correct, requires a
due to the lack of an analytical criteria for predicting the
numerical solution. A second work [8] employs three-port
unconditional stability of such networks.
S-parameters to establish an unconditional stability crite-
A typical example of this lack of analytical criteria is
rion. In this work, stability is approached by mapping the
found in series-feedback amplifier design. Most series-
&’~-plane and the S’~~-plane onto the I_’q-plane. Unfor-
feedback amplifier designs rely on empirical knowledge for
tunately, two ports must be terminated before any useful
determining the third-port termination which results in the
information is found, and in doing so, a degree of freedom
unconditional stability between the input and output ports.
is lost. In addition, this criterion is based on the two-port
Once unconditionally stable, the input and output ports
unconditional stability “conditions” ISIII <1, ISZ2I <1, K
may be simultaneously conjugate matched. One third of
>1, which Woods [9] has shown to be insufficient.
the three-port unconditional stability conditions provide
Unlike these previous works, the present analysis con-
this termination information. It is true that analysis em-
siders stability between two of the ports with a fixed
ploying parameter system conversions can be used in this
termination on the third port. This approach is advanta-
example, but the use of a three-port S-parameter approach
geous, since it becomes clear that the location of the
is superior to these methods since parameter conversion
stability circles, and hence unconditional stability, is de-
can multiply measurement errors up to five times [4]. The
pendent on the third-port termination. One also notices
significance of measurement error in a design is evident
that the three-port unconditional stability conditions di-
above 12 GHz, where obtaining accurate S-parameters of
rectly reduce to the form of the two-port unconditional
an active device is difficult.
stability conditions when the three-port matrix is degener-
The use of a three-port unconditional stability criterion
ated to a two-port matrix.
is not limited to a feedback-type amplifier, which is actu-
ally operated in a two-port sense. It is plausible that truly
III. DERIVATION OF THE THREE-PORT
three-port circuits (circuits which have more than one
UNCONDITIONAL STABILITY CONDITIONS
output port), such as active power-splitters or active circu-
lators [5], can be designed from a three-port approach. Unconditional stability conditions are found by solving
two converse problems. First, the S:-plane is mapped
onto the I“-plane for a fixed r~. Imposing the requirement
Marmscript received December 13, 1985; revised December 18, 1986. that the IS,J’I >1 region cannot intersect with the lrjl <1
This work is a portion of thesis research conducted at the University of
Illinois in 1985. region leads to the derivation of the stability factors.
J. F. Boehm is with the Watkins-Johnson Comrmrw.. . Pafo Alto. CA Second, the rj-plane is mapped onto the S~-plane. After
94304. imposing the condition that the Irj I <1 region cannot
W. G. Albright is with the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801. intersect with the IS,~ I >1 region, a second condition is
IEEE Log Number 8714118. found. For each pair of ports considered for stability, only

0018-9480/87/0600-0582$01.00 01987 IEEE

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BOEHM AND ALBRiGHT: UNCONDITIONAL STABILITY OF THREE-PORT NETWORK 583

where

CJ(r3) = [(SJ – A$3SZ2)+(S2ZA’; – A;2)~$

+ (AllA& – S;s33) r3
+ ir312(s33A3z – AIIA? )] (11)

E = [– IA31211’312+ISI112+ IA221211’312–IA3312
S: rl r2 “,,
S.2~ -2 Re[S11A;21’$] +2 Re[A:A33A:]] (12)
Fig. 1. Configuration of the three-port network characterized with
S-parameters.
.qr3) = (A11A,22
– s3A)JY
+ (A3 + S33A33 – S1lA1l – S22A22)r3
three conditions (instead of four conditions) arise due to +(s~~szz–A33). (13)
the symmetry of the stability factors.
Unconditional stability between ports 1 and 2 will be
A. The Stability Factors guaranteed when
In order to find the image of the S#plane in the
rl-plane, consider the configuration of the three-port net-
work shown in Fig. 1. In a 50-0 system, it is seen that
Rearranging (14) and taking the magnitude squared yields

llJ(r3)l-lCJ(r3)112>E2. (15)

where
Squaring (15) and regrouping the terms, one sees
Al, = S#33 – S3#23
21J(r3)lp; (r3)l<lc$(r3) 12+lJ(r3)12-E2. (16)
A2Z = SIIS33 – S31S13
A33 = s11s22 – S21S12 Squaring (16) yields the expression

and As is the determin~t of the three-port S-parameter 41 J(r3) 121c; (r3) 12s (\C:(r3) 1’ + lJ(r3) 12)2+ E’
matrix.
Considering 173 fixed, solving for 171, and substituting -2 E’([c:(r3)12 +lJ(r3)12). (17)
Sjj = (Z2 – 1): (Z2 + 1), it is found that

(I- s22- s,sr, + WV% + (M’, - s22+ sqqr,-1) (2)

“= (s,l-A22r3 +A3r3-A33).Zz +( AJ’3-s,,+AJ’--A33)

which is a linear fractional transformation between rl and ,

22. It can be shown that the center and radius of this ‘sing ‘he ‘dentity ’10]
transformation are given by lC;(1’3)12 =lJ(173)12-t EF (18)

BC*+AD* where
T= (3)
DC*+(DC*)*
F= [1– 1S2212+ ls33121r312–lAl112ir3~2
AD – BC
(4) –2Re[s331’3] +2 Re[S~A11r3]]
‘= DC*+(DC*)*
and substituting (18) into (17), one sees that
where
(5) 41J(r3)12(lJ(r3)12+EF) < (21 J(r3)112+EF)2
A = (1 – S22 – S33r3 + A11r3)

B = (A111’3 – S22 + S33r3 – 1) (6) + E4–2E2(21J(I’3)12 + EF). (19)

C=[S1l– A2ZI’3+A31’3-A33) (7) After factoring out E2, (19) reduc$s to

D=(A221’3- S11+A31’3-A33). (8) 0< {–41J(1’3)12 +( E2-2EF+F’)}E2. (20)

Substituting (5)–(8) into (3) and (4) leads to Further simplification of (20) shows that

c:(r3) (F-E )>21J(I’3)11. (21)

T= (9)
E Equation (21) implies that

R=lJ(r3)l
(lo) (22)
lE1

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584 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHNIQUES, VOL. MTT-35, NO. 6, JUNE 1987

for unconditional stability between ports 1 and 2. A plot Equations (29) and (30) describe the second set of condi-
of K3( r~ ) >1, one of the three three-port stability factors, tions necessary to guarantee unconditional stability of a
in the 17~-plane will show which r~ terminations provide three-port S-parameter network.
unconditional stability between ports 1 and 2.
Generalizing the port designations, the three-port stabil-
ity factors are given by

~ ~rk) _ [(1- l~t12-l~,j12+lA~~12)+lr~12(l~

~~12-1A,,12-lAj,12+IA,12)
3-
21(AliAJj – &A3)r~ +(A3 +Sid,u – S,,A,, – ‘jjA~~)rk

‘2Re[Skkrk] +2 Re[Sz:A,jrk] +2Re [S’:AIZr,] –2Re[A~Akkr:]]

(23)
‘(sizs’j - ‘kk)/

B. The Converse Problem

In order to establish sufficient conditions for stability,

the image of the rl-plane must be found in the S;j’-plane. IV. SUMMARY OF THE CONDITIONS

In a manner similar to that employed in the derivation of Stability between two of the ports has been investigated.
the stability factors, it can be shown that the center and However, all three driving-point S-parameters must be
radius of this image are considered for three-port stability. It has been shown that
T= cl(rJ for 173values which result in K3(r3) >1, all passive loads
(24)
F21 on port 2 will result in stability at port 1. It is not
necessarily true that all r2 terminations result in stability
~=lJ(r3)l between ports 3 and 1. In order to find the subset of rz
(25)
1F211 terminations which result in stability between ports 3 and
where 1, K3(I’2) is found and plotted as a function of fixed I’2. If
cl(r~) - [(s22 – sfiAsJ)+(A;zA33 – s22sfi)r; r2 and I’s are chosen from the respective set where K3(r3)
>1 and K3(172) >1, then for those terminations lS{~l <1.
Similar reasoning will show that to guarantee IS;;I <1, it is
Fzl = [1– IS1J2+ lS33121r~12–IA221211’312 required that both K3 ( rl) >1 and KS (~~) >1 for some
pair of rl and r2 terminations. Consequently, to guaran-
–2Re[sq3r3] +2 Re[S;Az2r3]]. tee that IS;’ 1<1 for i =1,2,3, simultaneously, 171, r2, and
In order to guarantee stability in this view, r3 must belong to the subset of terminations where K3(rl)
>1, K3(r2) >1, and K3(rq) >1, respectively.
lTl+@/<1
Table I summarizes the possible combinations of i, j,
or, eqtiivalently,
and k for (23), (29), and (30). The nine equations repre-
ITI <1- IRI. (26)
sented in Table I establish the conditions necessary for
Since IT I could equal zero, it must be guaranteed that three-port unconditional stability. These equations state
IRI <1. Consequently, IS;;I e 1 for all lrll <1 when which passive terminations result in passive driving-point
F21>l.l(r3)l. (27) S-parameters for all ports. Explicitly, the requirements for
three-port unconditional stability are
Similarly solving for where the r2-plane maps into the
S{;-plane, one sees that 1$’~1<1 for all lr21 <1 when
i) ~3(rJ >1 F23 > l@’l)t ’32> lJ(rl)l (31a)
F12>l.l(r3)l. (28)
ii) ~3(r2) >1 F13 > wr2)l F31>v(r2)l (3W
Generalizing (27) and (28), it is found that
iii) K~(r’3) >1 F1’> lJ(rj)l F’1> IJ(L)I (31c)
Zj>lJ(rk)l (29)

qt>lJ(rk)l (30) for some set of terminations rl, r2, I’3. If any one of these
where equations is violated, then the network is conditionally
stable in the three-port sense for this set of terminations.
~j=l– Is’jl’ + Iskkl’lrkl’– @ji121rk12

–2Re[Sk#k] +2Re [Sj;Aiirk]

V. ANALYSIS OF MEASURED THREE-PORT
~, =1– Isi,l’ + ls~~l’lr~l’– IAjjl’lrkl’ S-PARAMETERS

–2Re[Skkr~] +2Re [S,:AJjrk] The three-port S-parameters of an NE46734 transistor

biased at VCB =10 V and Ic = 50 mA were measured with
J(rk) = (ALZAjj–Sk~Aj)I’/ an automatic network analyzer at 2.4 GHz. An error-cor-
+ (As+ SkkAkk – S,, A,, – Sj,Ajj)rk recting scheme [10] using the indefinite property for this
three-terminal device (with base port 1, emitter port 2, and
+ (Slisjj ‘Akk). collector port 3) was used to obtain the following S-
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BOEHM AND ALBRIGHT : UNCONDITIONAL STABILITY OF THREE-PORT NETWORK 585

TABLE I
COMBINATIONSOF i, j, AND k FOR EQUATIONS (23), (29),
AND (30)
I

i j k

2 3 1
3 2 1

1 3 2,
3 1 2

1 2 3
2 1 3

TABLE II
PREDICTEDCOMMON-COLLECTORS-PARAMETERSFROMTHE
THREE-PORTMATRIX AND MSASURSD
COMMON-COLLECTOR S-PARAMETERS

I %2
I 0.773 &j.J&
I 0.790 ~
I 0.017 3.51.
I
Fig. 3. Stability between ports 3 and 1 viewed as a function of 17z.
(Crosshatched area represents values of ra where K3 (r2) >1, F31 >
lqr,)l,F1, > I.qr,y.)

Fig. 4. Stability between ports 1 and 2 viewed as a function of rq.

(Crosshatched area represents values of r~ where K3 (r3 ) >1, F12 >
Fig. 2. Stability between ports 2 and 3 viewed as a function of rl l~(r,)l, fil > I.r(r,)l.)
(Crosshatched area represents values of 1’1 where K3 (rl) >1, F23 >
l~(rl)l, fi, > I.qrl)l.)
ters were measured and compared with the corresponding
parameters: two-port S-parameters found from terminating the collec-
tor port with a short circuit (l_’3 = 0.998/176 .940). The
[030@X o’~’k O.’”k 1 corresponding data of Table II show that good agreement

1 0.659/ – 74.01° 0.466/55.53° 0.526/10.90° . exists between the measured and calculated two-port S-
pararneters.
1.052/14.53° 0.06i/ – 60.24° 0.346/ – 102.28°
1 I’-plane plots of rl, I’z, and r~ are shown in Figs. 2, 3,
In order to check the validity of these error-corrected and 4, respectively. These plots show which terminations
S-parameters, the common-collector two-port S-parame- satisfy conditions i), ii), and iii) respectively, in Section IV.
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586 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MICROWAVE THEORY AND TECHN?QUSS, VOL. MT”C-35, NO. 6, JUNE 1987

Any such set of rl, I’z, 173which satisfies i), ii), and iii) will [5] S. Tanaka, N. Shumonura, and K. Ohtake, “Active circulators—The
realization of circulators using transistors,” Proc. IEEE, vol. 53,
guarantee that the three-port is unconditionally stable.
pp. 260–267, Mar. 1965.
In addition, if one wishes to determine two-port series- [6] W. H. Ku, “ Stabifity of linear active nonreciporical N-ports; J.
feedback configurations, Figs. 2–4 give vital termination Franklin Inst., vol. 276, pp. 207-224, Sept. 1963.
[7] H. Kleinwatcher, ‘:.Zur Widerstandstransformation Linear 2 N-
information. For example, a capacitive terr&ation in the
Polej” Arch. Elek. (,lbertragrorg, vol. 10, pp. 26-28, Jan. “1956.
emitter (port 2) results in unconditional stability between [8] M. F. Abulela, “Studies of some aspects of linear amplifier design
ports 3 and 1 (see Fig. 3). In Fig. 2, one sees that feedback in terms of measurable two-port Wd three-port scattering parame-
ters: Ph.D. dissertation, Manchester Univ Manchester, England,
bver a large area in the base lead results in unconditional
1972.
stability between ports 2 and 3. The designer may choose a [9] D. Woods, “Reappraisal of the unconditional stability criteria for
particular termination in these areas after considering gain active 2-Port networks’ in terms of S-parameters,” IEEE Trans.
Circuits Syst., vol. CAS-23, pp. 73-81, Feb. 1976.
or noise requirements.
[10] J. F. Boehm, “Microwave oscillator design using two-port and
three-port scattering parameters,” Master’s thesis, Univ. Illinois,
VI. CONCLUSIONS Urbana, Oct. 1985.

An analytical solution has been presented which estab-

lishes conditions for the unconditional stability of a net-
work described with three-port S-parameters. It has been
shown that nine conditions, dependent O! the termina-
tions, must be satisfied to guarantee that lS;l <1 for
i =1,2,3. Measured data have been analyzed and plotted,
thus providing the designer with a grap~cal r~presentation
John F. Boehm (S82—M85) was born in
of the type of termination (capacitive, inductive, etc.)
Chicago, IL, on February 22, 1961. He received
necessary to provide three-port unconditional stability. the B.S. and M.S. degrees in electncaf engineer-
These plots also provide stability information for all possi- ing in 1983 and 1985, respectively, from the
ble two-port configurations. University of Illinois, Urbana.
In 1985, he joined the Subsystems R&D De-
partment of the Watkins-Johns~n Company, Palo
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Alto, CA, where he is currently involved in mul-
tiport device characterization and GaAs MMIC
The authors would like to thank Dr. J. D. Dyson for his
amplifier development. His research interests in-
support of this work and his invaluable suggestions and clude multiDort
. device characterization and cir-
comments. The authors would also like to thank Dr. J. cuit design, low-noise amplifier design, and opticaf communications.
Mr. Boehm is a member of Eta Kappa Nu.
Galli and D. E. Peck of the Watkins-Johnson Company
for the use of facilities and for guidance in microwave
devi~e characterization.

REFERENCES

[1] G. E. Bodway, “Circuit design and characterization of transistors

by means of three-port scattering parsugeters,” Microwave J., vol.
11, no. 5, May 1968.
[2] A. P. S. Khanna, “Parallel feedback fetdro design using three-port William G. Albnght is Professor of Electrical
S-parameters,” in Proc. IEEE A4TT-S (SW Francisco), 1984, pp. Engineering Emeritus at the University of 11-
181-183. linois, Urbana.
[3] A. P. S. I@rma, “Efficient low noise three-port X-band FET
oscillator using two dielectric resonat~rs,” in Proc. IEEE MTT-S
(Dallas), 1982, pp. 277-279.
[4] D. Woods, “Review of methods for the characterization of active
devices in terms of two-port and three-port pqameters,” in IEE
Colloquim Dig. Q.ondon), vol. 13, RF Measurements on Solid State
Deuices, 1971, pp. 1-8.

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