MEDER electronic 7 GHz RF Reed Relay

S – Parameters Measurements
V1 Z11 Z12 i1
=
Scattering Parameters or S-Parameters are a V2 Z21 Z22 i2
parameter set related to four variables associated
with the model of a linear two-port network. They
define the small signal gain and the input/output Equation. 2. Matrix representation of a two port network
in a Z-Parameter representation.
properties of a linear two-port network. S-Parameters
are forward and reverse insertion gains, and input Here the matrix is presented in Z-parameter
and output reflection coefficients taken with driven representation to show the parametric concept
and non-driven ports both terminated in equal using the two port network approach. As can be
impedance, usually 50 Ω real. They differ from other seen, knowing some of these parameters through
parameter sets because of this termination (e.g., Y- measurement the others can be calculated.
Parameters or Short Circuit Admittance Parameters However, when dealing with higher frequencies it is
are found by exciting one port and short circuiting much harder to measure voltages and currents, but
the other). much easier to measure power.
To develop the S-parameters we start with a two In a similar manner the S-parameters are developed.
port approach. The beauty of a two port analysis is The equations become a little more complicated than
we need only consider what is between the two ports simple algebraic equations generated by the above
as a black box, where knowledge of the black box is matrix. Manipulating Eqn 2, we can write:
immaterial to the development of the S-parameter
equations. You need not know anything about the I = z-1v Eqn 3
internal circuitry to make use of the two port concept.
where z-1 is the inverse of the matrix Z. From this,
Using this approach, we will first develop a simple we can further represent the equation in terms of
matrix representation of the internal circuitry. In power. However, obtaining the inverse of a matrix is
Figure #4., a two port network is shown, which can very tedious without the use of computers or
easily be represented by a two by two matrix as calculators which can easily calculate the matrix
given in Eqn. 2 using Z-parameter representation. cofactors and determinants as well as transposition.
Here V1 and V2 represent the input/output voltages of However, now canned computer programs are very
the two port network; Z11, Z12, Z21, and Z22 represent easy to use with simple inputs and quick internal
the impedances entering the nodes, and i1 and i2 calculations yielding fast results. For this reason
represent two node currents. and the bountiful amount of information generated,
we now look into how S-parameters are developed.

b1 S11 S12 a1
=
b2 S21 S22 a2

Eqn 4

Figure 4. presents a two port network that can completely

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 7 GHz RF Reed Relay MEDER electronic
In Figure #5 below, we now look at a two port network If the network is symmetrical, then
where we can construct the following matrix:
S = S22 Eqn 8
11
For a matched two-port, the reflection coefficients
are zero and

S11 = S22 = 0 Eqn 9

The input reflection coefficient (Γ) can be expressed

Γi = E1r / E1i or

Γi = b 1 / a1
= S11 + (S12 S21 Γ L) / (1 - S22 Γ L) Eqn 10
Where
Figure #5. Two port transmission matrix
Γ0 = (ZL- Z0)/(ZL + Z0) Eqn 11
From the matrix we can write the following set of
Also, the output reflection coefficient, with E1 = 0,
equations
can be expressed in terms of the generator
impedance Z1 and the S - parameters as
b1 = S11 a1 + S12 a2 Eqn 5
b2 = S21 a1 + S22 a2 Eqn 6 ΓL = b2 / a2 ( for E1 = 0)
= S22 + ( S12 S21Γ 1) / (1 – S11 Γ 1) 11
Here a1 and a2 represents the incident waves at ports
Eqn 12
1 and 2 respectively; b1 and b2 represent the reflected
waves as shown in Figure #5. Just as the Z- where
parameter set relates total voltages and total currents Γ1 = (Z1- Z0)/(Z1 + Z0) Eqn 13
at the network ports, S-parameters relate traveling
waves. Here the incident waves a1 and a2 are the Now for the case where Z 1 = Z 0 where Z0 =
independent variables, and the reflected waves b1 Characteristic Impedance = 50 Ω and E1, E2 =
and b2 are the dependent variables. Electrical Stimuli @ Port 1, Port 2 respectively, we
can write the following equations in the form of power:
For the S matrix, the off-diagonal terms represent
voltage wave transmission coefficients, while the a1 = (Incoming power @ Port 1) 1/2 Eqn 14
diagonal terms represent the reflection coefficients.
If the network is reciprocal, it will have the same b1 = (Outgoing power @ Port 1) 1/2 Eqn 15
transmission characteristics in either direction, i.e.
a2 = (Incoming power @ Port 2) 1/2 Eqn 16
S12 = S21 Eqn 7
b2 = (Outgoing power @ Port2) 1/2 Eqn 17

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 MEDER electronic 7 GHz RF Reed Relay
Now, for E2 = 0, then a2 = 0 and we have the The Value of the S-parameters
following:
S-parameters have a magnitude and an angle
S11 = b1/a1 Eqn 18 associated with them, and are easily obtained from
= [Outgoing Input Power / Incoming a suitable network analyzer when testing
Input Power] 1/2 components or circuits. To take full advantage of
= Reflected Voltage / Incident Voltage the S-parameters taken from a network analyzer and
the accompanying results above, we can reasonably
= Input Reflection Coefficient accurately reproduce the Insertion Loss, the VSWR
and Return Loss in conjunction with a suitable
S21 = b2/a1 Eqn 19 MMICAD program. Here we can establish the effect
= [Outgoing Output Power / Incoming on an RF circuit with the addition of a component
Input Power] 1/2 without ever having to physically insert the
component into the circuit. Development of an
= [Forward Transducer Gain] 1/2 equivalent circuit for a Reed Relay for both its open
and closed contact states will yield more accurate
And for E1 = 0, then a1 = 0 results when added to the MMICAD program. These
equivalent circuits are shown in Figures 6 and 7
S12 = b1 / a2 Eqn 20 below. By applying the S-parameters to the software
= [Outgoing Input Power / Incoming program, an engineer can immediately find how the
Output Power] 1/2 Reed Relay (or any other component) will interact in
= Reverse Transducer Gain his circuit with other components.

S22 = b2 / a2 Eqn 21
= [Outgoing Output Power / Incoming
Output Power] 1/2
= Output Reflection Coefficient

And finally, for the case of a linear two-port passive

S11 = Input Reflection Coefficient

S21 = Forward Gain

20 log 10 (S11)
= Return Loss in dB Eqn 24

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 7 GHz RF Reed Relay MEDER electronic

Figure # 6. The equivalent circuit of the closed contacts of a coaxially shielded Reed Relay with two ground terminals on
both the input and output of the Relay.

Figure # 7. The equivalent circuit of the open contacts of a coaxially shielded Reed Relay with two ground terminals on
both the input and output of the Relay.

Smith Charting

In a likewise manner, the S-parameters can be plotted This information can be most helpful when trying to
on a Smith chart revealing further information tune a given RF circuit, particularly, if there is a net
concerning the characteristic impedance over a wide inductive or capacitive reactance. The engineer will
frequency range. Here the exact impedance for a know what to add or subtract and where.
given frequency is plotted, and whether that
impedance has a net inductive or capacitive
reactance.

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 MEDER electronic 7 GHz RF Reed Relay
RF Parameters defined for usage in the the relay. A pulse or signal traveling through the
Time Domain and Frequency Domain path of the relay seeing any impedance changes
will reflect some of its signal strength. Standing
The following define the parameters we want to waves can occur at these reflection points.
measure on a Reed Relay, whether the relay is used
in the time domain or the frequency domain. Frequency Domain RF Parameters

Time Domain RF Parameters or TDR Isolation (open circuit transmission loss). Isolation
represents the energy loss stated in dB when energy
To measure time domain parameters, Time Domain is transmitted through the open contacts.
Reflectometry (TDR) is employed. Time domain Isolation Loss = E Transmission Eqn 25
reflectometry allows one to characterize a
transmission line or series of components by the Insertion Loss (closed circuit transmission):
reflections or discontinuities occurring when sending Indicates device losses or reflections occurring when
a pulse of known amplitude and rise time into the energy is incident on the relay and is reflected back
line or circuitry. A transmission line terminated by rather than transmitted through the relay.
its characteristic impedance appears as an infinitely
long line (no reflections). No termination (open circuit) Insertion Loss = E Incident - E Transmission
gives reflections due to mismatches. Detection of Eqn 26
relative position of discontinuities, whether inductive
or capacitive, depend upon the polarity of the
reflected signal. However, knowing the polarity of
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)
the reflection, redesign of the component to eliminate
that capacitive or inductive point in the signal path of
the component can yield a smoother signal with less
reflections and better transmission characteristics.
Also, characterizing the component on an ‘as is’
basis, allows the user the ability to add
compensation circuitry quickly and easily by
knowing ahead of time, the type of compensation
needed.

Rise Time is the time between 10% and 90% of Figure #8. VSWR
the full amplitude of the leading edge of a pulse. A
pulse incident upon a relay with a perfect rise time VSWR = (EI + ER) / (EI - ER)
(0) will be altered once it exits the relay with a rise = (1 + ρ ) / (1 - ρ )
time stated as the Relay Rise Time. Any system
Eqn 27
dealing with fast digital pulses must consider the
where the Reflection Coefficient Γ = ρ∠φ
rise time through the components where rounding
Ideal conditions: ρ = 0, VSWR = 1
off and/or distortion of the square wave can occur.
Return Loss:
Characteristic Impedance (Z) (50 ohms).
Represents the distributed impedance at any 20 log 10 (VSWR) = Return Loss in dB
instantaneous point at the entry, through and exiting Eqn 28

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