


When an antenna or other load is connected to a transmission line and a RF signal is generated at the opposite end, the interaction between energy in the line and the load will create reflections on the line.

A positive reactance indicates an inductive circuit while a negative reactance indicates a capacitive circuit. In general, impedance is written as Z=R+jX, where R is the resistance and X is the reactance. Before we jump into the structure of the Smith Chart, let’s recall that impedance is a complex number that consists of a real part (resistance) and an imaginary part (reactance). Perhaps most importantly, thinking in terms of the Smith chart develops intuition about transmission-line and impedance-matching problems.
#Smith chart problems and solutions software#
In fact, it is an integral part of computer-aided design (CAD) software and the radio-frequency network analyzer. In this day of personal computers, spreadsheets and smartphones, a graphical solution may seem quaint but the Smith chart is still an essential tool for radio-design engineers. Visit ABOUT to see what you can learn from this blog.The Smith chart is a graphical aid for solving transmission line problems. ‘Note: This is an article written by an RF engineer who has worked in this field for over 40 years. Let’s go on to to see a few Examples and Questions to know better about this great chart. Now you have learned all Smith chart basics and are excited to find out if you are able to use it in the RF field.
#Smith chart problems and solutions how to#
It will massively improve your RF skills if you are able to take time to learn how to use this chart. Smith chart is really just a plot of complex reflection coefficient overlaid with a normalized characteristic impedance (1 ohm) and/or admittance (1 mho or siemen) grid.Īlthough calculators and computers can now easily give answers to the problems the Smith chart was designed to solve, this great chart still remains a valuable tool. Smith chart was invented by Phillip Smith in 1939 as a graph-based method of simplifying the complex math used to describe the characteristics of RF/microwave components, and solve a variety of RF problems. What is Smith chart and how does it work? Then, we’ll show them out on Smith Chart and learn how to easily use this great chart to help you resolve those difficult RF impedance matching issues. We’ll briefly mention those basic equations that construct the Smith chart. You’ll not learn the mysteries of the Smith Chart, or those sophisticated formula and special usages of this great chart here.įirstly, you’ll learn these basic parameters such as \(Z\) (impedance), \(z\) (normalized impedance), \(Y\) (admittance), \(y\) (normalized admittance), \(R\) (real part of impedance), \(X\) (imaginary part of impedance), \(r\) (real part of normalized impedance), \(x\) (imaginary part of normalized impedance), \(G\) (real part of admittance), \(B\) (imaginary part of admittance), \(g\) (real part of normalized admittance), \(b\) (imaginary part of normalized admittance), \(Γ\) (reflection coefficient), \(VSWR\) (voltage standing wave reflection), etc. We’ll discuss the Smith Chart in this sequence and start with the very basic knowledge of this important tool that all RF people should learn and use. Impedance Matching and the Smith Chart: The Fundamentals
