Electromagnetics:

Microwave Engineering

Introduction to Smith Charts

• Smith chart is a polar plot

Slide 2
Smith Chart is a Polar
Plot of Reflection

Slide 3
Polar Plot of Reflection Coefficient Γ
The Smith chart is based on a polar plot of the
voltage reflection coefficient G. The outer
boundary corresponds to |G| = 1. The reflection
coefficient in any passive system must be Γ ≤ 1.

𝑗𝜃
Γ= Γ𝑒 

G  radius on Smith chart

4
Normalized
Impedance 𝑧

Slide 5
Normalized Impedance z
All impedances on the Smith Chart are normalized. This is usually done with respect to
the characteristic impedance of the transmission line Z0.

Z
z=
Z0

6
Reflection Coefficient Γ from Normalized Impedance

The reflection coefficient Γ from a load can be written in terms of normalized impedances.

ZL Z0
−
ZL − Z0 Z0 Z 0 zL − 1
G= = =
ZL + Z0 ZL + Z0 zL + 1
Z0 Z0

Z L  Load impedance
zL  Normalized load impedance

7
Derivation of the
Smith Chart

Slide 8
Solve for Normalized Load Impedance 𝑧L
Solve the previous equation for normalized load impedance 𝑧L to get

zL − 1
G=
zL + 1
G ( zL + 1) = zL − 1
1+ G
zL G + G = zL − 1
zL =
zL − zL G = 1 + G 1− G
zL (1 − G ) = 1 + G
1+ G
zL =
1− G

9
Real & Imaginary Parts of Normalized Load
Impedance
The normalized load impedance 𝑧L and reflection coefficient Γ can be written in terms of
real and imaginary parts.
zL = rL + jxL G = G r + jG i

Substituting these into the normalized load impedance equation yields

rL + jxL =
(1 + G r ) + jG i
(1 − G r ) − jGi
10
Solve for 𝑟L and 𝑥L
Solve the previous equation for rL and xL by setting the real and imaginary parts equal.
rL + jxL =
(1 + G r ) + jGi
(1 − G r ) − jGi
=
(1 + G r ) + jGi (1 − G r ) + jG i
 1− G − G
2 2

(1 − G r ) − jGi (1 − G r ) + jGi rL = r i

( r) i
− G + G
2 2
(1 + G r )(1 − G r ) + j (1 + G r ) G i + jG i (1 − G r ) − G i2
1
=
(1 − G r ) + Gi2
2

=
1 − G 2r + jGi + jG r G i + jG i − jG r G i − G i2 2Gi
(1 − G r )
2
+ G i2 xL =
( r) i
− G + G
2 2
1
1 − G 2r − Gi2 + j 2G i
=
(1 − G r ) + G i2
2

1 − G 2r − Gi2 2Gi
= +j
(1 − G r ) + G (1 − G r ) + Gi2
2 2 2
i 11
Rearrange Equation Containing 𝑟L
Rearrange the equation for 𝑟L so that it has the form of a circle.

G 2
G 2
1
1 − G 2r − G i2 −2G r + G r +
2 r
+ Gi +
2 i
+1− = 0
rL = rL rL rL
( r) i
− G + G
22
1
−2rL G r + rL G r2 + G r2 + rL Gi2 + G i2 + rL − 1 = 0
1 − G 2
− G 2
(1 − G r ) + Gi2 =
2 r i
rL
−2rL G r + ( rL + 1) G r2 + ( rL + 1) G i2 + rL − 1 = 0
1 G 2
G 2
( r ) + Gi2 − + r + i = 0
− G
2
1
rL rL rL rL G r r −1
G 2r − 2 + Gi2 + L =0
rL + 1 rL + 1
can be factored

12
Rearrange Equation Containing 𝑟L
Rearrange the equation for 𝑟L so that it has the form of a circle.
2 2
 rL   rL  rL − 1
 Gr −  −  + Gi + =0
2

 rL + 1   rL + 1  rL + 1
2 2
 rL   rL  rL − 1
 Gr −  + Gi =   −
2
 rL 
2
1
 rL + 1   rL + 1  rL + 1  Gr −  + Gi =
2

+ (L )
+
2
 rL 1  r 1
( rL − 1)( rL + 1)
2
 rL  rL2
 Gr −  + Gi = −
2

rL + 1  ( rL + 1) ( rL + 1)
2 2

2
 rL  r 2
r L −1
2

 Gr −  + Gi = −
2 L
+ (L ) (L )
+ +
2 2
 rL 1  r 1 r 1
13
Rearrange Equation Containing 𝑥L
Rearrange the equation for 𝑥L so that it has the form of a circle.
2Gi
xL =
(1 − G r ) +G
2 2
i

2Gi
(1 − G r ) +G =
2 2
i
xL
2
(1 − G r ) + G − Gi = 0
2 2
i
xL
swap terms
can be factored

2
 1  1
( G r − 1) +  Gi −  − 2 = 0
2

 xL  xL
14
Two Families of Circles
Constant Resistance Circles Constant Reactance Circles
2 2 2 2
 rL   1   1   1 
 Gr −  + Gi =  ( G r − 1) +  Gi −  =  
2 2

 rL + 1   1 + rL   xL   xL 
These have centers at These have centers at
rL 1
Gr = Gi = 0 Gr = 1 Gi =
rL + 1 xL
Radii Radii
1 1
1 + rL xL

15
Putting It All Together
Lines of constant Lines of constant reflection
Lines of constant inductive coefficient
resistance reactance Superposition

+ + =
Lines of constant capacitive
reactance

Ignore what is outside the |G| = 1 circle.

Do not draw the constant |G| circles.

This is the Smith chart!

16
Final Notes

Slide 17
Alternate Way of Visualizing the Smith Chart

Circles of constant resistance Circles of constant reactance Reactance Regions

open
L circuit

short
circuit C
18
3D Smith Chart
The 3D Smith Chart unifies passive and active circuit design.
2D 3D

19