An Introduction to the Smith Chart for Amateur Radio

Jesse Sheinwald, N2CA [email protected] The Smith Chart

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ORIGIN Outline of Presentation

1. What is a Smith Chart? 2. Why should hams care? 1. Understanding antennas, transmission lines, and circuits. 2. Instrumentation marketed to the amateur community. 3. Some mathematical and physical basics 4. Exploring the Smith Chart 5. Representations on the Smith Chart 6. The Smith Chart on the computer 7. An example using Smith Chart on the computer What is a Smith Chart?

• The Smith Chart is a complex transformation of the equations on a polar plot with a loci of constant resistance and reactance lines superimposed on a polar plot of of reflection coefficients and of reflection coefficients.

• Why should the average ham care? • Instruments marketed to the ham community • Sometimes shown in amateur articles and books • Essential if you want to design your own amplifiers Instruments Marketed to the Amateur Community

Mathematical and Physical Basics

• Scientific Notation • MKS Units • • Complex Operator • Complex Impedance () • Normalization • Lumped and Distributed Components • Scientific Notation

• A compact way to express either very large or very small numbers as powers of 10. The most important quantities for Smith chart work: • Kilo 103 • Mega 106 • Nano 10-9 • Pico 10-12 • MKS units are based on the meter, kilogram and . Units used in Smith chart work (although they can be inconvenient) are (Ω), Farad (F), Henry (H), and Hz. Radian Frequency

• In calculations on the Smith Chart, frequency must be expressed as /Sec not Hz. • Do not worry. The conversion is simple and it is, for the most part, transparent to the user. • Radian frequency is expressed as ω, which is the lower case of the Greek letter Omega (Ω). • Frequency in Hz is represented by f, and f and ω are related by

ω=2휋푓

The Complex Operator i (Actually j)

• Expressing many electronic quantities in terms of a is a very powerful analysis technique. Mathematicians and physicists usually use i, where • 푖 = −1

• In electrical engineering the letter j is used to avoid confusion with i which is usually reserved for current. So • 푗 = −1

• Remember: It is the same thing

Complex Impedance (I)

• We will only be dealing with impedances, but the Smith Chart is both an impedance and an admittance chart. • All complex impedance means is that an impedance consists of both a real (resistive) and an imaginary (reactive) part. • When the reactive part is preceded by a +j, the impedance is inductive. • When the reactive part is preceded by a –j, the impedance is capacitive. • When the reactive part is 0, the impedance is real. Complex Impedance (II)

• Complex impedance is expressed as

푍 = 푅 ± 푗푋 Inductive reactance 푋퐿=j ωL Capacitive reactance 1 푋 = −푗 퐶 ω퐶 Normalization

• The Smith chart is a general chart for all normalized impedances. • The normalized impedance is the measured impedance divided by the of the system, 푍표. • 99.999% of the , 푍표=50 Ω. • At the end the results must un-normalized. 푅 ± 푗푋 푧푛 = 푍표 Lumped and Distributed Components

Lumped Components

Distributed Components Wavelength

• Wavelength is equal to the divided by the frequency (always in Hz): 푐 휆 = 푓 Speed of light: 푀 2.998 푥 108 푆 푐푚 2.998 푥 1010 푆 푓푡 9.836 푥 108 푠

푖푛 1.18푥 1010 푠

Smith Chart (Impedance Only) The Smith Chart on the Computer

• There are a number of Smith chart programs available. One of the best is from Prof. Fritz Dellsperger of Bern University of Applied Sciences. The free version can handle 5 data points, which is usually enough for ham radio work. The full version is available to the ham market for $80 and a valid call sign. • www.fritz.dellsperger.net

Matching Circuit Example

• Questions?