Smith Chart

• Dominant feature in all the calculations of Transmission

Line (TLs) is the use of Reflection Coefficient (Γ).

Line Impedance

Γ SWR

Voltage, Current, Power

Γ Calculations are complicated (complex variables,

trigonometric functions, hyperbolic functions)

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• Proposition: Build a graphical chart (or equivalent

computer program) capable of representing the
reflection coefficient as well as load impedances in
some general fashion to have a simple method of
designing TL circuits without performing tedious
calculations: Smith Chart (introduced by Phillip H.
Smith in January 1939 and called “transmission line
calculator”).

• Smith Chart is a chart of normalized impedances (or

admittances) in the reflection coefficient plane.

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

 Z 0 = R0 Z L = RL + jX L
ΓL

Z L − Z 0 ( RL − Z 0 ) + jX L
ΓL = = = Γ r + jΓ i
Z L + Z 0 ( RL + Z 0 ) + jX L
Γi
Normalizing with Z0 Γi=1
( r − 1) + jx
ΓL = =Γ + jΓi Γr=1
( r + 1) + jx r Γr=-1
(0,0)
Γr
RL XL
r= x=
Z0 Z0 Γi=-1

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• Second form of the reflection coefficient:

Γ L = Γ L eiφ = Γ L ( cos φ + j sin φ )

• For a given magnitude of the reflection coefficient, the
phase angle defines a point on the circle of radius |ΓL|.

• Since |ΓL|≤1, only the section of the rectangular diagram

enclosed by the circle of radius 1 is use.
Γi
(-1,1) (1,1)

φ
(0,0)
Γr

(-1,-1) (1,-1)

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

 ( r − 1) + jx 2r Γ r r2 2 1− r r2
Γ r + jΓ i = ⇒ Γ 2r − + + Γ = +
( r + 1) + jx 1 + r (1 + r )2
i
1 + r (1 + r )2
⇒ ( Γr + jΓi ) × ( r + 1) + jx = ( r − 1) + jx
2
Separating real and ⎡ r ⎤ 1
imaginary terms ⇒ ⎢Γ r − ⎥ + Γi =
2

⎣ (1 + r ) ⎦ (1 + r )2
⇒ ( Γ r − 1) r − Γi x = − ( Γ r + 1)
Γi r + ( Γ r − 1) x = −Γi
This is an equation of a circle: r-circle
(resistance circle) with:
Eliminating x

( Γ r , Γi ) = ⎛⎜ ⎞
r
⇒ Γ 2r (1 + r ) − 2rΓ r + Γi2 (1 + r ) = 1 − r Centre ,0 ⎟
⎝1+ r ⎠

Dividing by (1+r) 1
Radius
2r Γ r 1− r 1+ r
⇒ Γ 2r − + Γi2 =
1+ r 1+ r

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

|Γ|=1

r=∞

Γr=1; Γi=0

Γr=0

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

Similarly, by eliminating r we get an
equation in terms of x:
2
( Γ r − 1) + ⎛⎜ Γi − ⎞⎟ = 2
2 1 1
⎝ x⎠ x

This is an equation of a circle: x-

circle (reactance circle) with:

( Γ r , Γi ) = (1,1 x ) x>0
Centre
( Γ r , Γi ) = (1, −1 x ) x<0

1
Radius
x

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

The combined Chart

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

 Properties of Smith Chart
• The circles are loci of constant r or constant x.
• X and r circles are always orthogonal to each
other.
• There is an infinite number of circles for r and x.
• All circles pass through the point Γr=1, Γi=0.
• The circles for x and –x are images of each
other, reflected about the real axis.
• The center of the chart is at Γr=0, Γi=0.
• The intersection of the r-circles with the real
axis, for r=r0 and r=1/r0, occur at points
symmetric about the center of the chart.
• The intersection of the x-circles with the outer
circle (|Γ|=1) for x=x0 and x=1/x0 occur at
points symmetrically opposite each other.
• The intersection of any r-circle with any x-circle
gives a normalized impedance point.

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• The point Γr=1, Γi=0 (rightmost

point) represents r=∞, x= ∞: Open
Circuit Point.
• The diametrically opposite point
(leftmost point), at Γr=-1, Γi=0,
represents r=0, x=0: Short Circuit
Point.
• The outer circle represents |Γ|=1,
the center of the diagram represents
|Γ|=0. Any circle centered at the |Γ|
center (Γr=0, Γi=0) with radius ‘a’ is
a circle on which |Γ|=a.
• The distance between intersection of
and r- and x-circles and the center is
the |Γ| for that normalized
impedance.

Short circuit Open circuit

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• Any admittance point corresponding to an impedance point
lies on the reflection coefficient circle that passes through
the impedance point, diametrically opposite to the
impedance point.

|Γ|

Y=1/z

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• Smith chart also provides for calculation of phase angles and

lengths of transmission lines. Open circuit point has zero phase
angle and the short circuit point has 180° or -180° (depending on
imaginary part of the load impedance).

180° |Γ| 0°
-180°

Short circuit Open circuit

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

 • Distance between voltage maxima and minima is λ/4. The
impedance of a shorted line changes from 0 to ∞ (or -∞) if a we
move a distance λ/4 from the short i.e. distance between short
and open circuit points is λ/4.

r
to
ra
ne
ge
rd

SWR
wa
To

• The whole Smith chart

To

encompasses one-half
ward

wavelength (all conditions on

l oa

lines repeat at intervals of λ/2).

d

(1/SWR)

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• Smith chart allows for calculations of standing wave ratios.

1+ Γ
SWR =
1− Γ
• The circle of radius |Γ| intersects the positive real axis at x=0.
The normalized impedance at this point is r. Hence:

r −1
Γ=
r +1
⇒ SWR = r
• Hence, the value of SWR equals the value of normalized
resistance at the location of intersection of the reflection
coefficient circle with the positive real axis.
• Intersection of the reflection coefficient circle with the negative
real axis is at a point 1/r (1/SWR).

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

 • Problem: A long line with characteristic impedance
Z0=50Ω, operates at 1 GHz. The speed of
propagation on the line is c and load impedance is
75+j100Ω. Find:
a. The reflection coefficient at the load.
b. The reflection coefficient at a distance of 20m from
the load toward the generator.
c. Input impedance at 20m from the load.
d. The standing wave ratio on the line.
e. Location of the first voltage maxima and first voltage
minimum from the load.

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

Normalized load
impedance:

75 + j100
zl = = 1.5 + j 2 P’2
50
P2
Locate the impedance on
chart (point P2)

Draw a circle with centre P1

at origin (point P1) and
radius equal to P1P2. This
circle gives |Γ|.

|Γ|=P1P2/P1P’2=0.645

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• Extend the line P1P’2 to
periphery of the chart.

• Read the phase angle P’2

of the reflection
coefficient at the load:
P2
φ=37°

• The reflection
coefficient at the load P1
is:

Γ = 0.645∠37D

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• Wavelength @ 1GHz
is 0.3m
• ⇒ 20m =
133.3334λ/2
P’2
• We move around
the reflection P2
coefficient circle 133
times starting at P2
(which would put us
back at P2.
P1
• Reminder is
0.3334λ/2 or
0.167λ towards
generator to point
67λ

P3.
P3
0.1

• The reflection
coefficient at P3: P’3
D
Γ = 0.645∠ − 83

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

 • The input impedance
20m from the load is P’2
represented at point
P3.
P2

• The normalized input

impedance is:

z ( l = 20m ) = 0.46 − j1.02 P1

• Actual line
impedance:

Z ( l = 20m ) = 23 − j 51

67λ
P3

0.1
P’3

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• The |Γ| circle

intersects the real
axis at point P4.
P’2
• At P4: r=4.76=SWR
P2
• At point P5,
r=1/SWR=0.21.

• At P4, the line

P5 P1 P4
impedance is real
and maximum:

Z max = Z 0 × 4.76 = 238Ω

67λ

• At point P5, the line P3

impedance is real
0.1

and minimum:

Z min = Z 0 4.76 = 10.5Ω P’3

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

• Location of Zmax is

λ
98
location of Vmax.

0.1
• Move from point P2
P’2
to the positive real
axis (P4): P2

l max
lmax = 0.25λ − 0.198λ
= 0.052λ = 15.6mm

• Vmin is located P5 P1 P4
quarter wavelength
away (P5):

lmax = 0.302λ = 90.6mm

67λ
P3
in
lm

0.1
P’4

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics

EEL207: Engineering Electromagnetics