Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 1 of 15

Lecture 6: The Smith Chart.

The Smith chart began its existence as a very useful graphical

calculator for the analysis and design of TLs. It was developed
by Phillip H. Smith in the 1930s.

The Smith chart remains a useful tool today to visualize the

results of TL analysis, oftentimes combined with computer
analysis and visualization as an aid in design.

The development of the Smith chart is based on the normalized

TL impedance z  z  defined as
Z  z 1  z
z  z    (1)
Z0 1  z
where Z  z   V  z  / I  z  is the total TL impedance at z and
  z    Le j 2  z (2)
is the generalized reflection coefficient at z.

The real and imaginary parts of the generalized reflection

coefficient   z  will be defined as   z    r  z   j i  z  .
Substituting this definition into (1) gives
1    r  j i 
z  z   (3)
1    r  j i 

Now, we will define z  z   r  jx and separate (3) into its real

and imaginary parts

© 2016 Keith W. Whites

Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 2 of 15

1    r  j i  1    r  j i 
*

z  z   r  jx  
1    r  ji  1    r  ji *
1  j 2i    2r  i2 

1  2 r   r2  i2
Equating the real and imaginary parts of this last equation gives
1    2r  i2  2 i
r and x  (2.55)
  r  1  i   r  1  i
2 2 2 2

Rearranging both of these leads us to the final two equations

2 2
 r   1 
 r    i  
2
 (2.56a),(4)
 1 r  1 r 
2 2
 1 1
  r  1   i     
2
and (2.56b),(5)
 x    x
We will use (4) and (5) to construct the Smith chart.

Definition: The Smith chart is a plot of normalized TL

resistance and reactance functions drawn in the complex,
generalized reflection coefficient [   z  ] plane.

To understand this, first notice that in the r-i plane:

1. Equation (4) has only r as a parameter and (5) has only x
as a parameter.
2. Both (4) and (5) are families of circles.
Consequently, we can plot (4) and (5) in the r-i plane while
keeping either r or x constant, as appropriate.
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 3 of 15

Plot (4) in the r-i plane:

 For r  0 :  2r  i2  12
2 2
 1 1
 For r  1:   r    i2   
 2 2
2 2
1  1 2
 For r  :   r    i   
2

2  3 3
Plot these curves in the r-i plane:

i  Im   z   Complex (z)

plane
1
r=0

 r  Re   z  
-1 1/2 1

r=1/2
-1 r=1

Plot (5) in the r-i plane:

 For x  1:   r  1   i  1  12
2 2

 For x  1:   r  1    i  1   1

2 2 2

2 2
 1   1 
 For x  100 :   r  1   i   
2

 100   100 
1
 For x  :   r  1    i  100   1002
2 2

100
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 4 of 15

Plot these curves in the r-i plane:

i  Im   z  

 r  Re   z  

Combining both of these curves (or “mappings”), as shown on

the next page, gives what is called the Smith chart.

One metaphor for these circles of constant TL resistance and

constant TL reactance are as “shadows” being projected onto the
  z  plane. For any TL impedance as specified by an
intersection of a constant resistance and a constant reactance
circle (the “shadows”), a corresponding value of the TL
generalized reflection coefficient at that position on the TL is
specified in the complex   z  plane.
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 5 of 15

As quoted from the text (p. 64):

“The real utility of the Smith chart, however, lies in the fact that
it can be used to convert from reflection coefficients to
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 6 of 15

normalized impedances (or admittances), and vice versa, using

the impedance (or admittance) circles printed on the chart.”

Additionally, it is very easy to compute the generalized

reflection coefficient and normalized impedance anywhere on a
homogeneous section of TL.

Notice that the r and i axes are missing from the “combined”
plot. This is also the case for the Smith chart.

Important Features of the Smith Chart

z  z   1  r  jx   1
1. By definition   z    . Therefore
z  z   1  r  jx   1
r  jx  1 r  jx  1  r  1  x
2 2
 z   
r  jx  1 r  jx  1  r  12  x 2
From this result, we can show that if r  0 then   z   1.
This condition is met for passive networks (i.e., no amplifiers)
and lossless TLs (real Z 0 ).

Consequently, the standard Smith chart only shows the inside

of the unit circle in the r-i plane. That is,   z   1 which is
bounded by the r  0 circle described by  2r   i2  1.

2. If z  z  is purely real (i.e., x  0 ), then since

Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 7 of 15

2 i
x
  r  1  i2
2

we deduce that  i  0 (except possibly at  r  1 ).

Consequently, purely real z  z  values are mapped to   z 

values on the  r  e   z   axis.

3. If z  z  is purely imaginary (i.e., r  0 ) then from (4)

 2r  i2  12
which is the unit circle in the r-i plane.

Consequently, purely imaginary z  z  values are mapped to

  z  values on the unit circle in the r-i plane.

Example N6.1: Using the Smith chart, determine the voltage

reflection coefficient at the load and the TL input impedance.
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 8 of 15
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 9 of 15
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 10 of 15

VSWR and the Smith Chart

It was shown in the previous lecture that the voltage magnitude

anywhere on the TL can be written as
V  z   Vo 1    z  (6)
As derived in the text (Section 2.3)
V  z  max  Vo 1   L 
and V  z  min  Vo 1   L 

So, when positioned along the TL at a maximum voltage

magnitude:
V  z  Vo e
  j z
1    z   1  L
Z z     Z0 (7)
I  z V 1  L
o
e  j  z 1    z  
Z0
Using the definition of VSWR from the last lecture
1  L
VSWR  (8)
1  L
then from (7) at a voltage magnitude maximum on the TL
Z  z   Z 0  VSWR
or z  z   VSWR (9)

Because of this last result, we can read the VSWR of a TL

directly from the Smith chart.
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 11 of 15

Similarly, we can show that at a minimum voltage magnitude

1
z  z   (10)
VSWR

In the previous example, we can read VSWR=2 directly from

the Smith chart by drawing the constant VSWR circle. This is
the circle traced by   z  as z varies.

However, notice that depending on where we “stop” this rotation

of   z  versus z, we obtain different z  z  values. This happens
because   z  is not traversing circles of constant r and/or x as z
varies.

Smith Admittance Chart

The Smith chart can be used as an admittance chart as well as

an impedance chart.

To see this, recall that we derived the mapping upon which the
Smith chart is based [ z  z     z  ] from the normalized TL
impedance
1  z
z  z  
1  z
From this, we can express the normalized TL admittance as
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 12 of 15

1 1  z
y z   (11)
z  z  1    z 
We can repeat the construction of the Smith chart with
y  z   g  jb and   z    r  ji , as we did originally for the
impedance chart. Substituting these quantities into (11) we find
2 2
 g  2  1 
 
 r 1 g    i   (12)
  1 g 
2 2
2  1 1
and   r  1   i      (13)
 b b

A Smith admittance chart can be constructed based on these two

equations for circles in the complex (z) plane:

i  Im   z  

 r  Re   z  
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 13 of 15

This Smith admittance chart looks very similar to the Smith

impedance chart. In fact, if we rotated one of these by 180º we
obtain the other.

This is actually an easily proved result. Consider the definition

of the negative generalized reflection coefficient from (2)
  
j 2  z  
  z    L e j  2  z  
  Le  2 

 
j 2  z 
  Le  4

That is,
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 14 of 15

 
  z     z   (14)
 4

If we now substitute (14) into (11) we find that

 
1  z  
 4  
y z   z  z   (15)
   4 
1  z  
 4
But what is z   / 4 ? It’s a half rotation around the Smith chart.

Discussion

From (15) we can deduce that:

1. If z  z  is known, then y  z  is the point on the constant
VSWR circle that is diametrically opposite the z  z  point
on the Smith chart. (In this context, remember that a QWT
is an impedance inverter device. See Lecture 9.)
2. The Smith chart can be used either as an impedance chart
or as an admittance chart. Rather than keeping these two
types of charts around, we can use one for either impedance
or admittance calculations.
3. One subtlety with these mixed Smith charts is that
generalized reflection coefficients are only correctly
represented on impedance charts when plotting
normalized impedances and on admittance charts when
Whites, EE 481/581 Lecture 6 Page 15 of 15

plotting normalized admittances. You’ll read negative

generalized reflection coefficients otherwise (for
admittances on impedance charts and impedances on
admittance charts).