ACTIVITY No.
5: The Smith Chart, Resonant Lines, and Impedance Transformation
Dimayuga, Erasmus., Lusuegro, John Mackiel., Rutaquio, John Russel., Villanueva, Hamina A., Villero,
Karlo Kevin.
ECE143L – A23
I. INTRODUCTION
In this experiment, we will learn how the input
impedance of a mismatched line varies as a
function of the electrical length of the line. Also,
we will learn what a Smith Chart is, and how it
is used to determine the input impedance of a
line that is not terminated by its characteristic
impedance. Last but not the least, we will learn
how quarter-wavelength line sections an be
used for impedance transformation and
matching.
A line is said to be non-resonant if the input
impedance of a line is equal to the
characteristic impedance and the load
impedance wherein there are no standing
waves on the line, meaning, there is no
mismatch and the maximum possible power is
transmitter to the load. On the other hand, a
line is said to be resonant if the impedance of
the load is not perfectly equal to the
characteristic impedance of the line. The line
may appear like a parallel or resonant circuit
depending on the electrical length of the line.
The Smith chart is a graphical computation tool
developed by Dr. P.H. Smith in 1939 which
greatly simplifies evaluation of transmission line
parameters. However, Smith chart is only
applicable with normalized impedance. A Smith
chart is consists of a set of impedance
coordinated used to represent normalized
impedance. The “R” coordinated are
represented by circles of constant resistive
values while the “+ & - jX” coordinates are
represented by arc of constant reactance value.
VSWR of a line, impedance at any point along a
line, and many more can be determined using
the Smith chart. This is easier as to manual
computing for those parameters.
Quarter-wavelength line sections can be used
to perform impedance transformation and
impedance matching, in order for the generator
to transmit the maximum possible power to the
load but for resistive loads only. Line sections
that are exactly a quarter-wavelength long can
be used to achieve impedance transformation
and matching. For example, an open-ended
lossless line whose length is an odd multiple of
quarter-wavelength, the input impedance of
the line is null. Thus, adding a quarter-
wavelength ended line section to this line
causes the line length to become an even
multiple of quarter-wavelength. Hence, the
initial null input impedance is not infinite.
Basically, an impedance mismatch between the
line and load can be resolve if the transmission
line is connected to the load through a quarter-
wavelength line section having an impedance
and length of quarter-wavelengths given by the
formula below:
II. METHODOLGY
The materials needed for the experiment
are the following:
 1pc FACET Base Unit
 1pc Communications
Transmission Line Circuit Board
 1pc Oscilloscope
 1pc Multimeter
 2pcs Oscilloscope Probes
  1pc 13cm Coaxial Cable (BNC to - Input Coupling: AC
BNC)  Time Base: 1 µs/div
 2pcs 19cm Coaxial Cable (BNC  Trigger
to BNC) - Source: External
 1pc 68cm Coaxial Cable (BNC to - Level: 0.5 V
BNC) - Input Impedance:
1MΩ or more
4. Turn the frequency knob in the
Signal Generator block fully
To conduct the experiment, the following
clockwise to set it to its minimum
procedures were done:
frequency.
A. Impedance transformation using a Slowly turn the frequency knob
quarter-wavelength line section. clockwise until the amplitude at
the sending end of the line is at its
1. Install the Transmission Lines minimum.
circuit board onto the base unit Measure the peak positive
and confirm that the base unit is amplitude of the voltage at the
ON. sending end and receiving end of
2. Connect Figure 1 below. Transmission Line A.
5. Connect Figure 2 to perform
impedance transformation of
Transmission Line A.

Figure 1. Transmission line A in

the open circuit condition (before
impedance transformation).

3. Set the following oscilloscope Figure 2. Impedance

settings: transformation of Transmission
 Channel 1 Line A, using a quarter-
- Mode: Normal wavelength line section.
- Sensitivity: 2 V/div 6. Observe the signal at the
- Input Coupling: AC oscilloscope screen.
 Channel 2 7. Measure the peak positive
- Mode: Normal amplitude of the voltage at the
- Sensitivity: 2 V/div
 sending end and receiving end of
Transmission Line A.
8. Compare the voltages measured at
the sending and receiving end of
Transmission Line A before and
after the impedance
transformation.
9. Disconnect all the cables and
probes.
B. Impedance matching using a quarter-
wavelength line section.
14. Measure the peak positive
amplitude of the voltage at the
sending end of Transmission Line
A.
15. Compare the measured VS to the
measured ETH.
C. Determining the impedance at a given
point along a lossless line.

10. Connect the circuit using coaxial 16. Use the Smith Chart to perform
cables to get the Thevenin voltage
the next procedures.
at the 100-ohm BNC output of the 17. Find the impedance at a point X
Signal Generator block. located 1.4λ near the load with a
11. Set the following oscilloscope 50-ohm lossless line terminated
settings: by a load with an impedance of
 Channel 1 60 + j15 Ω.
- Mode: Normal 18. Compare the data to Figure 4.
- Sensitivity: 1 V/div
- Input Coupling: AC
 Time Base: 0.2 µs/div
 Trigger
- Source: External
- Level: 0.5 V
- Input Impedance:
1MΩ or more
12. Measure the Thevenin voltage at
the Signal Generator block.
13. Connect Figure 3.

Figure 4. Determining the

impedance at a given point along
a lossless line.
19. Remove all connecting cables and
Figure 3. Impedance matching probes to disconnect the circuit.
using a λ/4 line section.
Turn OFF the base unit.
 III. DATA AND RESULTS The Smith Chart. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.antenna-
theory.com/tutorial/smith/chart.php.
IV. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS /
CONCLUSION
This experiment focuses on smith chart,
resonant lines, and impedance transformation.
Smith chart is a graphical computation tool that
helps the students to visualize impedance of a
transmission line and antenna system as a
function of frequency. It is also used in
increasing the understanding of transmission
lines and how they behave from an impedance
viewpoint. It has a set of impedance
coordinates that is used in order to represent
normalized impedance. “R” and “±jX”
coordinates are represented by circles constant
resistance values and arc of constant reactance
values. Several applications of Smith chart are
admittance calculations and impedance
calculations on any transmission line on any
load, calculation of the length of a short
circuited piece of transmission line to provide a
required capacitive or inductive reactance, and
impedance matching. On the other hand, in
order to perform impedance matching and
impedance transformation, quarter-wavelength
(λ/4) line sections can be used. It is used in for
the generator to transmit maximum possible
power to the resistive load.

V. REFERENCES
Laboratory Manual

Sanguri, S. (2018, November 12). How to Use a

Smith Chart: Explanation & Smith Chart Tutorial.
Retrieved from
https://www.brighthubengineering.com/power
-generation-distribution/97352-understanding-
smith-charts/.