HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

ELE 447 MICROWAVE TECHNIQUES LABORATORY I
EXPERIMENT IV MEASUREMENT OF IMPEDANCE
OBJECTIVE
To become familiar with the concept of impedance in a waveguide, to understand the meaning of
characteristic impedance, to learn an impedance measurement method.
INTRODUCTION
It is not possible to measure voltage in a waveguide with a voltmeter, nor current with an
ammeter. The impedance of which unit is , is therefore defined as the ratio of between the
electric and magnetic fields, as for an ordinary impedance and may be denoted by Z=R+jX. If
there is no reflected wave, this ratio is the same at all points along the waveguide, and is called its
characteristic impedance, and is denoted by ZO . In a system with no losses, Z O is a pure
resistance. If a reflected wave is present, causing standing waves, then the impedance varies
periodically with distance along the transmission path. In general, therefore, the position at which
the impedance is measured, must be specified. The mathematical expressions for the values of R
and X are complicated. Graphical methods of analysis are, therefore often used. Smith chart is the
best known and the most widely used graphical method.
Smith Chart
The scale on the outer edge represents distance toward the generator, measured in wavelengths.
Sometimes it is more convenient to use the scale inside the outer circle, marking distance toward
the load. Impedance values are normalized with respect to the characteristic impedance ZO . The
circles which touch the outer circle at the bottom of the diagram are curves of constant resistance
(R/ Z O component); these are cut at right angles by another family of circles, each of which
represents a particular value of reactance (jX/ Z O component). Thus every point in the diagram
specifies a particular, normalized impedance Z/ ZO ; (R+jX)/ ZO .
The impedance at various points along the waveguide now lies always on a circle with its center
at the center of the diagram. This circle is called a circle of constant mismatch. If the impedance
at one point is known, this establishes the radius of that circle. The impedance at various
distances from the known point is then established by moving around the circle through the
appropriate angle.
PRELIMINARY WORK
d3

d2

d1

a
z
3
z

z
1

a'
Z in

Fig. 4.1

d1= 0.75

Z1= 40+j40

d2= 0.5

Z2= j50

d3= /8

Z3= 20

f= 30 GHz

Z0=50

1) Find the input impedance of the lossless transmission line system at a plane a-a' whose circuit
implementation is given Fig. 4.1. You are not allowed to use the Smith chart.
2) In an experiment conducted on a 50 lossless transmission line terminated by an unknown
load impedance, it is found that SWR=2. Successive voltage minima are 25 cm apart and the first
minimum occurs at 5 cm far from the load. Find the load impedance.
3) a) By using Smith chart explain how the input admittance of a transmission line (and also a
waveguide) at a specified distance from the termination point (load) is determined.
A lossless waveguide of ZO =50 is terminated by a load impedance of Z L =100+j150,
=36mm. Use Smith chart to find Zin 12 mm away from the termination point.
b) Z=R+jX is given. Explain what procedure should be followed to find the admittance Y=1/Z on
a Smith chart. If Z=60+j40 find the admittance using Smith chart.
4) a) A lossless quarter-wave line section of characteristic impedance Ro is terminated by an
inductive load impedance Z L RL jX L . Prove that input impedance is effectively a resistance
Ri in parallel with a capacitive reactance Xi . Determine Ri and Xi in terms of RO , R L and X L .
b) In a transmission line standing wave voltage is minimum at 0.1 from the load and SWR=2.5.
Find ZL (load impedance) using Smith chart.
5) a) Two transmission lines having the characteristic impedances of Z 01 = 300, Z02 = 600
and lengths l1=0.625, l2=0.375 and ZL =400+j400 are connected in parallel on the generator
side. Find the input impedance of this combination with or without using the Smith chart.
b) Find the limits of ohmic and reactive components of load impedances so as to produce
SWR=1.8 on a lossless transmission line of Zo =70.
6) a) A lossless transmission line of Zo =50 is terminated by a load impedance ZL. Minimum
value of input impedance along the line is 20. It is measured that the angle of voltage reflection
coefficient at a point 3 cm far from the load is 240, f=1GHz. Find ZL.
b) Consider the transmission line circuit in Fig. 4.1. Find the load impedance ZL without using

Smith chart. Current reflection coefficient at a-a' is G=0.5exp(j135) = I

I
f=7.5 GHz

d =15mm

d2=d3=0

Zo =40

Z1 =ZL

Z2 =80

Z3 =0

7) On which factors does the input impedance of a waveguide depend?

8) What is the essential difference between a transmission line and an ordinary network?

EXPERIMENTAL WORK
MWT530
Power

Amplifier
Detector
Sensitivity

Thermistor
bridge

Meter

Supply

Oscillator

Attenuator

Slotted Line
Probe Detector

Slotted Line
Tuner

Resistive
Terminator

Fig. 4.2
1) On the Control Console, switch on the supply to the oscillator and set its left-hand switch for
internal keying; set the METER SWITCH to 'detector output'. Set up the apparatus as shown in
Fig. 4.2. The two items, Slotted Line Tuner and Resistive Terminator (representing 'load'), at the
right of the diagram represent the impedance which is to be measured. Adjust the tuner so that the
probe protrudes 5mm into the line.
2) Set the attenuator initially to nearly maximum attenuation. Switch on the microwave
Oscillator. Move the Detector carriage to find a point of maximum signal. Adjust the sensitivity
of the amplifier and, if necessary, the Attenuator, to obtain a full scale reading on the meter.
Record the meter reading.
3) Move the Detector carriage to find a minimum nearest to the load. Record the meter reading
and the position of the carriage x1 . Calculate the VSWR:

VSWR

maximum meter reading

minimum meter reading

4) Draw on a Smith chart a circle with a radius which corresponds to this value on the R+j0 scale.
5) Remove the slotted-line Tuner and Terminator and create a short circuit by replacing them
with a blanking plate.
6) Find two consecutive positions x2 (nearer to the short-circuit) and x3 which give minimum
readings. Record the positions and calculate the guide wavelength g, which is twice the distance
between them. (g = 2(x2 x3))
7) Calculate (x1-x2)/g. On the Smith chart, starting from the top position (corresponding to
Z=0+j0), move round the outside scale 'towards the load' the amount you have just calculated. If
x2>x1 (i.e. the expression you calculated was negative) the movement will be 'towards the
generator'.
8) Join the point you have reached to the center (1+j0 point). Read the required impedance from
the R and X scales at the point where this line intersects the constant mismatch circle.

SUMMARY
In a waveguide, the impedance at a given point is defined as the ratio between the electric and
magnetic fields. It is measured in ohms. A waveguide in which no reflections occur has, at a
given operating frequency, a value of impedance called its characteristic impedance.
When reflections do occur, the impedance varies with position along the waveguide, because of
standing waves. The VSWR, the impedance and distance (measured from the source, or from a
position behaving like a resistive load) are related together by the Smith chart.
A method of measuring impedance is to measure the VSWR, then substitute a short-circuit for
the impedance in question, and measure the displacement of minima in the standing wave pattern.