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4  Radio-Frequency Parameters
 
 

 

This section introduces some of the most common Radio-Frequency (RF) parameters used in the field of EMC:

reflection parameter s11

 

 

Reflection Coefficient Γ.

We speak of matched impedances in case the load impedance Zload is the complex conjugate of the source impedance Zsource. In radiated emission and immunity EMC testing, it is important to understand the term matching and how to quantify it. All receiver and/or transmitter antennas must be matched to their receiver and/or transmitter equipment impedance (typical Z= 50Ω).

The reflection coefficient Γ (=s11 in case of 1-port networks!) is defined as [4.4]:

reflection coefficient

 

All variables are complex numbers. Vforward is the forward voltage wave to the load and Vreflection is the reflected voltage wave by the load. Zsource is the complex source impedance and Zload is the complex load impedance. Zsource is typically the characteristic impedance Z0 or the transmission line impedance. The reflection coefficient Γ is often given in [dB]:

reflection coefficient dB

 

 

VSWR.

VSWR means Voltage Standing Wave Ratio. The VSWR expresses the ratio of the maximum voltage Vmax [V] of a standing voltage wave pattern and the minimum voltage of a standing wave pattern Vmin [V] on a transmission line. A VSWR value of 1.0 means perfectly matched. A VSWR value of infinity means complete mismatch (100% of the forward wave is reflected). The VSWR can be calculated by using the reflection coefficient from above [4.5]:

VSWR formula
VSWR.PNG

 

 

Return Loss.

The return loss [dB] is the dB-value of the loss of power in the signal reflected (Preflected) by a discontinuity in a transmission line or due to an impedance mismatch. A low RL value indicates that not much power is transferred to the load and is reflected instead. Return loss [dB] is the negative value of the reflection coefficient Γ in [dB] [4.6].

return loss formula dB
return loss

Insertion Loss [dB].

The term Insertion Loss (IL) is generally used for describing the amount of power loss due to the insertion of one or several of the following components (passive 2-port networks):

  • Transmission Line (cable, PCB trace)

  • Connector

  • Passive Filter

Insertion Loss

 

The insertion loss (IL) represents the power ratio in [dB] of the power P1 and the power P2  of the picture above. P1 is the power, which would be transferred to the load in case the source is directly connected to the load. The power P2 represents the power which is transferred to the load in case the Passive 2-Port Network is inserted between the source and the load [4.2], [4.3].

InsertionLoss_Formula.PNG

 

 

Scattering Parameters (S-Parameters).

Scattering Parameters} - also called S-parameters - are commonly used in high-frequency or microwave engineering to characterize a two-port circuit (see the picture below). The scattering parameters describe the relation of the power wave parts a1, b1, a2, and b2 that are transferred and reflected from a two-ports input and output. The physical dimension for the incident a and reflected b power waves is not Watt, it is √Watt.

Scattering Parameters, S-Parameters

 

Generally speaking, the S-parameter sij is determined by driving port j with an incident wave of voltage Vj+ and measuring the outgoing voltage wave Vi- at port i. Considering the picture above, the four scattering parameters can be computed as follows:

Scattering Parameters Formulas

 

 

Impedance Matching Summary.

The table below shows how to convert between VSWR [1], return loss [dB] and the reflection coefficient [1]. Z0 is the "system impedance" (typical Z= 50Ω or Z= 75Ω).

reflection parameters conversion table (VSWR, return loss, reflection coefficient)

 

In order to give you an idea what a good match means in terms of VSWR, reflection coefficient or return loss: we summarized all the values in this table below.

Antenna_MatchingSummaryTable.PNG
Reflction Coefficint
VSWR
Return Loss
Insertion Loss
S-Parameters
Impdace Matching Summary
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