15.1 winSmith Features

A description of winSmith's operation will help a non-user understand the screen displays that are used to illustrate the various examples in this chapter. It is most important to remember that the program is simply an electronic version of the chart that automatically computes the impedance value at any position on the SMITH CHART and creates an arc that represents the effect of each component in exactly the same manner as drawing it on a paper chart. The program also provides data formatting and computation functions that replace calculations that would otherwise be done "by hand" to analyze the graphical results.

Up to nine passive components can be entered in a ladder-circuit format and each component can be tuned independently. Once an element is placed in the schematic, an arc is drawn on the SMITH CHART to indicate that element's contribution to the overall network response. The available elements include:

• Resistors

• Capacitors

• Inductors

• Transformers

• Transmission Lines (open and shorted)

• Series-connected parallel L-C networks

• Shunt-connected series L-C networks

Frequency, load, and characteristic impedance data are specified by the user, including the ability to load a list of impedances at various frequencies, in R jX format. An onscreen summary shows various parameters at the cursor location on the SMITH CHART display and at each frequency point of a summary table that can be generated by the program. Figure 15.1 shows the winSmith main screen. The objects labeled in the figure are outlined below.

Figure 15.1: Sample