3D Smith Chart, a new approach to the standard smith chart for microwave analysis and design, has released a newer version (Version 1.02) of the design tool with additional features.
The original 3D Smith chart tool (Version 1.01) extended the Smith chart capabilities for the first time since 1939 to make it usable for circuits with negative resistance based on a unit sphere that plots circuits with reflection coefficient magnitudes larger than 1 by mapping them as arcs on the 3D sphere. The South represents active areas with negative resistance, the North represents passive with positive resistance, the East is inductive and West is capacitive. (North Pole: perfect match, South Pole: infinite mismatch).
Now, based on an article, "Reconfigurable RF Electronic Functions Designed with 3D Smith Charts in Metal-Insulator-Transition Materials," by an international group of researchers, several new features have been added to the 3D Smith chart Version 1.02 Windows 64-bit compatible tool.
The new features include:
- 3D frequency (live) sweeping representation (for visualizing the dynamics of the S parameters variation). For example, negative capacitances and positive inductances can be directly distinguished due to their opposed frequency sweeping orientation. Furthermore, no uncertainty on the sweeping range start and end points occurs now while interpreting the results.
- Unique inductor quality factor visualization over the S11 parameters in 3D, 3D inductance display over the S11 parameter and Q as a generalized cylinder of a radius corresponding to its normalized value for each frequency point. Different models of definitions are used (shunt inductor model, series inductor model).
- Several improvements in terms of rendering/visualizations, helpful both in actual design and learning the 2D Smith and 3D Smith chart concepts (axes system, “Greenwich” constant resistance meridian, surface transparency, etc.).
The tool is well suited for amplifier stability analysis, oscillator design, filters and group delay analysis. Below is an explanatory video of the new features added to the tool. Click here to learn more about this tool.
