A new online tool now lets you plot s-parameter data on smith charts. The QuickSmith Plotter is a simple utility that can be used to create stunning Smith Charts from calculated or measured s-parameter data. It has been developed by Justin Coulston, a software engineer and the founder of Engineer.rf.
The primary function of a smith chart is to visualize frequency data with relation to the nominal impedance of a circuit. The nominal impedance is arbitrary. The smith chart is here to help determine how far off your system is from the nominal. Plotting this data is useful for sharing your data with other engineers or customers to ensure confidence and transparency about your product.
You can try out the QuickSmith Plotter here.
The smith chart plot will update based on the s-parameter data you add and the properties you input in to the tool.
The help option of the tool does not seem to be working, however here are some tips on how to use it.
To get started with the QuickSmith plotter, change the properties (Chart Options) of the plot and click on update. The modified properties will reflect on the smith chart plot – You can change the color, line thickness and other parameters.
To add data, click 'Browse' and upload your s-parameter file. This file must have an extension '.sNp' where N represents the number of ports measured in the s-parameter file. Once you find the file, a drop down box will appear for you to select the data you want to plot. You can only plot a single port's reflection coefficients. For example, S21 is not allowed to be plotted. Once you click Import on the data, it will automatically show up on the chart.
You can change the color or thickness of the plot by clicking on the item in the Data box. A pop up will show, in which you can make adjustments.
Click here to try the QuickSmith Plotter.
