<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
This module covers the idea of voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR).

A standing wave pattern

In making this plot , we have made use of the fact that the propagation constant can also be expressed as 2 , and so for the independent variable, instead of showing s in meters or whatever, we normalize the distance away from the load to the wavelengthof the excitation signal, and hence show distance in wavelengths. What we are showing here is called a standing wave . There are places along the line where the magnitude of the voltage V s has a maximum value. This is where V + and V - are adding up in phase with one another, and places where there is a voltage minimum, where V + and V - add up out of phase. Since V - V + , the maximum value of the standing wave pattern is 1 times V + and the minimum is 1 times V + . Note that anywhere on the line, the voltage is still oscillating at t , and so it is not a constant, it is just that the magnitude of the oscillating signal changes as we move down the line. If we were to put an oscilloscope across theline, we would see an AC signal, oscillating at a frequency .

A number of considerable interest is the ratio of the maximum voltage amplitude to the minimum voltage amplitude,called the voltage standing wave ratio , or VSWR for short. It is easy to see that:

VSWR 1 1
Note that because 0 1 , VSWR 1 .

Although looks like the standing wave pattern is more or less sinusoidal, if we increase to 0.8, we see that it most definitely is not. There is also a temptation to say that the spacing between minima (ormaxima) of the standing wave pattern is , the wavelength of the signal, but a closer inspection of either or , shows that in fact the spacing between features is only half a wavelength, or 2 . Why is this? Well, s goes as -2 s and 2 , and so every time s increases by 2 , s decreases by 2 and we have come one full cycle on the way V s behaves.

Standing wave pattern with a larger reflection coefficient

Now let's go back to the Crank Diagram . At the position shown, we are at a voltage maximum, and Z s Z 0 just equals the VSWR.
Z s V max Z 0 VSWR 1 1
Note also that at this particular point, that the voltage and current phasors are in phase with one another (lined up in thesame direction) and hence the impedance must be real or resistive.

We can move further down the line, and now the V s phasor starts shrinking, and the I s phasor starts to get bigger .

Moving further down the line

Moving further down the line from a V max
If we move even further down the line, we get to a point wherethe current phasor is now at a maximum value, and the voltage phasor is at a minimum value . We are now at a voltage minimum, the impedance is again real (the voltageand current phasors are lined up with one another, so they must be in phase) and
Z s V min 1 VSWR 1 1

Moving even further down the line

Crank diagram at a V min
The only problem we have here is that except at a voltage minimum or maximum, finding Z s from the crank diagram is not very straightforward, since the voltage and current are out of phase, and dividing thetwo vectors becomes somewhat tedious.

Questions & Answers

what is biology
Hajah Reply
the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environments
AI-Robot
what is biology
Victoria Reply
HOW CAN MAN ORGAN FUNCTION
Alfred Reply
the diagram of the digestive system
Assiatu Reply
allimentary cannel
Ogenrwot
How does twins formed
William Reply
They formed in two ways first when one sperm and one egg are splited by mitosis or two sperm and two eggs join together
Oluwatobi
what is genetics
Josephine Reply
Genetics is the study of heredity
Misack
how does twins formed?
Misack
What is manual
Hassan Reply
discuss biological phenomenon and provide pieces of evidence to show that it was responsible for the formation of eukaryotic organelles
Joseph Reply
what is biology
Yousuf Reply
the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environment.
Wine
discuss the biological phenomenon and provide pieces of evidence to show that it was responsible for the formation of eukaryotic organelles in an essay form
Joseph Reply
what is the blood cells
Shaker Reply
list any five characteristics of the blood cells
Shaker
lack electricity and its more savely than electronic microscope because its naturally by using of light
Abdullahi Reply
advantage of electronic microscope is easily and clearly while disadvantage is dangerous because its electronic. advantage of light microscope is savely and naturally by sun while disadvantage is not easily,means its not sharp and not clear
Abdullahi
cell theory state that every organisms composed of one or more cell,cell is the basic unit of life
Abdullahi
is like gone fail us
DENG
cells is the basic structure and functions of all living things
Ramadan
What is classification
ISCONT Reply
is organisms that are similar into groups called tara
Yamosa
in what situation (s) would be the use of a scanning electron microscope be ideal and why?
Kenna Reply
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is ideal for situations requiring high-resolution imaging of surfaces. It is commonly used in materials science, biology, and geology to examine the topography and composition of samples at a nanoscale level. SEM is particularly useful for studying fine details,
Hilary
cell is the building block of life.
Condoleezza Reply
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Introduction to physical electronics. OpenStax CNX. Sep 17, 2007 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10114/1.4
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Introduction to physical electronics' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask