Calculation and Simulation Tools

There are two ways to work on the matching or transformation process.

• The first method is manual calculation, which is very complex, depending on the number of matching components. As it is a calculation with complex numbers, the terms can become very long, and there is a given risk of mistakes during the calculation. Even minor changes in the components require a new calculation of the impedance.
• The second method is the use of calculation and simulation tools. There are many professional tools available that allow the matching process to be done with the Smith Chart and Scattering parameter (S-parameter) support.

Besides the licensed professional design tools, there are also a few freeware tools available that are suitable for small matching circuits. Typically, the tools plot the way of transformation depending on the used network and the start impedance. Even the freeware tools make the result visible in a diagram like the Smith Chart or S-parameter. These tools provide an excellent assessment of how changing a component influences the final impedance. Specifically, the Smith Chart gives an idea of how a change affects the impedance; whereas, the S-parameter plot describes how a change affects the bandwidth and performance of the matching. For more details on these plots, refer to the following sections.