Converting Single to Mixed-Mode S-Parameters

We have introduced mixed mode S-parameters and developed a formal structure for handling them. It is now time to discuss converting single-ended S-parameters into mixed-mode S-parameters. This is important because every instrument manufacturer obtains mixed mode S-parameters by first measuring single-ended S-parameters, then converting them mathematically to mixed-mode. This assumes that the interconnects being measured are passive, linear and time invariant. Let’s begin with our model of two transmission lines with crosstalk shown in Figure 1.

Driving the input port differentially means that the differential voltage at the input is:

a₁-a₃

Similarly, the differential output is:

b₂-b₄

Remember that these quantities are vectors with magnitude and phase components, and the math operations are vector operations. With the input and output as defined, we are going to calculate the mixed mode S-parameter SDD21—that is, differential in on port 1 and differential out on port 2.

With reference to Figure 1:

SDD21 = 0.5*(S₂₁-S₂₃+S₄₃-S₄₁)

The b₂ term is S₂₁-S₂₃. The b₄ term is – (-S₄₃ + S₄₁) = S₄₃ – S₄₁. The factor 0.5 is a normalizing factor.

Applying the same technique using the input S-parameters S₁₁, S₁₃, S₃₃ and S₃₁ (not shown in the figure), we can calculate the differential input SDD11:

SDD11 = 0.5*(S₁₁-S₁₃+S₃₃-S₃₁)

The calculation of all the mixed-mode S-parameters from the single-ended S-parameters using vector algebra can be labor intensive. However, doing the calculation with matrices simplifies the process.

Let’s look at the basic calculation of differential signals from single-ended signals in matrix form, as seen in Figure 2. If you’re familiar with matrix math, you can read the differential signal input as a₁-a₃. Likewise, the differential output is b₂-b₄. The matrix form is a more concise way of expressing the relationships, and it contains all the possible mixed signal components.

Notice that again, the port assignments are very important. This is the matrix based on the assignments shown in Figure 1; a different port assignment will require a different matrix.

Single-ended S-parameters relate single-ended inputs into single-ended outputs. That statement in matrix notation looks like this:

b_s = S_s a_s

Where:

• a_s is the single-ended input vector
• b_s is the single-ended output vector
• S_s is the single-ended S-parameter matrix

Likewise, the relationship for the mixed signal inputs and outputs is:

b_d = S_d a_d

Where:

• a_d is the mixed-mode input vector
• b_d is the mixed-mode output vector
• S_d is the mixed-mode S-parameter matrix

The goal is to determine the mixed-mode S-parameter matrix from the singled-ended S-parameter matrix.

With some basic matrix math, we can accomplish that as shown in Figure 3.

The M matrix is the transform matrix that relates how single-ended vector elements combine to create the mixed-mode elements. M-1 is the inverse of the transform matrix.

Figure 4 shows the detailed solution to deriving mixed-mode S-parameters from the single-ended S-parameters:

Luckily, if you have a WavePulser 40iX, you do not have to do the math yourself. The instrument does it for you at the touch of a button.

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