TIME-DOMAIN CHARACTERIZATION OF LOSSY ARBITRARY CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDANCE TRANSMISSION-LINES

This paper deals with the characterization of lossy transmission lines . The method developed here delivers the complex propagation constant gamma of any arbitrary length and characteristic impedance transmissio n line, embedded in an arbitrary environment. This approach is based u pon time domain analysis of short pulse propagation. Measurements are done with a commercial digital sampling oscilloscope. Only two transmi ssion lines of different lengths are required in order to extract gamm a and to correct systematic errors of the measurement system. The prob lem of random errors is also addressed. The method is demonstrated wit h microstrip lines. A comparison of the developed technique with an ot her existing time domain approach and a classical frequency domain ext raction is also carried out.