Method and apparatus for monitoring parameters of an RF powered load in the presence of harmonics
US6046594A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R27/26
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring electrical characteristics (e.g. current, voltage, phase, etc.) between a power source and a load at a set of harmonic frequencies to determine information about the load (e.g., load impedance, power dissipation, etc). According to one aspect of the invention, a first circuit detects a set of electrical characteristics (e.g., current, voltage, and/or phase) of a signal between the power source and the load. A second circuit, coupled to the first circuit to receive the set of electrical characteristics, provides data representing the set of electrical characteristics at a harmonic frequency associated with the signal. A third circuit, coupled to the second circuit, receives the data and determines information about the load (e.g., impedance, power dissipation, discharge current, etc.) at the harmonic frequency. The information could be used in any number of ways, such as controlling an impedance matching network that may be used in conjunction with the power source and the load, identifying/monitoring a load condition(s), etc.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.