Circulator reverse power alarm
US6104287A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/2822
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting a damaged, disconnected or disabled RF load in an RF communications system wherein an RF source sends forward RF signals to the RF load. In general, the apparatus consists of an alarm circuit, and a device which passes RF signals reflected from the RF load to the alarm circuit. In one illustrative embodiment, the device is a circulator electrically connected to the RF source, the RF load and the alarm circuit such that, when there is an impedance mismatch between the RF source and the RF load, a portion of the forward RF signal reflects back through the circulator to the alarm circuit. The alarm circuit then checks whether the reflected portion of the forward RF signal (i.e. the reflected signal) meets a particular criterion indicating that a substantial impedance mismatch exists between the RF load and the RF source, thus indicating that the RF load is damaged disconnected or disabled. If the alarm circuit determines that the particular criterion indicating the RF load is damaged, disabled or disconnected, the alarm circuit triggers an alarm.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.