Apparatus and method to monitor and control power

• US 7,127,220 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC IP LLC (American Tower Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SpectraSite Communications, LLC (American Tower Corporation)
• Inventors: Lander, Victor A., Abrams, Ted A., Taub, Dov C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Nhan T.
• Application Number:
  US10/248,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20040121742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 455/9.1, 455/115.1, 455/115.2, 455/115.3, 455/115.4, 455/127.1, 455/127.5
• US Class Current: 455/127.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0466 Fault detection or indication H04B1/0483 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus to monitor and control power is disclosed. The apparatus may include a detector unit to detect a forward power and a reflected power. The apparatus may also include a control unit to control switching of the forward power from a first load that may be a radiating load to a second load that may be a non-radiating load in response to the forward power exceeding a predetermined threshold value or a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) exceeding a selected threshold value.

Claims

1. An apparatus to monitor and control power comprising:

a detector unit comprising;

a forward power detector to detect a forward power applied to a first load, and

a reflected power detector to detect a reflected power from the first load;

a control unit in communication with the detector unit,

wherein the control unit determines a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) from the forward power and the reflected power using information from the detector unit, and causes the forward power to be switched from the first load to the second load in response to the VSWR exceeding a selected threshold value; and

a timer in communication with the detector unit and the control unit,

wherein the timer times a duration when the forward power exceeds the predetermined threshold value or when the VSWR exceeds the selected threshold value, and wherein the forward power is switched from the first load to the second load in response to the forward power exceeding the predetermined threshold value for a predetermined time period or in response to the VSWR exceeding the selected threshold value for a selected time period.

2. An apparatus to monitor and control power applied to a radiating load, comprising:

a detector unit to detect a forward power and a reflected power;

a coupler to couple a transmitter to the radiating load,

wherein the detector unit is in communication with the coupler;

a non-radiating load that is impedance matched to the radiating load,

wherein the non-radiating load comprises a predetermined mass to receive an in rush of power without effecting a transmitter in response to power from the transmitter being switched from the radiating load to the non-radiating load; and

a switch including a first position to apply the forward power to the radiating load and a second position to apply the forward power to the non-radiating load,

wherein the switch is operated to switch from the first position to the second position in response to the forward power exceeding a predetermined threshold value or a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) exceeding a selected threshold value.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-radiating load is impedance matched to within about 1% of the impedance of the radiating load.

4. An apparatus to monitor and control power applied to a radiating load, comprising:

a detector unit to detect a forward power and a reflected power;

a non-radiating load that is impedance matched to the radiating load;

a switch including a first position to apply the forward power to the radiating load and a second position to apply the forward power to the non-radiating load,

wherein the switch is operated to switch from the first position to the second position in response to the forward power exceeding a predetermined threshold value or a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) exceeding a selected threshold value;

a control unit in communication with the detector unit and the switch,

wherein the control unit controls operation of the switch in response to receiving a forward power signal and a reflected power signal from the detector unit;

a timer in communication with the detector unit and the control unit,

wherein the timer times a duration when the forward power exceeds the predetermined threshold value or when the VSWR exceeds the selected threshold value, and

wherein the control unit sends a signal to the switch to connect the forward power to the non-radiating load in response to the forward power exceeding the predetermined threshold value for a predetermined time period or the VSWR exceeding the selected threshold value for a selected time period.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the control unit comprises an input device to adjust the predetermined threshold value, the predetermined time period, the selected threshold value and the selected time period.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control unit comprises a display to display a plurality of parameters including the predetermined threshold value, the predetermined time period, the selected threshold value and the selected time period, the forward power, the reflected power and the VSWR.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a remote office to remotely monitor and control operation of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising at least, one alarm to indicate when the forward power exceeds the predetermined threshold value and the VSWR exceeds the selected threshold value.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a position, sensor, wherein the switch is operated from the first position to the second position in response to the position sensor being activated.

10. A method of monitoring and controlling power comprising:

monitoring a forward power; and

switching the forward power from a first load to a second load in response to the forward power exceeding a predetermined threshold value;

matching the second load to the first load to provide a VSWR for the second load that is less than or equal to a VSWR of the first load;

activating an alarm in response to the forward power exceeding the predetermined threshold value;

starting a timer in response to the forward power exceeding the predetermined threshold value;

clearing the timer and any alarm in response to the forward power exceeding the predetermined threshold value less than a predetermined time period; and

sending a clear alarm signal to a remote office in response to the forward power exceeding the predetermined threshold value less than a predetermined time period.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the forward power is, switched from the first load to the second load in response to the forward power exceeding the predetermined threshold value for a predetermined time period.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

monitoring a VSWR; and

switching the forward power from the first load to the second load in response to the VSWR exceeding a selected threshold value.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising switching, from the first load to the second load in response to a position sensor being activated.

14. A method of making an apparatus to monitor and control power to an antenna, comprising:

providing a detector to detect a forward power;

providing a non-radiating load that is matched to the antenna;

providing a switch including a first position to apply the forward power to the antenna and a second position to apply the forward power to the non-radiating load,

wherein the switch is operable to switch from the first position to the second position in response to the forward power exceeding a predetermined threshold value;

providing a control unit to control operation of the switch in response to receiving a forward power signal,

wherein the control unit operates the switch in response to a VSWR exceeding a selected threshold value; and

coupling a remote monitoring office to the apparatus.