Patent ID: 8254601

Claim:
A method of attaining an impedance matched connection between a power source and a load, the power source being operable to output signals having frequencies that are within a predetermined range, the method comprising: providing a coaxial line having a predetermined characteristic impedance and including an inner conductor disposed about an axis of the coaxial line, an outer conductor disposed about the inner conductor, and an insulator disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor; electrically connecting a first end of one of the inner and outer conductors of the coaxial line to a terminal of a test device, and electrically connecting a first end of another of the inner and outer conductors of the coaxial line to a ground terminal; providing a compensation circuit having an adjustable impedance, electrically connecting a first terminal of the compensation circuit to a second end of the inner conductor of the coaxial line and to a first terminal of the load, and electrically connecting a second terminal of the compensation circuit to a second end of the outer conductor of the coaxial line and to a second terminal of the load; outputting, from the test device, a signal along the one of the inner and outer conductors of the coaxial line, the signal being a train of pulses each having a rise time or a fall time associated with a further range of frequencies that is faster than a rise time or a fall time associated with the predetermined range of frequencies; detecting whether at least part of the signal is reflected back to the test circuit along the one of the inner and outer conductors, the presence of the reflected signal indicating that the combined impedance of the compensation circuit and the load is not equal to the characteristic impedance of the coaxial line; and while outputting the signal, adjusting the compensation circuit until the reflected signal is no longer detected, whereby the combined impedance of the compensation circuit and the load is substantially equal to the impedance of the coaxial line.