Patent ID: 7127220

Claim:
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.