Patent ID: 8847561

Claim:
A power generator for plasma processing comprising: a power output adapted to apply power that is utilized to energize a plasma via a cable; a sensor adapted to sample power applied at the power output so as to obtain power samples; and an impedance control output configured to provide, responsive to the power samples and information characterizing the cable, an impedance-control signal that enables an impedance matching network connected to the output of the power generator and to the impedance control output to match, responsive to the impedance-control signal, the impedance of the plasma to the operating impedance of the power generator; wherein the information characterizing the cable comprises a length of the cable; and the power generator is configured to automatically determine the length of the cable between the power generator and the match network based on impedance measured at the power generator and an impedance measured at the power generator while applying power such that the plasma remains unignited.