System and method for determining a device-specific operating configuration for a microwave generator

A microwave generator, comprising:

• a microwave signal generator configured to deliver a microwave signal to a microwave instrument coupled to the microwave generator;
• a generator controller in communication with the microwave signal generator, the generator controller storing a plurality of resistance value indicators and, for each resistance value indicator corresponding to a non-smart device, at least one stored operating threshold;
• and
• an instrument monitoring module in communication with the generator controller, the instrument monitoring module including:
• a device ID reader configured to measure a resistance of the coupled microwave instrument, the generator controller configured to compare the measured resistance of the coupled microwave instrument with the plurality of resistance value indicators to determine, based solely on the comparison, whether the coupled microwave instrument is a smart device capable of digital communication with the instrument monitoring module or a non-smart device, wherein, when the coupled microwave instrument is determined to be a non-smart device, the generator controller is configured to set at least one operating threshold of the microwave generator based solely on the stored operating threshold corresponding to a matching resistance value indicator without communicating with the coupled microwave instrument;
• and
• an instrument monitoring controller configured, when the coupled microwave instrument is determined to be a smart device, to communicate a request data packet to the coupled microwave instrument, wherein the generator controller is configured to set the at least one operating threshold of the microwave generator based on data digitally communicated by the coupled microwave instrument to the instrument monitoring controller in response to the coupled microwave instrument receiving the request data packet from the instrument monitoring controller.