Method and apparatus of communication utilizing waveguide and wireless devices

• US 10,110,274 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Britz, David M., MacNeill, John W., Devincentis, David, Bennett, Robert, Henry, Paul Shala, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Willis, III, Thomas M., Barnickel, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US15/418,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20180219579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 4555501, 455 661, 455 411, 455 413
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/08 Radiating ends of two-conductor microwave transmission lines, e.g. of coaxial lines, of microstrip lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example a communication device that includes first and second waveguide devices that provide communications via electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, where the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium. The communication device can include a housing supporting a first plurality of antennas and a second plurality of antennas. The communication device can include a support structure physically connecting the first and second waveguide devices with the housing. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

first and second waveguide devices that provide communications via electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium;

a first wireless device including a first plurality of antennas;

first and second cables coupling the first wireless device with the first and second waveguide devices, respectively;

a support structure physically connecting the first and second waveguide devices with the first wireless device; and

a second wireless device including a second plurality of antennas that are rotatable, wherein the first wireless device facilitates communicating wireless signals utilizing a communication protocol that is different from another communication protocol utilized by the second wireless device.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second cables include dielectric cores.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the support structure includes a group of first joints that is pivotally connected with each other to enable rotational movement in a single plane.

4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the support structure includes a plurality of second joints that is pivotally connected with the group of first joints to enable rotational movement in a second plane that is orthogonal to the single plane.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of antennas of the first wireless device includes an array of polyrod antennas.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of antennas of the first wireless device includes dielectric antennas having a conical shape.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of antennas is independently rotatable.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of antennas is rotatable with respect to an altitude and with respect to an azimuth of a longitudinal axis of one of the second plurality of antennas.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second waveguide devices comprises a wireless transceiver for communicating directly with each other.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second waveguide devices comprises:

a core including a plurality of core portions; and

a connection mechanism that is movable to first and second positions, wherein a first movement of the connection mechanism to the first position causes the plurality of core portions to separate to provide access to an opening through the core, and wherein a second movement of the connection mechanism to the second position causes the plurality of core portions to be together circumscribing the transmission medium positioned through the opening of the core.

11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second waveguide devices comprises:

a winding around the core; and

a transmitter,

wherein, when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, a current flowing through the transmission medium provides power to the transmitter via an inductive coupling that utilizes the core and the winding,

wherein, when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, the transmitter transmits the communications via the electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium.

12. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a housing defining an opening that connects with a utility pole supporting the transmission medium, wherein the support structure is pivotally connected with the housing to enable rotational movement in two orthogonal planes.

13. A communication device comprising:

first and second waveguide devices that provide communications via electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium, wherein each of the first and second waveguide devices comprises;

a core including a plurality of core portions that is separable to provide access to an opening through the core;

a winding around the core; and

a transmitter,

wherein, when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, a current flowing through the transmission medium provides power to the transmitter via an inductive coupling that utilizes the core and the winding;

a housing including a plurality of antennas that is independently rotatable; and

a support structure physically connecting the first and second waveguide devices with the housing.

14. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of antennas is independently rotatable with respect to an altitude and with respect to an azimuth of a longitudinal axis of one of the plurality of antennas.

15. The communication device of claim 13, further comprising:

a wireless device including a group of other antennas; and

first and second cables coupling the wireless device with the first and second waveguide devices, respectively,

wherein the first and second cables include dielectric cores.

16. The communication device of claim 13, wherein the transmitter of each of the first and second waveguide devices comprises a wireless transceiver for communicating directly with each other.

17. A communication device comprising:

first and second waveguide devices that provide communications via electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium;

a housing supporting a first plurality of antennas and a second plurality of antennas;

a support structure physically connecting the first and second waveguide devices with the housing; and

first and second cables coupling the first and second waveguide devices with the first plurality of antennas, and wherein the second plurality of antennas is independently rotatable.

18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second waveguide devices comprises:

a core including a plurality of core portions that is separable to provide access to an opening through the core;

a winding around the core; and

a transmitter,

wherein, when the core is positioned to circumscribe the transmission medium, a current flowing through the transmission medium provides power to the transmitter via an inductive coupling that utilizes the core and the winding.

19. The communication device of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second waveguide devices comprises a wireless transceiver for communicating directly with each other.

20. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the first and second cables include dielectric cores.