Apparatus and methods for launching guided waves via an antenna

• US 10,135,147 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• 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: Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAGALLANES, RICARDO I
• Application Number:
  US15/296,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20180108998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/10 for switching or interrupting in systems using reflection or reradiation of radio, acoustic or other waves G01S7/034
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/026 between coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/20 Resilient mountings
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/06 Waveguide mouths horns H01Q13/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/26 Surface waveguide constituted by a single conductor, e.g. strip conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/02 Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/12 functioning also as polarisation filter polarisation converters H01Q15/242
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• 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 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/00 Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system having an antenna for launching, according to a signal, a first electromagnetic wave to induce a propagation of a second electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency. A reflective plate is spaced a distance behind the antenna relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating a first electromagnetic wave by a waveguide system having a radiating element; and

directing, at least partially by a reflective plate of the waveguide system, the first electromagnetic wave to an interface of a transmission medium to induce a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and wherein the second electromagnetic wave has a selected non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency and wherein a distance between the reflective plate and the radiating element is set to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave having the selected non-fundamental wave mode;

wherein the radiating element comprises a monopole antenna that is aligned substantially parallel to the reflective plate and within a hollow collar that supports the reflective plate and maintains the first electromagnetic wave within the hollow collar.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the distance between the reflective plate and the radiating element to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave having the selected non-fundamental wave mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiating element is configured to generate an electric signal from a third electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission medium.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiating element comprises an antenna.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected non-fundamental wave mode of the second electromagnetic wave has a spatial orientation based on a position of the radiating element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the directing the first electromagnetic wave further comprises providing a conductive horn that surrounds the transmission medium and that further directs the first electromagnetic wave to facilitate the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave at the interface of the transmission medium.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the waveguide system comprises a waveguide structure for further directing the first electromagnetic wave to the interface of the transmission medium.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the waveguide structure has a tapered cross-section.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the waveguide structure has a circular cross-section.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface of the transmission medium comprises a core, and wherein the second electromagnetic wave is guided and bound to the core.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface of the transmission medium comprises an outer surface of an insulated conductor or uninsulated conductor for guiding the second electromagnetic wave.

12. A system, comprising:

an interface configured to receive a signal;

an antenna configured to launch, according to the signal, a first electromagnetic wave to induce a propagation of a second electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a selected non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency;

and a reflective plate spaced a distance behind the antenna relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave, wherein the distance between the reflective plate and the antenna is set to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave having the selected non-fundamental wave mode;

wherein the antenna comprises a monopole antenna that is aligned substantially parallel to the reflective plate and within a hollow collar that supports the reflective plate and maintains the first electromagnetic wave within the hollow collar.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the distance between the reflective plate and the antenna is adjusted to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave via the selected non-fundamental wave mode.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a conductive horn that surrounds the transmission medium and that directs the first electromagnetic wave to facilitate the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave at an interface of the transmission medium.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a waveguide structure for further directing the first electromagnetic wave to the interface of the transmission medium.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the waveguide structure has a tapered cross-section.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the waveguide structure has a circular cross-section.

18. A system, comprising:

antenna means for generating a first electromagnetic wave;

waveguide means for directing the first electromagnetic wave to an interface of a transmission medium to induce a propagation of a second electromagnetic wave bound to a surface of the transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a selected non-fundamental wave mode;

and a reflective surface spaced in parallel to the antenna means and a distance behind the antenna means relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave, wherein the distance between the reflective surface and the antenna means is set to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave having the selected non-fundamental wave mode;

wherein the antenna means comprises a monopole antenna that is aligned substantially parallel to the reflective surface and within a hollow collar that supports the reflective surface and maintains the first electromagnetic wave within the hollow collar.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the distance is adjusted to facilitate the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave via the selected non-fundamental wave mode.