Apparatus for converting wireless signals and electromagnetic waves and methods thereof

• US 10,199,741 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2018
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• 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, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Linh
• Application Number:
  US15/899,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20180191080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 343771, 343772, 343785
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/28 comprising elements constituting electric discontinuities and spaced in direction of wave propagation, e.g. dielectric elements or conductive elements forming artificial dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0037 linear waveguide fed arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide including a plurality of devices that facilitate generating scattered electromagnetic waves from electromagnetic waves propagating on a surface of a transmission medium. The scattered electromagnetic waves combine to generate a wireless signal having a directionality based on a separation between plurality of devices and a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of devices coupled to a transmission medium,

wherein the transmission medium comprises a cable,

wherein the plurality of devices is positioned as a series of devices distributed along portions of the cable,

wherein each of the plurality of devices is spaced apart along the cable,

wherein each of the plurality of devices facilitates receiving a portion of a first wireless signal,

wherein the first wireless signal comprises electromagnetic waves that propagate in free space,

wherein the first wireless signal has an angular displacement,

wherein a separation between the plurality of devices enables generation, based upon received portions of the first wireless signal, of first electromagnetic waves that are guided by the cable and that propagate longitudinally along the cable,

wherein the first electromagnetic waves are generated responsive to each device of the plurality of devices absorbing at least in part the first wireless signal and individually emitting respective individual electromagnetic waves that combine on the cable into the first electromagnetic waves that propagate along the cable,

wherein the angular displacement of the first wireless signal causes the first electromagnetic waves to propagate along the cable in a first direction of propagation,

wherein the first direction of propagation of the first electromagnetic waves is opposite a second direction of propagation of second electromagnetic waves that are guided by the cable and that propagate towards a first device of the plurality of devices that is located at an endpoint of the series of devices, and

wherein the first electromagnetic waves differ from the second electromagnetic waves.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of devices scatters the second electromagnetic waves that propagate along the cable, and wherein a combination of the second electromagnetic waves that are scattered generates a second wireless signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a coverage area of the second wireless signal is based on a quantity of the plurality of devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second wireless signal has a beam pattern that is directed to a receiving device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a transmitting device that transmits the first wireless signal comprises a quasi-optical transmitter, and wherein the receiving device comprises a quasi-optical receiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second wireless signal has a directionality based on a ratio of a wavelength of the second electromagnetic waves and the separation between the plurality of devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a mechanism to adjust the separation between the plurality of devices to adjust a directionality of the second wireless signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a waveguide system transmits the second electromagnetic waves.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the waveguide system adjusts a wavelength of the second electromagnetic waves to adjust a directionality of the second wireless signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a conductive material, a non-conductive material, or a combination thereof, and wherein the cable comprises a wire.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separation between the plurality of devices is equal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separation between the plurality of devices is unequal.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices is disposed on an elastic sleeve, wherein the elastic sleeve is formed as an elongated cylinder having a diameter smaller than the cable, wherein the elongated cylinder has a slit along a length thereof, wherein the slit enables manual expansion of the elastic sleeve for installation around an exposed surface of the cable, and wherein the diameter of the elastic sleeve being smaller than the cable enables the elastic sleeve to remain in place once the elastic sleeve is installed on the cable.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an array of antennas coupled to a transmission medium comprising a cable, first guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the cable in a first direction of propagation toward the array of antennas, wherein the array of antennas is positioned along the cable as a series of antennas distributed along portions of the cable, and wherein each antenna of the array of antennas is spaced apart along the cable,

emitting, by the array of antennas, scattered electromagnetic waves responsive to the first guided electromagnetic waves, wherein a first wireless signal is generated from a combination of the scattered electromagnetic waves, and wherein the first wireless signal propagates in free space; and

receiving, by the array of antennas, a portion of a second wireless signal, wherein the second wireless signal propagates in free space, wherein the second wireless signal has an angular displacement, wherein second guided electromagnetic waves are generated responsive to each antenna of the array of antennas absorbing at least in part the second wireless signal and individually emitting respective individual electromagnetic waves that coherently combine on the cable into the second guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the cable, wherein the angular displacement of the second wireless signal causes the second guided electromagnetic waves to propagate along the cable in a second direction of propagation, wherein the first direction of propagation of the first guided electromagnetic waves is opposite the second direction of propagation of the second guided electromagnetic waves, and wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves differ from the second guided electromagnetic waves.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting, by the array of antennas, a directionality of the first wireless signal responsive to an adjustment of a wavelength of the first guided electromagnetic waves.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a separation between each antenna of the array of antennas is equal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a separation between each antenna of the array of antennas is unequal.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of devices, coupled to a transmission medium comprising a cable, that facilitates generating scattered electromagnetic waves, wherein the scattered electromagnetic waves are generated responsive to first guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the cable in a first direction of propagation towards the plurality of devices,

wherein each of the plurality of devices is spaced apart along the cable,

wherein the scattered electromagnetic waves are combined to generate a first wireless signal having a directionality based on a separation between the plurality of devices and a wavelength of the first guided electromagnetic waves,

wherein the plurality of devices receives a portion of a second wireless signal,

wherein the second wireless signal propagates in free space,

wherein the second wireless signal has an angular displacement,

wherein second guided electromagnetic waves are generated responsive to each device of the plurality of devices absorbing at least in part the second wireless signal and individually emitting respective individual electromagnetic waves that coherently combine on the cable into the second guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the cable,

wherein the angular displacement of the second wireless signal causes the second guided electromagnetic waves to propagate along the cable in a second direction of propagation,

wherein the first direction of propagation of the first guided electromagnetic waves differs from the second direction of propagation of the second guided electromagnetic waves, and

wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves differ from the second guided electromagnetic waves.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of devices further facilitates adjusting the directionality of the first wireless signal responsive to an adjustment of the wavelength of the first guided electromagnetic waves.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of devices is disposed on a substrate for placement about an outer surface of the cable.