Method and apparatus for coupling an antenna to a device

• US 10,305,545 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2018
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• 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: Adriazola, Aldo, Fuchs, Mitchell Harvey, Henry, Paul Shala, Barnickel, Donald J., Barzegar, Farhad, Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US15/861,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20180131406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 455 7, 455 14, 455 16, 455402
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/10 Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/09 wherein the primary active element is coated with or embedded in a dielectric or magnetic material protective material H01Q1/40, varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of refracting or diffracting devices H01Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/00 Line transmission systems combined with near-field transmission systems H04B5/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/28 using the near field of leaky cables, e.g. of leaky coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna structure that includes a dielectric antenna comprising a dielectric feedline having a feed point, and a collar that facilitates aligning a port of a waveguide system to the feed point of the dielectric feedline for facilitating transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves exchanged between the port and the feed point of the dielectric feedline, the electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric feedline without an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a first dielectric feedline coupled to a first dielectric antenna, wherein first electromagnetic waves are guided along the first dielectric feedline without requiring a first electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves generate first wireless signals from the first dielectric antenna;

a second dielectric feedline coupled to a second dielectric antenna, wherein second electromagnetic waves are guided along the second dielectric feedline without requiring a second electrical return path, and wherein the second electromagnetic waves generate second wireless signals from the second dielectric antenna;

a first transmitter comprising a first port, wherein the first port of the first transmitter is coupled to the first dielectric feedline via a first channel, wherein the first transmitter facilitates adjusting the first electromagnetic waves by a first phase delay thereby generating an adjusted first wireless signal, and wherein a first proximity between the first port of the first transmitter and the first dielectric feedline is adjustable by shifting the first dielectric feedline within the first channel; and

a second transmitter comprising a second port, wherein the second port of the second transmitter is coupled to the second dielectric feedline via a second channel, wherein the second transmitter facilitates adjusting the second electromagnetic waves by a second phase delay thereby generating an adjusted second wireless signal, wherein a second proximity between the second port of the second transmitter and the second dielectric feedline is adjustable by shifting the second dielectric feedline within the second channel, and wherein a first phase adjustment of the first wireless signals, a second phase adjustment of the second wireless signals, or a combination thereof facilitates beam steering.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first port of the first transmitter comprises a first dielectric core that supplies the first electromagnetic waves to the first dielectric feedline.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the second port of the second transmitter comprises a second dielectric core that supplies the second electromagnetic waves to the second dielectric feedline.

4. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a first receiver coupled to the first port, wherein the first port receives third electromagnetic waves guided by the first dielectric feedline coupled to the first dielectric antenna for processing by the first receiver, and wherein the third electromagnetic waves are generated from third wireless signals received by a first aperture of the first dielectric antenna.

5. The communication device of claim 4, further comprising a second receiver coupled to the second port, wherein the second port receives fourth electromagnetic waves guided by the second dielectric feedline coupled to the second dielectric antenna for processing by the second receiver, and wherein the fourth electromagnetic waves are generated from fourth wireless signals received by a second aperture of the second dielectric antenna.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein a first dielectric lens operates as a first aperture of the first dielectric antenna, and wherein a second dielectric lens operates as a second aperture of the second dielectric antenna.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein a first material composition of the first dielectric lens has a first dielectric constant, wherein a second material composition of the first dielectric antenna has a second dielectric constant, and wherein the first dielectric constant differs from the second dielectric constant, wherein a third material composition of the second dielectric lens has a third dielectric constant, wherein a fourth material composition of the second dielectric antenna has a fourth dielectric constant, and wherein the third dielectric constant differs from the fourth dielectric constant.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the first dielectric antenna and the second dielectric antenna is a conical shaped antenna.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein each of the first dielectric antenna and the second dielectric antenna is a pyramidal shaped antenna.

10. An antenna system, comprising:

a first dielectric feedline coupled to a first dielectric antenna, wherein first electromagnetic waves are guided along the first dielectric feedline without requiring a first electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves generate first wireless signals from the first dielectric antenna;

a second dielectric feedline coupled to a second dielectric antenna, wherein second electromagnetic waves are guided along the second dielectric feedline without requiring a second electrical return path, and wherein the second electromagnetic waves generate second wireless signals from the second dielectric antenna;

a first transmitter comprising a first port, wherein the first port of the first transmitter is coupled to the first dielectric feedline via a first channel, wherein the first transmitter facilitates adjusting the first electromagnetic waves by a first phase delay thereby generating an adjusted first wireless signal, and wherein a first proximity between the first port of the first transmitter and the first dielectric feedline is adjustable by shifting the first dielectric feedline within the first channel;

a second transmitter comprising a second port, wherein the second port of the second transmitter is coupled to the second dielectric feedline via a second channel, wherein the second transmitter facilitates adjusting the second electromagnetic waves by a second phase delay thereby generating an adjusted second wireless signal, wherein a second proximity between the second port of the second transmitter and the second dielectric feedline is adjustable by shifting the second dielectric feedline within the second channel, and wherein a first phase adjustment of the first wireless signals, a second phase adjustment of the second wireless signals, or a combination thereof facilitates beam steering;

a first receiver coupled to the first port, wherein the first port receives third electromagnetic waves guided by the first dielectric feedline coupled to the first dielectric antenna for processing by the first receiver, and wherein the third electromagnetic waves are generated from third wireless signals received by a first aperture of the first dielectric antenna; and

a second receiver coupled to the second port, wherein the second port receives fourth electromagnetic waves guided by the second dielectric feedline coupled to the second dielectric antenna for processing by the second receiver, and wherein the fourth electromagnetic waves are generated from fourth wireless signals received by a second aperture of the second dielectric antenna.

11. The antenna system of claim 10, wherein the first port of the first transmitter comprises a first dielectric core that supplies the first electromagnetic waves to the first dielectric feedline.

12. The antenna system of claim 10, wherein the second port of the second transmitter comprises a second dielectric core that supplies the second electromagnetic waves to the second dielectric feedline.

13. The antenna system of claim 10, wherein a first dielectric lens operates as the first aperture of the first dielectric antenna, and wherein a second dielectric lens operates as the second aperture of the second dielectric antenna.

14. The antenna system of claim 13, wherein a first material composition of the first dielectric lens has a first dielectric constant, wherein a second material composition of the first dielectric antenna has a second dielectric constant, and wherein the first dielectric constant differs from the second dielectric constant, wherein a third material composition of the second dielectric lens has a third dielectric constant, wherein a fourth material composition of the second dielectric antenna has a fourth dielectric constant, and wherein the third dielectric constant differs from the fourth dielectric constant.

15. The antenna system of claim 10, wherein each of the first dielectric antenna and the second dielectric antenna is a conical shaped antenna.

16. The antenna system of claim 10, wherein each of the first dielectric antenna and the second dielectric antenna is a pyramidal shaped antenna.

17. A method, comprising:

aligning a first feedline of a first dielectric antenna with a first port of a first transmitter;

aligning a second feedline of a second dielectric antenna with a second port of a second transmitter; and

performing beam steering by;

transmitting, by the first transmitter, first electromagnetic waves that propagate along the first feedline of the first dielectric antenna resulting in a first wireless signal transmitted by the first dielectric antenna;

transmitting, by the second transmitter, second electromagnetic waves that propagate along the second feedline of the second dielectric antenna resulting in a second wireless signal transmitted by the second dielectric antenna; and

adjusting a first phase of the first wireless signal via the first transmitter, a second phase of the second wireless signal via the second transmitter, or a combination thereof,

wherein the first port of the first transmitter is coupled to the first feedline via a channel, and

wherein a proximity between the first port of the first transmitter and the first feedline is adjustable by shifting the first feedline within the channel.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising coupling a first receiver to the first port, wherein the first port receives third electromagnetic waves guided by the first feedline coupled to the first dielectric antenna for processing by the first receiver, and wherein the third electromagnetic waves are generated from third wireless signals received by a first aperture of the first dielectric antenna.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising coupling a second receiver to the second port, wherein the second port receives fourth electromagnetic waves guided by the second feedline coupled to the second dielectric antenna for processing by the second receiver, and wherein the fourth electromagnetic waves are generated from fourth wireless signals received by a second aperture of the second dielectric antenna.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first port of the first transmitter comprises a first dielectric core that supplies the first electromagnetic waves to the first feedline, and wherein the second port of the second transmitter comprises a second dielectric core that supplies the second electromagnetic waves to the second feedline.