Apparatus and method utilizing a transmission medium with a plurality of hollow pathways

• US 10,320,046 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2015
• 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: Bennett, Robert, Henry, Paul Shala, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benny T
• Application Number:
  US15/665,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20170331169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 333 1, 333239, 333241
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/06 with means for reducing effects of electromagnetic or electrostatic disturbances, e.g. screens
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1808 Construction of the conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/1834 Construction of the insulation between the conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 11/002 Manufacturing hollow waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/06 Coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/10 Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/12 Hollow waveguides H01P3/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/122 Dielectric loaded (not air)
• 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

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission medium for propagating electromagnetic waves. The transmission medium can include a core for propagating electromagnetic waves guided by the core without an electrical return path, a rigid material surrounding the core, wherein an inner surface of the rigid material is separated from an outer surface of the core, and a conductive layer disposed on the rigid material. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A cable, comprising:

a plurality of hollow cores formed from an interior portion of a plurality of twisted insulated conductors, wherein each hollow core of the plurality of hollow cores facilitates propagation of a respective electromagnetic wave of a plurality of electromagnetic waves, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves propagates without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves operates in a non-optical frequency range; and

a cover surrounding the plurality of twisted insulated conductors, wherein the cover facilitates reducing exposure of the plurality of hollow cores to an environment that impedes the propagation of the plurality of electromagnetic waves along the plurality of hollow cores.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein each hollow core of the plurality of hollow cores comprises a corresponding conduit.

3. The cable of claim 2, wherein each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves is guided by one of the corresponding conduits.

4. The cable of claim 2, wherein each of the corresponding conduits has an asymmetric structure.

5. The cable of claim 1, wherein each hollow core of the plurality of hollow cores is formed from respective portions of a plurality of surfaces of the plurality of twisted insulated conductors.

6. The cable of claim 1, wherein each twisted insulated conductor has a respective electrical return path to enable transmission of electrical signals.

7. The cable of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves employs phase shift keying, frequency shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, amplitude modulation, multi-carrier modulation, frequency division multiplexing, time division multiplexing, code division multiplexing, multiplexing via differing wave propagation modes, or any combinations thereof.

8. The cable of claim 1, wherein a launcher generates the plurality of electromagnetic waves that propagates along the plurality of hollow cores in accordance with a multiple-input and multiple-output technique.

9. The cable of claim 1, wherein a receiving device facilitates receiving the plurality of electromagnetic waves from the plurality of hollow cores according to a multiple-input and multiple-output technique.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a waveguide system, a plurality of communication signals; and

propagating, by a coupler of the waveguide system according to the plurality of communication signals, a plurality of electromagnetic waves along a plurality of hollow cores surrounded by a plurality of twisted insulated conductors, wherein each hollow core of the plurality of hollow cores facilitates propagation of a respective electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves propagates without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves operates in a non-optical frequency range.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of twisted insulated conductors is surrounded by a cover to reduce exposure of the plurality of hollow cores to an environment that impedes the propagation of the plurality of electromagnetic waves along the plurality of hollow cores.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each hollow core of the plurality of hollow cores comprises a corresponding conduit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the corresponding conduits has an asymmetric structure.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein each hollow core of the plurality of hollow cores is formed from respective portions of a plurality of surfaces of the plurality of twisted insulated conductors.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein each twisted insulated conductor has a respective electrical return path to enable transmission of electrical signals.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves employs phase shift keying, frequency shift keying, quadrature amplitude modulation, amplitude modulation, multi-carrier modulation, frequency division multiplexing, time division multiplexing, code division multiplexing, multiplexing via differing wave propagation modes, or any combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein a launcher generates the plurality of electromagnetic waves that propagates along the plurality of hollow cores in accordance with a multiple-input and multiple-output technique.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein a receiving device facilitates receiving the plurality of electromagnetic waves from the plurality of hollow cores according to a multiple-input and multiple-output technique.

19. A launcher, comprising:

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising;

receiving communication signals conveying data; and

generating, according to the communication signals, a plurality of electromagnetic waves that propagates along a plurality of hollow waveguides formed between portions of outer surfaces of a plurality of insulated cables, wherein each hollow waveguide of the plurality of hollow waveguides facilitates propagation of a respective electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves, and wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves propagates without requiring an electrical return path.

20. The launcher of claim 19, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves is directed to a receiver, and wherein the receiver facilitates receiving the plurality of electromagnetic waves via the plurality of hollow waveguides according to a multiple-input and multiple-output technique.