Transmission medium and communication interfaces and methods for use therewith

• US 10,404,321 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2014
• 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: Bennett, Robert, Henry, Paul Shala, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahn, Sung S
• Application Number:
  US15/652,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20170317715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• 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: H01P 5/087 Transitions to a dielectric waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/03 Hybrid circuits for transceivers H04B1/52, H04B1/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2878 Access multiplexer, e.g. DSLAM generic distributed time multiplexers, e.g. TDM/TDMA H04J3/1694
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving first electromagnetic waves via a transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and inducing second electromagnetic waves at an interface of the transmission medium without the electrical return path. In an embodiment, the first and second electromagnetic waves have a non-optical frequency range. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a circuit, first electromagnetic waves guided by a cable without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the first electromagnetic waves have a first non-optical frequency range;

converting, by the circuit, the first electromagnetic waves to first electrical signals provided to a first device;

receiving, by the circuit, second electrical signals from the first device;

converting, by the circuit, the second electrical signals to second electromagnetic waves; and

sending, by the circuit, the second electromagnetic waves to an interface of the cable for guiding propagation of the second electromagnetic waves via the cable without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the second electromagnetic waves are directed to a second device, wherein the second electromagnetic waves have a second non-optical frequency range, wherein the cable comprises a plurality of cores, wherein the first electromagnetic waves are bound to a first core of the plurality of cores, and wherein the second electromagnetic waves are bound to a second core of the plurality of cores.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a boundary between the plurality of cores that includes the first core guides propagation of the first electromagnetic waves.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each core of the plurality of cores comprises a dielectric core.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each core of the plurality of cores comprises an insulated conductor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each core of the plurality of cores comprises an uninsulated conductor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a cladding is disposed at least in part on an outer surface of each core of the plurality of cores, wherein each core of the plurality of cores has a first dielectric constant, wherein the cladding has a second dielectric constant, and wherein the first dielectric constant is greater than the second dielectric constant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable further comprises a jacket that covers the plurality of cores to reduce exposure to an adverse environment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each core of the plurality of cores has a non-circular cross section.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the non-circular cross section is asymmetric.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the non-circular cross section is symmetric.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable supplies power to the circuit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a boundary between the plurality of cores that includes the second core guides propagation of the second electromagnetic waves.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are digital subscriber line devices.

14. A first network element, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

a circuit coupled to the receiver and to the transmitter, wherein the circuit facilitates performance of operations, the operations comprising;

receiving, via the receiver, first electromagnetic waves generated by a second network element, the first electromagnetic waves guided by an inner portion of a cable, wherein the first electromagnetic waves are bound to the cable and are guided without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves have a first non-optical frequency range; and

inducing, via the transmitter, second electromagnetic waves via an interface of the cable, wherein the second electromagnetic waves are directed to the second network element, wherein the second electromagnetic waves guided by the inner portion of the cable without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the second electromagnetic waves are bound to the cable, wherein the second electromagnetic waves has a second non-optical frequency range, wherein the cable comprises a plurality of insulated conductors arranged as twisted pairs, wherein a first surface of a first insulated conductor of the plurality of insulated conductors guides propagation of the first electromagnetic waves, and wherein a second surface of a second insulated conductor of the plurality of insulated conductors guides propagation of the second electromagnetic waves.

15. The first network element of claim 14, wherein the first surface of the first insulated conductor differs from the second surface of the second insulated conductor.

16. The first network element of claim 14, wherein a boundary between the plurality of insulated conductors that includes the first surface of the first insulated conductor guides propagation of the first electromagnetic waves.

17. The first network element of claim 14, wherein a boundary between the plurality of insulated conductors that includes the second surface of the second insulated conductor guides propagation of the second electromagnetic waves.

18. A communication device, comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter; and

a circuit coupled to the receiver and to the transmitter, wherein the circuit facilitates performance of operations, the operations comprising;

receiving, via the receiver, first electromagnetic waves without requiring an electrical return path via an inner portion of a plurality of cables, wherein the first electromagnetic waves have a first non-optical frequency range; and

inducing, via the transmitter, second electromagnetic waves directed to an interface of the plurality of cables for propagation of the second electromagnetic waves via the inner portion of the plurality of cables, wherein second electromagnetic waves propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the second electromagnetic waves have a second non-optical frequency range, wherein the plurality of cables comprises a plurality of insulated conductors arranged as twisted pairs, wherein a first surface of a first insulated conductor of the plurality of insulated conductors guides propagation of the first electromagnetic waves, and wherein a second surface of a second insulated conductor of the plurality of insulated conductors guides propagation of the second electromagnetic waves.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein a boundary between the plurality of insulated conductors that includes the first surface of the first insulated conductor guides propagation of the first electromagnetic waves.

20. The communication device of claim 18, wherein a boundary between the plurality of insulated conductors that includes the second surface of the second insulated conductor guides propagation of the second electromagnetic waves.