Method and apparatus for communication using variable permittivity polyrod antenna

• US 10,424,845 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2017
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2017
• 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: Johnson, Shikik, Britz, David M., Gerszberg, Irwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lam T
• Application Number:
  US15/833,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20190173190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 343785
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• 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 3/00 Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system means for positioning H01Q1/125

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a device with a polyrod antenna having a core, where the core has a first region with a first dielectric constant and a second region with a second dielectric constant, and where the second dielectric constant is higher than the first dielectric constant. The device can include a waveguide coupled with the core, where the waveguide is configured to confine an electromagnetic wave at least in part within the core in the first region. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a polyrod antenna comprising a core, wherein the core has a first region with a first dielectric constant and a second region with a second dielectric constant, wherein the second dielectric constant is higher than the first dielectric constant; and

a waveguide coupled to the core of the polyrod antenna, wherein the waveguide is configured to confine a portion of an electromagnetic wave within the core of the polyrod antenna.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second region is closer to a distal end of the core than the first region.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein a first outer diameter of the first region is larger than a second outer diameter of the second region.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the core is tapered.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the core has a plurality of other regions, and wherein dielectric constants of the plurality of other regions increase in a direction towards a distal end of the core.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein outer diameters of at least two of the plurality of other regions are equal.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of other regions is positioned between the first and second regions, and wherein a third region of the plurality of other regions has a tapered shape.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first and second regions have uniform outer diameters.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second regions are annular regions, and wherein the second region is closer to an outer surface of the core than the first region.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the core is coupled with a tuner that enables adjustment of the first dielectric constant of the first region and adjustment of the second dielectric constant of the second region.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the core has a lens positioned at a distal end of the core.

12. A method, comprising:

generating, by a transmitter of a communication device, an electromagnetic wave according to an operating frequency;

facilitating, by a waveguide of the communication device, propagation of the electromagnetic wave to an interface of a core of a polyrod antenna of the communication device;

transmitting, via the polyrod antenna, a wireless signal based on the electromagnetic wave, wherein the polyrod antenna converts the electromagnetic wave into the wireless signal, and

wherein the core of the polyrod antenna has regions that increase in dielectric constant and decrease in outer diameter in a direction towards a distal end of the core of the polyrod antenna.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising selecting the operating frequency to facilitate confining an electrical field of the electromagnetic wave at least in part within the core as the electromagnetic wave propagates along the core.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising beam steering communication signals via an antenna array of the communication device, wherein the antenna array includes the polyrod antenna.

15. A polyrod antenna, comprising:

a core having a first region and a second region, wherein the first region has a first permittivity and a first outer diameter, wherein the second region has a second permittivity and a second outer diameter, wherein the second permittivity is higher than the first permittivity, wherein the first outer diameter is larger than the second outer diameter, wherein the core is coupled to a waveguide that facilitates launching an electromagnetic wave that propagates along the core without requiring an electrical return path.

16. The polyrod antenna of claim 15, wherein the second region is closer to a distal end of the core than the first region.

17. The polyrod antenna of claim 16, wherein the distal end of the core is tapered.

18. The polyrod antenna of claim 15, wherein the core has a plurality of other regions, and wherein permittivities of the plurality of other regions increase in a direction towards a distal end of the core.

19. The polyrod antenna of claim 18, wherein outer diameters of at least two of the plurality of other regions are equal.

20. The polyrod antenna of claim 18, wherein the plurality of other regions is positioned between the first and second regions, wherein a third region of the plurality of other regions has a tapered shape, and wherein the first and second regions are non-tapered.