Magnetic coupling device and methods for use therewith

• US 10,432,259 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2018
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2015
• 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, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rakesh B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salazar, Jr., Jorge L
• Application Number:
  US16/053,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20180359000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 333 24 R, 333202, 333203, 333227, 333230, 333248, 340 1233, 340 1238, 34031001
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/0878 Sensors; antennas; probes; detectors wave guide measuring sections G01R1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/00 Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere measuring superconductive properties G01R33/1238; testing or measuring semiconductors or solid state devices during manufacture H01L22/00; testing line transmission systems H04B3/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/207 Hollow waveguide filters H01P1/212, H01P1/213, H01P1/215, H01P1/219 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/103 Hollow-waveguide/coaxial-line transitions
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 7/06 Cavity resonators
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines
• 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 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• 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 coupling device including a receiving portion that receives a radio frequency signal conveying data from a transmitting device. A magnetic coupler magnetically couples the radio frequency signal to a transmission medium as a guided electromagnetic wave that is bound by an outer surface of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A coupling device comprising:

a receiving portion that receives a radio frequency signal conveying data from a transmitting device; and

a cavity resonator configured to respond to the radio frequency signal by generating a field that induces a guided electromagnetic wave on a transmission medium via electromagnetic coupling, wherein the transmission medium is a wire and the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the wire without requiring an electrical return path and wherein a carrier frequency of the guided electromagnetic wave is below a cut-off frequency of the cavity resonator.

2. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the wire comprises a bare wire.

3. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the wire comprises a transmission wire of an electric power distribution network.

4. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the coupling device further comprises a cap that covers the cavity resonator and a portion of the transmission medium.

5. The coupling device of claim 4 wherein the cap comprises a reflective plate to reduce unwanted emissions from the cavity resonator.

6. The coupling device of claim 4 wherein the cap comprises a lossy material to reduce unwanted emissions from the cavity resonator.

7. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the receiving portion includes a coaxial connector and the coupling device further comprises an antenna that radiates the radio frequency signal within the cavity resonator.

8. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the wire comprises an insulated electrical conductor.

9. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the receiving portion includes a waveguide that guides the radio frequency signal to the cavity resonator.

10. A coupling device comprising:

a receiving portion that facilitates receiving a radio frequency signal conveying data; and

a cavity resonator, adapted to electromagnetically couple the radio frequency signal to a wire as a guided electromagnetic wave that is guided by the wire, wherein the wire is a portion of a distributed antenna system that provides wireless connectivity to a plurality of client devices, wherein the cavity resonator induces the guided electromagnetic wave on the wire via electromagnetic coupling and wherein the cavity resonator operates below a cut-off frequency of the cavity resonator.

11. The coupling device of claim 10 wherein the guided electromagnetic wave is bound by an outer surface of the wire to propagate longitudinally along the wire.

12. The coupling device of claim 10 wherein the coupling device further comprises a cap that covers the cavity resonator and a portion of the wire.

13. The coupling device of claim 12 wherein the cap comprises a reflective plate to reduce unwanted emissions from the cavity resonator.

14. The coupling device of claim 12 wherein the cap comprises a lossy material to reduce unwanted emissions from the cavity resonator.

15. The coupling device of claim 10 wherein the receiving portion includes a coaxial connector and the coupling device further comprises an antenna that radiates the radio frequency signal within the cavity resonator.

16. The coupling device of claim 10 wherein the wire comprises a bare electrical conductor.

17. The coupling device of claim 10 wherein the receiving portion includes a waveguide that guides the radio frequency signal to the cavity resonator.

18. A method comprising:

receiving, via a receiving portion, a signal; and

launching, via a cavity resonator, the signal on a transmission medium as a guided electromagnetic wave that is guided by an outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the transmission medium is a portion of a distributed antenna system that provides wireless connectivity to a plurality of client devices, wherein the cavity resonator responds to the signal by inducing the guided electromagnetic wave on the transmission medium via electromagnetic coupling and wherein the cavity resonator operates below a cut-off frequency of the cavity resonator.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the transmission medium comprises a wire.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the signal comprises an electrical signal that is supplied to an antenna associated with the cavity resonator, wherein the antenna radiates the signal within the cavity resonator to induce the guided electromagnetic wave on the outer surface of the transmission medium.