Flared dielectric coupling system and methods for use therewith

• US 10,446,899 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2017
• 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: Henry, Paul Shala, Vannucci, Giovanni, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benny T
• Application Number:
  US15/695,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20190074568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 333 24 R, 333240
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/28 having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/068 the energy being transmitted in at least one ring-shaped transmission line located around the axis of rotation, e.g. "around the mast" rotary joint H01P1/069 takes precedence; coaxial line with solid inner conductor H01P1/067
• 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: H01P 5/1022 Transitions to dielectric waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/107 Hollow-waveguide/strip-line transitions
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/181 the guides being hollow waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/188 the guides being dielectric waveguides
• 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

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a dielectric coupler includes a neck portion configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave from a hollow waveguide. A flared portion is configured to generate, responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the flared portion at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A tapered portion is configured to interface the neck portion to the flared portion.

Claims

1. A coupling system comprising:

a hollow waveguide configured to guide a first electromagnetic wave conveying data from a transmitter; and

a dielectric coupler configured to receive the first electromagnetic wave from the hollow waveguide via a neck portion of the dielectric coupler, and further configured to generate, responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium via a flared portion of the dielectric coupler that at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

2. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric coupler is conductorless.

3. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the neck portion of the dielectric coupler has a cross-section that mates with a hollow inner portion of the hollow waveguide.

4. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric coupler includes a tapered portion that interfaces the neck portion to the flared portion.

5. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the flared portion surrounds greater than 180 degrees of an azimuthal cross-section of the transmission medium.

6. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the flared portion is configured to clip onto the transmission medium to secure the dielectric coupler to the transmission medium.

7. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric coupler consists of a single piece of plastic material.

8. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the neck portion of the dielectric coupler includes an end configured to receive the first electromagnetic wave within the hollow waveguide.

9. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric coupler is further configured to receive, via the flared portion, a third electromagnetic wave propagating along the surface of the transmission medium and to generate, responsive to the third electromagnetic wave, a fourth electromagnetic wave in the hollow waveguide;

and

wherein the hollow waveguide is further configured to guide the fourth electromagnetic wave to a receiver.

10. The coupling system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium is a bare wire, and the second electromagnetic wave propagates via a fundamental transverse magnetic mode.

11. A dielectric coupler comprising:

a neck portion configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave from a hollow waveguide;

a flared portion configured to generate, responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the flared portion at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path; and

a tapered portion configured to interface the neck portion to the flared portion.

12. The dielectric coupler of claim 11, wherein the neck portion, the flared portion and the tapered portion are each conductorless.

13. The dielectric coupler of claim 11, wherein the neck portion has a cross-section that mates with a hollow inner portion of the hollow waveguide.

14. The dielectric coupler of claim 11, wherein the flared portion is further configured to receive a third electromagnetic wave propagating along the surface of the transmission medium;

and

wherein the neck portion is further configured to generate, responsive to the third electromagnetic wave, a fourth electromagnetic wave in the hollow waveguide for transmission to a receiver.

15. The dielectric coupler of claim 11, wherein the flared portion surrounds greater than 180 degrees of an azimuthal cross-section of the transmission medium.

16. The dielectric coupler of claim 11, wherein the flared portion is configured to clip onto the transmission medium to secure the dielectric coupler to the transmission medium.

17. The dielectric coupler of claim 11, wherein the neck portion, the flared portion and the tapered portion are individual portions of a single piece of plastic material.

18. The dielectric coupler of claim 11, wherein the neck portion includes an end configured to receive the first electromagnetic wave within the hollow waveguide.

19. The dielectric coupler of claim 11, wherein the transmission medium is a bare wire, and the second electromagnetic wave propagates via a fundamental transverse magnetic mode.

20. A method comprising:

receiving, via a neck portion of a conductorless dielectric coupler, a first electromagnetic wave from a hollow waveguide; and

generating, via a flared portion of the conductorless dielectric coupler and responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the flared portion at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.