Apparatus and methods for launching guided waves via circuits

• US 10,468,774 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2018
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• 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, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Magallanes, Ricardo I
• Application Number:
  US16/155,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20190044241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/10 for switching or interrupting in systems using reflection or reradiation of radio, acoustic or other waves G01S7/034
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/026 between coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/06 Waveguide mouths horns H01Q13/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/08 Radiating ends of two-conductor microwave transmission lines, e.g. of coaxial lines, of microstrip lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/26 Surface waveguide constituted by a single conductor, e.g. strip conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/04 Multimode antennas corrugated horns H01Q13/0208
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system having a plurality of transmitters for launching, according to a signal, instances of first electromagnetic waves having different phases to induce propagation of a second electromagnetic wave at an interface of a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency, wherein the plurality of transmitters has a corresponding plurality of antennas. A reflective plate is spaced a distance behind the plurality of antennas relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating first electromagnetic waves, by a plurality of circuits, wherein each of the plurality of circuits is a monolithic microwave integrated circuit and each of the plurality of circuits has a corresponding one of a plurality of radiating elements; and

directing, at least partially by a reflective plate, instances of the first electromagnetic waves to an interface of a transmission medium to induce a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and wherein the second electromagnetic wave has a selected non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency and wherein a distance between the reflective plate and the plurality of radiating elements is set to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave having the selected non-fundamental wave mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the distance between the reflective plate and the at least one of the plurality of radiating elements to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave via the selected non-fundamental wave mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein first and second circuits of the plurality of circuits are configured to generate the first electromagnetic waves with electric field orientations that are substantially aligned.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radiating elements comprises a plurality of antennas.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface of the transmission medium comprises an outer surface of an insulated conductor or uninsulated conductor for guiding the second electromagnetic wave.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of circuits comprises a transmitter portion for transmitting the instances of the first electromagnetic waves.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of circuits further comprises a receiver portion for receiving third electromagnetic waves.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the plurality of circuits, a third electromagnetic wave guided by the transmission medium.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected non-fundamental wave mode of the second electromagnetic wave has a spatial orientation based on a position of each of one or more of the plurality of circuits surrounding the transmission medium.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the directing the first electromagnetic waves further comprises:

configuring a first circuit of the plurality of circuits to supply an electromagnetic wave having a first phase; and

configuring a second circuit of the plurality of circuits to supply the electromagnetic wave having a second phase.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

directing, via a waveguide structure, the first electromagnetic waves to the interface of the transmission medium.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the waveguide structure has a tapered cross-section.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the waveguide structure has a circular cross-section.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface of the transmission medium comprises a core.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second electromagnetic wave is guided and bound to the core.

16. A system, comprising:

a plurality of monolithic microwave integrated circuits having a plurality of transmitters configured to launch instances of first electromagnetic waves having different phases to induce a propagation of a second electromagnetic wave at an interface of a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a selected non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency, wherein the plurality of transmitters has a corresponding plurality of antennas; and

a reflective plate spaced a distance behind the plurality of antennas relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave along a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, wherein the distance between the reflective plate and the plurality of antennas is set to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave having the selected non-fundamental wave mode.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the distance between the reflective plate and at least one of the plurality of antennas is adjusted to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave having the selected non-fundamental wave mode.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a conductive horn that surrounds the transmission medium and that directs the first electromagnetic waves to facilitate the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave at the interface of the transmission medium.

19. A system, comprising:

a plurality of monolithic microwave integrated circuits for generating first electromagnetic waves;

waveguide means for directing instances of the first electromagnetic waves to a surface of a transmission medium that guides a propagation of a second electromagnetic wave having a selected non-fundamental wave mode wherein the plurality of monolithic microwave integrated circuits has a plurality of radiating elements in a plane that is perpendicular to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave; and

a reflective surface spaced in parallel to the plane and a distance behind the plurality of radiating elements relative to the direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave, wherein the distance between the reflective surface and the plurality of radiating elements is set to support the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave having the selected non-fundamental wave mode.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the distance is adjusted to facilitate the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave via the selected non-fundamental wave mode.