Launcher and coupling system to support desired guided wave mode

• US 10,505,667 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2019
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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, Barnickel, Donald J., Barzegar, Farhad, Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Guarino, Rahel
• Application Number:
  US16/445,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20190305879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 174 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a launcher that includes a hollow waveguide that guides a first electromagnetic wave conveying data from a transmitting device. A dielectric stub coupler receives the first electromagnetic wave from the hollow waveguide to form a second electromagnetic wave that propagates along a portion of the dielectric stub coupler adjacent to a transmission medium, wherein second electromagnetic wave propagates along the dielectric stub coupler via a first guided wave mode and a second guided wave mode, and wherein the portion has a length that supports a coupling of the second guided wave mode for propagation along an outer surface of the transmission medium.

Claims

1. A launcher comprising:

a hollow waveguide that guides a first electromagnetic wave conveying data from a transmitting device; and

a dielectric stub coupler that receives the first electromagnetic wave from the hollow waveguide, and in response to the first electromagnetic wave, forms a second electromagnetic wave that propagates along a portion of the dielectric stub coupler adjacent to a transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave has a first guided wave mode and a second guided wave mode, wherein the dielectric stub coupler generates a third electromagnetic wave in response to the second electromagnetic wave that propagates along a surface the transmission medium via the second guided wave mode, wherein the portion of the dielectric stub coupler has a length from an end of the hollow waveguide to an end of the dielectric stub coupler outside of the hollow waveguide, and wherein the length supports suppression of the first guided wave mode in the third electromagnetic wave.

2. The launcher of claim 1, wherein the dielectric stub coupler is conductorless.

3. The launcher of claim 1, wherein the portion of the dielectric stub coupler is separated from the transmission medium by a gap.

4. The launcher of claim 1, wherein the portion of the dielectric stub coupler is aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.

5. The launcher of claim 1, further comprising a reflective plate aligned parallel to the portion of the dielectric stub coupler, wherein the dielectric stub coupler is between the reflective plate and the transmission medium.

6. The launcher of claim 1, wherein the dielectric stub coupler guides the second guided wave mode at a second speed that is higher than a first speed of the first guided wave mode.

7. The launcher of claim 1, wherein the dielectric stub coupler includes a tapered, rounded or beveled end that terminates adjacent to the transmission medium.

8. The launcher of claim 7, wherein the dielectric stub coupler includes a receiving end, opposite from the tapered, rounded or beveled end, that is within the hollow waveguide.

9. A coupling module comprising:

a waveguide that guides a first electromagnetic wave conveying data from a transmitting device;

a dielectric stub coupler that receives the first electromagnetic wave from the waveguide, and in response to the first electromagnetic wave, guides a second electromagnetic wave along a portion of the dielectric stub coupler from an end of the waveguide to an end of the dielectric stub coupler outside of the waveguide and adjacent to a transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the dielectric stub coupler, wherein the second electromagnetic wave has a first guided wave mode and a second guided wave mode, and wherein the portion of the dielectric stub coupler supports suppression of the first guided wave mode in a third electromagnetic wave, generated by the dielectric stub coupler in response to the second electromagnetic wave, that propagates along a surface the transmission medium via the second guided wave mode without requiring an electrical return path; and

a reflective surface aligned parallel to the portion of the dielectric stub coupler, wherein the portion of the dielectric stub coupler is between the reflective surface and the transmission medium.

10. The coupling module of claim 9, wherein the dielectric stub coupler is conductorless.

11. The coupling module of claim 9, wherein the portion of the dielectric stub coupler is separated from the transmission medium by a gap.

12. The coupling module of claim 9, wherein the portion of the dielectric stub coupler is aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.

13. The coupling module of claim 9, wherein the dielectric stub coupler guides the second guided wave mode at a second speed that is higher than a first speed of the first guided wave mode.

14. The coupling module of claim 9, wherein the dielectric stub coupler includes a tapered, rounded or beveled end that terminates adjacent to the transmission medium.

15. A coupling system comprising:

waveguide means for guiding a first electromagnetic wave conveying data from a transmitting device; and

conductorless coupling means for receiving the first electromagnetic wave from the waveguide means and, in response to the first electromagnetic wave, forms a second electromagnetic wave that propagates along a portion of the conductorless coupling means adjacent to a transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave has a first guided wave mode and a second guided wave mode, and wherein the portion of the conductorless coupling means has a length from an end of the waveguide means to an end of the conductorless coupling means outside of the waveguide means, wherein the length supports suppression of the first guided wave mode in a third electromagnetic wave, generated in response to the second electromagnetic wave, that propagates along a surface the transmission medium via the second guided wave mode without requiring an electrical return path.

16. The coupling system of claim 15, further comprising:

reflecting means for enhancing coupling of the second guided wave mode to the transmission medium.

17. The coupling system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the conductorless coupling means is separated from the transmission medium by a gap.

18. The coupling system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the conductorless coupling means is aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.

19. The coupling system of claim 15, wherein the conductorless coupling means includes a tapered, rounded or beveled end that terminates adjacent to the transmission medium.

20. The coupling system of claim 19, wherein the conductorless coupling means includes a receiving end, opposite from the tapered, rounded or beveled end, and a length that is within the waveguide means that enhances receiving of the first electromagnetic wave from the waveguide means.