Device with configurable reflector for transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves

• US 10,523,269 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2018
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2018
• 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, Bennett, Robert, Barnickel, Donald J., Vannucci, Giovanni, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Willis, III, Thomas M., Stuckman, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Timory, Kabir A
• Application Number:
  US16/190,307
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• 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 5/00 Coupling devices of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/06 by the transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for generating electromagnetic signals that resonate in a cavity having a plurality of reflectors resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals and combining the resonating electromagnetic signals to form an electromagnetic wave that traverses a reflector and couples onto a physical transmission medium. One or more of the reflectors is implemented via a programmable substrate. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a first reflector;

a second reflector that includes a programmable substrate; and

a plurality of transmitters, coupled to the second reflector, configured to generate a plurality of electromagnetic signals that convey data, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electromagnetic signals resonate in a cavity between the first reflector and the second reflector resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals, wherein the resonating electromagnetic signals combine to form an electromagnetic wave that conveys the data, wherein the electromagnetic wave traverses at least in part the first reflector, is emitted by an aperture of the first reflector, and couples onto a physical transmission medium, and wherein the electromagnetic wave propagates along the physical transmission medium at non-optical frequencies without requiring an electrical return path.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the programmable substrate includes an adjustable electromagnetic layer having a plurality of inclusions and control circuits at locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the control circuits are configured based on program information to adjust an electromagnetic constant of at least one first region that includes a subset of locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic constant is at least one of:

a conductance, a permittivity or a permeability.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the control circuits each include an inductor and an adjustable impedance that is configurable based on the program information to adjust the electromagnetic constant of a corresponding one of the locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the control circuits are configured based on program information to adjust an electromagnetic constant of at least one first region that includes a first subset of locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer and to adjust an electromagnetic constant of at least one second region that includes a second subset of locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer, and wherein the at least one first region and the at least one second region collectively configure the resonating electromagnetic signals to have a first electromagnetic field configuration with a first intensity and a second electromagnetic field configuration with a second intensity, wherein the first intensity of the first electromagnetic field configuration is greater than the second intensity of the second electromagnetic field configuration.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave approximates a Bessel-shaped wave pattern.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave approximates a Bessel-Gauss-shaped wave pattern.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first reflector is adapted to reflect a first component of the resonating electromagnetic signals and enable a second component of the resonating electromagnetic signals to traverse the first reflector, wherein the second component comprises the electromagnetic wave.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first reflector and the second reflector are coaxially aligned with the physical transmission medium.

11. A method, comprising:

providing a first reflector;

configuring a programmable substrate of a second reflector in response to program information;

generating, by a plurality of transmitters, a plurality of electromagnetic signals that convey data;

generating, according to the plurality of electromagnetic signals, resonating electromagnetic signals, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electromagnetic signals resonates in a cavity between the first reflector and the second reflector resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals; and

combining the resonating electromagnetic signals to form an electromagnetic wave that conveys the data, wherein the electromagnetic wave traverses the first reflector and couples onto a physical transmission medium, and wherein the electromagnetic wave propagates along the physical transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the programmable substrate includes an adjustable electromagnetic layer having a plurality of inclusions and control circuits at locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the control circuits are configured based on the program information to adjust an electromagnetic constant of at least one first region that includes a subset of locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electromagnetic constant is at least one of:

a conductance, a permittivity or a permeability.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the control circuits each include an inductor and an adjustable impedance that is configurable based on the program information to adjust the electromagnetic constant of a corresponding one of the locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the control circuits are configured based on the program information to adjust an electromagnetic constant of at least one first region that includes a first sub set of locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer and to adjust an electromagnetic constant of at least one second region that includes a second subset of locations along the adjustable electromagnetic layer, and wherein the at least one first region and the at least one second region collectively configure the resonating electromagnetic signals to have a first electromagnetic field configuration with a first intensity and a second electromagnetic field configuration with a second intensity, wherein the first intensity of the first electromagnetic field configuration is greater than the second intensity of the second electromagnetic field configuration.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic wave approximates a Bessel-shaped wave pattern.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic wave approximates a Bessel-Gauss-shaped wave pattern.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first reflector is adapted to reflect a first component of the resonating electromagnetic signals and enable a second component of the resonating electromagnetic signals to traverse the first reflector, wherein the second component comprises the electromagnetic wave.

20. A device, comprising:

means for configuring a programmable substrate of a first reflector in response to program information;

means for generating a plurality of electromagnetic signals that convey data;

means for generating, according to the plurality of electromagnetic signals, resonating electromagnetic signals, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electromagnetic signals resonate in a cavity between a second reflector and the first reflector resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals; and

means for combining the resonating electromagnetic signals to form an electromagnetic wave that conveys the data, wherein the electromagnetic wave traverses the second reflector and couples onto a physical transmission medium, and wherein the electromagnetic wave propagates along the physical transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.