Launcher with slot antenna and methods for use therewith
First Claim
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1. A launching device comprising:
- a first transmitter configured to generate a first radio frequency signal conveying first data in a microwave frequency band;
a first slotline antenna having a first pair of arms configured to accommodate a portion of a wire within a slot between the first pair of arms, wherein the first pair of arms are aligned in a first plane that contains a longitudinal axis of the wire, the first slotline antenna configured to launch the first radio frequency signal as a first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to an outer surface of the wire, and wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates via a first non-fundamental wave mode primarily outside of the wire, without requiring an electrical return path, along the outer surface of the wire;
a second transmitter configured to generate a second radio frequency signal conveying second data in the microwave frequency band; and
a second slotline antenna having a second pair of arms configured to accommodate the portion of the wire within a slot between the second pair of arms, wherein the second pair of arms are aligned in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and that contains the longitudinal axis of the wire, the second slotline antenna configured to launch the second radio frequency signal as a second guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to the outer surface of the wire, and wherein the second guided electromagnetic wave propagates via a second non-fundamental wave mode, without an electrical return path, along the outer surface of the wire, and wherein the second slotline antenna is oriented perpendicular to the first slotline antenna, wherein the first non-fundamental wave mode differs from the second non-fundamental wave mode, and wherein the first data and the second data are conveyed by the first guided electromagnetic wave and the second guided electromagnetic wave in accordance with a wave mode division multiplexing.
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Abstract
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a launching device including a transmitter configured to generate a radio frequency signal in a microwave frequency band. A slotline antenna is configured to launch the radio frequency signal as a guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to an outer surface of a transmission medium, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium without an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A launching device comprising:
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a first transmitter configured to generate a first radio frequency signal conveying first data in a microwave frequency band; a first slotline antenna having a first pair of arms configured to accommodate a portion of a wire within a slot between the first pair of arms, wherein the first pair of arms are aligned in a first plane that contains a longitudinal axis of the wire, the first slotline antenna configured to launch the first radio frequency signal as a first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to an outer surface of the wire, and wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates via a first non-fundamental wave mode primarily outside of the wire, without requiring an electrical return path, along the outer surface of the wire; a second transmitter configured to generate a second radio frequency signal conveying second data in the microwave frequency band; and a second slotline antenna having a second pair of arms configured to accommodate the portion of the wire within a slot between the second pair of arms, wherein the second pair of arms are aligned in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and that contains the longitudinal axis of the wire, the second slotline antenna configured to launch the second radio frequency signal as a second guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to the outer surface of the wire, and wherein the second guided electromagnetic wave propagates via a second non-fundamental wave mode, without an electrical return path, along the outer surface of the wire, and wherein the second slotline antenna is oriented perpendicular to the first slotline antenna, wherein the first non-fundamental wave mode differs from the second non-fundamental wave mode, and wherein the first data and the second data are conveyed by the first guided electromagnetic wave and the second guided electromagnetic wave in accordance with a wave mode division multiplexing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A launching device comprising:
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means for generating a first radio frequency signal conveying first data in a microwave frequency band; a first slotline antenna having a first pair of arms configured to accommodate a portion of a wire within a first slot between the first pair of arms, wherein the first pair of arms are aligned in a first plane that contains a longitudinal axis of the wire, the first slotline antenna configured to launch the first radio frequency signal as a first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to an outer surface of the wire, and wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates via a first non-fundamental wave mode primarily outside of the wire, without requiring an electrical return path, along the outer surface of the wire; means for generating a second radio frequency signal conveying second data in the microwave frequency band; and a second slotline antenna having a second pair of arms configured to accommodate the portion of the wire within a second slot between the second pair of arms, wherein the second pair of arms are aligned in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and that contains the longitudinal axis of the wire, the second slotline antenna configured to launch the second radio frequency signal as a second guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to the outer surface of the wire, and wherein the second guided electromagnetic wave propagates via a second non-fundamental wave mode, without an electrical return path, along the outer surface of the wire, and wherein the second slotline antenna is oriented perpendicular to the first slotline antenna, wherein the first non-fundamental wave mode differs from the second non-fundamental wave mode, and wherein the first data and the second data are conveyed by the first guided electromagnetic wave and the second guided electromagnetic wave in accordance with a wave mode division multiplexing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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generating a first radio frequency signal conveying first data in a microwave wave frequency band; launching the first radio frequency signal via a first slotline antenna as a first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to an outer surface of a wire, wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates via a first non-fundamental wave mode primarily outside of the wire, without requiring an electrical return path, along the outer surface of the wire, the first slotline antenna having a first pair of arms configured to accommodate a portion of the wire within a first slot between the first pair of arms, wherein the first pair of arms are aligned in a first plane that contains a longitudinal axis of the wire; generating a second radio frequency signal conveying second data in the microwave wave frequency band; and launching the second radio frequency signal via a second slotline antenna as a second guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to the outer surface of the wire, wherein the second guided electromagnetic wave propagates via a second non-fundamental mode primarily outside of the wire, without requiring an electrical return path, along the outer surface of the wire, the second slotline antenna having a second pair of arms configured to accommodate the portion of the wire within a second slot between the second pair of arms, wherein the second pair of arms are aligned in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and that contains the longitudinal axis of the wire, wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave and the second guided electromagnetic wave combine via superposition to form a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave along the outer surface of the wire, wherein the first non-fundamental wave mode differs from the second non-fundamental wave mode, and wherein the first data and the second data are conveyed by the first guided electromagnetic wave and the second guided electromagnetic wave in accordance with a wave mode division multiplexing.
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Specification