System and method for launching surface waves over unconditioned lines

• US 20050258920A1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corridor Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corridor Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Elmore, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US11/134,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20050258920A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 333/240
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/10 Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor

Abstract

A low loss transmission system which utilizes a single uninsulated central conducting line segment without any special surface treatment or special enclosing dielectric and having launch devices mounted at each end. The invention provides the use of conductors with circumference approaching and exceeding one wavelength at the propagating frequency. In combination, this invention enables the use of unconditioned and uninsulated conductors and in particular, existing overhead electric power lines which are available worldwide, for the economic and efficient transport of information.

Claims

1. A transmission system for electromagnetic energy of a predetermined frequency range above 50 MHz comprising elongated conductive means having an unconditioned surface without added dielectric, said energy being substantially contained in a cylindrical space which at a frequency within said frequency range extends radially from said conductive means to a predetermined distance therefrom, and said field being propagated axially in a direction substantially parallel to said conductive means coupled to a source of electromagnetic energy for forming a beam of wave energy of substantially radially symmetrical field configuration and of a diameter substantially equal to that of a cylindrical space containing the field of a frequency within said frequency range, and directed axially into said cylindrical space, said conductive means being coupled to said beam forming means to cause substantially continuous transition from the field of said beam to that of said conductive means, and means remote from said beam forming means and coupled to said conductive means for translating the energy propagated along said conductive means.

2. An open wave guide for transmitting electromagnetic energy of a predetermined frequency range above 50 MHz which comprises an elongated conductive means having an unconditioned surface without added dielectric, as to concentrate the field of the transmitted energy at said frequency range substantially in the space outside of said conductive means;

said energy being substantially contained in a cylindrical space which at a frequency within said frequency range extends radially from said conductor surface to a predetermined distance therefrom, and said energy being propagated axially in a direction substantially parallel to said conductive means; and

means for forming a beam of wave energy of substantially radially symmetrical field configuration and of a diameter substantially equal to that of a cylindrical space containing the field of a frequency within said frequency range and directed axially into said cylindrical space, said conductive means being coupled to said beam forming means to cause substantially continuous transition from the field of said beam to that of said conductive means.

3. An open wave guide system for a predetermined frequency range comprising a conductive wire line having an unconditioned surface without added dielectric, means for launching a beam of wave energy of substantially transverse magnetic mode symmetrically coaxial with said line, said wire line being coupled to said launching means to cause substantially continuous transition from the field of said beam to that of said wire line, to propagate said wave energy in non-radiating mode substantially in the space outside of said wire and in the direction of said wire, said energy being contained substantially within a predetermined cylindrical space coaxial and coextensive with said wire at a frequency within said frequency range and of a diameter substantially equal to that of said beam at a frequency within said frequency range.

4. An energy translation system for a predetermined frequency range comprising a source of electromagnetic wave energy and a receiver therefor, an elongated conductor having an unconditioned surface without added dielectric extending between said source and said receiver, to propagate wave energy substantially in the space outside of its conducting surface and in a direction substantially parallel to said conductor, said energy being confined at a frequency within said frequency range substantially within a predetermined cylindrical space coaxial and coextensive with said conductor;

and separate means at the source and at the receiver respectively for coupling energy to said conductor, said coupling means including means for forming a beam of wave energy of substantially radially symmetrical field configuration and of a diameter substantially equal to that of a cylindrical space containing the field of a frequency within said frequency range and directed axially into said cylindrical space, said conductor being coupled to said beam forming means to cause substantially continuous transition from the field of said beam to that of said conductor.

5. In combination, an electromagnetic horn, an elongated conductor having an unconditioned surface without added dielectric extending coaxially with said horn, for propagating wave energy of a predetermined frequency range substantially in the space outside of said conductor and in a direction substantially parallel to said conductor, said energy being contained at a frequency within said frequency range substantially within a cylindrical space coaxial and coextensive with said conductor, and of a diameter substantially equal to that of said horn at a frequency within said frequency range, a coaxial line comprising inner and outer conductors, the outer conductor of said coaxial line being electrically connected to said horn for energy coupling thereto, and means forming an energy coupling between the inner conductor of said coaxial line and said elongated conductor.

6. In combination, a coaxial line having an unconditioned surface without added dielectric, an open wave guide comprising an elongated conductor means coupling said coaxial line and said open wave guide for launching a beam of wave energy of a predetermined frequency range symmetrically coaxial with said elongated conductor to propagate said wave energy in non-radiating mode substantially in the space outside of said conductor in a direction substantially parallel to said conductor;

said energy being contained substantially in a cylindrical space coaxial and coextensive with said conductor at a frequency within said frequency range, and of a diameter substantially equal to that of said beam at a frequency within said frequency range; and

said elongated conductor being coupled to said launching means to cause substantially continuous transition from the field of said beam to that of said conductive means.

7. In an electromagnetic wave energy transmission system, elongated conducting means having an unconditioned surface without added dielectric for transmitting substantially only a non-radiating mode of wave field energy of a predetermined frequency range substantially in the space outside of said conductor surface and in a direction substantially parallel to said elongated conducting means, said energy being contained substantially within a cylindrical space coaxial and coextensive with said elongated conducting means at a frequency within said frequency range, and means for forming a beam of wave field energy of substantially radially symmetrical field configuration of a diameter substantially equal to that of a cylindrical space containing the field of a frequency within said frequency range and directed axially into said cylindrical space, the interface of the two wave energy fields being of the order of wave length dimension:

and said conducting means being coupled to said beam forming means to cause substantially continuous transition from the field of said beam to that of said conductive means.

8. In an electromagnetic wave energy transmission system, means for supplying concentrated wave energy of a predetermined frequency range, elongated conducting means having an unconditioned surface without added dielectric for transmitting substantially only a non-radiating mode of wave energy substantially in the space outside of the said conductor surface and in a direction substantially parallel to said elongated conducting means, said energy being contained substantially within a cylindrical space coaxial and coextensive with said elongated conducting means at a frequency within said frequency range:

and means coupled to said supplying means for forming said concentrated wave energy into a beam of wave energy of substantially radially symmetrical field configuration of a diameter substantially equal to that of a cylindrical space containing the field of a frequency within said frequency range and coaxially directed into said cylindrical space, said conducting means being coupled to said beam forming means to cause substantially continuous transition from the field of said beam to that of said conductive means.

9. A transmission system for electromagnetic energy of a predetermined frequency range above 50 MHz comprising elongated conductive means having an unconditioned surface without added dielectric, and confining the transmitted energy at said frequency range substantially in the space outside of its conductor surface and within a cylindrical space which at a frequency within said frequency range extends radially symmetrically from said surface to a predetermined distance therefrom, said field being propagated axially in a direction substantially parallel to said conductive means, means coupled to a source of electromagnetic energy for forming a beam of wave energy of substantially radially symmetrical field configuration of a diameter substantially equal to that of a cylindrical space containing the field of a frequency within said frequency range and directed axially into said cylindrical space, means for coupling said beam forming means to said conductive means including a conductor axially disposed with respect to said beam, and means remote from said beam forming means and coupled to said conductive means for translating the energy propagated along said elongated conductive means.

10. A method for launching a surface wave on a line, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an elongated conductor having an unconditioned surface and without added dielectric;

generating energy substantially contained in a cylindrical space at a frequency within a desired frequency range and extending radially from the conductor to a predetermined distance therefrom;

propagating a field axially in a direction substantially parallel to the conductor to form a beam of wave energy of substantially radially symmetrical field configuration and of a diameter substantially equal to that of a cylindrical space containing the field of a frequency within the frequency range, and directed axially into the cylindrical space; and

translating the energy propagated along the conductor at a remote location.