APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING WIRELESS SIGNALS AND ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20160149312A1
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• 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, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,954,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/28 comprising elements constituting electric discontinuities and spaced in direction of wave propagation, e.g. dielectric elements or conductive elements forming artificial dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0037 linear waveguide fed arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• 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

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide including a plurality of devices that facilitate generating scattered electromagnetic waves from electromagnetic waves propagating on a surface of a transmission medium. The scattered electromagnetic waves combine to generate a wireless signal having a directionality based on a separation between plurality of devices and a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of devices spaced apart on a surface of a transmission medium, wherein each of the plurality of devices facilitates receiving a portion of a first wireless signal from a transmitting device, and wherein a separation between the plurality of devices enables received portions of the first wireless signal to combine on the surface of the transmission medium to generate first electromagnetic waves that propagate along the surface of the transmission medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of devices scatters second electromagnetic waves propagating on the surface of the transmission medium, and wherein a combination of the scattered second electromagnetic waves generates a second wireless signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a coverage area of the second wireless signal is based on a quantity of the plurality of devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second wireless signal has a beam pattern that is directed to a receiving device that converts the second wireless signal to electrical signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second wireless signal has a directionality based on a ratio of a wavelength of the second electromagnetic waves and the separation between the plurality of devices.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a mechanism to adjust the separation between the plurality of devices to adjust a directionality of the second wireless signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a waveguide system transmits the second electromagnetic waves.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the waveguide system adjusts a wavelength of the second electromagnetic waves to adjust a directionality of the second wireless signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices comprise a conductive material, a non-conductive material, or a combination thereof, and wherein the transmission medium comprises a wire.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separation between plurality of devices is equal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separation between plurality of devices is unequal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices are disposed on a sleeve that is placed around the surface of the transmission medium.

13. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transmitting device comprises a quasi-optical transmitter, and wherein the receiving device comprises a quasi-optical receiver.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an array of antennas in proximity to a surface of a transmission medium, first electromagnetic waves propagating along the surface of the transmission medium; and

emitting, by the array of antennas, scattered electromagnetic waves from the first electromagnetic waves, wherein a first wireless signal is generated from a combination of the scattered electromagnetic waves.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the array of antennas, a second wireless signal; and

generating, by the array of antennas, from the second wireless signal, second electromagnetic waves that propagate on the surface of the transmission medium.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting, by the array of antennas, a directionality of the first wireless signal responsive to an adjustment of a wavelength of the first electromagnetic waves.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of devices that facilitate generating scattered electromagnetic waves from first electromagnetic waves propagating on a surface of a transmission medium and wherein the scattered electromagnetic waves are combined to generate a first wireless signal having a directionality based on a separation between the plurality of devices and a wavelength of the first electromagnetic waves.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of devices further facilitate receiving a second wireless signal and generating second electromagnetic waves that propagate on the surface of the transmission medium.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of devices further facilitate adjusting a directionality of the first wireless signal responsive to an adjustment of the wavelength of the first electromagnetic waves.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of devices are disposed on a substrate for placement about the surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the separation between the devices is unequal.