METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AN ANTENNA TO A DEVICE

• US 20170018851A1
• Filed: 12/10/2015
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• 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, Barnickel, Donald J., Barzegar, Farhad, Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Willis, Thomas M. III
• Granted Patent: US 10,033,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/08 for linking dissimilar lines or devices H01P1/16, H01P5/04 take precedence; linking lines of the same kind but with different dimensions H01P5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/06 Waveguide mouths horns H01Q13/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 with variable phase-shifters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a feed point of a dielectric antenna, electromagnetic waves from a dielectric core coupled to the feed point without an electrical return path, where at least a portion of the dielectric antenna comprises a conductive surface, directing, by the feed point, the electromagnetic waves to a proximal portion of the dielectric antenna, and radiating, via an aperture of the dielectric antenna, a wireless signal responsive to the electromagnetic waves being received at the aperture. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a dielectric antenna including a feed point;

a metallic layer disposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the dielectric antenna;

a cable comprising a conductorless dielectric core covered by a shell, the conductorless dielectric core coupled to the feed point of the dielectric antenna; and

wherein a transmitter or receiver, coupled to the cable, facilitates a transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves guided by the conductorless dielectric core and the feed point of the dielectric antenna.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna facilitates generation of a first wireless signal or reception of a second wireless signal at an aperture of the dielectric antenna.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the feed point comprises a dielectric feed point.

4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein cross-sections of the dielectric feed point and the conductorless dielectric core have similar dimensions.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the conductorless dielectric core is resistant to propagation of electromagnetic waves having an optical operating frequency.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate at least in part on an outer surface of the conductorless dielectric core without utilizing an electrical return path.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a dielectric layer disposed on the conductorless dielectric core without a conductive shield layer.

8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the conductorless dielectric core comprises a first dielectric constant, wherein the shell comprises a second dielectric constant, and wherein the first dielectric constant exceeds the second dielectric constant to enable the electromagnetic waves to be bound to the conductorless dielectric core.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the metallic layer extends to the outer surface of the feed point.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a low density dielectric material.

11. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a slotted waveguide for inducing the electromagnetic waves guided by the conductorless dielectric core.

12. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a microwave circuit coupled to an antenna and a waveguide structure for inducing the electromagnetic waves guided by the conductorless dielectric core.

13. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna has a flared structure.

14. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna has a pyramidal structure.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a feed point of a dielectric antenna, electromagnetic waves from a dielectric core coupled to the feed point without an electrical return path, wherein at least a portion of the dielectric antenna comprises a conductive surface;

directing, by the feed point, the electromagnetic waves to a proximal portion of the dielectric antenna; and

radiating, via an aperture of the dielectric antenna, a wireless signal responsive to the electromagnetic waves being received at the aperture.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the conductive surface extends to an outer surface of the feed point and is excluded from the aperture of the dielectric antenna.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, by the dielectric antenna, a second wireless signal; and

providing, to the feed point by the dielectric antenna, second electromagnetic waves generated by the second wireless signal received by the dielectric antenna.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the feed point comprises a dielectric feed point.

19. An antenna structure, comprising:

a dielectric antenna comprising a feed point and a conductive material to facilitate propagation of electromagnetic waves to or from the dielectric antenna, the conductive material disposed on at least a portion of an external surface of the dielectric antenna excluding an aperture of the dielectric antenna; and

a dielectric core coupled to the feed point of the dielectric antenna without an electrical return path to facilitate propagation of first electromagnetic waves from the dielectric core to the feed point of the dielectric antenna or reception of wireless signals from an aperture of the dielectric antenna that are converted to second electromagnetic waves that propagate to the dielectric core via the feed point.

20. The antenna structure of claim 19, wherein the feed point is a dielectric feed point.

21. The antenna structure of claim 19, wherein the conductive material at least reduces the first electromagnetic waves and the second electromagnetic waves from radiating through the external surface of the dielectric antenna.

22. The antenna structure of claim 19, wherein the first electromagnetic waves and the second electromagnetic waves have a non-optical operating frequency.