APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR COMMUNICATING UTILIZING AN ANTENNA ARRAY AND MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION PATHS

• US 20170093693A1
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• 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: JOHNSON, SHIKIK, BARZEGAR, FARHAD, HENRY, PAUL SHALA, BENNETT, ROBERT, GERSZBERG, IRWIN, WILLIS, THOMAS M. III, BARNICKEL, DONALD J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,205,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• 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 21/06 Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/00 Line transmission systems combined with near-field transmission systems H04B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/24 Multipath

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that can transmit first wireless signals associated with communication signals, where the first wireless signals are directed via beam steering by an antenna array towards a wireless receiver. The system can transmit second wireless signals associated with the communication signals, where the second wireless signals are directed via the beam steering by the antenna array towards a transmission medium. The second wireless signals can induce electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of the transmission medium where the electromagnetic waves are associated with the communication signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

transmitting, by a communication device including an antenna array, first wireless signals associated with communication signals, wherein the first wireless signals are directed via a beam steering by the antenna array towards a wireless receiver; and

transmitting, by the communication device, second wireless signals associated with the communication signals, wherein the second wireless signals are directed towards a transmission medium via an adjustment of the beam steering by the antenna array,

wherein the second wireless signals induce electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of the transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path,

wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium towards a receiver, and

wherein the electromagnetic waves are associated with the communication signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the beam steering comprises providing a phase adjustment to a signal driving at least one antenna of the antenna array.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a power line.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless receiver and the receiver are co-located at another communication device, and wherein the communication device and the another communication device are positioned on first and second utility poles, respectively.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the antenna array comprises polyrod antennas.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising adjusting a transmit power associated with at least one of the first and second wireless signals resulting in different first and second transmit powers of the first and second wireless signals, respectively.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless signals represent a first subset of the communication signals, wherein the second wireless signals represent a second subset of the communication signals, and wherein the electromagnetic waves represent the second subset of the communication signals.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless signals and the electromagnetic waves represent the communication signals.

9. A communication device, comprising:

a plurality of transmitters; and

an antenna array, wherein each of the plurality of transmitters is coupled with an antenna of the antenna array,

wherein a first subset of antennas of the antenna array transmits first wireless signals associated with communication signals, wherein the first wireless signals are directed via a beam steering by the first subset of antennas towards a wireless receiver; and

wherein a second subset of antennas of the antenna array transmits second wireless signals associated with the communication signals, wherein the second wireless signals are directed towards a transmission medium via an adjustment of the beam steering by the second subset of antennas,

wherein the second wireless signals induce electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of the transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path,

wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium towards a receiver, and

wherein the electromagnetic waves are associated with the communication signals.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the antenna array comprises polyrod antennas.

11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein each of the polyrod antennas comprises a core that is connected with a waveguide that is configured to confine an electromagnetic wave at least in part within the core in a particular region of the core.

12. The communication device of claim 10, wherein each of the polyrod antennas includes a core having a first region, a second region, a third region, and a fourth region, wherein the core comprises an interface in the first region, wherein one of the plurality of transmitters generates a first electromagnetic wave that induces a second electromagnetic wave at the interface of the first region, wherein the core is connected with a waveguide that is configured to confine the second electromagnetic wave at least in part within the core in the first region, wherein the second region of the core is configured to reduce a radiation loss of the second electromagnetic wave as the second electromagnetic wave propagates into the second region, wherein the third region of the core is configured to reduce a propagation loss of the second electromagnetic wave as the second electromagnetic wave propagates into the third region, and wherein the fourth region of the core is outside of the waveguide and is tapered to facilitate transmitting one of the first or second wireless signals based on the second electromagnetic wave.

13. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the adjustment of the beam steering comprises providing a phase adjustment to a signal driving at least one polyrod antenna of the antenna array.

14. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the transmission medium comprises a power line.

15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the wireless receiver and the receiver are co-located at another communication device, and wherein the communication device and the another communication device are positioned on utility poles, respectively.

16. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the first wireless signals convey a first subset of the communication signals, wherein the second wireless signals convey a second subset of the communication signals, and wherein the electromagnetic waves convey the second subset of the communication signals.

17. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the first and second wireless signals and the electromagnetic waves convey the communication signals.

18. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the second subset of antennas of the antenna array is positioned adjacent to each other in the antenna array.

19. A communication device, comprising:

an antenna;

a wireless receiver; and

a waveguide receiver,

wherein the wireless receiver, via the antenna, receives first wireless signals associated with communication signals, wherein the first wireless signals are transmitted via a beam steering by an antenna array of another communication device towards the wireless receiver,

wherein the waveguide receiver receives electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of a transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path,

wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium towards the waveguide receiver,

wherein the electromagnetic waves are associated with the communication signals, and

wherein the electromagnetic waves are induced at the transmission medium by second wireless signals associated with the communication signals,

wherein the second wireless signals are transmitted towards the transmission medium via an adjustment of the beam steering by the antenna array of the another communication device, and

wherein the second wireless signals are associated with the communication signals.

20. The communication device of claim 19, wherein the transmission medium comprises a power line, and wherein the first and second wireless signals and the electromagnetic waves represent the communication signals.

21. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a communication device including an antenna array, first wireless signals associated with communication signals; and

transmitting, by the communication device, second wireless signals associated with the communication signals, wherein the second wireless signals are directed towards a transmission medium via a beam steering by the antenna array,

wherein the second wireless signals induce electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of the transmission medium that propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium towards a receiver, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are associated with the communication signals.