CABLE FOR INTERSTITIAL COMMUNICATIONS AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20180054232A1
• Filed: 11/03/2017
• Published: 02/22/2018
• 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, Vannucci, Giovanni, Willis, III, Thomas M., Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J., Birk, Martin, Johnson, Shikik
• Granted Patent: US 10,505,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/06 Coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/12 Hollow waveguides H01P3/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/087 Transitions to a dielectric waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/03 Hybrid circuits for transceivers H04B1/52, H04B1/58
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2878 Access multiplexer, e.g. DSLAM generic distributed time multiplexers, e.g. TDM/TDMA H04J3/1694
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method includes: receiving, at a stranded cable, a communication signal and a medium voltage power signal; propagating, by the stranded cable, the medium voltage power signal as an electrical signal utilizing an electrical return path; and propagating, by the stranded cable and responsive to the communication signal, guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves are guided by an interstice between uninsulated strands of the stranded cable and propagate within the stranded cable without requiring the electrical return path.

Claims

1. A cable, comprising:

a plurality of first uninsulated conductors; and

at least one second uninsulated conductor;

wherein the plurality of first uninsulated conductors and the at least one second uninsulated conductor are stranded together, wherein the plurality of first uninsulated conductors and the at least one second uninsulated conductor form a plurality of interstitial areas that is bounded by conductive surfaces of at least two of the plurality of first uninsulated conductors and the at least one second uninsulated conductor, and wherein at least one of the plurality of interstitial areas is configured to support a propagation of first guided electromagnetic waves within the cable without requiring an electrical return path.

2. The cable of claim 1, wherein the cable is a medium voltage transmission line.

3. The cable of claim 1, further comprising an insulating jacket that surrounds an exterior region of the cable.

4. The cable of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of interstitial areas is configured to support the propagation of the first guided electromagnetic waves within the cable via total internal reflection.

5. The cable of claim 1, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves are within a millimeter wave frequency band.

6. The cable of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first uninsulated conductors is helically wound around the at least one second uninsulated conductor.

7. The cable of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first uninsulated conductors has a first metallic content and the at least one second uninsulated conductor has a second metallic content, and wherein the first metallic content differs from the second metallic content.

8. The cable of claim 1, wherein at least one other of the plurality of interstitial areas is configured to support propagation of second guided electromagnetic waves within the cable without requiring the electrical return path.

9. The cable of claim 8, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves and the second guided electromagnetic waves are generated in accordance with at least one of a plurality of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) techniques.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a cable, a first communication signal and a power signal;

propagating, by the cable, the power signal as an electrical signal utilizing an electrical return path; and

propagating, by the cable and responsive to the first communication signal, first guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves are guided by a first hollow structure within the cable and propagate within the cable without requiring the electrical return path.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first communication signal is supplied to the cable by a transmission source, and wherein the power signal is supplied to the cable by a power source of an electrical power utility.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the cable is a medium voltage transmission line.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the cable includes a plurality of uninsulated conductors that is stranded together, wherein the plurality of uninsulated conductors forms a plurality of interstitial areas that is bounded by conductive surfaces of at least three of the plurality of uninsulated conductors, and wherein the first hollow structure within the cable comprises at least one of the plurality of interstitial areas.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, at the cable, a second communication signal; and

propagating, by the cable and responsive to the second communication signal, second guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the second guided electromagnetic waves are guided by a second hollow structure within the cable and propagate within the cable without requiring the electrical return path.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second hollow structure within the cable comprises at least one other of the plurality of interstitial areas.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves and the second guided electromagnetic waves are generated in accordance with at least one of a plurality of multi-input multi-output (MIMO) techniques.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first structure is configured to support the propagation of the first guided electromagnetic waves within the cable via total internal reflection.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves are within a millimeter wave frequency band.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, from the cable, the first guided electromagnetic waves.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a stranded cable, a communication signal and a medium voltage power signal;

propagating, by the stranded cable, the medium voltage power signal as an electrical signal utilizing an electrical return path; and

propagating, by the stranded cable and responsive to the communication signal, guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves are guided by an interstice between uninsulated strands of the stranded cable and propagate within the stranded cable without requiring the electrical return path.