APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR LAUNCHING GUIDED WAVES VIA AN ANTENNA

• US 20180108998A1
• Filed: 10/18/2016
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• 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, BARZEGAR, FARHAD, GERSZBERG, IRWIN, BARNICKEL, DONALD J., WILLIS, III, THOMAS M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,135,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/10 for switching or interrupting in systems using reflection or reradiation of radio, acoustic or other waves G01S7/034
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/026 between coaxial lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/20 Resilient mountings
• 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 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/26 Surface waveguide constituted by a single conductor, e.g. strip conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/02 Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/12 functioning also as polarisation filter polarisation converters H01Q15/242
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• 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 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/00 Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system having an antenna for launching, according to a signal, a first electromagnetic wave to induce a propagation of a second electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency. A reflective plate is spaced a distance behind the antenna relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating a first electromagnetic wave by a waveguide system having a radiating element; and

directing, at least partially by a reflective plate of the waveguide system, the first electromagnetic wave to an interface of a transmission medium to induce a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and wherein the second electromagnetic wave has a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a distance between the reflective plate and the radiating element to support the inducing of the propagation of second electromagnetic wave having the non-fundamental wave mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiating element is configured to generate an electric signal from a third electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission medium.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiating element comprises an antenna.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiating element comprises a monopole antenna that is aligned substantially parallel to the reflective plate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-fundamental wave mode of the second electromagnetic wave has a spatial orientation based on a position of the radiating element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the directing the first electromagnetic wave further comprises providing a conductive horn that surrounds the transmission medium and that further directs the first electromagnetic wave to facilitate the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave at the interface of the transmission medium.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the waveguide system comprises a waveguide structure for further directing the first electromagnetic wave to the interface of the transmission medium.

9. The method of claim 11, wherein the waveguide structure has a tapered cross-section.

10. The method of claim 11, wherein the waveguide structure has a cylindrical cross-section.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface of the transmission medium comprises a core, and wherein the second electromagnetic wave is guided and bound to the core.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface of the transmission medium comprises an outer surface of an insulated conductor or uninsulated conductor for guiding the second electromagnetic wave.

13. A system, comprising:

an interface configured to receive a signal;

an antenna configured to launch, according to the signal, a first electromagnetic wave to induce a propagation of a second electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency; and

a reflective plate spaced a distance behind the antenna relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the distance between the reflective plate and the antenna supports the inducing of the propagation of second electromagnetic wave via the non-fundamental wave mode.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a conductive horn that surrounds the transmission medium and that directs the first electromagnetic wave to facilitate the inducing of the propagation of second electromagnetic wave at an interface of the transmission medium.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a waveguide structure for further directing the first electromagnetic wave to the interface of the transmission medium.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the waveguide structure has a tapered cross-section.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the waveguide structure has a cylindrical cross-section.

19. A system, comprising:

antenna means for generating a first electromagnetic wave;

waveguide means for directing the first electromagnetic wave to an interface of a transmission medium to induce a propagation of a second electromagnetic wave bound to a surface of the transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode, a fundamental wave mode, or a combination thereof; and

a reflective surface spaced in parallel to the antenna means and a distance behind the antenna means relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the distance facilitates the inducing of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave via the non-fundamental wave mode.