METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING TO AN ANTENNA

• US 20180151957A1
• Filed: 11/22/2017
• Published: 05/31/2018
• 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: Bennett, Robert, Adriazola, Aldo, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Pimm, Brandon, Fuchs, Mitchell Harvey, Henry, Paul Shala, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,790,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: H01Q 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/08 formed of solid dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/00 Line transmission systems combined with near-field transmission systems H04B5/00
• 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: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, antenna structure that includes a dielectric antenna having a dielectric lens and a dielectric body, and a feedline coupled to the dielectric antenna, wherein an endpoint of the feedline is configured to reduce a reflection of an electromagnetic wave transmission, wherein electromagnetic waves generated by the electromagnetic wave transmission are guided along the feedline without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body to the dielectric lens to generate wireless signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a dielectric antenna having a dielectric lens and a dielectric body; and

a dielectric feedline coupled to the dielectric antenna, wherein an endpoint of the dielectric feedline comprises a structure that facilitates reducing a reflection of first electromagnetic waves directed to the dielectric feedline, wherein first electromagnetic waves are guided along the dielectric feedline without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body to the dielectric lens to generate near-field wireless signals.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a conical structure.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave transmission is generated via a port of a transmitter, and wherein the port of the transmitter comprises an opening of a hollow waveguide.

4. The communication device of claim 3, wherein the endpoint of the dielectric feedline protrudes into the opening of the hollow waveguide.

5. The communication device of claim 3, wherein a portion of the opening of the hollow waveguide comprises an inner threaded surface that enables an adjustment of a position of the endpoint of the dielectric feedline within the hollow waveguide.

6. The communication device of claim 3, further comprising an electromechanical device that facilitates an adjustment of a longitudinal position of the endpoint of the dielectric feedline within the hollow waveguide.

7. The communication device of claim 6, further comprising a processor that facilitates a determination of a target position of the endpoint of the dielectric feedline within the hollow waveguide that achieves a desired coupling of the first electromagnetic waves onto the dielectric feedline.

8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein the processor is coupled to the electromechanical device, and wherein the processor facilitates directing the electromechanical device to adjust the longitudinal position of the endpoint of the dielectric feedline within the hollow waveguide to the target position.

9. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a collar, wherein the collar includes a first opening and a second opening that facilitates adjusting a proximity between a port of a transmitter to the endpoint of the dielectric feedline.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein a receiver coupled to the dielectric feedline facilitates receiving second electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric feedline, and wherein second electromagnetic waves are generated from second wireless signals received by an aperture of the dielectric antenna.

11. An antenna structure, comprising:

a dielectric antenna having a dielectric lens and a dielectric body; and

a feedline coupled to the dielectric antenna, wherein an endpoint of the feedline is configured to reduce a reflection of electromagnetic waves directed to the feedline, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided along the feedline without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body to the dielectric lens to generate wireless signals.

12. The antenna structure of claim 11, wherein an endpoint of the feedline is configured to reduce the reflection of the electromagnetic wave transmission.

13. The antenna structure of claim 11, wherein an endpoint of the feedline comprises a structure to reduce the reflection of the electromagnetic wave transmission.

14. The antenna structure of claim 13, wherein the structure comprises a conical structure.

15. The antenna structure of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic wave transmission is generated by a port of a transmitter, and wherein a proximity between the port of the transmitter and the feedline is adjustable.

16. A method, comprising:

aligning a feedline of a dielectric antenna comprising a dielectric lens and a dielectric body with a port of a waveguide system, wherein first electromagnetic waves are guided along the feedline without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body to the dielectric lens to generate first wireless signals; and

transmitting, by the waveguide system, the first electromagnetic waves that propagate along the feedline, wherein an endpoint of the feedline is configured to reduce a reflection of the first electromagnetic waves.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein an endpoint of the feedline is configured to reduce the reflection of the first electromagnetic waves.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein an endpoint of the feedline comprises a structure to reduce the reflection of the first electromagnetic waves.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the structure comprises a tapered endpoint.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving, by the waveguide system, second electromagnetic waves via the feedline, wherein second wireless signals are converted into the second electromagnetic waves by the dielectric lens, and wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagate from the dielectric lens through the dielectric body of the dielectric antenna to the feedline.