EXCHANGE OF WIRELESS SIGNALS GUIDED BY A TRANSMISSION MEDIUM AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20190305413A1
• Filed: 03/29/2018
• Published: 10/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2018
• 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, Barzegar, Farhad, Vannucci, Giovanni, Gerszberg, Irwin
• Granted Patent: US 10,727,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• 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 21/06 Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a first antenna system having a first antenna with a first aperture that is longitudinally aligned to a physical transmission medium, and a transmitter coupled to the first antenna that facilitates transmitting a wireless signal having at least a portion of an electromagnetic field structure that intersects the physical transmission medium. The portion of the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersecting the physical transmission medium enables the wireless signal to be guided at least in part by the physical transmission medium towards a second aperture of a second antenna longitudinally aligned with the physical transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

coupling a first antenna to a cable, wherein the coupling causes a self-adjusting azimuthal position of the first antenna that is longitudinally aligned with the cable; and

adjusting, by the first antenna, a transmission of a wireless signal so that a portion of an electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersects the cable, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersecting the cable enables the wireless signal to be guided at least in part by the cable towards a second aperture of a second antenna longitudinally aligned with the cable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersecting the cable increases an antenna gain of the first antenna.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersecting the cable increases an antenna gain of the second antenna.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is weakly coupled to the cable to enable the wireless signal to be guided at least in part by the cable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is no longer guided by the cable at a particular distance from the first antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is coupled to a gimbal that enables longitudinal alignment of a first aperture of the first antenna with the cable, and wherein the second antenna is coupled to a gimbal that enables longitudinal alignment of the second aperture of the second antenna with the cable.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal is configured to be wide longitudinally with the cable and narrow laterally with the cable.

8. A first antenna system, comprising:

a first antenna having a first aperture that is longitudinally aligned to a cable; and

a transmitter coupled to the first antenna that facilitates transmitting a wireless signal having at least a portion of an electromagnetic field structure that intersects the cable, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersecting the cable enables the wireless signal to be guided at least in part by the cable towards a second aperture of a second antenna longitudinally aligned with the cable.

9. The first antenna system of claim 8, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersecting the cable increases an antenna gain of the first antenna, the second antenna, or both.

10. The first antenna system of claim 8, wherein the wireless signal is weakly coupled to the cable.

11. The first antenna system of claim 8, wherein the wireless signal is no longer guided by the cable at a particular distance from the first antenna.

12. The first antenna system of claim 8, wherein the first antenna is coupled to a gimbal that enables longitudinal alignment of the first aperture of the first antenna with the cable.

13. The first antenna system of claim 8, wherein the second antenna is coupled to a gimbal that enables longitudinal alignment of the second aperture of the second antenna with the cable.

14. The first antenna system of claim 8, wherein the second antenna is part of a second antenna system, and wherein the first antenna system and the second antenna system are part of a plurality of antenna systems of a distributed radio frequency antenna system.

15. A recipient antenna system, comprising:

a receiving antenna having a first aperture that is longitudinally aligned to a cable; and

a receiver coupled to the receiving antenna that facilitates receiving a wireless signal having at least a portion of an electromagnetic field structure that intersects the cable, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersecting the cable enables the wireless signal to be guided at least in part by the cable towards the first aperture of the receiving antenna.

16. The recipient antenna system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersecting the cable increases an antenna gain of the receiving antenna.

17. The recipient antenna system of claim 15, wherein the wireless signal is weakly coupled to the cable.

18. The recipient antenna system of claim 15, wherein the wireless signal is transmitted by a source antenna having a second aperture that is longitudinally aligned with the cable.

19. The recipient antenna system of claim 18, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic field structure of the wireless signal intersecting the cable increases an antenna gain of the source antenna.

20. The recipient antenna system of claim 15, wherein the recipient antenna system is part of a plurality of antenna systems of a distributed radio frequency antenna system.