Coupler for wireless communications

• US 6,711,385 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2000
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Satius Holding, Inc. (Satius, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Satius, Inc.
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/610,728
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 455/80-83, 455/280-283, 455/286-287, 455/289-290, 455/292, 333/124, 333/17.3, 333/131, 333/160, 333/177, 333/180, 333/109
• US Class Current: 455/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/18 Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H

Abstract

An apparatus for communication of electric or electromagnetic signals over air includes a transmitter or receiver and a coupler. The coupler has a capacitive circuit connected with an air-core or dielectric-core transformer. The capacitive circuit resonates with the transformer at a preselected frequency. The coupler eliminates noise and is matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected frequency, which linearizes communication and allows high-speed data and voice communication over long distances.

Claims

1. A communications apparatus for transmitting electric or electromagnetic signals over air, the air having a characteristic impedance, the communications apparatus comprising:

a transmitter having an output impedance, said transmitter for transmitting the electric or electromagnetic signals at a preselected frequency; and

a coupler connected to the transmitter, said coupler comprising a transformer having a non-magnetic core, said transformer communicating the electric or electromagnetic signals to the air, said coupler matching the output impedance of the transmitter to the characteristic impedance of the air.

2. The communications apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transformer is an air-core transformer.

3. The communications apparatus of claim 2 wherein the transformer comprises:

a primary coil having a first diameter;

a secondary coil having a second smaller diameter, said second coil extending coaxially within the primary coil such that an air gap is created between the primary coil and the secondary coil;

wherein the primary coil is matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at a preselected bandwidth.

4. The communications apparatus of claim 3 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in series with the primary coil, wherein the primary coil and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

5. The communications apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an antenna attached to the capacitor.

6. The communications apparatus of claim 3 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in parallel with the primary coil, wherein the primary coil and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

7. The communications apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an antenna attached to the primary coil.

8. The communications apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transformer is a dielectric-core transformer.

9. The communications apparatus of claim 8 wherein the core of the transformer is filled with a resin material.

10. The communications apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transformer is a solid-state transformer.

11. The communications apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transformer comprises:

a first conductive plate;

a second conductive plate placed underneath and spaced apart from the first conductive plate;

wherein the first conductive plate is matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at a preselected bandwidth.

12. The communications apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in series with the first conductive plate, wherein the first conductive plate and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

13. The communications apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an antenna attached to the capacitor.

14. The communications apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in parallel with the first conductive plate, wherein the first conductive plate and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

15. The communications apparatus of claim 14 further comprising an antenna attached to the first conductive plate.

16. The communications apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are separated by chip material.

17. The communications apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are circular in shape.

18. The communications apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are formed directly in a chip by deposition of metallic layers onto the chip.

19. The communications apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are formed from doped silicon.

20. The communications apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transformer comprises:

a first metal pipe having a first diameter;

a second metal pipe having a second smaller diameter, said second pipe extending coaxially within the first pipe such that an air gap is created between the first pipe and the second pipe;

wherein the first pipe is matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at a preselected bandwidth.

21. The communications apparatus of claim 20 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in series with the first pipe, wherein the first pipe and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

22. The communications apparatus of claim 21 further comprising an antenna attached to the capacitor.

23. The communications apparatus of claim 20 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in parallel with the first pipe, wherein the first pipe and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

24. The communications apparatus of claim 23 further comprising an antenna attached to the first pipe.

25. The communications apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an antenna attached to the coupler.

26. A communications apparatus for receiving electric or electromagnetic signals from air, the air having a characteristic impedance, the communications apparatus comprising:

a receiver having an input impedance, said receiver for receiving the electric or electromagnetic signals at a preselected frequency; and

a coupler connected to the receiver, said coupler comprising a transformer having a non-magnetic core, said transformer receiving the electric or electromagnetic signals from the air, said coupler matching the input impedance of the receiver to the characteristic impedance of the air.

27. The communications apparatus of claim 26 wherein the transformer is an air-core transformer.

28. The communications apparatus of claim 27 wherein the transformer comprises:

a primary coil having a first diameter;

a secondary coil having a second smaller diameter, said second coil extending coaxially within the primary coil such that an air gap is created between the primary coil and the secondary coil;

wherein the primary coil is matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at a preselected bandwidth.

29. The communications apparatus of claim 28 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in series with the primary coil, wherein the primary coil and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

30. The communications apparatus of claim 29 further comprising an antenna attached to the capacitor.

31. The communications apparatus of claim 28 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in parallel with the primary coil, wherein the primary coil and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

32. The communications apparatus of claim 31 further comprising an antenna attached to the primary coil.

33. The communications apparatus of claim 26 wherein the transformer is a dielectric-core transformer.

34. The communications apparatus of claim 33 wherein the core of the transformer is filled with a resin material.

35. The communications apparatus of claim 26 wherein the transformer is a solid-state transformer.

36. The communications apparatus of claim 26 wherein the transformer comprises:

a first conductive plate;

a second conductive plate placed underneath and spaced apart from the first conductive plate;

wherein the first conductive plate is matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at a preselected bandwidth.

37. The communications apparatus of claim 36 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in series with the first conductive plate, wherein the first conductive plate and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

38. The communications apparatus of claim 37 further comprising an antenna attached to the capacitor.

39. The communications apparatus of claim 36 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in parallel with the first conductive plate, wherein the first conductive plate and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

40. The communications apparatus of claim 39 further comprising an antenna attached to the first conductive plate.

41. The communications apparatus of claim 36 wherein the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are separated by chip material.

42. The communications apparatus of claim 36 wherein the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are circular in shape.

43. The communications apparatus of claim 36 wherein the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are formed directly in a chip by deposition of metallic layers onto the chip.

44. The communications apparatus of claim 36 wherein the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate are formed from doped silicon.

45. The communications apparatus of claim 26 wherein the transformer comprises:

a first metal pipe having a first diameter;

a second metal pipe having a second smaller diameter, said second pipe extending coaxially within the first pipe such that an air gap is created between the first pipe and the second pipe;

wherein the first pipe is matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at a preselected bandwidth.

46. The communications apparatus of claim 45 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in series with the first pipe, wherein the first pipe and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

47. The communications apparatus of claim 46 further comprising an antenna attached to the capacitor.

48. The communications apparatus of claim 45 wherein the transformer further comprises a capacitor connected in parallel with the first pipe, wherein the first pipe and the capacitor are matched to the characteristic impedance of the air at the preselected bandwidth.

49. The communications apparatus of claim 48 further comprising an antenna attached to the first pipe.

50. The communications apparatus of claim 26 further comprising an antenna attached to the coupler.