Using a vehicle structure as a medium for communication and power distribution
First Claim
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1. A vehicle communications system comprising:
- a vehicle structure having a surface;
a waveguide formed on the surface of the vehicle structure, said waveguide including at least one dielectric layer;
a coupler positioned proximate to the at least one dielectric layer; and
a device node electrically coupled to the coupler, said device node including a transceiver, said transceiver coupling electro-magnetic signals into the waveguide through the coupler and receiving electro-magnetic signals from the waveguide through the coupler.
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Abstract
A system and method for using the skin of a vehicle as a waveguide for surface waves to support far-field signal propagation to provide communications between various electrical nodes on the vehicle and for providing power signals. A dielectric layer is formed on the skin to define the waveguide, and a coupler couples signals from the node to the waveguide and receives signals from the waveguide to be sent to the node.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vehicle communications system comprising:
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a vehicle structure having a surface; a waveguide formed on the surface of the vehicle structure, said waveguide including at least one dielectric layer; a coupler positioned proximate to the at least one dielectric layer; and a device node electrically coupled to the coupler, said device node including a transceiver, said transceiver coupling electro-magnetic signals into the waveguide through the coupler and receiving electro-magnetic signals from the waveguide through the coupler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vehicle communications system comprising:
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a waveguide defined by a vehicle skin and at least one dielectric layer deposited on the vehicle skin; a coupler positioned proximate to the waveguide; and a device node electrically coupled to the coupler, said device node coupling electro-magnetic signals into the waveguide through the coupler and receiving electro-magnetic signals from the waveguide through the coupler. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification