Guided-wave transmission device and methods for use therewith

• US 9,577,306 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2014
• 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, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, Thomas M. III
• Primary Examiner(s): DOBSON, DANIEL G
• Application Number:
  US14/519,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20160112133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/10 Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/00 Coupling devices of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/087 Transitions to a dielectric waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission device that includes a transmitter that generates a first electromagnetic wave to convey data, the first electromagnetic wave having at least one carrier frequency and corresponding wavelength. A coupler couples the first electromagnetic wave to a transmission medium having at least one inner portion surrounded by a dielectric material, the dielectric material having an outer surface and a corresponding circumference, wherein the coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along the outer surface of the dielectric material via at least one guided-wave mode that can include an asymmetric mode, wherein the at least one carrier frequency is within a microwave or millimeter-wave frequency band and wherein the at least one corresponding wavelength is less than the circumference of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A transmission device comprising:

a communications interface that receives a first communication signal that includes first data;

a transceiver, coupled to the communications interface, that generates a first electromagnetic wave based on the first communication signal to convey the first data, the first electromagnetic wave having at least one carrier frequency and at least one corresponding wavelength;

a coupler, coupled to the transceiver, that couples the first electromagnetic wave to a transmission medium having at least one inner portion surrounded by a dielectric material, the dielectric material having an outer surface and a corresponding circumference, wherein the coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along the outer surface of the dielectric material via at least one guided-wave mode that includes a non-fundamental mode, wherein the at least one carrier frequency is within a microwave frequency band and wherein the at least one corresponding wavelength is less than the circumference of the transmission medium.

2. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the at least one guided-wave mode of the second electromagnetic wave further includes a fundamental mode.

3. The transmission device of claim 2, wherein the first electromagnetic wave is guided to propagate along the coupler via at least one guided-wave mode that includes a fundamental mode and wherein a junction between the coupler and the transmission medium induces both the non-fundamental mode of the second electromagnetic wave and the fundamental mode of the second electromagnetic wave.

4. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the first electromagnetic wave is guided to propagate along the coupler via at least one guided-wave mode that includes a fundamental mode and wherein a junction between the coupler and the transmission medium induces the non-fundamental mode of the second electromagnetic wave.

5. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the at least one inner portion includes a conductor having a mean collision frequency of electrons and wherein the at least one carrier frequency is less than the mean collision frequency of electrons.

6. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material includes an insulating jacket and wherein the outer surface of the dielectric material corresponds to the outer surface of the insulating jacket.

7. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein a third electromagnetic wave conveys second data that also propagates along the outer surface of the dielectric material of the transmission medium;

wherein the coupler also couples the third electromagnetic wave from the transmission medium to form a fourth electromagnetic wave;

wherein the transceiver receives the fourth electromagnetic wave and generates a second communication signal that includes the second data;

wherein the communication interface sends the second communication signal to at least one of;

a communication network or a communications device.

8. A transmission device comprising:

a transmitter that generates a first electromagnetic wave based on a communication signal to convey data, the first electromagnetic wave having at least one carrier frequency and at least one corresponding wavelength;

a coupler, coupled to the transmitter, that couples the first electromagnetic wave to a single wire transmission medium having an outer surface and a corresponding circumference, wherein the coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the single wire transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along the outer surface of the single wire transmission medium via at least one guided-wave mode that includes an asymmetric mode, wherein the at least one carrier frequency in within a microwave frequency band and wherein the at least one corresponding wavelength is less than the circumference of the single wire transmission medium.

9. The transmission device of claim 8, wherein the at least one guided-wave mode of the second electromagnetic wave further includes a symmetric mode.

10. The transmission device of claim 9, wherein the first electromagnetic wave is guided to propagate along the coupler via at least one guided-wave mode that includes a symmetric mode and wherein a junction between the coupler and the transmission medium induces both the asymmetric mode of the second electromagnetic wave and the symmetric mode of the second electromagnetic wave.

11. The transmission device of claim 8, wherein the first electromagnetic wave is guided to propagate along the coupler via at least one guided-wave mode that includes a symmetric mode and wherein a junction between the coupler and the single wire transmission medium induces the asymmetric mode of the second electromagnetic wave.

12. The transmission device of claim 8, wherein the single wire transmission medium includes a wire having a mean collision frequency of electrons and wherein the at least one carrier frequency is less than the mean collision frequency of electrons.

13. The transmission device of claim 8, wherein the single wire transmission medium includes a wire surrounded by an insulating jacket and wherein the outer surface of the single wire transmission medium corresponds to the outer surface of the insulating jacket.

14. The transmission device of claim 8, wherein the single wire transmission medium includes a wire surrounded by a dielectric material and wherein the outer surface of the single wire transmission medium corresponds to the outer surface of the dielectric material.

15. A method comprising:

generating a first electromagnetic wave based on a communication signal to convey data, the first electromagnetic wave having at least one carrier frequency and at least one corresponding wavelength; and

coupling, by a coupler, the first electromagnetic wave to a single wire transmission medium having an outer dielectric surface and a corresponding circumference, wherein the coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the single wire transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along the outer dielectric surface of the single wire transmission medium via at least one guided-wave mode, wherein the at least one carrier frequency is within a millimeter-wave frequency band and wherein the at least one corresponding wavelength is less than the circumference of the single wire transmission medium.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the single wire transmission system has a substantially circular cross section and the at least one guided-wave mode of the second electromagnetic wave includes an asymmetric mode and a symmetric mode.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

guiding the first electromagnetic wave to propagate along the coupler via at least one guided-wave mode that includes a symmetric mode and wherein a junction between the coupler and the single wire transmission medium induces both the asymmetric mode of the second electromagnetic wave and the symmetric mode of the second electromagnetic wave.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the single wire transmission medium includes a conductive wire having a mean collision frequency of electrons and wherein the at least one carrier frequency is less than the mean collision frequency of electrons.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the single wire transmission medium includes a wire surrounded by an insulating jacket and wherein the outer dielectric surface of the single wire transmission medium corresponds to an outer surface of the insulating jacket.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the single wire transmission medium includes a wire surrounded by a dielectric material and wherein the outer dielectric surface of the single wire transmission medium corresponds to the outer surface of the dielectric material.