Guided-wave transmission device and methods for use therewith

• US 9,577,307 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• 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:
  US15/070,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20160218407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 343 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 wireless communication system comprising:

at least one antenna;

a transmission medium that facilitates wireless network connectivity via the at least one antenna, wherein the transmission medium comprises a dielectric material having a corresponding circumference;

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

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

a coupler, coupled to the transceiver, that couples the first electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium, wherein the coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along 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 non-optical frequency band and wherein the at least one corresponding wavelength is less than the corresponding circumference of the transmission medium.

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

3. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium facilitates the wireless network connectivity to a mobile device.

4. The wireless communication system 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 wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium 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 wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material guides the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave without an electrical return path.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium is conductorless and facilitates propagation of the second electromagnetic wave without an electrical return path.

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; and

a coupler, coupled to the transmitter, that couples the first electromagnetic wave to a conductorless transmission medium that facilitates wireless network connectivity via an antenna, the conductorless transmission medium having a corresponding circumference, wherein the coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the conductorless transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along the conductorless transmission medium via at least one guided-wave mode that includes an asymmetric mode, wherein the at least one carrier frequency is within a non-optical band and wherein the at least one corresponding wavelength is less than the corresponding circumference of the conductorless 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 conductorless transmission medium induces both the asymmetric mode of the second electromagnetic wave and a 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 conductorless transmission medium induces the asymmetric mode of the second electromagnetic wave.

12. The transmission device of claim 8, wherein the conductorless transmission medium includes a dielectric 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 conductorless transmission medium comprises a dielectric and facilitates propagation of the second electromagnetic wave without an electrical return path.

14. The transmission device of claim 8, wherein the conductorless transmission medium facilitates the wireless network connectivity to a mobile device.

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 dielectric transmission medium that provides network connectivity via an antenna that radiates free space wireless signals, the dielectric transmission medium having a corresponding circumference, wherein the coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the dielectric transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along the dielectric 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 corresponding circumference of the dielectric transmission medium.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the dielectric transmission medium 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 dielectric 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 dielectric 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 dielectric transmission medium guides the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave without an electrical return path.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the dielectric transmission medium is conductorless.