Plurality of cables having different cross-sectional shapes which are bundled together to form a transmission medium

• US 9,748,626 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2015
• 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, Taylor, William Scott, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, BENNY T
• Application Number:
  US14/712,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20160336996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 333 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: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/32 Reducing cross-talk, e.g. by compensating
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission medium for propagating electromagnetic waves. The transmission medium can include a plurality of cores for selectively guiding an electromagnetic wave of a plurality of electromagnetic waves longitudinally along each core, and a shell surrounding at least a portion of each core for reducing exposure of the electromagnetic wave of each core. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A transmission medium, comprising:

a plurality of cables bundled together in the transmission medium, each cable comprising a core, wherein a structure of each core in the plurality of cables varies in shape to reduce cross-talk between the plurality of cables; and

a dielectric layer surrounding at least a portion of each core of the plurality of cables, wherein each core is configured to enable an electromagnetic wave having a non-optical frequency range to be bound to the core rather than the dielectric layer without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the dielectric layer reduces exposure of the electromagnetic wave to an adverse environment, wherein the core of each cable comprises a conductor having an insulation layer disposed between the conductor and the dielectric layer, wherein the insulation layer has a first dielectric constant, wherein the dielectric layer has a second dielectric constant, and wherein the first dielectric constant exceeds the second dielectric constant.

2. The transmission medium of claim 1, wherein each one of the dielectric layers comprises a dielectric foam.

3. The transmission medium of claim 1, further comprising an absorption material that absorbs a portion of the electromagnetic wave to prevent cross-talk between the plurality of cables.

4. The transmission medium of claim 3, wherein absorption material comprises a carbon material.

5. The transmission medium of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave is bound to each one of the insulation layers.

6. The transmission medium of claim 1, further comprising a cover that surrounds an outer surface of each one of the dielectric layers to prevent exposure of the electromagnetic wave.

7. The transmission medium of claim 6, wherein the cover comprises a dielectric material.

8. The transmission medium of claim 6, wherein the core of each cable is opaque, thereby restricting a propagation of light waves in each core.

9. The transmission medium of claim 1, wherein each one of the insulation layers comprises a high density dielectric material.

10. The transmission medium of claim 9, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a dielectric foam.

11. A multi-guide cable, comprising:

a plurality of cores, each core having no electrical return path; and

a respective cladding surrounding at least a portion of each core, wherein each core is configured to enable respective ones of a plurality of electromagnetic waves having a non-optical frequency range to be bound to each respective core, wherein each core is configured to have a reduced propagation loss for electromagnetic waves having the non-optical frequency range, wherein the plurality of cores have respective core structures that vary in shape to reduce cross-talk between the plurality of cores, and wherein a respective cladding reduces exposure of the respective ones of the plurality of electromagnetic waves.

12. The multi-guide cable of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of cores is opaque resulting in an increased propagation loss for transmitting light waves in each core, and the reduced propagation loss for transmitting electromagnetic waves having the non-optical frequency range.

13. The multi-guide cable of claim 11, wherein each core of the plurality of cores comprises a respective antenna for radiating a corresponding signal that couples to a transmission medium.

14. The multi-guide cable of claim 13, wherein each antenna comprises an exposed core stripped of the respective cladding thereof.

15. The multi-guide cable of claim 14, wherein the exposed core includes a tapered end.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a transmission medium, a plurality of signals supplied by a plurality of launchers, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals conveys different data, and wherein the transmission medium comprises a plurality of cores without requiring an electrical return path, each core surrounded at least in part by a respective cladding;

selectively coupling, by the transmission medium, to each signal of the plurality of signals to generate guided electromagnetic waves at each of the plurality of cores, wherein the respective cladding of a corresponding core reduces exposure of the guided electromagnetic waves of the corresponding core, and wherein the guided electromagnetic waves have a non-optical frequency range; and

polarizing, by selective cores of the transmission medium, the guided electromagnetic waves to reduce cross-talk between the plurality of cores.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each core comprises a respective conductor having a corresponding insulation layer within the respective cladding.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves coupled to each core is bound to the corresponding insulation layer of the corresponding core.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein each core comprises an opaque respective non-conductive core.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a first portion of fields emitted by the guided electromagnetic waves coupled to each core is confined within the respective non-conductive core and a second portion of the fields is confined within the respective cladding.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves of at least one of the plurality of cores have a propagation wave mode that reduces cross-talk between the plurality of cores.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the respective cladding of each corresponding core comprises a dielectric foam disposed on an outer surface of the corresponding core.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of cores is opaque, thereby restricting a propagation of light waves in each core.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein each core comprises a respective uninsulated conductor having a corresponding insulation layer within the respective cladding.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves coupled to each core is bound to the respective uninsulated conductor.