Surface-wave communications and methods thereof

• US 9,877,209 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Robert, Barnickel, Donald J., Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Henry, Paul Shala, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US15/581,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20170230842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 455 7, 455 14, 455 15
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system including a frequency mixer that combines a signal and a carrier wave to form a combined signal, and a transmitter that generates a transmission based on the combined signal. The system can also include a coupling device that emits the transmission as an electromagnetic wave guided by an outer surface of a transmission medium. The electromagnetic wave can propagate longitudinally along the surface of the transmission medium and at least partially around the surface of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, via a coupling device, an electromagnetic wave guided by a transmission medium, wherein the coupling device has a first longitudinal axis that is not coaxially aligned with a second longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and wherein a portion of the coupling device is in proximity to a surface of the transmission medium;

generating, based on the electromagnetic wave, an electrical signal;

frequency-shifting the electrical signal, wherein the frequency-shifting results in a frequency-shifted signal; and

transmitting a wireless signal to a communication device, wherein the wireless signal is based on the frequency-shifted signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is transmitted in a cellular frequency band.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a waveguide.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a mobile communication device.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a coupling device that facilitates receiving a guided electromagnetic wave from a transmission medium, the coupling device having an axis that is not coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, the coupling device having a portion thereof in proximity to a surface of the transmission medium;

a local oscillator;

a mixer coupled to the local oscillator, wherein the mixer facilitates generating a frequency-shifted signal based on the guided electromagnetic wave; and

an antenna, wherein the antenna facilitates transmitting a wireless signal that is based on the frequency-shifted signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an amplifier, wherein the amplifier facilitates amplifying an electrical signal provided to the mixer, wherein the electrical signal is generated from the guided electromagnetic wave.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an amplifier, wherein the amplifier facilitates receiving the frequency-shifted signal from the mixer and providing an amplified signal to the antenna.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the coupling device comprises a waveguide.

9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave comprises a fundamental wave mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave comprises a non-fundamental wave mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the wireless signal is transmitted to a mobile communication device.

12. A system, comprising:

means for receiving, via a coupling device, an electromagnetic wave guided by a transmission medium, wherein the coupling device is not coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and wherein a portion of the coupling device is proximal to a surface of the transmission medium;

means for generating an electrical signal based on the electromagnetic wave;

means for frequency-shifting the electrical signal to generate a frequency-shifted signal; and

means for transmitting a wireless signal based on the frequency-shifted signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal is transmitted, by the means for transmitting, in a cellular frequency band.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal is transmitted, by the means for transmitting, to a communication device.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the electromagnetic wave comprises an asymmetric wave.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the electromagnetic wave comprises a symmetric wave.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein a wavelength of the electromagnetic wave is less than a circumference of the transmission medium.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmission medium comprises an uninsulated conductor.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the transmission medium comprises an insulated conductor.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the electromagnetic wave at least partially surrounds the transmission medium.