Method and apparatus for transmitting electromagnetic waves

• US 10,020,843 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2017
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• 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, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rachedine, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US15/695,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20170373717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines
• 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 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus including a waveguide, an antenna, and a transmitter. The transmitter can facilitate transmission of first electromagnetic waves via the antenna, the first electromagnetic waves having a fundamental mode. The waveguide can facilitate propagation of the first electromagnetic waves at least in part on a surface of the waveguide. The waveguide can be positioned at a location that enables the first electromagnetic waves to induce second electromagnetic waves having fundamental and non-fundamental modes that propagate on a surface of a transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A waveguide system, comprising:

a dielectric coupler that facilitates receiving a portion of first electromagnetic waves emitted by a first antenna, wherein a first portion of an outer surface of the dielectric coupler is in proximity to a second portion of an outer surface of a transmission medium thereby forming a junction for generating second electromagnetic waves on the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate at least in part on the outer surface of the dielectric coupler to generate at the junction the second electromagnetic waves that propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic waves propagate without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the dielectric coupler is not coaxially aligned with the transmission medium, wherein the first antenna facilitates transmission of the first electromagnetic waves; and

a circuit that facilitates modulation of a signal for emitting, by the first antenna, the first electromagnetic waves, wherein the circuit receives power inductively from the transmission medium.

2. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the circuit facilitates communicating with a communications device.

3. The waveguide system of claim 2, further comprising a second antenna coupled to the circuit for wireless communication with the communication device.

4. The waveguide system of claim 1, further comprising a coil to receive the power from the transmission medium.

5. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric coupler is configured to reduce reflection of the second electromagnetic waves generated on the outer surface of the transmission medium.

6. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the junction includes an air gap between the dielectric coupler and the transmission medium.

7. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the junction does not include an air gap between the dielectric coupler and the transmission medium.

8. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is disposed on the outer surface of the dielectric coupler.

9. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is embedded in a material of the dielectric coupler.

10. The waveguide system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna comprises a hollow conductor that surrounds the first portion of the outer surface of the dielectric coupler.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a dielectric coupler having an outer surface that comprises a material that is not electrically conductive, wherein the dielectric coupler facilitates propagation, at least in part on the outer surface of the dielectric coupler, a portion of first electromagnetic waves emitted by an antenna, wherein a first portion of the outer surface of the dielectric coupler is positioned with respect to a second portion of an outer surface of a transmission medium thereby forming a junction to enable the portion of the first electromagnetic waves to couple, at least in part, to the outer surface of the transmission medium to generate second electromagnetic waves that propagate on the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic waves propagate without an electrical circuit, wherein the antenna that facilitates transmission of the first electromagnetic waves; and

a transmitter that facilitates modulation of a signal for emitting the first electromagnetic waves via the antenna, wherein the transmitter receives power inductively from the transmission medium.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first electromagnetic waves have a first propagation mode, wherein the second electromagnetic waves have a second propagation mode, and wherein the first propagation mode differs from the second propagation mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first propagation mode comprises symmetric electromagnetic waves.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second propagation mode comprises symmetric electromagnetic waves and asymmetric electromagnetic waves.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a memory that stores instructions, and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising generating the signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transmitter is housed in an integrated circuit package, and wherein the integrated circuit package is disposed on the outer surface of the dielectric coupler.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a coil to receive the power from the transmission medium.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a dielectric coupler that facilitates propagation of at least a portion of first electromagnetic waves at least in part on a surface of the dielectric coupler, wherein the portion of the first electromagnetic waves, wherein the dielectric coupler is positioned at a location that enables the first electromagnetic waves to induce second electromagnetic waves that propagate on a surface of a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic waves propagating without an electrical circuit;

a first antenna that facilitates coupling of the portion of the first electromagnetic waves on the surface of the dielectric coupler; and

a transmitter that facilitates transmission of the first electromagnetic waves by the first antenna, wherein the transmitter receives power inductively from the transmission medium.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first electromagnetic waves have a fundamental mode, and wherein the second electromagnetic waves have fundamental and non-fundamental modes.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a second antenna that facilitates wireless communication with a communication device.