Apparatus and methods for inducing electromagnetic waves on a cable

• US 10,129,057 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• 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: Willis, III, Thomas M., Vannucci, Giovanni, Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Guarino, Rahel
• Application Number:
  US15/811,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20180076988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/00 Suppression or limitation of noise or interference by means associated with receiver H04B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0264 Arrangements for coupling to transmission lines duplexing arrangements H04L5/14; line equalisers, line build-out devices H04L25/03878
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/08 Modifications for reducing interference; Modifications for reducing effects due to line faults ; Receiver end arrangements for detecting or overcoming line faults

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a communication signal, and generating an electromagnetic wave that propagates along an outer surface of a dielectric layer environmentally formed on a cable. The dielectric layer can be a liquid disposed on an outer surface of the cable that enables the electromagnetic wave to propagate along the dielectric layer of the cable without an electrical return path, and conveys the communication signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of communication signals; and

generating, by a transmitting device according to the plurality of communication signals, a plurality of wireless signals that induces a plurality of electromagnetic waves that propagates along a dielectric layer environmentally formed on a cable, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a liquid, and wherein the liquid has dielectric properties that enable the plurality of electromagnetic waves to propagate along the liquid, wherein the dielectric layer is not uniformly disposed about a surface of the cable, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves propagates along the dielectric layer of the cable without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveys at least a portion of the plurality of communication signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises an uninsulated conductor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the uninsulated conductor comprises a multi-stranded conductor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cable comprises an insulated conductor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves has a plurality of wave modes that at least reduces interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one of the plurality of wave modes comprises a fundamental wave mode and another of the plurality of wave modes comprises a non-fundamental wave mode.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein one of the plurality of wave modes comprises a hybrid wave mode.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the hybrid wave mode comprises an HE11 wave mode.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of wave modes comprises a first hybrid wave mode and a second hybrid wave mode, and wherein the first hybrid wave mode has a first target polarization, and wherein the second hybrid wave mode has a second target polarization.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a first electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves has the first hybrid wave mode and a second electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves has the second hybrid wave mode, and wherein the first target polarization and second target polarization reduce interference between the first electromagnetic wave and the second electromagnetic wave.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first target polarization is substantially orthogonal to the second target polarization.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first target polarization comprises a horizontal polarization, and wherein the second target polarization comprises a vertical polarization.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of wave modes facilitates a wave mode division multiplexing configuration, a frequency division multiplexing configuration, or both.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting an obstruction causing propagation losses affecting at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves; and

adjusting the at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves according to the wave mode division multiplexing configuration or the frequency division multiplexing configuration to reduce the propagation losses.

15. A launcher, comprising:

a generator; and

a circuit coupled to the generator,

wherein the circuit performs operations including;

receiving a communication signal; and

generating, by the generator according to the communication signal, an electromagnetic wave that propagates along an outer surface of a dielectric layer environmentally formed on a cable, wherein the dielectric layer is a liquid disposed on an outer surface of the cable, wherein the electromagnetic wave propagates along the dielectric layer of the cable without an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic wave conveys the communication signal.

16. The launcher of claim 15, wherein the cable comprises an insulated conductor or an uninsulated conductor.

17. The launcher of claim 15, wherein the liquid has dielectric properties that enables the electromagnetic wave to propagate along the liquid.

18. A device, comprising:

means for receiving a communication signal; and

means for inducing, according to the communication signal, an electromagnetic wave that propagates along an outer surface of a liquid disposed on a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the liquid comprises dielectric properties that enable the electromagnetic wave to propagate along the transmission medium without an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic wave conveys the communication signal.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the liquid comprises water.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the transmission medium comprises an insulated conductor or an uninsulated conductor.