Passive electrical coupling device and methods for use therewith

• US 10,224,981 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2015
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2015
• 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, Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fotakis, Aristocratis
• Application Number:
  US14/695,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20160315662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/00 Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere measuring superconductive properties G01R33/1238; testing or measuring semiconductors or solid state devices during manufacture H01L22/00; testing line transmission systems H04B3/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/00 Auxiliary devices coupling devices of the waveguide type H01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/28 using the near field of leaky cables, e.g. of leaky coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/028 Arrangements specific to the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0292 Arrangements specific to the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a coupling device includes a circuit that receives a signal. At least one passive electrical circuit element generates an electromagnetic field in response to the signal. A portion of the electromagnetic field is guided by a surface of a transmission medium to propagate as a guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A transmission device comprising:

a transmitter that generates a signal; and

at least one passive electrical circuit element, coupled to the transmitter, that generates an electromagnetic field in response to the signal, wherein the at least one passive electrical circuit element includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor;

wherein the transmitter and the at least one passive electrical circuit element are configured such that a portion of the electromagnetic field is bound by an outer surface of a wire to propagate as a guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the wire, wherein the first capacitor is formed by a first plate placed in proximity to the wire and wherein the second capacitor is formed by a second plate placed in proximity to the wire, and wherein the electromagnetic field generated by the first capacitor and the second capacitor generates the guided electromagnetic wave to at least partially surround the outer surface of the wire.

2. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the wire comprises an insulated wire.

3. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates via at least one non-fundamental guided wave mode.

4. The transmission device of claim 1, wherein the first capacitor includes a first dielectric between the first plate and the wire and wherein the second capacitor includes a second dielectric between the second plate and the wire.

5. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the signal has a wavelength and wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are spaced a distance apart that corresponds to substantially one quarter of the wavelength.

6. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the guided electromagnetic wave has a frequency in a millimeter wave frequency band.

7. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the wire in a non-cellular band and without an electrical return path.

8. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein a first portion of the guided electromagnetic wave propagates within the wire and a second portion of the electromagnetic wave propagates outside the wire.

9. A coupling device comprising:

a circuit that receives a signal; and

at least one electrical circuit element, coupled to the circuit, that generates an electromagnetic field in response to the signal, wherein the at least one electrical circuit element includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor;

wherein a portion of the electromagnetic field is guided by a surface of a wire to propagate as a guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the wire, wherein the first capacitor is formed by a first plate placed in proximity to the wire and wherein the second capacitor is formed by a second plate placed in proximity to the wire, and wherein the electromagnetic field generated by the first capacitor and the second capacitor generates the guided electromagnetic wave to at least partially surround the surface of the wire.

10. The coupling device of claim 9, wherein the first capacitor includes a first dielectric between the first plate and the wire and wherein the second capacitor includes a second dielectric between the second plate and the wire.

11. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein the signal has a wavelength and wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are spaced a distance apart that corresponds to substantially one quarter of the wavelength.

12. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein the wire includes an insulating cover.

13. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein the guided electromagnetic wave has a frequency in a microwave frequency band.

14. The coupling device of claim 9 wherein a first portion of the guided electromagnetic wave propagates within the wire and a second portion of the electromagnetic wave propagates outside the wire.