Antenna structure for exchanging wireless signals

• US 10,355,367 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• 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, Barnickel, Donald J, Barzegar, Farhad, Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Kafka, Henry, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Dieu Hien T
• Application Number:
  US14/885,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20170110804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/08 formed of solid dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna structure that includes a feed point that facilitates coupling to a dielectric core that supplies electromagnetic waves to the feed point, and a dielectric antenna coupled to the feed point for receiving the electromagnetic waves, the dielectric antenna including an antenna lens that operates as an aperture of the dielectric antenna, the antenna lens having a structure that adjusts a propagation of the electromagnetic waves in the dielectric antenna to reduce a cross section of far-field wireless signals generated by the dielectric antenna. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a dielectric antenna including an antenna lens that operates as an aperture of the dielectric antenna, the antenna lens having a convex structure that adjusts a propagation of first electromagnetic waves in the dielectric antenna to reduce phase differences in near-field wireless signals generated by the dielectric antenna;

a cable comprising a dielectric core coupled to a feed point of the dielectric antenna, wherein the cable is a component separate from the dielectric antenna; and

a waveguide launcher having a plurality of transmitters, coupled to the dielectric core, the waveguide launcher facilitating a transmission of the first electromagnetic waves, wherein the first electromagnetic waves are guided by the dielectric core to the feed point of the dielectric antenna without requiring an electrical return path, wherein each transmitter has azimuthal orientation about an outer surface of the dielectric core, and wherein one or more of the plurality of transmitters are selected according to their azimuthal orientation about the outer surface of the dielectric core to facilitate a target wave mode of the first electromagnetic waves.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the antenna lens comprises a dielectric material having a first dielectric constant that is substantially similar or equal to a second dielectric constant of the dielectric antenna.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the antenna lens is an integral part of the dielectric antenna.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the antenna lens is coupled to the dielectric antenna.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the antenna lens comprises a plurality of concentric ridges.

6. The communication device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of concentric ridges each have a depth representative of a wavelength factor.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the wavelength factor reduces reflections of the first electromagnetic waves at the aperture of the dielectric antenna.

8. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the wavelength factor is one-quarter a wavelength of the first electromagnetic waves propagating in the dielectric antenna.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein adjusting the propagation of first electromagnetic waves by the convex structure results in the near-field wireless signals being generated by the aperture of the dielectric antenna that have substantially similar phases.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the aperture of the dielectric antenna radiates the near-field wireless signals due to the convex structure of the antenna lens having an elliptical shape, wherein the near-field wireless signals have a first beam pattern cross section of a first elliptical shape and wherein the aperture of the dielectric antenna radiates far-field wireless signals, associated with the near-field wireless signals, wherein the far-field wireless signals have a second beam pattern cross section of a second elliptical shape that is rotationally offset from the first elliptical shape.

11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the first elliptical shape of the near-field wireless signals has a first width-to-height ratio and the second elliptical shape of the far-field wireless signals has a second width-to-height ratio.

12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the first width-to-height ratio of the near-field wireless signals is inversely proportional to the second width-to-height ratio of the far-field wireless signals.

13. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna is coupled to a gimbal structure that enables the aperture to be adjusted according to a yaw adjustment, a roll adjustment, a pitch adjustment, or any combinations thereof.

14. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric core is resistant to propagation of electromagnetic waves having an optical frequency range.

15. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a receiver coupled to the cable, the receiver facilitates a reception of second electromagnetic waves associated with second wireless signals received by the dielectric antenna.

16. An antenna structure, comprising:

a feed point that facilitates receiving electromagnetic waves guided by the feed point without requiring an electrical return path;

a dielectric antenna coupled to the feed point that facilitates receiving the electromagnetic waves, wherein the dielectric antenna includes an antenna lens that operates as an aperture of the dielectric antenna, wherein the antenna lens has a structure that adjusts a propagation of the electromagnetic waves in the dielectric antenna to reduce a cross section of far-field wireless signals generated by the dielectric antenna; and

a waveguide launcher having a plurality of transmitters, coupled to the feed point, wherein the waveguide launcher facilitates a transmission of the electromagnetic waves, and wherein each transmitter has azimuthal orientation about an outer surface of a dielectric core coupled to the feed point, and wherein one or more of the plurality of transmitters are selected according to their azimuthal orientation about the outer surface of the dielectric core to facilitate a target wave mode of the electromagnetic waves.

17. The antenna structure of claim 16, wherein the feed point comprises a dielectric material.

18. The antenna structure of claim 16, wherein the dielectric antenna comprises a tapered horn structure.

19. The antenna structure of claim 16, wherein the dielectric antenna has substantially or entirely no conductive external surfaces, and wherein the dielectric antenna has a composition that is substantially or entirely devoid of conductive materials.

20. The antenna structure of claim 16, wherein the dielectric antenna comprises a circular or elliptical structure.

21. The antenna structure of claim 16, wherein the dielectric antenna comprises a pyramidal structure.

22. An antenna, comprising:

a dielectric feed point facilitating coupling to a dielectric core that supplies electromagnetic waves to the dielectric feed point, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the dielectric core without requiring an electrical return path;

a dielectric antenna coupled to the dielectric feed point, wherein the dielectric core is a component separate from the dielectric antenna;

a lens coupled to the dielectric antenna, the lens serving as an aperture of the dielectric antenna, and the lens having a structure that adjusts a propagation of the electromagnetic waves in the dielectric antenna to increase an intensity of far-field wireless signals generated by the dielectric antenna in a main lobe direction; and

a waveguide launcher having a plurality of transmitters, coupled to the dielectric core, the waveguide launcher facilitating a transmission of the electromagnetic waves, wherein each transmitter has azimuthal orientation about an outer surface of the dielectric core, and wherein one or more of the plurality of transmitters are selected according to their azimuthal orientation about the outer surface of the dielectric core to facilitate a target wave mode of the electromagnetic waves.

23. The antenna of claim 22, wherein the lens comprises a dielectric material, and wherein the lens and the dielectric antenna have substantially or entirely no conductive external surfaces.

24. The antenna of claim 22, wherein the lens increases the intensity of far-field wireless signals by reducing phase differences in near-field wireless signals.

25. The antenna of claim 22, wherein the lens is coupled to the dielectric antenna with an adhesive material.