Communication devices and systems with coupling device and waveguide

• US 10,411,320 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Weinmann, Christian, Kim, Jaewon, Johnson, Justin M., Ghosh, Dipankar, Lindsay, Craig W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karacsony, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/565,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20180123253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/122 Dielectric loaded (not air)
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 7/10 Dielectric resonators
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/30 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence

Abstract

At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a communication device for propagating an electromagnetic wave around a blocking structure. The communication device includes a passive coupling device to capture the electromagnetic wave, and a waveguide electromagnetically coupled to the coupling device. The waveguide is disposed around the blocking structure. The waveguide has a resonance frequency matched with the coupling device. The waveguide is configured to propagate the electromagnetic wave captured by the coupling device.

Claims

1. A communication device for propagating an electromagnetic wave around a blocking structure, comprising:

a passive coupling device disposed proximate to a first side of the blocking structure and configured to capture the electromagnetic wave,

a transmitter disposed proximate to a second side of the blocking structure, and

a waveguide electromagnetically coupled to the coupling device and the transmitter and disposed around the blocking structure, the waveguide having a resonance frequency matched with the coupling device, the waveguide configured to propagate the electromagnetic wave captured by the coupling device,

wherein the transmitter is configured to reradiate the electromagnetic wave,

wherein the waveguide comprises a base material and a plurality of resonators,

wherein at least two of the plurality of resonators are spaced according to a lattice constant that defines a distance between a center of a first one of the resonators and a center of a neighboring second one of the resonators,

wherein a ratio of the diameter of the resonators to the lattice constant is less than one.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a dielectric lens.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a patch antenna.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a metamaterial coupling element.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resonators are disposed in a pattern.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resonators are disposed in an array.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the lattice constant is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency of the coupling device is selected to match the frequency of the electromagnetic wave.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency of the plurality of resonators is selected at least in part based on a frequency of the electromagnetic wave.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the resonance frequency of the waveguide is approximate to 4.8 GHz.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resonators are made of one doped or undoped Barium Titanate (BaTiO₃), Barium Strontium Titanate (BaSrTiO₃), Y5V, and X7R compositions, TiO₂ (Titanium dioxide), Calcium Copper Titanate (CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂), Lead Zirconium Titanate (PbZr_xTi_1-xO₃), Lead Titanate (PbTiO₃), Lead Magnesium Titanate (PbMgTiO₃), Lead Magnesium Niobate-Lead Titanate (Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃-PbTiO₃), Iron Titanium Tantalate (FeTiTaO₆), NiO co-doped with Li and Ti (La_1.5 Sr_0.5NiO₄, Nd_1.5Sr_0.5 NiO₄), and combinations thereof.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side of the blocking structure.