Method and apparatus for communications using electromagnetic waves and an insulator

• US 10,419,074 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2018
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2018
• 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: Evans, Mark Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Shuwang
• Assistant Examiner(s): McKie, Gina M
• Application Number:
  US15/981,404
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/525 between emitting and receiving antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a device having a non-conductive body with first and second ports that are electrically insulated from each other; a first antenna coupled to the first port; and a second antenna coupled to the second port. When the first and second ports are coupled to first and second transmission mediums, respectively: the first and second transmission mediums are electrically insulated from each other, a first electromagnetic wave conveying information and propagating along the first transmission medium causes the first antenna to transmit an RF signal to the second antenna, the RF signal conveys the information, the RF signal received at the second antenna causes a communication signal to be communicated via the second transmission medium, the communication signal conveys the information, and the first electromagnetic wave propagates along the first transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a non-conductive body defining a hollow chamber having first and second ends;

a first antenna positioned at the first end of the hollow chamber; and

a second antenna positioned at the second end of the hollow chamber,

wherein when the first and second antennas are coupled to first and second transmission mediums, respectively;

the first and second transmission mediums are electrically insulated from each other by the non-conductive body,

a first electromagnetic wave conveying information and propagating along the first transmission medium causes the first antenna to transmit an RF signal through the hollow chamber to the second antenna,

the RF signal conveys the information,

the RF signal received at the second antenna causes a second electromagnetic wave to propagate along the second transmission medium,

the second electromagnetic wave conveys the information, and

the first and second electromagnetic waves propagate along the first and second transmission mediums without requiring an electrical return path.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second antennas are dielectric antennas, and wherein the device is configured to be an insulator device that transmits the RF signal between the first and second antennas.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second ends are opposing ends of the hollow chamber.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second transmission mediums are non-conductive mediums, wherein the first and second transmission mediums are connected to first and second waveguide systems, respectively, and wherein the information is associated with control signals, a video service, a voice service, a data service, a messaging service, or a combination thereof.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second transmission mediums are connected to first and second waveguide systems, respectively, wherein the first and second waveguide systems are coupled with power lines, wherein at least a portion of the first electromagnetic wave propagates along a first dielectric core of the first transmission medium, and wherein at least a portion of the second electromagnetic wave propagates along a second dielectric core of the second transmission medium.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is cylindrical.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive body comprises a plurality of outer ribs.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber is a sealed chamber.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a device from a first waveguide system, a first electromagnetic wave propagating along a first transmission medium that is coupled with the device and the first waveguide system, wherein the first electromagnetic wave propagates along the first transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the first electromagnetic wave conveys information;

transmitting, by the device, an RF signal from a first antenna of the device to a second antenna of the device, wherein the RF signal is generated based on the first electromagnetic wave being provided to the first antenna, wherein the RF signal conveys the information; and

providing, by the device to a second waveguide system, a second electromagnetic wave propagating along a second transmission medium that is coupled with the device and the second waveguide system, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the second transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the second electromagnetic wave conveys the information, wherein the second electromagnetic wave is generated based on the RF signal transmitted being received by the second antenna of the device, wherein the first and second transmission mediums are electrically insulated from each other by the device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting the RF signal comprises transmitting the RF signal through a hollow chamber of the device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second antennas are positioned at opposing ends of the hollow chamber.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the hollow chamber is cylindrical.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the hollow chamber is a sealed chamber.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second antennas are dielectric antennas.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second waveguide systems are coupled with power lines.

16. A device comprising:

a non-conductive body having first and second ports, wherein the first and second ports are electrically insulated from each other;

a first antenna coupled to the first port; and

a second antenna coupled to the second port,

wherein when the first and second ports are coupled to first and second transmission mediums, respectively;

the first and second transmission mediums are electrically insulated from each other,

a first electromagnetic wave conveying information and propagating along the first transmission medium causes the first antenna to transmit an RF signal to the second antenna,

the RF signal conveys the information,

the RF signal received at the second antenna causes a communication signal to be communicated via the second transmission medium,

the communication signal conveys the information, and

the first electromagnetic wave propagates along the first transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the RF signal is transmitted from the first antenna to the second antenna through a hollow chamber in the non-conductive body.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the hollow chamber is a sealed cylindrical chamber.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the first and second antennas are dielectric antennas.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the communication signal is a second electromagnetic wave that propagates along the second transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.