Apparatus and methods for transmitting wireless signals

• US 10,469,107 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• 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: Henry, Paul Shala, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US15/453,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20170179608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 343785, 343786
• 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 1/24 with receiving set
• 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 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna structure having a feed point for coupling to a dielectric core of a cable that propagates electromagnetic waves without an electrical return path, and a dielectric antenna, substantially or entirely devoid of conductive external surfaces, coupled to the feed point, the dielectric antenna facilitating receipt, at the feed point, the electromagnetic waves for propagating the electromagnetic waves to an aperture of the dielectric antenna for radiating a wireless signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a dielectric antenna including a feed point, wherein the dielectric antenna facilitates receiving a wireless signal, wherein, responsive to the receiving the wireless signal, the dielectric antenna generates electromagnetic waves at the feed point, wherein the dielectric antenna has substantially or entirely no conductive external surfaces;

a cable comprising a dielectric core covered by a dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric core is coupled to the feed point of the dielectric antenna, and wherein the dielectric core guides the electromagnetic waves; and

a receiver coupled to the cable, wherein the receiver facilitates receiving the electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric core and supplied to the dielectric core by the feed point of the dielectric antenna.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal is received from an aperture of the dielectric antenna.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric core is opaque and resistant to propagation of electromagnetic waves having an optical operating frequency.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the dielectric core without requiring an electrical return path.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric core comprises a first dielectric constant, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a second dielectric constant, and wherein the first dielectric constant exceeds the second dielectric constant.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna comprises a high density dielectric material.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the high density dielectric material comprises a polyethylene material, a polyurethane material, or a synthetic resin.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the feed point of the dielectric antenna comprises a dielectric feed point that couples to the dielectric core of the cable.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein cross-sections of the feed point and the dielectric core have similar dimensions.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a low density dielectric material.

11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the low density dielectric material comprises an expanded polyethylene material.

12. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic waves have a hybrid wave mode.

13. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna has a horn structure.

14. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna has a pyramidal structure.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, via an aperture of a dielectric antenna, a wireless signal, wherein external surfaces of the dielectric antenna are non-conductive;

converting, by the dielectric antenna, the wireless signal to electromagnetic waves that propagate along a feed point of the dielectric antenna; and

coupling the electromagnetic waves from the feed point to a dielectric core, wherein the dielectric core facilitates guiding the electromagnetic waves to a receiver.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the dielectric core is resistant to propagation of electromagnetic waves having an optical operating frequency.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the dielectric core without requiring an electrical return path.

18. An antenna structure, comprising:

a dielectric core that propagates electromagnetic waves without requiring an electrical return path; and

a dielectric antenna coupled to the dielectric core, wherein the dielectric antenna has substantially or entirely no conductive external surfaces, wherein the dielectric antenna facilitates receiving, via an aperture of the dielectric antenna, a wireless signal, and wherein, responsive to the wireless signal, the dielectric antenna facilitates generating the electromagnetic waves that propagate along the dielectric core for processing by a receiver.

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

20. The antenna structure of claim 18, wherein the dielectric antenna comprises a pyramidal structure.