Device with resonant cavity for transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves

• US 10,505,584 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2018
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2018
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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, Barnickel, Donald J., Vannucci, Giovanni, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Willis, III, Thomas M., Stuckman, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Guarino, Rahel
• Application Number:
  US16/190,418
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/18 having two or more spaced reflecting surfaces H01Q19/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/06 at the transmitting station

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for generating electromagnetic signals that resonate in a cavity having a plurality of reflectors resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals and combining the resonating electromagnetic signals to form an electromagnetic wave that traverses a reflector and couples onto a physical transmission medium. A plurality of fins is aligned radially outward from a surface of a physical transmission medium within a cavity between reflector. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a first reflector;

a second reflector;

a plurality of fins aligned radially outward from a physical transmission medium within a cavity between the first reflector and the second reflector; and

a plurality of transmitters, coupled to the second reflector, configured to generate

a plurality of electromagnetic signals that convey data, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electromagnetic signals resonate in the cavity between the first reflector and the second reflector resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals, wherein the resonating electromagnetic signals combine to form an electromagnetic wave that conveys the data, wherein the electromagnetic wave traverses at least in part the first reflector, is emitted by an aperture of the first reflector, and couples onto the physical transmission medium, and wherein the electromagnetic wave propagates along the physical transmission medium at non-optical frequencies without requiring an electrical return path.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a spacer within the cavity between the first reflector and the second reflector, wherein the spacer substantially surrounds an outer surface of the physical transmission medium and supports the plurality of fins to the physical transmission medium.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the spacer comprises a conductive material.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the spacer comprises a dielectric material.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the fins comprise a conductive material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the fins comprise a dielectric material.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave approximates a Bessel-shaped wave pattern with a plurality of regions of high electromagnetic field intensity azimuthally aligned with angular gaps between the plurality of fins.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave approximates a Bessel-Gauss-shaped wave pattern.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first reflector is adapted to reflect a first component of the resonating electromagnetic signals and enable a second component of the resonating electromagnetic signals to traverse the first reflector, wherein the second component comprises the electromagnetic wave.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first reflector and the second reflector are coaxially aligned with the physical transmission medium.

11. A method, comprising:

providing a first reflector, a second reflector and a plurality of fins aligned radially outward from a physical transmission medium within a cavity between the first reflector and the second reflector;

generating, by a plurality of transmitters, a plurality of electromagnetic signals that convey data;

generating, according to the plurality of electromagnetic signals, resonating electromagnetic signals, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electromagnetic signals resonates in the cavity between the first reflector and the second reflector resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals; and

combining the resonating electromagnetic signals to form an electromagnetic wave that conveys the data, wherein the electromagnetic wave traverses the first reflector and couples onto the physical transmission medium, and wherein the electromagnetic wave propagates along the physical transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing a spacer within the cavity between the first reflector and the second reflector, wherein the spacer substantially surrounds an outer surface of the physical transmission medium and supports the plurality of fins to the physical transmission medium.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the spacer comprises a conductive material.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the spacer comprises a dielectric material.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the fins comprise a conductive material.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the fins comprise a dielectric material.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic wave approximates a Bessel-shaped wave pattern with a plurality of regions of high electromagnetic field intensity azimuthally aligned with angular gaps between the plurality of fins.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the electromagnetic wave approximates a Bessel-Gauss-shaped wave pattern.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the first reflector is adapted to reflect a first component of the resonating electromagnetic signals and enable a second component of the resonating electromagnetic signals to traverse the first reflector, wherein the second component comprises the electromagnetic wave.

20. A device, comprising:

means for generating a plurality of electromagnetic signals that convey data;

means for generating, according to the plurality of electromagnetic signals, resonating electromagnetic signals, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electromagnetic signals resonate in a cavity between a second reflector and a first reflector resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals, wherein a plurality of fins is aligned radially outward from a surface of a physical transmission medium within the cavity between the first reflector and the second reflector; and

means for combining the resonating electromagnetic signals to form an electromagnetic wave that conveys the data, wherein the electromagnetic wave traverses the second reflector and couples onto the physical transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic wave approximates a Bessel-shaped wave pattern with a plurality of regions of high electromagnetic field intensity azimuthally aligned with angular gaps between the plurality of fins, and wherein the electromagnetic wave propagates along the physical transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.