Apparatus and methods for inducing electromagnetic waves on an uninsulated conductor

• US 10,511,346 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2017
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• 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, Vannucci, Giovanni, Willis, III, Thomas M., Bennett, Robert, Barnickel, Donald J., Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rakesh B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salazar, Jr., Jorge L
• Application Number:
  US15/810,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20180076982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 333 24 R, 333227, 333230, 333248, 333202, 333203, 340 1233, 340 1238, 34031001
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 15/02 Reducing interference from electric apparatus by means located at or near the interfering apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0264 Arrangements for coupling to transmission lines duplexing arrangements H04L5/14; line equalisers, line build-out devices H04L25/03878
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/08 Modifications for reducing interference; Modifications for reducing effects due to line faults ; Receiver end arrangements for detecting or overcoming line faults
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a plurality of communication signals, and generating, by a transmitting device according to the plurality of communication signals, a plurality of wireless signals that induces a plurality of electromagnetic waves that propagates along a pseudo dielectric layer of an uninsulated conductor. The plurality of electromagnetic waves can propagate along the pseudo dielectric layer of the uninsulated conductor without an electrical return path, each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveying at least a portion of the plurality of communication signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of communication signals; and

generating, by a transmitting device according to the plurality of communication signals, a plurality of wireless signals that induces a plurality of electromagnetic waves that propagates along a pseudo dielectric layer of an uninsulated conductor, the pseudo dielectric layer being formed by oxidation on the uninsulated conductor, the plurality of electromagnetic waves propagating along the pseudo dielectric layer of the uninsulated conductor without requiring an electrical return path, and each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveying at least a portion of the plurality of communication signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a physical structure of an outer surface of the uninsulated conductor comprises a corrugated structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a physical structure of an outer surface of the uninsulated conductor comprises a helical structure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the uninsulated conductor comprises a multi-stranded conductor, and wherein a physical structure of an outer surface of the uninsulated conductor is formed from the multi-stranded conductor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a physical structure of an outer surface of the uninsulated conductor comprises a non-uniform structure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pseudo dielectric layer is further formed by a physical structure of an outer surface of the uninsulated conductor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves has a plurality of wave modes that at least reduces interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves, and wherein one of the plurality of wave modes comprises a fundamental wave mode and another of the plurality of wave modes comprises a non-fundamental wave mode.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves has a plurality of wave modes that at least reduces interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves, and wherein one of the plurality of wave modes comprises a hybrid wave mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the hybrid wave mode comprises an HE11 wave mode.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves has a plurality of wave modes that at least reduces interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves, wherein the plurality of wave modes comprises a first hybrid wave mode and a second hybrid wave mode, and wherein the first hybrid wave mode has a first target polarization, and wherein the second hybrid wave mode has a second target polarization.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a first electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves has the first hybrid wave mode and a second electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves has the second hybrid wave mode, and wherein the first target polarization and second target polarization reduce interference between the first electromagnetic wave and the second electromagnetic wave.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first target polarization is substantially orthogonal to the second target polarization.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first target polarization comprises a horizontal polarization, and wherein the second target polarization comprises a vertical polarization.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves has a plurality of wave modes that at least reduces interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves, and wherein the plurality of wave modes facilitates wave mode division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, or both.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting an obstruction causing propagation losses affecting at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves; and

adjusting the at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves according to a wave mode division multiplexing configuration or a frequency division multiplexing configuration to reduce the propagation losses.

16. A launcher, comprising:

a generator; and

a circuit coupled to the generator,

wherein the circuit performs operations, the operations including;

receiving a communication signal; and

generating, by the generator according to the communication signal, a plurality of wireless signals that induce propagation of an electromagnetic wave along a pseudo dielectric layer of a conductor, the pseudo dielectric layer being formed by oxidation on the conductor, the electromagnetic wave propagating along the pseudo dielectric layer of the conductor without requiring an electrical return path, and the electromagnetic wave conveying the communication signal.

17. The launcher of claim 16, wherein the pseudo dielectric layer is further formed by a physical structure of an outer surface of the conductor.

18. A device, comprising:

means for receiving a communication signal; and

means for generating, according to the communication signal, a plurality of wireless signals that induce propagation of an electromagnetic wave along a pseudo dielectric layer of a conductor, the pseudo dielectric layer being formed by oxidation on the conductor, wherein the electromagnetic wave propagating along the pseudo dielectric layer of the conductor without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic wave conveying the communication signal.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the pseudo dielectric layer is further formed by a physical structure of an outer surface of the conductor.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the physical structure of the outer surface of the conductor comprises a non-uniform structure, wherein the conductor comprises a multi-stranded conductor, and wherein the physical structure of the outer surface of the conductor is formed from the multi-stranded conductor.