Apparatus for converting wireless signals and electromagnetic waves and methods thereof

• US 10,651,564 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2019
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• 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, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Linh V
• Application Number:
  US16/241,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20190157769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 343771, 343772, 343785
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/28 comprising elements constituting electric discontinuities and spaced in direction of wave propagation, e.g. dielectric elements or conductive elements forming artificial dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0037 linear waveguide fed arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide including a plurality of devices that facilitate generating scattered electromagnetic waves from electromagnetic waves propagating on a surface of a transmission medium. The scattered electromagnetic waves combine to generate a wireless signal having a directionality based on a separation between plurality of devices and a wavelength of the electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of devices coupled to a transmission medium,

wherein each of the plurality of devices is spaced apart along the transmission medium,

wherein each of the plurality of devices facilitates receiving at least a portion of a first wireless signal,

wherein the first wireless signal comprises electromagnetic waves that propagate in free space,

wherein the first wireless signal has an angular displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium,

wherein a separation between the plurality of devices enables generation, based upon received portions of the first wireless signal, of first electromagnetic waves that are guided by the transmission medium and that propagate longitudinally along the transmission medium,

wherein the first electromagnetic waves are generated responsive to each device of the plurality of devices absorbing at least in part the first wireless signal and individually emitting respective individual electromagnetic waves that combine into the first electromagnetic waves,

wherein the angular displacement of the first wireless signal causes the first electromagnetic waves to propagate along the transmission medium in a first direction of propagation,

wherein the first direction of propagation of the first electromagnetic waves is opposite a second direction of propagation of second electromagnetic waves that are guided by the transmission medium,

wherein the first electromagnetic waves differ from the second electromagnetic waves, and

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

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of devices scatters the second electromagnetic waves and generates a second wireless signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a coverage area of the second wireless signal is based on a quantity of the plurality of devices.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second wireless signal is directed to a receiving device.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a transmitting device that transmits the first wireless signal comprises a quasi-optical transmitter, and wherein the receiving device comprises a quasi-optical receiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second wireless signal has a directionality based on a ratio of a wavelength of the second electromagnetic waves and the separation between the plurality of devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a mechanism to adjust the separation between the plurality of devices to adjust a directionality of the second wireless signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a waveguide system transmits the second electromagnetic waves.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the waveguide system adjusts a wavelength of the second electromagnetic waves to adjust a directionality of the second wireless signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each device of the plurality of devices comprises a conductive material, a non-conductive material, or a combination thereof, and wherein the transmission medium comprises a wire.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separation between the plurality of devices is equal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the separation between the plurality of devices is unequal.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices is disposed on an elastic sleeve surrounding an outer surface of the transmission medium.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an array of antennas coupled to a transmission medium, first guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium in a first direction of propagation toward the array of antennas, wherein the array of antennas is positioned along portions of the transmission medium, and wherein each antenna of the array of antennas is spaced apart along the transmission medium;

emitting, by the array of antennas, scattered electromagnetic waves responsive to the first guided electromagnetic waves, wherein a first wireless signal is generated from a combination of the scattered electromagnetic waves, and wherein the first wireless signal propagates in free space; and

receiving, by the array of antennas, at least a portion of a second wireless signal, wherein the second wireless signal propagates in free space, wherein the second wireless signal has an angular displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, wherein second guided electromagnetic waves are generated responsive to each antenna of the array of antennas absorbing at least in part the at least the portion of the second wireless signal and individually emitting respective individual electromagnetic waves that coherently combine into the second guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium, wherein the angular displacement of the second wireless signal causes the second guided electromagnetic waves to propagate along the transmission medium in a second direction of propagation, wherein the first direction of propagation of the first guided electromagnetic waves is opposite the second direction of propagation of the second guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves differ from the second guided electromagnetic waves, and wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves and the second guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting, by the array of antennas, a directionality of the first wireless signal responsive to an adjustment of a wavelength of the first guided electromagnetic waves.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a separation between each antenna of the array of antennas is equal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a separation between each antenna of the array of antennas is unequal.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of devices, coupled to a transmission medium, that facilitates generating scattered electromagnetic waves, wherein the scattered electromagnetic waves are generated responsive to first guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium in a first direction of propagation towards the plurality of devices,

wherein each of the plurality of devices is spaced apart along the transmission medium,

wherein the scattered electromagnetic waves are combined to generate a first wireless signal having a directionality based on a separation between the plurality of devices and a wavelength of the first guided electromagnetic waves,

wherein the plurality of devices receives at least a portion of a second wireless signal,

wherein the second wireless signal propagates in free space,

wherein the second wireless signal has an angular displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium,

wherein second guided electromagnetic waves are generated responsive to each device of the plurality of devices emitting, according to the second wireless signal, respective individual electromagnetic waves that combine into the second guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium,

wherein the angular displacement of the second wireless signal causes the second guided electromagnetic waves to propagate along the transmission medium in a second direction of propagation,

wherein the first direction of propagation of the first guided electromagnetic waves differs from the second direction of propagation of the second guided electromagnetic waves,

wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves differ from the second guided electromagnetic waves, and

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

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of devices further facilitates adjusting the directionality of the first wireless signal responsive to an adjustment of the wavelength of the first guided electromagnetic waves.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plurality of devices is disposed on a substrate for placement about an outer surface of the transmission medium.