Dielectric transmission medium connector and methods for use therewith

• US 10,673,115 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2018
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• 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, Taylor, William Scott, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Outten, Samuel S
• Application Number:
  US15/918,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20180205129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 333239
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02 Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3829 Bent or angled connectors G02B6/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4401 Optical cables glass fibres with a protective coating G02B6/02395
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/12 Hollow waveguides H01P3/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/122 Dielectric loaded (not air)
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/087 Transitions to a dielectric waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a connector that includes a first port configured to receive electromagnetic waves guided by a first dielectric core of a first transmission medium. A waveguide is configured to guide the electromagnetic waves from the first port to a second port. The second port is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves to a second dielectric core of a second transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a first port configured to receive electromagnetic waves at non-optical frequencies guided by a first dielectric core of a conductorless cable; and

a conductorless waveguide configured to guide the electromagnetic waves from the first port to a second port in accordance with a non-colinear angle of connection, wherein the conductorless waveguide includes a third dielectric core, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the third dielectric core and propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the third dielectric core is surrounded, at least in part, by a dielectric foam cladding having a first dielectric constant that is less than a second dielectric constant of the third dielectric core, wherein the conductorless waveguide is surrounded, at least in part, by an insulating jacket configured in a flexible accordion shape that facilitates an angular adjustability of the connector to the non-colinear angle of connection, wherein a first portion of the electromagnetic waves propagates within the third dielectric core and a second portion of the electromagnetic waves propagates inside the dielectric foam cladding and wherein the third dielectric core includes a first cylindrical portion having a diameter that matches a diameter of the first dielectric core, a second cylindrical portion having a diameter that matches a diameter of a second dielectric core of a dielectric antenna, and a bulbous portion that expands outward from an outer surface of the first cylindrical portion and an outer surface of the second cylindrical portion, the bulbous portion configured to mitigate extraneous radiation as the electromagnetic waves are guided through the third dielectric core in accordance with the non-colinear angle of connection;

wherein the second port is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves to the second dielectric core of the dielectric antenna.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first cylindrical portion matches the diameter of the second cylindrical portion of the third dielectric core.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the second portion contains more energy than the first portion.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the dielectric antenna facilitates wireless network communication with at least one client device in a non-cellular frequency band.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the conductorless waveguide comprises a polyethylene material.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the bulbous portion has a spherical shape.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the dielectric foam cladding comprises a cellular plastic.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the bulbous portion includes a ball and socket joint.

9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the third dielectric core comprises a polyurethane material.

10. The connector of claim 1, wherein the bulbous portion comprises a polyurethane material.

11. A connector comprising:

a first port coupleable to a first dielectric core of a first cable that operates without an electrical return path, wherein the first port receives electromagnetic waves from the first cable at non-optical frequencies; and

a conductorless waveguide configured to guide the electromagnetic waves from the first port to a second port in accordance with an adjustable angle of connection, wherein the conductorless waveguide includes a third dielectric core and wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the third dielectric core and propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the third dielectric core includes a ball and socket joint, wherein the third dielectric core is surrounded, at least in part, by a dielectric foam cladding having a first dielectric constant that is less than a second dielectric constant of the third dielectric core, wherein the conductorless waveguide is surrounded, at least in part, by an insulating jacket configured in a flexible accordion shape that facilitates an adjustability of the adjustable angle of connection and wherein a first portion of the electromagnetic waves propagates inside the third dielectric core and a second portion of the electromagnetic waves propagates inside the dielectric foam cladding and wherein the third dielectric core includes a first cylindrical portion having a diameter that matches a diameter of the first dielectric core, a second cylindrical portion having a diameter that matches a diameter of a second dielectric core of a second cable, and a bulbous portion that expands outward from an outer surface of the first cylindrical portion and an outer surface of the second cylindrical portion, the bulbous portion configured to mitigate extraneous radiation as the electromagnetic waves are guided through the third dielectric core in accordance with the adjustable angle of connection;

wherein the second port is coupleable to the second dielectric core of the second cable to facilitate wireless network connectivity with at least one client device via an antenna at the non-optical frequencies.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the conductorless waveguide comprises a polyethylene material.

13. The connector of claim 11, wherein the bulbous portion has a spherical shape.

14. The connector of claim 11, wherein the dielectric foam cladding comprises a cellular plastic.

15. The connector of claim 11, wherein the third dielectric core comprises a polyurethane material.

16. The connector of claim 11, wherein the third dielectric core comprises a high density polyethylene material.

17. The connector of claim 11, wherein the bulbous portion comprises a polyurethane material.

18. The connector of claim 11, wherein the second portion contains more energy than the first portion.

19. A connector comprising:

a first port configured to receive electromagnetic waves at non-optical frequencies guided by a first dielectric core of a conductorless cable; and

a conductorless waveguide configured to guide the electromagnetic waves from the first port to a second port in accordance with a non-colinear angle of connection, wherein the conductorless waveguide includes a third dielectric core, are guided by the third dielectric core and propagate without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the third dielectric core is surrounded, at least in part, by a dielectric foam cladding having a first dielectric constant that is less than a second dielectric constant of the third dielectric core, wherein the conductorless waveguide is surrounded, at least in part, by an insulating jacket configured in a flexible accordion shape that facilitates an angular adjustability of the connector in accordance with the non-colinear angle of connection, and wherein a first portion of the electromagnetic waves propagates within the third dielectric core and a second portion of the electromagnetic waves propagates inside the dielectric foam cladding and wherein the third dielectric core includes a first cylindrical portion having a diameter that matches a diameter of the first dielectric core, a second cylindrical portion having a diameter that matches a diameter of a second dielectric core, and a bulbous portion that expands outward from an outer surface of the first cylindrical portion and an outer surface of the second cylindrical portion, the bulbous portion configured to mitigate extraneous radiation as the electromagnetic waves are guided through the third dielectric core in accordance with the non-colinear angle of connection;

wherein the second port is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves to the second dielectric core.

20. The connector of claim 19, wherein the conductorless waveguide comprises a polyethylene material.