Planar surface wave launcher and methods for use therewith
First Claim
1. A planar surface wave launcher comprising:
- a substrate having a planar substrate surface;
a planar antenna having first and second antenna elements on the planar substrate surface, the first and second antenna elements having edges on an aperture side of the planar surface wave launcher and opposing edges, wherein the planar antenna is configured to transmit and receive first guided electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium; and
a conductive ground plane on the planar substrate surface and coplanar to the planar antenna, the conductive ground plane having a mating edge with a shape conforming to the opposing edges of the first and second antenna elements, the mating edge electrically isolated from the opposing edges of the first and second antenna elements, wherein the transmission medium is spaced a distance apart from, and parallel to, the conductive ground plane.
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Abstract
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a planar surface wave launcher includes a substrate having a planar substrate surface. A planar antenna having first and second antenna elements on the planar substrate surface, the first and second antenna elements having edges on an aperture side of the planar surface wave launcher and opposing edges, is configured to transmit and receive first guided electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium. A conductive ground plane is provided on the planar substrate surface and coplanar to the planar antenna, the conductive ground plane having a mating edge with a shape conforming to the opposing edges of the first and second antenna elements, the mating edge electrically isolated from the opposing edges of the first and second antenna elements, wherein the transmission medium is spaced a distance apart from, and parallel to, the conductive ground plane.
335 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A planar surface wave launcher comprising:
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a substrate having a planar substrate surface; a planar antenna having first and second antenna elements on the planar substrate surface, the first and second antenna elements having edges on an aperture side of the planar surface wave launcher and opposing edges, wherein the planar antenna is configured to transmit and receive first guided electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium; and a conductive ground plane on the planar substrate surface and coplanar to the planar antenna, the conductive ground plane having a mating edge with a shape conforming to the opposing edges of the first and second antenna elements, the mating edge electrically isolated from the opposing edges of the first and second antenna elements, wherein the transmission medium is spaced a distance apart from, and parallel to, the conductive ground plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, the method comprising:
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transmitting and receiving, via a planar antenna of a planar surface wave launcher having first and second antenna elements on a planar substrate surface, guided electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the first and second antenna elements have edges on an aperture side of the planar surface wave launcher and opposing edges and wherein the guided electromagnetic waves propagate along a surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path; and providing a conductive ground plane on the planar substrate surface and coplanar to the planar antenna, the conductive ground plane having a mating edge with a shape conforming to the opposing edges of the first and second antenna elements, the mating edge electrically isolated from the opposing edges of the first and second antenna elements, wherein the transmission medium is spaced a distance apart from, and parallel to, the conductive ground plane.
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20. A planar surface wave launcher comprising:
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a planar antenna means for launching and receiving guided electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium, the planar antenna means having first and second antenna elements on a planar substrate surface, the first and second antenna elements having edges on an aperture side of the planar surface wave launcher and opposing edges and wherein the guided electromagnetic waves propagate along a surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path; and a conductive ground plane on the planar substrate surface and coplanar to the planar antenna means, the conductive ground plane having a mating edge with a shape conforming to, but electrically isolated from, the opposing edges of the first and second antenna elements, wherein the transmission medium is spaced a distance apart from, and parallel to, the conductive ground plane.
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Specification