GUIDED WAVE COUPLER, COUPLING MODULE AND METHODS FOR USE THEREWITH

• US 20160112115A1
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2014
• 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, Thomas M. III
• Granted Patent: US 9,653,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/02 with invariable factor of coupling H01P5/12 takes precedence choke joints H01P1/04, H01P1/06
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/12 Coupling devices having more than two ports H01P5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15557 Selecting relay station operation mode, e.g. between amplify and forward mode, decode and forward mode or FDD - and TDD mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a coupler including a receiving portion that receives a first electromagnetic wave conveying first data from a transmitting device. A guiding portion guides the first electromagnetic wave to a junction for coupling the first electromagnetic wave to a transmission medium. The first electromagnetic wave propagates via at least one first guided wave mode. The coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium via at least one second guided wave mode that differs from the at least one first guided wave mode. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A coupler comprising:

a receiving portion that receives a first electromagnetic wave conveying first data from a transmitting device;

a guiding portion, that guides the first electromagnetic wave to a junction for coupling the first electromagnetic wave to a transmission medium, wherein the first electromagnetic wave propagates via at least one first guided wave mode and wherein the coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium via at least one second guided wave mode that differs from the at least one first guided wave mode.

2. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the at least one second guided wave mode includes a non-fundamental mode not included in the at least one first guided wave mode.

3. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the at least one first guided wave mode includes only a fundamental mode and wherein the junction induces the second electromagnetic wave such that the at least one second guided wave mode includes a non-fundamental mode.

4. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the at least one first guided wave mode includes a symmetric mode and wherein the junction induces the second electromagnetic wave such that the at least one second guided wave mode includes an asymmetric mode and the symmetric mode.

5. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the junction includes an air gap.

6. The coupler of claim 1, wherein a third electromagnetic wave conveys second data that also propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium;

and

wherein the junction couples the third electromagnetic wave from the transmission medium to form a fourth electromagnetic wave that is guided to a receiver by the guiding portion.

7. The coupler of claim 1 wherein the guiding portion includes a tapered, rounded or bevelled end that terminates at the junction.

8. A coupling module comprising:

a plurality of receiving portions that receive a corresponding plurality of first electromagnetic waves conveying first data;

a plurality of guiding portions, that guides the plurality of first electromagnetic waves to a corresponding plurality of junctions for coupling the plurality of first electromagnetic waves to a transmission medium, wherein the plurality of first electromagnetic waves propagate via at least one first guided wave mode and wherein the coupling of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves to the transmission medium forms a plurality of second electromagnetic waves that are guided to propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium via at least one second guided wave mode that differs from the at least one first guided wave mode.

9. The coupling module of claim 8 wherein the first data includes a plurality of data streams that differ from one another and wherein each of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves conveys one of the plurality of data streams.

10. The coupling module of claim 8 wherein the at least one first guided wave mode includes a symmetric mode and wherein the plurality of junctions induces the plurality of second electromagnetic waves such that the at least one second guided wave mode includes an asymmetric mode.

11. The coupling module of claim 8 wherein the at least one first guided wave mode includes a first symmetric mode and wherein the plurality of junctions induces the plurality of second electromagnetic waves such that the at least one second guided wave mode includes an asymmetric mode and a second symmetric mode.

12. The coupling module of claim 8 wherein the plurality of junctions include an air gap.

13. The coupling module of claim 8, wherein a plurality of third electromagnetic waves conveys second data that also propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium;

and

wherein the plurality of junctions couples the plurality of third electromagnetic waves from the transmission medium to form a plurality of fourth electromagnetic waves that are guided by the plurality of guiding portions.

14. The coupling module of claim 8 wherein the plurality of guiding portions each include an end that terminates at a corresponding one of the plurality of junctions to reduce signal reflections.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a first electromagnetic wave conveying first data from a transmitting device;

guiding the first electromagnetic wave to a junction for coupling the first electromagnetic wave to a transmission medium, wherein the first electromagnetic wave propagates via at least one first guided wave mode and wherein the coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to the transmission medium forms a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium via at least one second guided wave mode that differs from the at least one first guided wave mode.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one second guided wave mode includes an asymmetric mode not included in the at least one first guided wave mode.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one first guided wave mode includes a symmetric mode and wherein the junction induces the second electromagnetic wave such that the at least one second guided wave mode includes an asymmetric mode.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one first guided wave mode includes a symmetric mode and wherein the junction induces the second electromagnetic wave such that the at least one second guided wave mode includes an asymmetric mode and the symmetric mode.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the junction includes an air gap.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a third electromagnetic wave conveys second data that also propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium;

and

wherein the junction couples the third electromagnetic wave from the transmission medium to form a fourth electromagnetic wave that is guided to a receiver.

21. A method comprising:

guiding a first electromagnetic wave to a junction, wherein the first electromagnetic wave propagates via at least one first guided wave mode; and

coupling of the first electromagnetic wave to a transmission medium to form a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium via at least one second guided wave mode that differs from the at least one first guided wave mode.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one second guided wave mode includes a non-fundamental mode not included in the at least one first guided wave mode.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one first guided wave mode includes a fundamental mode and wherein the junction induces the second electromagnetic wave such that the at least one second guided wave mode includes a non-fundamental mode.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one first guided wave mode includes a fundamental mode and wherein the junction induces the second electromagnetic wave such that the at least one second guided wave mode includes a non-fundamental mode and the fundamental mode.