METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AN ANTENNA TO A DEVICE

• US 20170230083A1
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• 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: Barnickel, Donald J., Adriazola, Aldo, Willis, III, Thomas M., Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Fuchs, Mitchell Harvey, Henry, Paul Shala
• Granted Patent: US 9,882,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/10 Wire waveguides, i.e. with a single solid longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/09 wherein the primary active element is coated with or embedded in a dielectric or magnetic material protective material H01Q1/40, varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of refracting or diffracting devices H01Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/00 Line transmission systems combined with near-field transmission systems H04B5/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/28 using the near field of leaky cables, e.g. of leaky coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna structure that includes a dielectric antenna comprising a dielectric feedline having a feed point, and a collar that facilitates aligning a port of a waveguide system to the feed point of the dielectric feedline for facilitating transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves exchanged between the port and the feed point of the dielectric feedline, the electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric feedline without an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a dielectric antenna comprising a dielectric feedline, a dielectric body, and a dielectric lens, wherein first electromagnetic waves are guided along the dielectric feedline without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body to the dielectric lens to generate first wireless signals; and

a transmitter comprising a port that facilitates transmission of the first electromagnetic waves that propagate along the dielectric feedline, wherein a proximity between the port of the transmitter and the dielectric feedline is adjustable.

2. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a collar, wherein the collar includes a first opening and a second opening that facilitates adjusting the proximity between the port of the transmitter to the dielectric feedline.

3. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the port of the transmitter comprises a dielectric core that supplies the first electromagnetic waves to the dielectric feedline.

4. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the collar comprises a flange that facilitates aligning the dielectric feedline with the port of the transmitter.

5. The communication device of claim 2, wherein a gap between the port of the transmitter and the dielectric feedline is adjusted by applying an insertion force or an extraction force to the collar, the port of the transmitter, the dielectric feedline, or any combinations thereof.

6. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the collar further comprises at least one first guiding component that facilitates coupling to at least one second guiding component of the port of the transmitter, and wherein the at least one first guiding component and the at least one second guiding component facilitate aligning the first opening of the collar to the second opening of the port of the transmitter.

7. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a receiver coupled to the port, wherein the port receives second electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric feedline coupled to the dielectric antenna for processing by the receiver, and wherein second electromagnetic waves are generated from second wireless signals received by an aperture of the dielectric antenna.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric lens operates as an aperture of the dielectric antenna, and wherein the dielectric lens reduces phase differences in a near-field component of the first wireless signals generated by the aperture of the dielectric antenna.

9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein a first material composition of the dielectric lens has a first dielectric constant, wherein a second material composition of the dielectric antenna has a second dielectric constant, and wherein the first dielectric constant differs from the second dielectric constant.

10. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the dielectric lens comprises a structure that adjusts a propagation of the first electromagnetic waves in the dielectric antenna to reduce phase differences in the near-field component of the first wireless signals generated by the aperture of the dielectric antenna.

11. An antenna structure, comprising:

a dielectric antenna comprising a dielectric lens, a dielectric body and a dielectric feedline, wherein electromagnetic waves are guided along the dielectric feedline without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body to the dielectric lens to generate first near-field wireless signals; and

a waveguide system coupled to a port that facilitates transmission of the electromagnetic waves that propagate along the dielectric feedline, wherein a proximity between the port and the dielectric feedline is adjustable.

12. The antenna structure of claim 11, further comprising a collar that facilitates aligning the port of the waveguide system to the dielectric feedline for facilitating transmission of the electromagnetic waves exchanged between the port and the dielectric feedline.

13. The antenna structure of claim 12, wherein the port of the waveguide system comprises a dielectric core, wherein the collar comprises a splicing device that facilitates coupling the dielectric core to the dielectric feedline.

14. The antenna structure of claim 12, wherein the collar comprises a flange that facilitates aligning the dielectric feedline with the port of the waveguide system.

15. The antenna structure of claim 11, wherein a gap between the port and the dielectric feedline is adjusted by applying an insertion or extraction force to a collar, a waveguide system, the dielectric feedline, or any combinations thereof, and wherein the gap adjusts an efficiency of a transfer of the electromagnetic waves between the port and the dielectric feedline.

16. A method, comprising:

aligning a feedline of a dielectric antenna comprising a dielectric lens and a dielectric body with a port of a waveguide system, wherein first electromagnetic waves are guided along the feedline without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body to the dielectric lens to generate first near-field wireless signals; and

transmitting, by the waveguide system, the first electromagnetic waves that propagate along the feedline, wherein a proximity between the port of and the feedline is adjustable.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising coupling the feedline to the port of the waveguide system with a coupling device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the port of the waveguide system comprises a dielectric core, wherein the coupling device comprises a splicing device that facilitates coupling the dielectric core to the feedline.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the coupling device comprises a flange that facilitates aligning the feedline with the port of the waveguide system.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving, by the waveguide system, second electromagnetic waves exchanged between the feedline and the port, wherein second near-field wireless signals are converted into the second electromagnetic waves by the dielectric lens, and wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagate from the dielectric lens through the dielectric body of the dielectric antenna to the feedline.