Method and apparatus for coupling an antenna to a device

• US 9,722,318 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• 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: Adriazola, Aldo, Willis, III, Thomas M., Fuchs, Mitchell Harvey, Henry, Paul Shala, Barnickel, Donald J, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US14/885,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20170018852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 333239-260, 343772, 343785, 343786
• 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 lens, a dielectric body and a dielectric feedline having a feed point;

a transmitter comprising a port that facilitates transmission of first electromagnetic waves to the feed point for guidance of the electromagnetic waves along the dielectric feedline to the dielectric antenna without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body of the dielectric antenna to the dielectric lens of the dielectric antenna to generate first near-field wireless signals; and

a collar comprising a first opening and a second opening that facilitates coupling the port of the transmitter to the feed point of the dielectric feedline.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the port of the transmitter comprises a dielectric core, wherein the collar comprises a splicing device comprising the first opening and the second opening, wherein the first opening of the splicing device couples to the dielectric core, and wherein the second opening of the splicing device couples to the feed point.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises a flange that facilitates aligning the feed point of the dielectric feedline with the port of the transmitter.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first opening and the second opening are coaxially aligned.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the first opening and the second opening are threaded.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein a gap between the port of the transmitter and the feed point of the dielectric feedline is adjusted by applying an insertion force or an extraction force to the collar, the transmitter, the dielectric feedline, or any combinations thereof.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the insertion force or the extraction force comprises a rotational force applied to the collar, the transmitter, the dielectric feedline, or any combinations thereof.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the collar comprises at least one third opening that facilitates insertion of a fastener to attach the collar to at least one opening of a housing assembly of the transmitter.

9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the collar further comprises at least one first guiding component that facilitates coupling to at least one second guiding component of the housing assembly 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 housing assembly of the transmitter.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a circular waveguide.

11. 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 the second electromagnetic waves are generated from second near-field wireless signals received by an aperture of the dielectric antenna.

12. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric lens operates as an aperture of the dielectric antenna.

13. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the dielectric lens reduces phase differences in the first near-field wireless signals generated by the aperture of the dielectric antenna.

14. The communication device of claim 12, 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.

15. The communication device of claim 12, 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 first near-field wireless signals generated by the aperture of the dielectric antenna.

16. The communication device of claim 15, wherein the structure of the dielectric lens comprises a convex structure.

17. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric feedline is resistant to propagation of light waves.

18. An antenna structure, comprising:

a dielectric antenna comprising a dielectric lens, a dielectric body and 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 of first electromagnetic waves exchanged between the port and the feed point of the dielectric feedline, the electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric feedline without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body of the dielectric antenna to the dielectric lens of the dielectric antenna to generate first near-field wireless signals.

19. The antenna structure of claim 18, 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 feed point.

20. The antenna structure of claim 18, wherein the collar comprises a flange that facilitates aligning the feed point with the port of the waveguide system.

21. The antenna structure of claim 18, wherein a gap between the port and the feed point is adjusted by applying an insertion or extraction force to the collar, the waveguide system, the dielectric feedline, or any combinations thereof, and wherein the gap adjusts an efficiency of a transfer of the first electromagnetic waves between the port and the feed point.

22. The antenna structure of claim 21, wherein the insertion or the extraction force comprises a rotational force applied to the collar, the waveguide system, the dielectric feedline, or any combinations thereof.

23. The antenna structure of claim 18, wherein second near-field wireless signals are converted into electromagnetic waves by the dielectric lens, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate from the dielectric lens through the dielectric body of the dielectric antenna, and wherein the collar further facilitates reception of electromagnetic waves exchanged between the port and the feed point of the dielectric feedline.

24. A method, comprising:

aligning a feed point of a feedline of a dielectric antenna comprising a dielectric lens and a dielectric body with a port of a waveguide system by coupling the feed point to the port of the waveguide system with a coupling device; and

transmitting, by the waveguide system, first electromagnetic waves exchanged between the port and the feed point of the feedline, the electromagnetic waves guided by the feedline of the dielectric antenna without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate through the dielectric body of the dielectric antenna to the dielectric lens of the dielectric antenna to generate first near-field wireless signals.

25. The method of claim 24, 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 feed point.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the coupling device comprises a flange that facilitates aligning the feed point of the feedline with the port of the waveguide system.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving, by the waveguide system, second electromagnetic waves exchanged between the feed point of the dielectric feedline and the port, wherein second near-field wireless signals are converted into the electromagnetic waves by the dielectric lens, and wherein the electromagnetic wave propagate from the dielectric lens through the dielectric body of the dielectric antenna to the feed point.