Passive electrical coupling device and methods for use therewith

• US 9,793,955 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2016
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2015
• 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, Bennett, Robert, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fotakis, Aristocratis
• Application Number:
  US15/072,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20160315661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/00 Arrangements for testing electric properties; Arrangements for locating electric faults; Arrangements for electrical testing characterised by what is being tested not provided for elsewhere measuring superconductive properties G01R33/1238; testing or measuring semiconductors or solid state devices during manufacture H01L22/00; testing line transmission systems H04B3/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/00 Auxiliary devices coupling devices of the waveguide type H01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/28 using the near field of leaky cables, e.g. of leaky coaxial cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/028 Arrangements specific to the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0292 Arrangements specific to the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a coupling device includes a circuit that receives a signal. At least one passive electrical circuit element generates an electromagnetic field in response to the signal. A portion of the electromagnetic field is guided by a surface of a transmission medium to propagate as a guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A transmission device comprising:

a transmitter that generates a signal; and

at least one passive electrical circuit element, coupled to the transmitter, that generates an electromagnetic field in response to the signal, wherein the signal has a wavelength;

wherein the transmitter and the at least one passive electrical circuit element are configured such that a portion of the electromagnetic field is bound to an outer surface of a transmission medium to propagate as a guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the transmission medium to facilitate wireless network connectivity to a client device via an antenna, wherein the transmission medium is without a conductor, and wherein the transmission medium is composed of a dielectric element;

wherein the at least one passive electrical circuit element includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor that are spaced a distance apart to facilitate launching the guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the transmission medium, and wherein the distance apart corresponds to substantially one quarter of the wavelength.

2. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the dielectric element is a dielectric rod.

3. The transmission device of claim 2 wherein the guided electromagnetic wave is bound to the dielectric element and propagates along the dielectric element with a first portion of the guided electromagnetic wave propagating within the dielectric element and a second portion of the guided electromagnetic wave propagating outside the dielectric element.

4. The transmission device of claim 2 wherein the first capacitor is formed by a first plate placed in proximity to the dielectric element and a second plate placed in proximity to the dielectric element.

5. The transmission device of claim 4 wherein the second capacitor is formed by a third plate placed in proximity to the dielectric element and a fourth plate placed in proximity to the dielectric element.

6. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the transmission device is placed in proximity to a utility pole.

7. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium in a non-cellular band and without an electrical return path.

8. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the signal is in a microwave frequency band.

9. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the signal is in a millimeter wave frequency band.

10. The transmission device of claim 8 wherein the dielectric element is hollow.

11. A coupling device comprising:

a circuit that receives a signal, wherein the signal has a wavelength; and

at least one electrical circuit element, coupled to the circuit, that generates an electromagnetic field in response to the signal;

wherein a portion of the electromagnetic field is guided by an outer surface of a transmission medium to propagate as a guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the transmission medium to facilitate fifth generation (5G) wireless network connectivity via an antenna wherein the transmission medium is without a conductor, and wherein the transmission medium is composed of a dielectric element;

wherein the at least one electrical circuit element includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor that are spaced a distance apart to facilitate launching the guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the transmission medium, and wherein the distance apart corresponds to substantially one quarter of the wavelength.

12. The coupling device of claim 11 wherein the signal is in a microwave frequency band.

13. The coupling device of claim 12, wherein the first capacitor is formed by a first plate placed in proximity to the dielectric member and wherein the second capacitor is formed by a second plate placed in proximity to the dielectric member.

14. The coupling device of claim 13, wherein the first capacitor includes a first dielectric between the first plate and the dielectric member and wherein the second capacitor includes a second dielectric between the second plate and the dielectric member.

15. The coupling device of claim 11 wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium in a non-cellular band and without an electrical return path.

16. The coupling device of claim 11 wherein the signal is in a millimeter wave frequency band.

17. The coupling device of claim 16 wherein the dielectric element is hollow.

18. The coupling device of claim 16 wherein the transmission medium is in proximity to a utility pole.

19. A method comprising:

generating an electromagnetic field in response to a signal having a wavelength via a first capacitor and a second capacitor; and

coupling a portion of the electromagnetic field to a dielectric transmission medium to propagate as a guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the dielectric transmission medium to facilitate wireless network communications with a client device in a non-cellular frequency band wherein the dielectric transmission medium is without a conductor, and wherein the dielectric transmission medium is without a conductor, and wherein the dielectric transmission medium is composed of a dielectric element;

wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are spaced a distance apart to facilitate launching the guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the dielectric transmission medium, and wherein the distance apart corresponds to substantially one quarter of the wavelength.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the guided electromagnetic wave is bound to the dielectric transmission medium and propagates along the dielectric transmission medium with a first portion of the guided electromagnetic wave propagating within the dielectric transmission medium and a second portion of the guided electromagnetic wave propagating outside the dielectric transmission medium.