Dielectric transmission medium connector and methods for use therewith

• US 9,853,342 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• 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: Henry, Paul Shala, Taylor, William Scott, Bennett, Robert, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Stephen E
• Assistant Examiner(s): OUTTEN, SAMUEL S
• Application Number:
  US14/799,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20170018833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 333239
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02 Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3829 Bent or angled connectors G02B6/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4401 Optical cables glass fibres with a protective coating G02B6/02395
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/16 for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/12 Hollow waveguides H01P3/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/122 Dielectric loaded (not air)
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/16 Dielectric waveguides, i.e. without a longitudinal conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/087 Transitions to a dielectric waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a connector that includes a first port configured to receive electromagnetic waves guided by a first dielectric core of a first transmission medium. A waveguide is configured to guide the electromagnetic waves from the first port to a second port. The second port is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves to a second dielectric core of a second transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a first port coupleable to a first dielectric core of a first conductor-less transmission medium to receive electromagnetic waves from the first conductor-less transmission medium at non-optical frequencies; and

a waveguide, without an inner conductor and without a metallic shield, the waveguide having a one-piece dielectric core having a bulbous central portion that mitigates radiation as the electromagnetic waves are guided about an angle of connection, wherein the one-piece dielectric core has a pair of arms connected to the bulbous central portion in accordance with the angle of connection, wherein the pair of arms of the one-piece dielectric core is configured to interface the first dielectric core to the waveguide at the first port and configured to guide the electromagnetic waves from the first port to a second port via the bulbous central portion in accordance with the angle of connection;

wherein the second port is coupleable to a second dielectric core of a second conductor-less transmission medium to transmit the electromagnetic waves to the second conductor-less transmission medium and wherein the waveguide is further configured to interface the second dielectric core to the waveguide at the second port.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the one-piece dielectric core is surrounded, at least in part, by a dielectric cladding having a first dielectric constant that is less than a second dielectric constant of the one-piece dielectric core.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the dielectric cladding comprises a dielectric foam.

4. The connector of claim 2, wherein the dielectric cladding is surrounded, at least in part, by an insulating jacket.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the one-piece dielectric core comprises a high density polyethylene material.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first port is configured non-colinearly with the second port in accordance with the angle of connection.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first conductor-less transmission medium has a varying pitch helical jacket that supports the first dielectric core.

8. A connector comprising:

a first port configured to receive electromagnetic waves at non-optical frequencies guided by a first dielectric core of a first conductor-less coaxial cable; and

a waveguide without an inner conductor and without a metallic shield, the waveguide having a one-piece dielectric core having a bulbous central portion that mitigates radiation as the electromagnetic waves are guided about an angle of connection, wherein the one-piece dielectric core has a pair of arms connected to the bulbous central portion in accordance with the angle of connection, wherein the pair of arms of the one-piece dielectric core is configured to interface the first dielectric core to the waveguide at the first port and configured to guide the electromagnetic waves from the first port to a second port via the bulbous central portion;

wherein the second port is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves to a second dielectric core of a second conductor-less coaxial cable and wherein the waveguide is further configured to interface the second dielectric core to the waveguide at the second port.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the one-piece dielectric core is surrounded, at least in part, by a dielectric cladding having a first dielectric constant that is less than a second dielectric constant of the one-piece dielectric core.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the dielectric cladding comprises a dielectric foam.

11. The connector of claim 9, wherein the dielectric cladding is surrounded, at least in part, by an insulating jacket.

12. The connector of claim 8, wherein the first port is configured non-colinearly with the second port in accordance with the angle of connection.

13. The connector of claim 8, wherein the one-piece dielectric core comprises a high density polyethylene material.

14. The connector of claim 8, wherein the first conductor-less coaxial cable has a varying pitch helical jacket that supports the first dielectric core.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first port of a connector, guided electromagnetic waves at non-optical frequencies from a first dielectric core of a first conductor-less coaxial cable;

transferring, via a waveguide of the connector, the guided electromagnetic waves to a second port of the connector as transferred guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the waveguide is without an inner conductor and without a metallic shield, the waveguide having a one-piece dielectric core having a bulbous central portion that mitigates radiation as the guided electromagnetic waves are guided about an angle of connection, wherein the one-piece dielectric core has a pair of arms connected to the bulbous central portion in accordance with the angle of connection, wherein the pair of arms of the one-piece dielectric core is configured to interface the first dielectric core to the waveguide at the first port, and wherein the waveguide is further configured to interface a second dielectric core to the waveguide at the second port via the bulbous central portion; and

launching, via the second port of the connector, the transferred guided electromagnetic waves on the second dielectric core of a second conductor-less coaxial cable.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one-piece dielectric core is surrounded, at least in part, by a dielectric cladding having a first dielectric constant that is less than a second dielectric constant of the one-piece dielectric core.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the dielectric cladding comprises a dielectric foam.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the dielectric cladding is surrounded, at least in part, by an insulating jacket.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first port is configured non-colinearly with the second port in accordance with the angle of connection.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the one-piece dielectric core comprises a high density polyethylene material.