Apparatus and methods for inducing electromagnetic waves on a cable
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsThomas M. Willis, III, Giovanni Vannucci, Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel
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Abstract
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a communication signal, and generating an electromagnetic wave that propagates along an outer surface of a dielectric layer environmentally formed on a cable. The dielectric layer can be a liquid disposed on an outer surface of the cable that enables the electromagnetic wave to propagate along the dielectric layer of the cable without an electrical return path, and conveys the communication signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of communication signals;
- and
- generating, by a transmitting device according to the plurality of communication signals, a plurality of wireless signals that induces a plurality of electromagnetic waves that propagates along a dielectric layer environmentally formed on a cable, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a liquid, and wherein the liquid has dielectric properties that enable the plurality of electromagnetic waves to propagate along the liquid, wherein the dielectric layer is not uniformly disposed about a surface of the cable, wherein the plurality of electromagnetic waves propagates along the dielectric layer of the cable without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveys at least a portion of the plurality of communication signals.
A launcher, comprising:
- a generator;
- and
- a circuit coupled to the generator,
- wherein the circuit performs operations including:
- receiving a communication signal;
- and
- generating, by the generator according to the communication signal, an electromagnetic wave that propagates along an outer surface of a dielectric layer environmentally formed on a cable, wherein the dielectric layer is a liquid disposed on an outer surface of the cable, wherein the electromagnetic wave propagates along the dielectric layer of the cable without an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic wave conveys the communication signal.
A device, comprising:
- means for receiving a communication signal;
- and
- means for inducing, according to the communication signal, an electromagnetic wave that propagates along an outer surface of a liquid disposed on a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the liquid comprises dielectric properties that enable the electromagnetic wave to propagate along the transmission medium without an electrical return path, and wherein the electromagnetic wave conveys the communication signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.