US 10,340,600 B2Granted

Apparatus and methods for launching guided waves via plural waveguide systems

AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.

InventorsPaul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III

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Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system having a first plurality of transmitters for launching according to a signal, first electromagnetic waves, and a second plurality of transmitters for launching, according to the signal, second electromagnetic waves. The first electromagnetic waves and the second electromagnetic waves combine at an interface of a transmission medium to induce a propagation of a third electromagnetic wave, the third electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency, and wherein the second plurality of transmitters are spaced apart from the first plurality of transmitters in a direction of propagation of the third electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

generating first electromagnetic waves in a wave direction along a longitudinal axis of a transmission medium, by a first waveguide system having a first plurality of circuits;
generating second electromagnetic waves in the wave direction along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, by a second waveguide system having a second plurality of circuits;
and
wherein the first electromagnetic waves and the second electromagnetic waves are directed to an outer surface of the transmission medium to induce a third electromagnetic wave in the wave direction along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, wherein the first waveguide system comprises a waveguide structure for directing the first electromagnetic waves to the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the waveguide structure surrounds the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the first plurality of circuits each includes one of a first plurality of antennas, wherein the first plurality of antennas is arranged within the first waveguide system, spaced apart from the transmission medium and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the transmission medium in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and wherein the second plurality of circuits each includes one of a second plurality of antennas, wherein the second plurality of antennas is arranged within the second waveguide system, spaced apart from the transmission medium and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the transmission medium in the plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, wherein the third electromagnetic wave propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and wherein the third electromagnetic wave has a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency.

1 more element

A system, comprising:

a signal interface configured to receive a signal;
a first plurality of transmitters configured to launch, according to the signal, first electromagnetic waves in a wave direction along a longitudinal axis of a transmission medium;
a second plurality of transmitters configured to launch, according to the signal, second electromagnetic waves in the wave direction along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium;
a first waveguide structure for directing the first electromagnetic waves to an outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the first waveguide structure surrounds an outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the first plurality of transmitters each includes one of a first plurality of antennas, wherein the first plurality of antennas is arranged within the first waveguide structure, spaced apart from the transmission medium and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the transmission medium in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium;
and
a second waveguide structure, wherein the second plurality of transmitters each includes one of a second plurality of antennas, wherein the second plurality of antennas is arranged within the second waveguide structure, spaced apart from the transmission medium and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the transmission medium in the plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium;
wherein the first electromagnetic waves and the second electromagnetic waves combine at the outer surface of the transmission medium to induce a propagation of a third electromagnetic wave in the wave direction along the longitudinal axis of the outer surface of the transmission medium, the third electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency, and wherein the second plurality of transmitters is spaced apart from the first plurality of transmitters along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.

4 more elements

A system, comprising:

first transmission means for generating first electromagnetic waves in a wave direction along a longitudinal axis of a transmission medium;
second transmission means for generating second electromagnetic waves in the wave direction along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium;
and
waveguide means for directing the first electromagnetic waves and the second electromagnetic waves to an outer surface of the transmission medium to induce a propagation of a third electromagnetic wave in the wave direction along the longitudinal axis of the outer surface of the transmission medium, the third electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode, a fundamental wave mode, or a combination thereof, wherein the first transmission means has a first plurality of radiating elements in a first plane that is perpendicular to the wave direction along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, the second transmission means has a second plurality of radiating elements in a second plane that is perpendicular to the wave direction along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and wherein the first plane is parallel to, and a distance apart from, the second plane, and wherein the waveguide means includes:
a first waveguide structure for directing the first electromagnetic waves to the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the first waveguide structure surrounds the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the first plurality of radiating elements each includes one of a first plurality of antennas, wherein the first plurality of antennas is arranged within the first waveguide structure, spaced apart from the transmission medium and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the transmission medium in the first plane;
and
a second waveguide structure, wherein the second plurality of radiating elements each includes one of a second plurality of antennas, wherein the second plurality of antennas is arranged within the second waveguide structure, spaced apart from the transmission medium and arranged concentrically around the outer surface of the transmission medium in the second plane.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/296,101Filed 18 Oct 2016
Published: US 2018/0108999 A119 Apr 2018
Granted: 2 Jul 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

H01Q 13/06
Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a…:…
H01C 3/12
The resistive element having zig-zag or sinusoidal configuration: lying in one plane
H01P 1/16
Auxiliary devices: for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion
H01P 3/00
Waveguides