Flared dielectric coupling system and methods for use therewith
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsPaul Shala Henry, Giovanni Vannucci, Thomas M. Willis, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a dielectric coupler includes a neck portion configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave from a hollow waveguide. A flared portion is configured to generate, responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the flared portion at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A tapered portion is configured to interface the neck portion to the flared portion.
Claims20
A coupling system comprising:
- a hollow waveguide configured to guide a first electromagnetic wave conveying data from a transmitter;
- and
- a dielectric coupler configured to receive the first electromagnetic wave from the hollow waveguide via a neck portion of the dielectric coupler, and further configured to generate, responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium via a flared portion of the dielectric coupler that at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.
A dielectric coupler comprising:
- a neck portion configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave from a hollow waveguide;
- a flared portion configured to generate, responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the flared portion at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;
- and
- a tapered portion configured to interface the neck portion to the flared portion.
A method comprising:
- receiving, via a neck portion of a conductorless dielectric coupler, a first electromagnetic wave from a hollow waveguide;
- and
- generating, via a flared portion of the conductorless dielectric coupler and responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the flared portion at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.