Dual mode antenna systems and methods for use therewith

A method comprising:

• selecting either a free space wireless mode of operation or a surface wave mode of operation;
• when the free space wireless mode of operation is selected:
• generating a first signal on a feedline connected to a dual mode antenna that operates in either the free space wireless mode of operation or the surface wave mode of operation;
• coupling, via the feedline, the first signal to the dual mode antenna;
• transmitting, via the dual mode antenna, the first signal as a first free space wireless signal;
• when the surface wave mode of operation is selected:
• generating a second signal on the feedline;
• coupling, via the feedline, the second signal to the dual mode antenna;
• and
• transmitting, via the dual mode antenna, the second signal as a first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;
• wherein the dual mode antenna launches the first guided electromagnetic wave on the surface of the transmission medium via a near field intensity pattern radiated from an aperture of the dual mode antenna, and wherein the dual mode antenna radiates the first free space wireless signal via a far field beam pattern radiated from the aperture of the dual mode antenna.

An antenna system comprising:

• a feedline configured to either receive a first signal in a free space wireless mode of operation or a second signal in a surface wave mode of operation;
• a transmitter configured to selectively switch between generating, in the free space wireless mode of operation, the first signal on the feedline, the first signal having a first frequency and generating alternatively, in the surface wave mode of operation, the second signal on the feedline, the second signal having a second frequency;
• and
• a dielectric antenna, connected to the feedline, configured to operate in either the free space wireless mode of operation or the surface wave mode of operation, the dielectric antenna configured to transmit, in the free space wireless mode of operation the first signal as a free space wireless signal and further configured to transmit, in the surface wave mode of operation, the second signal as a guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and wherein the dielectric antenna launches the guided electromagnetic wave on the surface of the transmission medium via a near field intensity pattern radiated from an aperture of the dielectric antenna, and wherein the dielectric antenna radiates the free space wireless signal via a far field beam pattern radiated from the aperture of the dielectric antenna.