# US 2018/0324601 A1 · Method and apparatus for directing wireless signals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0324601 A1 - Document ID: US20180324601A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/027,860 - Filed: 2018-07-05 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-16 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Farhad Barzegar; Paul Shala Henry; Donald J. Barnickel; Robert Bennett; Irwin Gerszberg; Henry Kafka; Thomas M. Willis, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324601A1 ## CPC - H04W 16/28: using beam steering - H01Q 13/24: constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe (H01Q13/28 takes precedence) - H01Q 19/08: for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located {(corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241)} - H04B 7/0617: {for beam forming} - H01P 1/16: for mode selection, e.g. mode suppression or mode promotion; for mode conversion - H01P 5/08: for linking dissimilar lines or devices (H01P1/16, H01P5/04 take precedence; linking lines of the same kind but with different dimensions H01P5/02) - H01Q 3/26: varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture ({H01Q3/12,} H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence) - H04B 3/52: Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides - H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) ## Abstract Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving a request to steer wireless signals generated by a plurality of dielectric antennas, and adjusting, by the controller, a plurality of adjustable delays coupled to a transceiver to adjust an orientation of wireless signals received or generated by the plurality of dielectric antennas, each of the plurality of dielectric antennas comprising a feed point coupled to a different one of the plurality of adjustable delays, the transceiver facilitating reception or transmission of electromagnetic waves propagating via a different one of the feed points of the plurality of dielectric antennas along corresponding dielectric feedlines without an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication device, comprising: a plurality of adjustable phase shifters; a plurality of dielectric antennas, wherein each dielectric antenna of the plurality of dielectric antennas comprises a dielectric feed point that is coupled to a different one of the plurality of adjustable phase shifters, and wherein each dielectric antenna of the plurality of dielectric antennas is substantially or entirely devoid of conductive materials; a transmitter coupled to each adjustable phase shifter of the plurality of adjustable phase shifters, wherein the transmitter facilitates transmission of electromagnetic waves by way of the plurality of adjustable phase shifters, and wherein a different one of the electromagnetic waves generated by the plurality of adjustable phase shifters propagates to a different one of the dielectric feed points of the plurality of dielectric antennas; and a controller coupled to the plurality of adjustable phase shifters to facilitate beam steering of wireless signals generated by the plurality of dielectric antennas by controlling the plurality of adjustable phase shifters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller facilitates controlling the plurality of adjustable phase shifters to generate phase-shifted electromagnetic waves that steer the wireless signals generated by the plurality of dielectric antennas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein each dielectric antenna comprises a lens that operates as an aperture of the dielectric antenna. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The communication device of claim 3, wherein the lens comprises a structure that reduces phase differences in the wireless signals generated by each dielectric antenna. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The communication device of claim 3, wherein the lens comprises a dielectric material having a first dielectric constant that is at least approximately equal to a second dielectric constant of the dielectric antenna. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The communication device of claim 3, wherein the lens comprises a convex structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller facilitates steering the wireless signals towards a mobile communication device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, wherein the controller facilitates steering the wireless signals towards a base station. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cables, each cable coupling a corresponding one of the plurality of adjustable phase shifters to a corresponding dielectric feed point of the plurality of dielectric antennas, and each cable comprising a dielectric core for propagating the electromagnetic waves. ### Claim 10 A communication device, comprising: a plurality of adjustable delays; a plurality of dielectric antennas, wherein each dielectric antenna of the plurality of dielectric antennas comprises a feed point that is coupled to a different one of the plurality of adjustable delays, and wherein each dielectric antenna of the plurality of dielectric antennas is substantially or entirely devoid of conductive materials; a receiver coupled to an output of each of the plurality of adjustable delays, the receiver facilitating reception of electromagnetic waves propagating from a different one of the feed points of the plurality of dielectric antennas; and a controller coupled to the plurality of adjustable delays to facilitate steering of first wireless signals received by the plurality of dielectric antennas by controlling the plurality of adjustable delays. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The communication device of claim 10, wherein the controller facilitates controlling the plurality of adjustable delays to generate delayed electromagnetic waves, and wherein the electromagnetic waves received by the receiver comprise the delayed electromagnetic waves. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The communication device of claim 10, wherein each dielectric antenna comprises a lens that operates as an aperture of the dielectric antenna. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The communication device of claim 12, wherein the lens comprises a structure that reduces phase differences in the first wireless signals generated by each dielectric antenna. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The communication device of claim 12, wherein the lens comprises a convex structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The communication device of claim 10, further comprising a transmitter coupled to an input of each of the plurality of adjustable delays, the transmitter facilitating beam steering of second wireless signals generated by the plurality of dielectric antennas. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The communication device of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of cables, each cable coupling a corresponding one of the plurality of adjustable delays to a corresponding feed point of the plurality of dielectric antennas, and each cable comprising a dielectric core for propagating the electromagnetic waves. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The communication device of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of dielectric antennas has substantially or entirely no conductive external surfaces. ### Claim 18 A method, comprising: receiving, by a controller, a request to steer wireless signals generated by a plurality of dielectric antennas, wherein each dielectric antenna of the plurality of dielectric antennas is substantially or entirely devoid of conductive materials; and adjusting, by the controller, a plurality of adjustable delays coupled to a transceiver to adjust an orientation of the wireless signals received or generated by the plurality of dielectric antennas, wherein each dielectric antenna of the plurality of dielectric antennas comprises a feed point that is coupled to a different one of the plurality of adjustable delays and wherein the transceiver facilitates reception or transmission of electromagnetic waves propagating via a different one of the feed points of the plurality of dielectric antennas. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the adjusting the plurality of adjustable delays generates delayed electromagnetic waves that steer the wireless signals. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the transceiver communicates with other devices utilizing multi-input multi-output (MIMO) transmission and reception techniques or diversity signal communication techniques.