Wireless communication system using current formed underground vertical plane polarized antennas

A wireless communication system including a transmitter/receiver for generating and processing electromagnetic signals, the system comprising:

• current driver means comprising at least first and second conductors positioned in proximity to the earth's surface, said conductors each comprising means for encouraging substantial capacitive coupling between at least a portion of said conductors and the earth in a preferential coupled region so as to establish a closed current loop formed by said conductors in combination with the earth, said conductors having sufficient overall length so that the closed current loop has a perimeter which is greater than one wavelength of said electromagnetic signals when propagating through the earth, whereby the earth and said current driver means function together as a vertical plane polarized antenna;
• means for connecting the transmitter/receiver to the current driver means;
• means connected to the current driver means for adjusting the impedance presented to the transmitter/receiver by the current driver means so as to correlate said impedance with the impedance of the transmitter/receiver;
• and
• means for connecting the adjusting means to the transmitter/receiver.

A wireless communication system including a transmitter/receiver for generating and processing electromagnetic signals, the system comprising:

• a current driver comprising first and second conductors placed end-to-end and in substantially axial alignment, said conductors being coated on substantially their entire exterior surface by a sheath of electrical insulating material and said conductors being deployed substantially parallel to, and in proximity to, the surface of the earth along at least a first portion of their length, said insulated sheath encouraging capacitive coupling between said first portion and the earth so as to establish a closed current loop through said first portion and the earth, said conductors having a sufficient overall length so that the closed current loop has a perimeter which is greater than one wavelength of said electromagnetic signals when propagating through the earth, whereby the earth and said current driver function as a vertical plane polarized antenna;
• means for connecting the transmitter/receiver to the current driver;
• means for inhibiting cancellation currents along at least a second portion of each of said conductors, said means for inhibiting cancellation currents comprising means for reducing capacitive coupling between said second portion of the conductors and the earth;
• a balun connected to the current driver for adjusting the impedance presented to the transmitter/receiver by the current driver so as to correlate said impedance with the impedance of said transmitter/receiver;
• and
• a coaxial cable interconnecting the balun to the transmitter/receiver.

A method of sending and receiving electromagnetic signals using a wireless communication system comprising a transmitter/receiver for generating and processing electromagnetic signals and a current driver means comprising at least two conductors connected to said transmitter/receiver, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• positioning the conductors in proximity to the surface of the earth;
• inhibiting capacitive coupling along at least a first portion of the length of the conductors so as to reduce cancellation currents;
• capacitively coupling at least a second portion of said conductors to the earth so that said capacitive coupling between said second portion and earth is encouraged and is substantially greater than the capacitive coupling between said first portion and earth, whereby said conductors and earth together provide a closed current loop;
• and
• selecting the length of the conductors to establish a closed current loop having a perimeter which is greater than one wavelength of the electromagnetic signals when propagating through the earth, whereby said current driver means and the earth function as a vertical plane polarized antenna.

A method of sending and receiving electromagnetic signals using a wireless communication system comprising a transmitter/receiver for generating and processing electromagnetic signals, a current driver means comprising at least two conductors connected to said transmitter/receiver and means connected to the transmitter/receiver and to the conductor for adjusting the impedance of the conductors, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• positioning the conductors in proximity to the surface of the earth along at least a portion of their length;
• adjusting the impedance presented to the transmitter/receiver by the current driver means at the operating frequency to correlate the impedance of the current driver means with the impedance of the transmitter/receiver;
• capacitively coupling said conductors to the earth in a preferential coupled region of each conductor's length so as to provide a closed current loop;
• and
• selecting the length of the conductors to establish a closed current loop having a perimeter which is greater than one wavelength of the electromagnetic signals when propagating through the earth, whereby said current driver means and the earth function as a vertical plane polarized antenna.

A method of sending and receiving electromagnetic signals using a wireless communication system comprising a transmitter/receiver for generating and processing electromagnetic signals, and a current driver comprising first and second conductors connected to said transmitter/receiver, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• positioning the conductors so as to be substantially parallel to, and in proximity to, the earth's surface along at least a portion of their length;
• capacitively coupling each of the conductors to the earth along at least a portion of the conductor's length;
• interconnecting an adjusting means to the conductors and through a first coaxial cable to the transmitter/receiver;
• adjusting the impedance of the current driver means and the earth as measured above one wavelength at the operating frequency to correlate said impedance with the impedance of the transmitter/receiver;
• inhibiting electrical coupling along portions of the length of the conductors so as to eliminate cancellation currents;
• and
• inducing an electrical current into the earth through at least a portion of the capacitively coupled portion of the conductors to establish a closed loop current having a perimeter which is greater than one wavelength of the electromagnetic signals when propagating through the earth, such that said current driver and the earth function as a vertical plane polarized antenna.

A wireless communication system including a transmitter/receiver for generating and processing electromagnetic signals, the system comprising:

• current driver means having at least a first conductor and a second conductor, each of said conductors being divided into one or more lengths, said conductors being deployed in proximity to the earth's surface along at least a portion of their length;
• switching means for selectively connecting the various lengths of said conductors such that the overall length of said conductors can be varied for the purpose of system operation at various frequencies and for purposes of controlling signal gain, propagation direction and waveshape;
• means for connecting the transmitter/receiver to the current driver;
• means for inhibiting capacitive coupling between said current driver means and the earth along at least a first portion of said conductor so as to reduce cancellation currents;
• means connected to the current driver means for adjusting the impedance presented to the transmitter/receiver by the current driver means so as to correlate said impedance with the impedance of the transmitter/receiver;
• means for connecting the adjusting means to the transmitter/receiver;
• and
• said conductors each comprising means for capacitively coupling said conductors to the earth along at least a second portion of their length such that capacitive coupling along said second portion is substantially greater than the capacitive coupling along said first portion, whereby said current driver means in combination with said earth provides a closed current loop, said conductors of the current driver means having a sufficient overall length so that the closed current loop has a perimeter which is greater than one wavelength of said electromagnetic signals when propagated through the earth, whereby the earth and said current driver means function together as a vertical plane polarized antenna.

A wireless communication system including a transmitter/receiver for generating and processing electromagnetic signals, the system comprising:

• current driver means having at least two conductors positioned in proximity to the earth's surface along at least a portion of their length, said current drivers comprising conductive tree terminations attached to the ends thereof;
• means for inhibiting cancellation currents;
• means for connecting the transmitter/receiver to the current driver means;
• means connected to the current driver means for adjusting the impedance presented to the transmitter/receiver by the current driver means so as to correlate said impedance of the current driver means with the impedance of the transmitter/receiver;
• means for connecting the adjusting means to the transmitter/receiver;
• and
• said conductors each comprising means for encouraging capacitive coupling between the earth and said conductors along at least a portion of their length so as to provide in combination with the earth a closed current loop, said conductors of the current driver means having a sufficient overall length so that the closed current loop has a perimeter which is greater than one wavelength of said electromagnetic signals when propagated through the earth, whereby the earth and said current driver means function together as a vertical plane polarized antenna.

A method of sending and receiving electromagnetic signals using a wireless communication system comprising a transmitter/receiver for generating and processing electromagnetic signals and a current driver means comprising at least two conductors connected to said transmitter/receiver, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• positioning the conductors in proximity to the surface of the earth along at least a portion of their length;
• dividing at least one of the conductors of the current driver into a plurality of lengths;
• capacitively coupling said conductors to the earth along a first portion of their length so that said conductors and earth together provide a closed current loop having a perimeter which is greater than one wavelength of the electromagnetic signals when propagated through the earth, whereby said current driver means and the earth function together as a vertical plane polarized antenna;
• inhibiting capacitive coupling along a second portion of the lengths of the conductors so as to reduce cancellation currents in the region of said second portion;
• and
• selectively interconnecting one or more of the various lengths of said conductors to provide the current driver with the capability of being used at various signal frequencies and of producing various signal types and waveshapes depending upon the number of lengths connected together.