Apparatus and methods for transmitting wireless signals
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorsPaul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna structure having a feed point for coupling to a dielectric core of a cable that propagates electromagnetic waves without an electrical return path, and a dielectric antenna, substantially or entirely devoid of conductive external surfaces, coupled to the feed point, the dielectric antenna facilitating receipt, at the feed point, the electromagnetic waves for propagating the electromagnetic waves to an aperture of the dielectric antenna for radiating a wireless signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Claims32
A communication device, comprising:
- a dielectric antenna including a feed point, the dielectric antenna for radiating a wireless signal from the dielectric antenna in response to electromagnetic waves received at the feed point, wherein the dielectric antenna has substantially or entirely no conductive external surfaces;
- a cable comprising a dielectric core covered by a shell, the dielectric core coupled to the feed point of the dielectric antenna;
- and
- a transmitter, coupled to the cable, the transmitter facilitating a transmission of the electromagnetic waves, the electromagnetic waves guided by the dielectric core to the feed point of the dielectric antenna.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a feed point of a dielectric antenna, electromagnetic waves from a dielectric core coupled to the feed point, wherein external surfaces of the dielectric antenna are non-conductive;
- directing, by the feed point, the electromagnetic waves to a proximal portion of the dielectric antenna;
- and
- radiating, via an aperture of the dielectric antenna, a wireless signal responsive to the electromagnetic waves propagating to the aperture.
An antenna structure, comprising:
- a feed point for coupling to a dielectric core of a cable that propagates electromagnetic waves without an electrical return path;
- and
- a dielectric antenna, substantially or entirely devoid of conductive external surfaces, coupled to the feed point, the dielectric antenna facilitating receipt, at the feed point, the electromagnetic waves for propagating the electromagnetic waves to an aperture of the dielectric antenna for radiating a wireless signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.