RF fiber with multi-purpose or dedicated metalized conduit enabling uni-directional and / or BI-directional out-of-band control communication channel

Abstract

Methods and systems include a transport network comprising a Terahertz (THz) waveguide, a first network element comprising first and second transmitters, and a second network element comprising first and second receivers and a controller. The first transmitter is coupled to a waveguide portion of the THz waveguide and configured to couple a client signal into the waveguide portion. The second transmitter is coupled to a conductive portion of the THz waveguide and configured to couple a management communication signal into the conductive portion. The first receiver is coupled to the waveguide portion and configured to receive and decode the client signal. The second receiver is coupled to the conductive portion and configured to receive and decode the management communication signal. The controller is operable to adjust operating parameters of the second network element based on management communication data encoded in the management communication signal.

Description

ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED: 01 / 27 / 2026 PATENT INVENTION TITLE RF FIBER WITH MULTI-PURPOSE OR DEDICATED METALIZED CONDUIT ENABLING UNIDIRECTIONAL AND / OR BI-DIRECTIONAL OUT-OF-BAND CONTROL COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BACKGROUND ART

[0001] Modern digital infrastructure relies on high-speed communication systems, with fiber-optic networks providing the backbone for data transmission. These networks support services across telecommunications, internet, enterprise, and cloud computing platforms, enabling rapid and reliable data exchange.

[0002] Communication networks are organized into layers, each with a specific function. The application layer handles high-level protocols and user interactions, defining how applications communicate. The transport layer manages end-to-end connections, ensuring reliable data delivery between applications. The network layer manages routing and addressing, determining how data packets move between different networks. The data link layer handles reliable transmission between directly connected network elements and manages data framing. At the bottom of this hierarchy, the physical layer is the foundational level responsible for actual signal transmission, managing the conversion of digital data into physical signals that can be transmitted across communication media.

[0003] In high-speed communication systems that rely on fiber to communicate between two network elements, the physical layer transmitters and receivers are typically simple media conversion devices which convert electrical signals to either optical signals or radio frequency (RF) signals. These transmitters and receivers have no way to communicate directly without involvement of a host system. This architectural limitation introduces significant complexity, as every inter-device communication must be routed through the host system, creating potential bottlenecks, increased latency, and reduced system flexibility.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A system and method of use are disclosed. The problem of communicating directly between physical layer transmitters and receivers is addressed through a Terahertz (THz) waveguide (e.g., a passive waveguide or an RF fiber) having a multi-purpose or dedicated metalized conduit enabling a unidirectional and / or bidirectional out-of-band control communication channel that is separate from the high-speed data communication channel. The out-of-band control communication channel may be used during start-up or operation of thehigh-speed data communication channel in order to, for example: establish a predetermined training bit sequence; determining an impairment in the data link and communicating such impairment to an opposite end; setting the transmitter and the receiver in configurations that allow for optimal performance setpoints given the performance of the data link; detecting a break or discontinuity in the THz waveguide; detecting a drop in performance and compensating for such drop; and discovering connectivity of two endpoints in a datacenter or networking environment including multiple transmitters and receivers where it is not immediately obvious which transmitter is to be connected to which receiver.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present disclosure includes a transport network, comprising: a Terahertz (THz) waveguide having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, the THz waveguide comprising a waveguide portion extending along the longitudinal axis and a conductive portion extending along the longitudinal axis; a first network element comprising a first transmitter coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide and a second transmitter coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the first transmitter being operable to couple a client signal into the waveguide portion, the second transmitter being operable to couple a management communication signal into the conductive portion, the client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have client data encoded therein and having a frequency in a range between 300 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 THz, the management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have management communication data encoded therein; and a second network element spaced a distance from the first network element, the second network element comprising a controller, a first receiver coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide, and a second receiver coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the first receiver being operable to receive the client signal from the waveguide portion and decode the client signal, the second receiver being operable to receive the management communication signal from the conductive portion and decode the management communication signal, the controller being operable to adjust one or more operating parameters of the second network element based on the management communication data.

[0006] In a second aspect, the present disclosure includes a network element assembly, comprising: a Terahertz (THz) waveguide having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, the THz waveguide comprising a waveguide portion extending along the longitudinal axis and a conductive portion extending along the longitudinal axis; and a network element comprising a controller, atransmitter coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide, and a receiver coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the transmitter including an antenna operable to couple a client signal into the waveguide portion, the receiver being operable to receive a management communication signal from the conductive portion and decode the management communication signal, the client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have client data encoded therein and having a frequency in a range between 300 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 THz, the management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have management communication data encoded therein, the controller being operable to adjust one or more operating parameters of the network element based on the management communication data.

[0007] In a third aspect, the present disclosure includes a network element assembly, comprising: a Terahertz (THz) waveguide having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, the THz waveguide comprising a waveguide portion extending along the longitudinal axis and a conductive portion extending along the longitudinal axis; and a network element comprising a controller, a first receiver coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide, and a second receiver coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the first receiver including an antenna operable to receive a client signal from the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide, the first receiver being operable to decode the client signal, the second receiver being operable to receive a management communication signal from the conductive portion and decode the management communication signal, the client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have client data encoded therein and having a frequency in a range between 300 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 THz, the management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have management communication data encoded therein, the controller being operable to adjust one or more operating parameters of the network element based on the management communication data.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments described herein and, together with the description, explain these embodiments. The drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale, and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated, to scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness. Not every component may be labeled inevery drawing. Like reference numerals in the figures may represent and refer to the same or similar element or function. In the drawings:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an electromagnetic (EM) spectrum;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a transport network constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken alongthe line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0012] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken alongthe line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide lacks an optional dielectric layer;

[0013] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken alongthe line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide lacks an optional support layer;

[0014] FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide lacks the optional dielectric layer and the optional support layer;

[0015] FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a photonic-bandgap fiber;

[0016] FIG. 3F is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide has a hollow waveguide core with an elliptical cross-section;

[0017] FIG. 3G is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the hollow waveguide core of the first hollow waveguide has a rectangular cross-section;

[0018] FIG. 3H is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the hollow waveguide core of the first hollow waveguide has a square cross-section;

[0019] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the hollow waveguide core of the first hollow waveguide has a cross-shaped cross-section;

[0020] FIG. 3J is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a solid rod fiber;

[0021] FIG. 3K is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a microstructured optical fiber;

[0022] FIG. 3L is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a porous fiber;

[0023] FIG. 3M is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a suspended porous-core fiber;

[0024] FIG. 3N is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a suspended slotted core fiber;

[0025] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a hollow-core bandgap fiber;

[0026] FIG. 3P is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a hollow-core tube fiber;

[0027] FIG. 3Q is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a hollow-core fiber with negative curvature;

[0028] FIG. 3R is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a hollow-core fiber based on anti-resonances and inhibited coupling;

[0029] FIG. 3S is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a hollow-core nested anti-resonant nodeless fiber;

[0030] FIG. 3T is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, whereinthe first hollow waveguide is a 3D-printed hollow-core fiber based on anti-resonances and inhibited coupling;

[0031] FIG. 3U is a cross-sectional viewof another exemplary embodiment of the first hollow waveguide shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first hollow waveguide is a Bragg fiber;

[0032] FIG. 4A is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a first transmitter shown in FIG. 2;

[0033] FIG. 4B is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first transmitter shown in FIG. 2, wherein the first transmitter comprises a serializer;

[0034] FIG. 4C is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first transmitter shown in FIG. 2, wherein the first transmitter comprises a deserializer;

[0035] FIG.4D is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of transmitter circuitry shown in FIG. 4A;

[0036] FIG. 4E is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the transmitter circuitry shown in FIG. 4A, wherein the transmitter circuitry comprises a combiner;

[0037] FIG. 4F is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first transmitter shown in FIG. 2;

[0038] FIG. 4G is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first transmitter shown in FIG. 2;

[0039] FIG. 5A is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a first receiver shown in FIG. 2;

[0040] FIG. 5B is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first receiver shown in FIG. 2, wherein the first receiver comprises a deserializer;

[0041] FIG. 5C is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first transmitter shown in FIG. 2, wherein the first transmitter comprises a serializer;

[0042] FIG. 5D is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of receiver circuitry shown in FIG. 5 A;

[0043] FIG. 5E is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the receiver circuitry shown in FIG. 5A, wherein the receiver circuitry comprises a splitter;

[0044] FIG. 5F is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first receiver shown in FIG. 2;

[0045] FIG. 5G is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first receiver shown in FIG. 2;

[0046] FIG. 6A is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a transceiver shown in FIG.2;

[0047] FIG. 6B is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the transceiver shown in FIG. 2;

[0048] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a folded modulator constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0049] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a rectifying detector constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 9A is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an antenna constructed in accordance with the present disclosure for generating circularly polarized signals;

[0051] FIG. 9B is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of the antenna shown in FIG.9A;

[0052] FIG. 10 is a perspective viewof another exemplary embodiment of the antenna shown in FIG. 9A, wherein the antenna is a bifilar helix antenna;

[0053] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the bifilar helix antenna shown in FIG. 10, wherein the bifilar helix antenna is enclosed within a conductive cone;

[0054] FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the bifilar helix antenna shown in FIG. 11, taken from the line 12-12' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0055] FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of an electric field produced by the bifilar helix antenna enclosed within the conductive cone shown in FIG. 12;

[0056] FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of a radiation pattern of the bifilar helix antenna enclosed within the conductive cone shown in FIG. 12;

[0057] FIG. 15 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a non-uniform bifilar helix antenna constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0058] FIG. 16 is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of the non-uniform bifilar helix antenna;

[0059] FIG. 17 is a graphical view of a polarization discrimination of the non-uniform bifilar helix antenna shown in FIG. 15;

[0060] FIG. 18 is a graphical view of a polarization discrimination of the non-uniform bifilar helix antenna shown in FIG. 16;

[0061] FIG 19 is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of the non-uniform bifilar helix antenna;

[0062] FIG. 20 is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of the non-uniform bifilar helix antenna;

[0063] FIG. 21A is a diagrammatic front view of an exemplary embodiment of a differential waveguide probe antenna constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0064] FIG. 21B is a diagrammatic side view of the differential waveguide probe antenna shown in FIG. 21A;

[0065] FIG. 22A is a partial cross-sectional view of the differential waveguide probe antenna shown in FIG. 21A, taken from the line 22-22' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0066] FIG. 22B is another partial cross-sectional view of the differential waveguide probe antenna shown in FIG. 22A, taken from the line 23-23' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0067] FIG. 22C is another partial cross-sectional view of the differential waveguide probe antenna shown in FIG. 22B, taken from the line 24-24' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0068] FIG. 22D is a graphical view of a polarization discrimination of the differential waveguide probe antenna shown in FIG. 21A;

[0069] FIG. 23 a diagrammatic view of an exemplary embodiment of a differential tapered antenna constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0070] FIG. 24A is a partial cross-sectional view of the differential tapered antenna shown in FIG. 23, taken from the line l- l' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0071] FIG. 24B is another partial cross-sectional view of the differential tapered antenna shown in FIG. 24A, taken from the line 28-28' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0072] FIG. 24C is a graphical view of a polarization discrimination of the differential tapered antenna shown in FIG. 23;

[0073] FIG. 25A is a diagrammatic front view of an exemplary embodiment of a microstrip patch antenna array constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0074] FIG. 25B is a diagrammatic side view of the microstrip patch antenna array shown in FIG. 25A;

[0075] FIG. 26A is a diagrammatic front view of an exemplary embodiment of a single-ended waveguide probe antenna constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0076] FIG. 26B is a diagrammatic side view of the single-ended waveguide probe antenna shown in FIG. 26A;

[0077] FIG. 27A is a cross-sectional view of the single-ended waveguide probe antenna shown in FIG. 26A, taken along the line 55-55' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0078] FIG. 27B is another cross-sectional view of the single-ended waveguide probe antenna shown in FIG. 26A, taken along the line 56-56' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0079] FIG. 27C is a partial cross-sectional view of the single-ended waveguide probe antenna shown in FIG. 27B, taken along the line 57-57' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0080] FIG. 28A is a diagrammatic front view of an exemplary embodiment of a slot antenna constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0081] FIG. 28B is a diagrammatic side view of the slot antenna shown in FIG. 28A;

[0082] FIG. 29A is a cross-sectional view of the slot antenna shown in FIG. 28A, taken along the line 59-59' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0083] FIG. 29B is a partial cross-sectional view of the slot antenna shown in FIG. 29A, taken along the line 60-60' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0084] FIG. 29C is another partial cross-sectional view of the slot antenna shown in FIG. 29A, taken along the line 61-61' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0085] FIG. 30A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the slot antenna shown in FIG. 28A, taken along the line 59-59' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the slot antenna is a double slot antenna;

[0086] FIG. SOB is a partial cross-sectional view of the slot antenna shown in FIG. 30A, taken along the line 63-63' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0087] FIG. 30C is another partial cross-sectional view of the slot antenna shown in FIG. 30A, taken along the line 64-64' and in the direction of the arrows;

[0088] FIG.31A is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a communication network constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0089] FIG. 31B is a block diagram of anotherexemplary embodiment ofthe communication network shown in FIG. 31A;

[0090] FIG. 32 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a first controller shown in FIG. 31A;

[0091] FIG. 33A is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a network element assembly constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0092] FIG. 33B is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the network element assembly shown in FIG. 33A;

[0093] FIG. 34A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a first passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A, taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the first passive waveguide has a hollow waveguide core, a conductive layer on and / orsurrounding the hollow waveguide, and a non-conductive layer on and / or surrounding the conductive layer;

[0094] FIG. 34B is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a second passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A, taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the second passive waveguide has the hollow waveguide core, the non-conductive layer on and / or surrounding the hollow waveguide core, and the conductive layer on and / or surrounding the non-conductive layer;

[0095] FIG. 34C is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a third passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A, taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the third passive waveguide has a non-conductive waveguide core, the non-conductive layer on and / or surrounding the non-conductive waveguide core, and the conductive layer on and / or surrounding the non-conductive layer;

[0096] FIG. 34D is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a fourth passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A, taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the fourth passive waveguide has a conductive waveguide core and the non-conductive layer on and / or surrounding the conductive waveguide core;

[0097] FIG. 34E is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a fifth passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A, taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the fifth passive waveguide has a conductive conduit and a non-conductive conduit disposed non-concentrically with the conductive conduit;

[0098] FIG. 34F is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a sixth passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A, taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the sixth passive waveguide has the hollow waveguide core and the conductive layer on and / or surrounding the hollow waveguide core;

[0099] FIG. 34G is cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a seventh passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the seventh passive waveguide has the non-conductive waveguide core, the non-conductive layer surrounding the non-conductive waveguide core, and the conductive layer surroundingthe non-conductive layer, wherein the non-conductive waveguide core has a circular or elliptical cross-section and a cladding region is defined between the non-conductive waveguide core and the non-conductive layer;

[0100] FIG. 34H is cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an eighth passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows,wherein the eighth passive waveguide has the non-conductive waveguide core, the non-conductive layer surrounding the non-conductive waveguide core, and the conductive layer surrounding the non-conductive layer, wherein the non-conductive waveguide core has a square or rectangular cross-section and the cladding region is defined between the non-conductive waveguide core and the non-conductive layer;

[0101] FIG. 341 is cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a ninth passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the ninth passive waveguide has the non-conductive waveguide core, the non-conductive layer surrounding the non-conductive waveguide core, and the conductive conduit disposed non-concentrically with the non-conductive waveguide core, wherein the non-conductive waveguide core has a circular or elliptical cross-section and the cladding region is defined between the non-conductive waveguide core and the non-conductive layer;

[0102] FIG. 34J is cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a tenth passive waveguide shown in FIG. 31A taken along the line 34-34' and in the direction of the arrows, wherein the tenth passive waveguide has the non-conductive waveguide core, the non-conductive layer surrounding the non-conductive waveguide core, and the conductive conduit disposed non-concentrically with the non-conductive waveguide core, wherein the non-conductive waveguide core has a square or rectangular cross-section and the cladding region is defined between the non-conductive waveguide core and the non-conductive layer;

[0103] FIG. 35A is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary embodiment of a computer system constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein the first network element is disposed on a common interposer substrate with one or more integrated circuit (IC) devices;

[0104] FIG. 35B is a diagrammatic view of another exemplary embodiment of the computer system shown in FIG. 35A, wherein the first network element is disposed on a common multichip module (MCM) substrate with the one or more IC devices;

[0105] FIG. 35C is a diagrammatic view of another exemplary embodiment of the computer system shown in FIG. 35A, wherein the first network element is disposed on a common printed circuit board (PCB) with the one or more IC devices; and

[0106] FIG. 36 is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary embodiment of a method of using the communication network in accordance with the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0107] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

[0108] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having", or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherentto such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

[0109] In addition, use of the "a" or "an" are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concept. This description should be read to include one or more and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

[0110] Further, use of the term "plurality" is meant to convey "more than one" unless expressly stated to the contrary.

[0111] As used herein, qualifiers like "substantially," "about," "approximately," and combinations and variations thereof, are intended to include not only the exact amount or value that they qualify, but also some slight deviations therefrom, which may be due to manufacturing tolerances, measurement error, wear and tear, stresses exerted on various parts, and combinations thereof, for example.

[0112] The use of the term "at least one" or "one or more" will be understood to include one as well as any quantity more than one. In addition, the use of the phrase "at least one of X, V, and Z" will be understood to include X alone, V alone, and Z alone, as well as any combination of X, V, and Z.

[0113] The use of ordinal number terminology (i.e., "first", "second", "third", "fourth", etc.) is solely for the purpose of differentiating between two or more items and, unless explicitly stated otherwise, is not meant to imply any sequence or order or importance to one item over another or any order of addition.

[0114] Finally, as used herein any reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0115] As used herein, all numerical values or ranges include fractions of the values and integers within such ranges and fractions of the integers within such ranges unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, to illustrate, reference to a numerical range, such as 1-10 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, as well as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, etc., and so forth. Reference to a range of 1-50 therefore includes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, etc., up to and including 50, as well as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, etc., 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, etc., and so forth. Reference to a series of ranges includes ranges which combine the values of the boundaries of different ranges within the series. Thus, to illustrate reference to a series of ranges, for example, of 1-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-75, 75-100, 100-150, 150-200, 200-250, 250-300, 300-400, 400-500, 500-750, 750-1,000, includes ranges of 1-20, 10-50, 50-100, 100-500, and 500-1,000, for example.

[0116] As used herein, "circuitry" may refer to analog and / or digital components, or one or more suitably programmed processor (e.g., a microprocessor) and associated hardware and software, or hardwired logic. Also, "circuitry" may perform one or more function. The term "circuitry" may include hardware, such as a processor (e.g., microprocessor), a combination of hardware and software, and / orthe like. Software may include one or more processor-executable instruction that when executed by one or more processor cause the one or more processor to perform a specified function. It should be understood that the algorithms described herein may be stored on one or more non-transitory memory. Exemplary non-transitory memory may include random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, and / or the like. Such non-transitory memory may be electrically based, optically based, and / orthe like.

[0117] As used herein, a "mode" refers to a unique distribution of electric and magnetic fields which repeat along the length of a hollow waveguide by which electromagnetic energy may be transported through the hollow waveguide. "Single-mode" refers to a hollow waveguide designed to carry only one mode of electromagnetic wave. This is achieved by having a narrow core diameter, which allows only one mode of light to propagate at a time. On the other hand, "multi-mode" refers to a hollow waveguide designed to carry multiple modes of electromagnetic waves simultaneously. This is possible due to its larger core diameter, which enables multiple modes to be propagated.

[0118] As used herein, "Amplitude Modulation" (AM) refers to a form of signal modulation in which data is encoded in an amplitude of a carrier signal.

[0119] As used herein, "Amplitude-Shift Keying" (ASK) refers to a form of AM in which digital data is encoded in an amplitude of a carrier signal, and each symbol (i.e., representing one ormore data bit) is sent by transmitting a fixed-amplitude carrier wave at a fixed frequency for a specific time period.

[0120] As used herein, "Phase-Shift Keying" (PSK) is a form of signal modulation in which signal data is encoded in a phase of a carrier signal having a constant frequency. "Quadrature PSK" (PSK) Is a form of PSK in which two data bits (i.e., 00, 01, 10, or 11) are modulated at once, selecting one of four possible carrier phase shifts (i.e., 0°, 90°, 180°, or 270°).

[0121] As used herein, "Pulse-Amplitude Modulation" (PAM) refers to a form of AM in which a data signal is encoded in an amplitude of a series of carrier signal pulses. "PAM4" refers to a form of PAM in which a data signal is encoded in an amplitude of a series of carrier signal pulses, in which the amplitude of the carrier signal pulses may be one of four discrete values (i.e., 0, 1, 2, or 3) and each carrier signal pulse represents two data bits (i.e., 00, 01, 10, or 11).

[0122] As used herein, "Non-Return-to-Zero" (NRZ) refers to a form of signal modulation in which a binary data signal is encoded in a carrier signal such that ones are represented by a first significant condition (e.g., a positive voltage) and zeroes are represented by a second significant condition (e.g., a negative voltage). "Non-return-to-Zero, Inverted" (NRZI) refers to a form of signal modulation in which the data bits are represented by the presence or absence of a transition at a clock boundary.

[0123] As used herein, "Quadrature Amplitude Modulation" (QAM) refersto a form of AM in which two analog message signals or two digital bit streams are encoded in amplitudes of two carrier waves, using either ASK or AM, and the two carrier signals are out of phase with each other by 90°. "QAM16" refers to a form of QAM in which the carrier signals may exist in one of sixteen discrete states (i.e., symbols) having one of sixteen different amplitude and phase levels representing four data bits (i.e., from 0000 to 1111).

[0124] As used herein, "Trellis Coded Modulation" (TCM) refers to a form of signal modulation in which a binary data signal is encoded in a phase of a constant amplitude carrier signal. The transmitted signal is created by convolutionally encoding the binary data signal and mappingthe result to a signal constellation.

[0125] As used herein, "Rayleigh range" refers to the distance along the propagation direction of a beam from the waist to the place where the area of the cross section is doubled.

[0126] As used herein, "hollow waveguide" refers to a structure that guides waves by restricting transmission of energy in a particular direction. In the context of the present disclosure, "hollow waveguide" may refer to an optical fiber having a waveguide core operableto propagate RF signals in the THz frequency band or a routed waveguide operable to propagate RF signals in the THz frequency band.

[0127] As used herein, "THz waveguide" refers to a structure that guides waves in the THz band by propagating the waves in a particular direction and restricting transmission of energy in another direction. Examples of a THz waveguide include a hollow waveguide and a passive waveguide.

[0128] As used herein, "diameter" refers to a straight line passing from side to side through the center of a body or figure. In some embodiments, the body or figure has a circular shape having a uniform diameter or an elliptical shape having multiple different diameters.

[0129] As used herein, "data" refers to quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer. Data can be recorded on a non-transitory processor-readable medium, such as random-access memory and / or read only memory. The randomaccess memory and / or read only memory may be implemented on semiconductor, magnetic, optical, or mechanical recording media. An example of data is client data, e.g., data provided by a client in connection with a telecommunication service and / or a storage service.

[0130] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, shown therein is a diagrammatic view of an electromagnetic (EM) spectrum 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure is generally related to network elements that communicate using radiated signals comprising radiated electromagnetic waves coupled into hollow waveguides. The radiated signals described herein generally have a transmission frequency in what is referred to as a Terahertz (THz) frequency band 104 (i.e., frequencies between 0.1 THz and 10 THz corresponding to wavelengths between 3 millimeters (mm) and 30 micrometers (pm)). However, in some embodiments described herein, the transmission frequency of the radiated signals is in a range between 300 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 THz. The radiated signals described herein are generally configured for coherent detection and generally have a bandwidth in a range between 10% and 40% of the transmission frequency. Where certain aspects of the present disclosure are described as relating to "THz", it should be understood that such aspects of the present disclosure relate to the THz frequency band 104.

[0131] Referring now to FIG. 2, shown therein is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a transport network 200 (hereinafter, the "transport network 200") constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The transport network 200 is depicted as comprising a plurality of network elements 204a-n (hereinafter, the "network elements 204") (e.g., a first network element 204a, a second network element 204b, a third network element 204c, and afourth network element 204d shown in FIG. 2). While only four of the network elements 204 are shown in FIG. 2 for exemplary purposes, it should be understood that the transport network 200 may comprise a number of the network elements 204 that may be greater or fewer than four.

[0132] The transport network 200 may further comprise one or more hollow waveguides 208a-n (hereinafter, the "hollow waveguides 208") (e.g., a first hollow waveguide 208a, a second hollow waveguide 208b, a third hollow waveguide 208c, and a fourth hollow waveguide 208d shown in FIG. 2). While only four of the hollow waveguides 208 are shown in FIG. 2 for exemplary purposes, it should be understood that the transport network 200 may comprise a number of the hollow waveguides 208 that may be greater or fewer than four.

[0133] Radiated signals transmitted within the transport network 200 from the first network element 204a to the fourth network element 204d or vice versa may travel along (1) a first path formed by the first hollow waveguide 208a, the second network element 204b, and the second hollow waveguide 208b or (2) a second path formed by the third hollow waveguide 208c, the third network element 204c, and the fourth hollow waveguide 208d.

[0134] In some embodiments, each of the hollow waveguides 208 is configured to support propagation of radiated signals in only a single direction. However, in other embodiments, one or more of the hollow waveguides 208 may be configured to support propagation of radiated signals in a plurality of directions (i.e., two opposing directions). In embodiments where one or more of the hollow waveguides 208 are configured to support propagation of radiated signals in a plurality of directions, a first radiated signal being propagated through the hollow waveguide 208 in a first direction may be differentiated from a second radiated signal being propagated through the hollow waveguide 208 in a second direction opposite the first direction by being provided with a different polarization, frequency, etc. In some such embodiments, one or more circulator may be included to achieve such differentiation.

[0135] Each of the network elements 204 may comprise one or more of a transmitter 212 (e.g., a first transmitter 212a and a second transmitter 212b shown in FIG. 2) operable to transmit radiated signals comprising radiated electromagnetic waves having client data encoded therein via the hollow waveguides 208, a receiver 216 (e.g., a first receiver 216a and a second receiver 216b shown in FIG. 2) operable to receive radiated signals comprising radiated electromagnetic waves having client data encoded therein via the hollow waveguides 208, and / or a transceiver 220 (e.g., a first transceiver 220a shown in FIG. 2 and a second transceiver 220b shown in FIG.6B) operable to transmit first radiated signals comprising first radiated electromagnetic waves having first client data encoded therein via particular ones of the hollow waveguides 208 and / orreceive second radiated signals comprising second radiated electromagnetic waves having second client data encoded therein via other ones of the hollow waveguides 208.

[0136] Each of the network elements 204 may further comprise a control module 224 (e.g., a first control module 224a, a second control module 224b, a third control module 224c, and a fourth control module 224d shown in FIG. 2) (collectively, the "control modules 224") operable to regulate one or more operating parameter of the network element 204 to which the control module 224 is coupled.

[0137] In some embodiments, one or more of the network elements 204 may communicate with each other via a communication network 228. The communication network 228 may permit bidirectional communication of information and / or data between one or more of the network elements 204 of the transport network 200. The communication network 228 may interface with one or more of the network elements 204 in a variety of ways. For example, in some embodiments, the communication network 228 may interface by optical and / or electronic interfaces, and / or may use a plurality of network topographies and / or protocols including, but not limited to, Ethernet, TCP / IP, circuit switched path, combinations thereof, and / orthe like. The communication network 228 may utilize a variety of network protocols to permit bidirectional interface and / or communication of data and / or information between one or more of the network elements 204.

[0138] The communication network 228 may be almost any type of network. For example, in some embodiments, the communication network 228 may be a version of an Internet network (e.g., exist in a TCP / IP-based network). In one embodiment, the communication network 228 is the Internet. It should be noted, however, that the communication network 228 may be almost any type of network and may be implemented as the World Wide Web (i.e., the Internet), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan network, a wireless network, a cellular network, a Bluetooth network, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a 3G network, a 4G network, an LTE network, a 5G network, a satellite network, a radio network, an optical network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, an Ethernet network, combinations thereof, and / or the like.

[0139] If the communication network 228 is the Internet, a primary user interface of the transport network 200 may be delivered through a series of web pages or private internal web pages of a company or corporation, which may be written in hypertext markup language, JavaScript, or the like, and accessible by the user. It should be noted that the primary userinterface of the transport network 200 may be another type of interface including, but not limited to, a Windows-based application, a tablet-based application, a mobile web interface, a VR-based application, an application running on a mobile device, and / or the like. In one embodiment, the communication network 228 may be connected to one or more of the network elements 204.

[0140] The number of devices and / or networks illustrated in FIG. 2 is provided for exemplary purposes. In practice, there may be additional devices and / or networks, fewer devices and / or networks, different devices and / or networks, or differently arranged devices and / or networks than are shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, two or more of the devices illustrated in FIG. 2 may be implemented within a single device, or a single device illustrated in FIG. 2 may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the devices of the transport network 200 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more of the devices of the transport network 200.

[0141] The network elements 204 may take many different forms. For example, the network elements 204 may be integrated circuits (ICs). In this example, the network elements 204 (e.g., ICs) may communicate via signals comprising radiated electromagnetic waves having client data encoded therein via the hollow waveguides 208 without requiring electrical data busses. In other embodiments, the network elements 204 may be incorporated into components in a data center, such as servers, routers, switches, firewalls, storage systems, application delivery controllers, and / or the like to establish communication between such components in the data center via signals comprising radiated electromagnetic waves having client data encoded therein propagated through the hollow waveguides 208. The hollow waveguides 208 may thus extend from one IC to another IC, or from one component to another component, and such may be implemented in a variety of ways, such as IC-to-IC communications, printed circuit board (PCB)-to-PCB communications, component-to-component communications, and / or combinations thereof. In the example of PCB-to-PCB communications, the network elements 204 may each include a PCB.

[0142] Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3U shown therein are cross-sectional views of various exemplary embodiments of the first hollow waveguide 208a shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3' and in the direction of the arrows. However, it should be understood that the description referring to FIGS. 3A-3U may be applicable to any of the hollow waveguides 208 described herein. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A-3U, the first hollow waveguide 208a is a hollow fiber. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the first hollow waveguide 208amay be another form of hollow waveguide, such as a substrate-integrated waveguide, for example.

[0143] The first hollow waveguide 208a (and, therefore, each of the hollow waveguides 208) generally comprises a hollow waveguide core 304 and a tubular sidewall 306 having an inner surface 312 in some embodiments defining the hollow waveguide core 304 or in other embodiments simply surroundingthe hollow waveguide core 304.

[0144] Generally, the hollow waveguide core 304 may be composed of any material capable of propagating radiated electromagnetic waves within the THz frequency band 104 or, in some embodiments, in the range between 300 GHz and 10 THz. More particularly, the hollow waveguide core 304 may be composed of any materials having a low absorption loss (i.e., an absorption loss in a range between 1 dB / km and 10,000 dB / km) within the THz frequency band 104, or in some embodiments, in the range between 300 GHz and 10 THz.

[0145] In some embodiments, the hollow waveguide core 304 may be composed of a polymer (e.g., cyclic olefin polymer (COP), cyclic olefin co-polymer (COC), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polymethylpentene (PMP), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), Picarin, or ultraviolet (UV) resin) or glass (e.g., silica glass, crown glass, or borosilicate glass).

[0146] In other embodiments, the hollow waveguide core 304 may be composed of a gas, a vacuum, ora porous material (i.e., a material having a porosity in a range between 25% and 99%). In such embodiments, the hollow waveguide core 304 may have a refractive index in a range between 1.0 and 1.4, for example. As discussed in more detail below, the hollow waveguide core 304 may have a refractive index ni.

[0147] In some embodiments, the hollow waveguide core 304 may have a cross-section configured to support propagation of radiated signals having only a single polarization at a given time. However, in other embodiments, the hollow waveguide core 304 may have a cross-section configured to support propagation of radiated signals having a plurality of polarizations at a given time. In either case, the hollow waveguide core 304 may have a cross-section configured to support propagation of radiated signals having one or more linear polarizations or one or more circular polarizations.

[0148] In some embodiments, the hollow waveguide core 304 may have a cross-section configured to support propagation of radiated signals having only a single mode at a given time. However, in other embodiments, the hollow waveguide core 304 may have a cross-section configured to support propagation of radiated signals having a plurality of modes at a given time.

[0149] The tubular sidewall 306 of the first hollow waveguide 208a (and, therefore, each of the hollow waveguides 208) may comprise a conductive layer 316 (shown in FIGS. 3A-3I) surrounding the hollow waveguide core 304, a dielectric layer 308 (shown in FIGS. 3A, 3C, and 3F-3I) optionally disposed between the hollow waveguide core 304 and the conductive layer 316, and a support layer 320 (shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3E-3I) optionally surrounding the conductive layer 316.

[0150] In some embodiments, the tubular sidewall 306 of the first hollow waveguide 208a (and, therefore, each of the hollow waveguides 208) may comprise a plurality of the conductive layer 316 interleaved with a plurality of the dielectric layer 308.

[0151] In some embodiments, the tubular sidewall 306 of the first hollow waveguide 208a (and, therefore, each of the hollow waveguides 208) may further comprise one or more strength members (not shown) (hereinafter, the "strength members") surrounding the conductive layer 316 configured to enhance resilience of the first hollow waveguide 208a. In such embodiments, the support layer 320 may surround the strength members.

[0152] Generally, the conductive layer 316 may be composed of any material having a refractive index n3 greater than the refractive index of the hollow waveguide core 304 (i.e., ni). More particularly, the conductive layer 316 may be composed of a non-oxidizing metallic material (e.g., silver, gold, or indium tin oxide (ITO)). Providing the conductive layer 316 with a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the hollow waveguide core 304 may cause an effective index An of the first hollow waveguide 208a to increase, thereby causing more radiated signals to be confined and propagated within the hollow waveguide core 304.

[0153] Generally, in embodiments in which the dielectric layer 308 is disposed between the conductive layer 316 and the hollow waveguide core 304, the dielectric layer 308 may be composed of any material having a refractive index n2 greater than the refractive index of the hollow waveguide core 304 (i.e., ni). More particularly, the dielectric layer 308 may be composed of a polymer (e.g., cyclic olefin polymer (COP), cyclic olefin co-polymer (COC), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polymethylpentene (PMP), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), Picarin, or ultraviolet (UV) resin) or glass (e.g., silica glass, crown glass, or borosilicate glass), but particularly a material having a refractive index n? greater than the refractive index of the hollow waveguide core 304 (i.e., ni) in that embodiment. Providing the dielectric layer 308 with a refractive index greaterthan the refractive index of the hollow waveguide core 304 may cause an effective indexAn of the first hollow waveguide 208a to increase, thereby causing more radiated signals to be confined and propagated within the hollow waveguide core 304.

[0154] The support layer 320 may be configured to shield the inner layers of the first hollow waveguide 208a (and, therefore, any of the hollow waveguides 208) from external environmental factors, provide flexibility to the first hollow waveguide 208a, and / or enhance a tensile strength of the first hollow waveguide 208a. In some embodiments, the support layer 320 may be composed of polymer materials, such as acrylate polymer or polyimide, for example.

[0155] In some embodiments, the cross-section of the hollow waveguide core 304 may have a circular shape (i.e., having a diameter di that is equal along both the x-axis and the y-axis) (shown in FIGS. 3A-3D). In some such embodiments, the diameter di of the hollow waveguide core 304 may be between 30 pm and 6 mm. In some such embodiments, the diameter di of the hollow waveguide core 304 may be between 30 pm and 3 mm. In at least one such embodiment, the diameter di of the hollow waveguide core 304 may be 1 mm.

[0156] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3E, the first hollow waveguide 208a may be a photonic-bandgap fiber comprising a plurality of air channels 324 (hereinafterthe "air channels 324") periodically spaced throughout the conductive layer 316.

[0157] In other embodiments, the cross-section of the hollow waveguide core 304 may have an elliptical shape (i.e., having a first diameter Xi along the x-axis and a second diameter yi along the y-axis, wherein the first diameter is not equal to the second diameter) (shown in FIG. 3F), a rectangular shape (shown in FIG. 3G) (i.e., having a first length Xi along the x-axis and a second length yi along the y-axis, wherein the first length is not equal to the second length), a square shape (i.e., having a length li that is equal along both the x-axis and the y-axis) (shown in FIG.3H), or a cross shape (i.e., having a length h that is equal along both the x-axis and the y-axis) (shown in FIG. 31), for example.

[0158] In other embodiments, the first hollow waveguide 208a (and, therefore, any of the hollow waveguides 208) may be implemented as a solid rod fiber (shown in FIG. 3J), a microstructured optical fiber (shown in FIG. 3K), a porous fiber (shown in FIG. 3L), a suspended porous-core fiber (shown in FIG. 3M), a suspended slotted core fiber (shown in FIG. 3N), a hollowcore bandgap fiber (shown in FIG. 30), a hollow-core tube fiber (shown in FIG. 3P), a hollow-core fiber with negative curvature (shown in FIG. 3Q), a hollow-core fiber based on anti-resonances and inhibited coupling (shown in FIG. 3R), a hollow-core nested anti-resonant nodeless fiber (shown in FIG. 3S), a 3D-printed hollow-core fiber based on anti-resonances and inhibited coupling (shown in FIG. 3T), or a Bragg fiber (shown in FIG. 3U), for example.

[0159] Referring now to FIG. 4A, shown therein is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the first transmitter 212a shown in FIG. 2. However, it should be understood that the description of any particular one of the transmitter 212 may be applicable to any of the transmitters 212 described herein. The first transmitter 212a (and, therefore, each of the transmitters 212) generally comprises a client-side input 400 configured to receive one or more baseband signals 404a-n (hereinafter, the "baseband signals 404") having client data encoded therein from one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224), transmitter circuitry 408 configured to receive the baseband signals 404 from the client-side input 400 and generate one or more antenna feed signals 412 (hereinafter, the "antenna feed signals 412") based on the baseband signals 404, and one or more first antennas 416 configured to receive the antenna feed signals 412 from the transmitter circuitry 408, generate one or more radiated signals 420 (hereinafter, the "radiated signals 420") based on the antenna feed signals 412, and couple the radiated signals 420 into the first hollow waveguide 208a.

[0160] In some embodiments, the client-side input 400 is a pair of inputs configured to receive a differential signal. In some such embodiments, the client-side input 400 may be a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) link configured to receive LVDS signals, and the baseband signals 404 may be LVDS signals indicative of client data.

[0161] In some embodiments, the antenna feed signals 412 are provided to the first antennas 416 on one or more transmission lines (not shown) (hereinafter, the "transmission lines"), wherein each of the transmission lines has two or more conductors (not shown) (hereinafter, the "conductors"). In some embodiments, the transmission lines have a first transmission loss and the first hollow waveguide 208a has a second transmission loss that is less than the first transmission loss. In some embodiments, the second transmission loss is in a range between 0.001 and 20.00 decibels (dB) per meter (m) per Terabit (Tb) per second (s).

[0162] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4A, each of the client-side input 400, the transmitter circuitry 408, and the first antennas 416 may be disposed on a substrate 424. However, in other embodiments, one or more of the client-side input 400, the transmitter circuitry 408, and the first antennas 416 may be disposed on a first substrate (not shown), and one or more of the client-side input 400, the transmitter circuitry 408, and the first antennas 416 may not be disposed on the first substrate. For example, the one or more of the client-side input 400, the transmitter circuitry 408, and the first antennas 416 may be disposed on a second substrate (not shown). In such embodiments, the first substrate and the second substrate may be in a stacked arrangement.

[0163] In some embodiments, the substrate 424 may have a plurality of layers (not shown). In such embodiments, one or more of the client-side input 400, the transmitter circuitry 408, and the first antennas 416 may be disposed on a first layer (not shown), and one or more ofthe clientside input 400, the transmitter circuitry 408, and the first antennas 416 may be disposed on a second layer (not shown).

[0164] In some embodiments, one or more of the client-side input 400, the transmitter circuitry 408, and the first antennas 416 may be integrated into a monolithic semiconductor die (not shown). In some embodiments, one or more of the client-side input 400, the transmitter circuitry 408, and the first antennas 416 may implemented using one or more of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, silicon-germanium (SiGe) semiconductor technology, and lll-V compound semiconductor technology.

[0165] In some embodiments, the baseband signals 404 are digital bitstreams. In some embodiments, the client data may be encoded in the baseband signals 404 using an encoding protocol conforming to requirements of one or more of return-to-zero (RZ) code, non-return-to-zero (NRZ) code, pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM), and quadrature-amplitude modulation (QAM). In some embodiments, the client data may be encoded in the radiated signals 420 using an encoding protocol conforming to requirements of one or more of RZ, NRZ, quadrature phaseshift keying (QPSK), QAM, trellis coded modulation (TCM), and Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) code.

[0166] In some embodiments, the radiated signals 420 include a first complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a first polarization and a second complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a second polarization different from the first polarization. In such embodiments, the first antennas 416 may be configured to generate the radiated signals 420 includingthe first complementary radiated signal and the second complementary radiated signal based on the antenna feed signals 412. The first polarization and the second polarization may be orthogonal to each other.

[0167] In some embodiments, each ofthe first polarization and the second polarization may be a linear polarization. In such embodiments, the first antennas 416 may include one or more of a differential waveguide probe antenna, a differential tapered antenna, and a differential patch antenna. In other embodiments, each ofthe first polarization and the second polarization may be a circular polarization. In such embodiments, the first antennas 416 may include one or more of a helix antenna and a spiral antenna.

[0168] In some embodiments, the radiated signals 420 include a first complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a first polarization and a second complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a second polarization different from the first polarization, and the first antennas 416 are further configured to couple the first complementary radiated signal and the second complementary radiated signal into the first hollow waveguide 208a such that the first complementary radiated signal and the second complementary radiated signal interact in the first hollow waveguide 208a to form the combined radiated signal (not shown) having a third polarization different from the first polarization and the second polarization. In such embodiments, the first antennas 416 may include an antenna array.

[0169] Referring now to FIG. 4B, in some embodiments, the first transmitter 212a (and, therefore, any of the transmitters 212) further comprises a first serializer 426 configured to receivea plurality of parallel baseband signals428a-n (hereinafter, the "parallel baseband signals 428") and combine the parallel baseband signals 428 into a serial baseband signal (i.e., the baseband signals 404). In such embodiments, the client-side input 400 may be configured to receive the baseband signals 404 from the first serializer 426. In some such embodiments, combining the parallel baseband signals 428 into the baseband signals 404 utilizes at least one of polarization division multiplexing (PDM), time division multiplexing (TDM), and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM).

[0170] Referring now to FIG. 4C, in some embodiments, the first transmitter 212a (and, therefore, any of the transmitters 212) further comprises a first deserializer 432 configured to receive a serial baseband signal (i.e., the baseband signals 404) and split the baseband signals 404 into parallel baseband signals 428. In such embodiments, the client-side input 400 may be configured to receive the parallel baseband signals 428 from the first deserializer 432. In some such embodiments, splitting the baseband signals 404 into the parallel baseband signals 428 utilizes at least one of PDM, TDM, and WDM.

[0171] Referring now to FIG. 4D, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of the transmitter circuitry 408 shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. In some embodiments, the transmitter circuitry 408 comprises one or more local oscillators 436a-n (hereinafter, the "LOs 436") configured to generate one or more carrier signals 440 (hereinafter, the "carrier signals 440") having a baseband frequency less than the transmission frequency, one or more modulation circuits 444 (hereinafter, the "modulator 444") configured to receive the baseband signals 404 from the client-side input 400 and the carrier signals 440 from the LOs 436 and modulate the baseband signals 404 onto the carrier signals 440 to generate one or more modulated signals 448(hereinafter, the "modulated signals 448"), and one or more up-conversion circuits 452 (hereinafter, the "up-convertor 452") configured to receive the modulated signals 448 from the modulator 444 and up-convert the modulated signals 448 (i.e., raise a frequency of the modulated signals 448 from the baseband frequency to the transmission frequency) to generate the antenna feed signals 412.

[0172] Referring now to FIG. 4E, in embodiments in which the client-side input 400 is configured to receive the parallel baseband signals 428, the transmitter circuitry 408 may be configured to receive the parallel baseband signals 428 from the client-side input 400. In such embodiments, the modulator 444 may be configured to receive the parallel baseband signals 428 from the client-side input 400 and the carrier signals 440 from the LOs 436 and modulate the parallel baseband signals 428 onto the carrier signals 440 to generate the modulated signals 448. In such embodiments, the up-converter 452 may be configured to receive the modulated signals 448 from the modulator 444 and up-convert the modulated signals 448 to generate one or more up-converted signals 460 (hereinafter, the "up-converted signals 460").

[0173] In some embodiments, the transmitter circuitry 408 may further comprise a combiner 456 configured to receive the up-converted signals 460 from the up-converter 452 and combine the up-converted signals 460 into the antenna feed signals 412. However, in other embodiments, the first antennas 416 may be configured to receive the antenna feed signals 412 from the up-converter 452, generate the radiated signals 420 based on the antenna feed signals 412, and couple the radiated signals 420 into the first hollow waveguide 208a such that the radiated signals 420 interact in the first hollow waveguide 208a to form a combined radiated signal (not shown).

[0174] In some embodiments, coupling the radiated signals 420 into the first hollow waveguide 208a such that the radiated signals 420 interact in the first hollow waveguide 208a to form the combined radiated signal utilizes at least one of PDM, TDM, and WDM.

[0175] Referring now to FIG. 4F, shown therein is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first transmitter 212a shown in FIG. 2. However, it should be understood that the description of any particular one of the transmitters 212 may be applicable to any of the transmitters 212 described herein.

[0176] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4F, the first transmitter 212a comprises the clientside input 400 configured to receive the baseband signals 404 from one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224) and send the baseband signals 404 to the transmitter circuitry 408, the transmitter circuitry 408 configured to receive the baseband signals 404 fromthe client-side input 400, generate the antenna feed signals 412 based on the baseband signals 404, and send the antenna feed signals 412 to an RF interface 464 configured to receive the antenna feed signals 412 from the transmitter circuitry 408 and transmit the antenna feed signals 412, and a digital enhancement and control unit 468 configured to provide digital control and / or processing capabilities for one or more of the components of the first transmitter 212a.

[0177] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4F, the transmitter circuitry 408 comprises one or more modulator 444a (hereinafter, the "modulator 444a"), a frequency synthesizer 472 comprising a phase-locked loop (PLL) 476 and a first LO 436a, a second LO 436b, a first frequency mixer 480a, a second frequency mixer 480b, a first amplifier 484a, and a second amplifier 484b.

[0178] The modulator 444a may be configured to receive the baseband signals 404 from the client-side input 400 and encode the baseband signals 404 in a format suitable for modulation onto a carrier signal. In some embodiments, the modulator 444a may include one or more digital-to-analog converter (DAC), one or more Serializer / Deserializer (SerDes), one or more folded modulator 700 (shown in FIG. 7), and / or circuitry operable to encode the baseband signals 404 in a modulation format, such as AM, ASK, PSK, QAM, QAM16, or variations thereof, for example. In some embodiments, the modulator 444a may include circuitry operable to perform forward error correction (FEC). The modulator 444a may be further configured to send the encoded input signals having the data encoded therein to the second frequency mixer 480b.

[0179] In some embodiments, the modulator 444a is configured to simply receive the baseband signals 404 (i.e., the baseband signals 404 having been previously encoded in a modulation format) from the client-side input 400 and send the baseband signals 404 to the second frequency mixer 480b.

[0180] The second LO 436b may be configured to generate second carrier signals having a continuous waveform (e.g., a sinusoidal waveform) having a predetermined frequency (i.e., an intermediate frequency (IF) frequency). In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the second carrier signals (i.e., the IF frequency) is in an RF band (i.e., in a range between 30 Hertz (Hz) and 300 GHz). In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the second carrier signals (i.e., the IF frequency) is in a range between 1 Megahertz (MHz) and 300 GHz. In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the second carrier signals (i.e., the IF frequency) is in a range between 5 GHz and 30 GHz. The second LO 436b may be further configured to send the second carrier signals to the second frequency mixer 480b.

[0181] The second frequency mixer 480b may be configured to receive the encoded baseband signals from the modulator 444a, receive the second carrier signals from the secondLO 436b, up-convert the encoded baseband signals with the second carrier signals to produce first modulated signals having client data encoded therein and having the predetermined frequency of the second carrier signals (i.e., the IF frequency), and send the first modulated signals to the third amplifier 484c.

[0182] The third amplifier 484c may be configured to receive the first modulated signa Is from the second frequency mixer 480b, adjust an amplitude of the first modulated signals such that the amplified first modulated signals can drive the first frequency mixer 480a, and send the amplified first modulated signals to the first frequency mixer 480a.

[0183] The frequency synthesizer 472 (i.e., the first LO 436a and the PLL 476) may be configured to generate first carrier signals having a continuous waveform (e.g., a sinusoidal waveform) having a predetermined frequency (e.g., within the THz frequency band 104 or, in some embodiments, in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz). In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the first carrier signals is in a range between 30 GHz and 300 GHz. In some such embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the first carrier signals is 240 GHz. In other embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the first carrier signals is in a range between 300 GHz and 3 THz. The frequency synthesizer 472 may be further configured to send the first carrier signals to the second amplifier 484b.

[0184] The second amplifier 484b may be configured to receive the first carrier signals from the first LO 436a, adjust an amplitude of the first carrier signals to generate amplified carrier signals that can drive the first frequency mixer 480a, and send the amplified carrier signals to the first frequency mixer 480a.

[0185] The first frequency mixer 480a may be configured to receive the amplified carrier signals from the second amplifier 484b, receive the amplified first modulated signals from the third amplifier 484c, up-convert the amplified first modulated signals with the amplified carrier signals to produce second modulated signals having the client data encoded therein and having the predetermined frequency of the amplified carrier signals (i.e., within the THz frequency band 104 or, in some embodiments, in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz), and send the second modulated signals to the first amplifier 484a.

[0186] The first amplifier 484a may be configured to receive the second modulated signals from the first frequency mixer 480a, adjust an amplitude of the second modulated signals such that the amplified second modulated signals can be transmitted by the RF interface 464, and send the amplified second modulated signals to the RF interface 464. The first amplifier 484a21may be configured to generate the amplified second modulated signals to have a power in a range between 0.05 watts (W) and 0.4 W, for example.

[0187] The RF interface 464 may be configured to receive the amplified second modulated signals with the client data encoded therein from the first amplifier 484a and send the amplified second modulated signals as the antenna feed signals 412 (i.e., having the client data encoded therein) within a predetermined frequency range (e.g., the THz frequency band 104 or, in some embodiments, in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz). In some embodiments, the RF interface 464 may be electrically connected to one of the first antennas 416 and configured to send the antenna feed signals 412 to the first antennas 416. In other embodiments, however, the first antennas 416 may be included in place of the RF interface 464.

[0188] Referring now to FIG. 4G, shown therein is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first transmitter 212a shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the first transmitter 212a comprises a plurality of inputs including an in-phase (l)-BB client-side input 400a and a quadrature (Q)-BB client-side input 400b configured to receive l-BB baseband signals 404a and Q-BB baseband signals 404b, respectively, from one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224) and an LO input 400c configured to receive one or more carrier signals 488 (hereinafter, the "carrier signals 488") from an external LO, the transmitter circuitry 408 configured to generate the antenna feed signals 412 based on the l-BB baseband signals 404a, the Q-BB baseband signals 404b, and the carrier signals 488, and the RF interface 464 configured to transmit the antenna feed signals 412.

[0189] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4G, the transmitter circuitry 408 comprises a balancing unit (Balun) 492, a third frequency mixer 480c, a fourth frequency mixer 480d, a fifth frequency mixer480e, and a sixth frequency mixer 480f, a fourth amplifier484d, a fifth amplifier 484e, a sixth amplifier 484f, a seventh amplifier 484g, and eighth amplifier 484h, a quadrature coupler (e.g., branchline coupler) 494, and a power combiner (e.g., Wilkinson power combiner) 498.

[0190] The l-BB baseband signals 404a and the Q-BB baseband signals 404b may be I and Q components of baseband signals 404 having client data encoded therein. The l-BB client-side input 400a may be configured to send the l-BB baseband signals 404a to the sixth amplifier 484f. The Q-BB client-side input 400b may be configured to send the Q-BB baseband signals 404b to the seventh amplifier 484g.

[0191] The LO input 400c may be configured to receive the carrier signals 488 from an external LO, the carrier signals 488 having a continuous waveform (e.g., a sinusoidal waveform)having a predetermined frequency. The LO input 400c may be further configured to send the carrier signals 488 to the Balun 492.

[0192] The Balun 492 may be configured to isolate and / or maintain impedance differences between balanced transmission lines and unbalanced transmission lines. The Balun 492 may be further configured to send the carrier signals 488 to the third frequency mixer 480c.

[0193] The third frequency mixer 480c may be configured to receive the carrier signals 488 from the Balun 492, multiply the carrier signals 488 (e.g., by a multiple of four), and send the multiplied carrier signals to the fourth amplifier 484d.

[0194] The fourth amplifier 484d may be configured to receive the multiplied carrier signals from the third frequency mixer 480c, adjust an amplitude of the multiplied carrier signals such that the amplified carrier signals can drive the fourth frequency mixer 480d, and send the amplified carrier signals to the fourth frequency mixer 480d.

[0195] The fourth frequency mixer 480d may be configured to receive the amplified carrier signals from the fourth amplifier 484d, multiply the amplified carrier signals (e.g., by a multiple of two), and send the remultiplied carrier signals to the fifth amplifier 484e.

[0196] The fifth amplifier 484e may be configured to receive the remultiplied carrier signals from the fourth frequency mixer 480d, adjust an amplitude of the remultiplied carrier signals such that the reamplified carrier signals can drive the quadrature coupler 494, and send the reamplified carrier signals to the quadrature coupler 494.

[0197] The sixth amplifier 484f may be configured to receive the l-BB baseband signals 404a from the l-BB client-side input 400a, adjust an amplitude of the l-BB baseband signals 404a such that the amplified l-BB input signals can drive the fifth frequency mixer 480e, and send the amplified l-BB signals to the fifth frequency mixer 480e.

[0198] The seventh amplifier 484g may be configured to receive the Q-BB baseband signals 404b from the Q-BB client-side input 400b, adjust an amplitude of the Q-BB baseband signals 404b such that the amplified Q-BB baseband signals 404b can drive the sixth frequency mixer 480f, and the amplified Q-BB signals to the sixth frequency mixer 480f.

[0199] The quadrature coupler 494 may be configured to receive the reamplified carrier signals from the fifth amplifier 484e, split the reamplified carrier signals into first carrier signals and second carrier signals, send the first carrier signals to the fifth frequency mixer 480e, and send the second carrier signals to the sixth frequency mixer 480f, wherein the first carrier signals and the second carrier signals are out of phase by 90°.

[0200] The fifth frequency mixer 480e may be configured to receive the amplified l-BB signals from the sixth amplifier 484f, receive the first carrier signals from the quadrature coupler 494, up-convert the amplified l-BB signals with the first carrier signals to produce I antenna feed signals having the I component of the client data encoded therein and having the predetermined frequency of the carrier signals 488, and send the I antenna feed signals to the power combiner 498.

[0201] The sixth frequency mixer 480f may be configured to receive the amplified Q-BB signals from the seventh amplifier 484g, receive the second carrier signals from the quadrature coupler 494, up-convert the amplified Q-BB signals with the second carrier signals to produce Q antenna feed signals havin the Qcomponent of the client data encoded therein and having the predetermined frequency of the carrier signals 488, and send the Q antenna feed signals to the power combiner 498.

[0202] The power combiner 498 may be configured to receive the I antenna feed signals from the fifth frequency mixer 480e, receive the Q antenna feed signals from the sixth frequency mixer 480f, combine the I antenna feed signals and the Q antenna feed signals to produce the antenna feed signals 412, and send the antenna feed signals 412 to the RF interface 464. In some embodiments, the RF interface 464 may be electrically connected to one of the first antennas 416 and configured to send the antenna feed signals 412 to the first antenna 416. In other embodiments, however, one of the first antennas 416 may be included in place of the RF interface 464.

[0203] Referring now to FIG. 5A, shown therein is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the first receiver 216a (hereinafter, the "first receiver 216a") shown in FIG. 2. However, it should be understood that the description of any particular one of the receivers 216 may be applicable to any of the receivers 216 described herein. The first receiver 216a (and, therefore, each of the receiver 216) generally comprises one or more second antennas 516 configured to coherently detect the radiated signals 420 received from the first hollow waveguide 208a and generate one or more antenna output signals 512 (hereinafter, the "antenna output signals 512") based on the radiated signals 420, receiver circuitry 508 configured to receive the antenna output signals 512 from the second antennas 516 and generate the baseband signals 404 based on the antenna output signals 512, and a client-side output 500 configured to receive the baseband signals 404 from the receiver circuitry 508 and transmit the baseband signals 404 to one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224).

[0204] In some embodiments, the antenna output signals 512 are received from the second antennas 516 on one or more transmission lines (not shown) (hereinafter, the "transmission lines"), wherein each of the transmission lines has two or more conductors (not shown) (hereinafter, the "conductors"). In some embodiments, the transmission lines have a first transmission loss and the first hollow waveguide 208a has a second transmission loss that is less than the first transmission loss. In some embodiments, the second transmission loss is in a range between 0.001 and 20.00 dB / m / Tb / s.

[0205] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5A, each of the second antennas 516, the receiver circuitry 508, and the client-side output 500 may be disposed on a substrate 524. However, in other embodiments, one or more of the second antennas 516, the receiver circuitry 508, and the client-side output 500 may be disposed on a first substrate (not shown), and one or more of the second antennas 516, the receiver circuitry 508, and the client-side output 500 may not be disposed on the first substrate. For example, the one or more of the second antennas 516, the receiver circuitry 508, and the client-side output 500 may be disposed on a second substrate (not shown). In such embodiments, the first substrate and the second substrate may be in a stacked arrangement.

[0206] In some embodiments, the substrate 524 may have a plurality of layers (not shown). In such embodiments, one or more of the second antennas 516, the receiver circuitry 508, and the client-side output 500 may be disposed on a first layer (not shown), and one or more of the second antennas 516, the receiver circuitry 508, and the client-side output 500 may be disposed on a second layer (not shown).

[0207] In some embodiments, one or more of the second antennas 516, the receiver circuitry 508, and the client-side output 500 may be integrated into a monolithic semiconductor die (not shown). In some embodiments, one or more of the second antennas 516, the receiver circuitry 508, and the client-side output 500 may implemented using one or more of CMOS technology, SiGe semiconductor technology, and lll-V compound semiconductor technology.

[0208] In some embodiments, the radiated signals 420 include a first complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a first polarization and a second complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a second polarization different from the first polarization. In such embodiments, the second antennas 516 may be configured to generate the antenna output signals 512 based on the radiated signals 420 including the first complementary radiated signal and the second complementary radiated signal. The first polarization and the second polarization may be orthogonal to each other.

[0209] In some embodiments, the radiated signals 420 may be formed by a first complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a first polarization and a second complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a second polarization different from the first polarization interacting in the first hollow waveguide 208a. In such embodiments, the radiated signals 420 may have a third polarization different from the first polarization and the second polarization. In such embodiments, the second antennas 516 may be configured generate the antenna output signals 512 based on the radiated signals 420 formed by the first complementary radiated signal and the second complementary radiated signal.

[0210] Referring now to FIG. 5B, in some embodiments, the client-side output 500 is configured to receive a serial baseband signal (i.e., the baseband signals 404) from the receiver circuitry 508. In such embodiments, the first receiver 216a (and, therefore, any of the receivers 216) may further comprise a second deserializer 526 configured to receive the baseband signals 404 from the client-side output 500, split the serial baseband signal into the parallel baseband signals 428, and transmit the parallel baseband signals 428 to one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224). In some such embodiments, splitting the serial baseband signal into the parallel baseband signals 428 utilizes at least one of PDM, TDM, and WDM.

[0211] Referring now to FIG. 5C, in some embodiments, the client-side output 500 is configured to receive the parallel baseband signals 428 from the receiver circuitry 508. In such embodiments, the first receiver 216a (and, therefore, any of the receivers 216) may further comprise a second serializer 532 configured to receive the parallel baseband signals 428 from the client-side output 500 and combine the parallel baseband signals 428 into the serial baseband signal (i.e., the baseband signals 404). In some such embodiments, combining the parallel baseband signals 428 into the baseband signals 404 utilizes at least one of PDM, TDM, and WDM.

[0212] Referring now to FIG. 5D, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of the receiver circuitry 508 shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. In some embodiments, the receiver circuitry 508 comprises one or more LOs 536a-n (hereinafter, the "LO 536") configured to generate one or more reference signals 540a-n (hereinafter, the "reference signals 540") having a baseband frequency less than the transmission frequency, one or more down-conversion circuits 552 (hereinafter, the "down-converter 552") configured to receive the antenna output signals 512 from the second antennas 516 and the reference signals 540 from the LO 536 and down-convert the antenna output signals 512 (i.e., lower a frequency of the antenna output signals 512 from the transmission frequency to the baseband frequency) using the reference signals 540 to generateone or more modulated signals 548 (hereinafter, the "modulated signals 548"), and one or more demodulation circuits 544 (hereinafter, the "demodulator 544") configured to receive the modulated signals 548 from the down-converter 552 and demodulate the modulated signals 548 to generate the baseband signals 404.

[0213] Referring now to FIG. 5E, in embodiments in which the second antennas 516 are configured to receive the radiated signals 420 formed by a first complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a first polarization and a second complementary radiated signal (not shown) having a second polarization different from the first polarization interacting in the first hollow waveguide 208a, the receiver circuitry 508 may be configured to receive the antenna output signals 512 from the second antennas 516. In such embodiments, the demodulator 544 may be configured to receive the modulated signals 548 from the down-converter 552 and demodulate the modulated signals 548 to generate the parallel baseband signals 428.

[0214] In some embodiments, the receiver circuitry 508 may further comprise a splitter 556 configured to receive the antenna output signals 512 from the second antennas 516 and split the antenna output signals 512 into a plurality of parallel antenna output signals 560 (hereinafter, the "parallel antenna output signals 560"). However, in other embodiments, the second antennas 516 may be configured to coherently detect the first complementary radiated signal and the second complementary radiated signal based on the radiated signals 420 received from the first hollow waveguide 208a and generate the antenna output signals 512 based on the first complementary radiated signal and the second complementary radiated signal.

[0215] In some embodiments, detecting the first complementary radiated signal and the second complementary radiated signal based on the radiated signals 420 received from the first hollow waveguide 208a utilizes at least one of PDM, TDM, and WDM.

[0216] Referring now to FIG. 5F, shown therein is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first receiver 216a shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5F, the first receiver 216a comprises an RF interface 564 configured to receive the antenna output signals 512, the receiver circuitry 508 configured to generate the baseband signals 404 based on the antenna output signals 512, the client-side output 500 configured to transmit the baseband signals 404 to one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224), and a digital enhancement and control unit 568 configured to provide digital control and / or processing capabilities for one or more of the components of the first receiver 216a.

[0217] In the embodiment shown, the receiver circuitry 508 comprises one or more demodulator 544a (hereinafter, the "demodulator 544a"), a frequency synthesizer 572comprising a PLL 576 and a first LO 536a, a second LO 536b, a first frequency mixer 580a, a second frequency mixer 580b, a first amplifier 584a, a second amplifier 584b, and a third amplifier 584c.

[0218] The RF interface 564 may be configured to send the antenna output signals 512 to the first amplifier 584a. In some embodiments, the RF interface 564 may be configured to receive the antenna output signals 512 from one of the second antennas 516. In other embodiments, one of the second antennas 516 may be included in place of the RF interface 564.

[0219] The first amplifier 584a may be configured to receive the antenna output signals 512 from the RF interface 564, adjust an amplitude of the antenna output signals 512 such that the amplified transmission signals can drive the first frequency mixer 580a, and send the amplified transmission signals to the first frequency mixer 580a.

[0220] The frequency synthesizer 572 (i.e., the first LO 536a and the PLL 576) may be configured to generate first carrier signals having a continuous waveform (e.g., a sinusoidal waveform) having a predetermined frequency (e.g., within the THz frequency band 104 or, in some embodiments, in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz). In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the first carrier signals is in a range between 30 GHz and 300 GHz. In some such embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the first carrier signals is 240 GHz. In other embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the first carrier signals is in a range between 300 GHz and 3 THz. The first LO 536a may be further configured to send the first carrier signals to the second amplifier 584b.

[0221] The second amplifier 584b may be configured to receive the first carrier signals from the first LO 536a, adjust an amplitude of the first carrier signals to generate amplified carrier signals that can drive the first frequency mixer 580a, and send the amplified carrier signals to the first frequency mixer 580a.

[0222] The first frequency mixer 580a may be configured to receive the antenna output signals 512 from the first amplifier 584a, receive the amplified carrier signals from the second amplifier 584b, down-convert the antenna output signals 512 with the amplified carrier signals to produce modulated signals having the client data encoded therein and having the IF frequency, and send the modulated signals to the third amplifier 584c.

[0223] The third amplifier 584c may be configured to receive the modulated signals from the first frequency mixer 580a, adjust an amplitude of the modulated signals such that the amplified modulated signals can drive the second frequency mixer 580b, and send the amplified modulated signals to the second frequency mixer 580b.

[0224] The second LO 536b may be configured to generate second carrier signals having a continuous waveform (e.g., a sinusoidal waveform) having a predetermined frequency (i.e., the IF frequency). In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the second carrier signals (i.e., the IF frequency) is in a range between 8 GHz and 10 GHz. The second LO 536b may be further configured to send the second carrier signals to the second frequency mixer 580b.

[0225] The second frequency mixer 580b may be configured to receive the amplified modulated signals from the third amplifier 584c, receive the second carrier signals from the second LO 536b, down-convert the amplified modulated signals with the second carrier signals to produce encoded signals having the client data encoded therein and having the predetermined frequency of the second carrier signals (i.e., the IF frequency), and send the encoded signals to the demodulator 544a.

[0226] The demodulator 544a may be configured to receive the encoded signals from the second frequency mixer 580b and decode the encoded signals in a format suitable for transmission to one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224) to generate the baseband signals 404.

[0227] In some embodiments, the demodulator 544a may include one or more analog-to-digital converter (ADC), one or more Serializer / Deserializer (SerDes), one or more rectifying detector 800 (shown in FIG. 8), and / or circuitry operable to decode the encoded output signals from a modulation format, such as AM, ASK, PSK, QAM, or QAM16, or variations thereof, for example, to produce the baseband signals 404 with the client data encoded therein. In some embodiments, the demodulator 544a may include circuitry operable to perform forward error correction (FEC). The demodulator 544a may be further configured to send the baseband signals 404 to the client-side output 500. In some embodiments, the demodulator 544a is configured to simply receive the encoded signals from the second frequency mixer 580b and send the encoded signals as the baseband signals 404 to the client-side output 500.

[0228] In some embodiments, the client-side output 500 is a pair of output interfaces. In some such embodiments, the client-side output 500 is an LVDS link configured to transmit LVDS signals, and the baseband signals 404 are LVDS signals with the client data encoded therein.

[0229] Referring now to FIG. 5G, shown therein is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first receiver 216a shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5G, the first receiver 216a comprises the RF interface 564 configured to receive the antenna output signals 512, an LO input 500c configured to receive carrier signals 588 from an external LO, the receiver circuitry 508 configured to generate Q-BB baseband signals 404b and l-BB basebandsignals 404a based on the antenna output signals 512 and the carrier signals 588, and a Q-BB client-side output 500a and an l-BB client-side output 500b configured to transmit the Q-BB baseband signals 404b and the l-BB baseband signals 404a, respectively.

[0230] In the embodiment shown, the receiver circuitry 508 comprises a third frequency mixer 580c, a fourth frequency mixer 580d, a fifth frequency mixer 580e, a sixth frequency mixer 580f, a fourth amplifier 584d, a fifth amplifier 584e, a sixth amplifier 584f, a seventh amplifier 584g, an eighth amplifier 584h, a ninth amplifier 584i, a tenth amplifier 584j, an eleventh amplifier 584k, a twelfth amplifier 5841, a Balun 592, a quadrature coupler (e.g., branchline coupler) 594, and a power divider (e.g., Wilkinson power divider) 598.

[0231] The fourth amplifier 584d may be configured to receive the antenna output signals 512 from the RF interface 564, adjust an amplitude of the antenna output signals 512 such that the amplified transmission signals can drive the power divider 598, and send the amplified transmission signals to the power divider 598. In some embodiments, the fourth amplifier 584d is a low-noise amplifier (LNA).

[0232] The power divider 598 may be configured to receive the amplified transmission signals from the fourth amplifier 584d, split the amplified transmission signals into I antenna output signals having the I component of the client data encoded therein and Qantenna output signals having the Qcomponent of the client data encoded therein, send the Qantenna output signals to the third frequency mixer 580c, and send the I antenna output signals to the fourth frequency mixer 580d.

[0233] The LO input 500c may be configured to receive carrier signals 588 from an external LO, the carrier signals 588 having a continuous waveform (e.g., a sinusoidal waveform) having a predetermined frequency. The LO input 500c may be further configured to send the carrier signals 588 to the Balun 592.

[0234] The Balun 592 may be configured to isolate and / or maintain impedance differences between balanced transmission lines and unbalanced transmission lines. The Balun 492 may be further configured to send the carrier signals 588 to the sixth frequency mixer 580f.

[0235] The sixth frequency mixer 580f may be configured to receive the carrier signals 588 from the Balun 592, multiply the carrier signals 588 (e.g., by a multiple of four), and send the multiplied carrier signals to the twelfth amplifier 5841.

[0236] The twelfth amplifier 5841 may be configured to receive the multiplied carrier signals from the sixth frequency mixer 580f, adjust an amplitude of the multiplied carrier signals togenerate amplified carrier signals that can drive the fifth frequency mixer 580e, and send the amplified carrier signals to the fifth frequency mixer 580e.

[0237] The fifth frequency mixer 580e may be configured to receive the amplified carrier signals from the twelfth amplifier 5841, multiply the amplified carrier signals (e.g., by a multiple of two), and send the remultiplied carrier signals to the eleventh amplifier 584k.

[0238] The eleventh amplifier 584k may be configured to receive the remultiplied carrier signals from the fifth frequency mixer 580e, adjust an amplitude of the remultiplied carrier signals to generate reamplified carrier signals that can drive the quadrature coupler 594, and send the reamplified carrier signals to the quadrature coupler 594.

[0239] The quadrature coupler 594 may be configured to receive the reamplified carrier signals from the eleventh amplifier 584k, split the reamplified carrier signals into first carrier signals and second carrier signals, send the first carrier signals to the third frequency mixer 580c, and send the second carrier signals to the fourth frequency mixer 580d, wherein the first carrier signals and the second carrier signals are out of phase by 90°.

[0240] The third frequency mixer 580c may be configured to receive the Q antenna output signals from the power divider 598, receive the first carrier signals from the quadrature coupler (e.g., branchline coupler) 594, down-convert the Q antenna output signals with the first carrier signals to generate Q-BB intermediate signals having the Q component of the client data encoded therein and having the IF frequency, and send the Q-BB intermediate signals to the fifth amplifier 584e.

[0241] The fifth amplifier 584e, the sixth amplifier 584f, and the seventh amplifier 584g may be configured to receive the Q-BB intermediate signals from the third frequency mixer 580c, down-convert the Q-BB intermediate signals to generate the Q-BB baseband signals 404b, and send the Q-BB baseband signals 404btothe Q-BB client-side output 500a. In some embodiments, the fifth amplifier 584e is a transimpedance amplifier (TIA), and the sixth amplifier 584f is a variable-gain amplifier (VGA).

[0242] The fourth frequency mixer 580d may be configured to receive the I antenna output signals from the power divider 598, receive the second carrier signals from the quadrature coupler 594, down-convert the I antenna output signals with the second carrier signals to produce l-BB intermediate signals having the I component of the client data encoded therein and having the IF frequency, and send the l-BB intermediate signals to the eighth amplifier 584h.

[0243] The eighth amplifier 584h, the ninth amplifier 584i, and the tenth amplifier 584j may be configured to receive the l-BB intermediate signals from the fourth frequency mixer 580d,down-convert the l-BB intermediate signals to generate the l-BB baseband signals 404a, and send the l-BB baseband signals 404a to the l-BB client-side output 500b. In some embodiments, the eighth amplifier 584h is a TIA, and the ninth amplifier 584i is VGA.

[0244] Referring now to FIG. 6A, shown therein is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the first transceiver 220a (hereinafter, the "first transceiver 220a") shown in FIG.2. However, it should be understood that the description of any particular one of the transceivers 220 may be applicable to any of the transceivers 220 described herein. The first transceiver 220a (and, therefore, each of the transceivers 220) generally comprises a third transmitter 212c and a third receiver 216c.

[0245] The third transmitter 212c generally comprises a client-side input 600a configured to receive one or more first baseband signals 604a (hereinafter, the "first baseband signals 604a") having first client data encoded therein from one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224), transmitter circuitry 608a configured to receive the first baseband signals 604a from the client-side input 600a and generate one or more antenna feed signals 612a (hereinafter, the "antenna feed signals 612") based on the first baseband signals 604a, and one or more first antennas 616a (hereinafter, the "first antennas 616") configured to receive the antenna feed signals 612a from the transmitter circuitry 608a, generate one or more first radiated signals 420a (hereinafter, the "first radiated signals 420a") based on the antenna feed signals 612a, and couple the first radiated signals 420a into the fourth hollow waveguide 208d.

[0246] The third receiver 216c generally comprises one or more second antennas 616b (hereinafter, the "antennas 616b") configured to coherently detect one or more second radiated signals 620b (hereinafter, the "second radiated signals 620b") received from the third hollow waveguide 208c and generate one or more antenna output signals 612b (hereinafter, the "antenna output signals 612b") based on the second radiated signals 620b, receiver circuitry 608b configured to receive the antenna output signals 612b from the second antennas 616b and generate the second baseband signals 604b based on the antenna output signals 612b, and a client-side output 600b configured to receive the second baseband signals 604b from the receiver circuitry 608b and transmit the second baseband signals 604b to one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224).

[0247] Each of the components of the first transceiver 220a (and, therefore, each of the transceivers 220) may be the same or similar to one or more of the components of the first transmitter 212a and the first receiver 216a as described herein.

[0248] Referring now to FIG. 6B, shown therein is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of the first transceiver 220a shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B, the first transceiver 220a comprises the client-side input 600a configured to receive the first baseband signals 604a from one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224), the transmitter circuitry 608a configured to generate the antenna feed signals 612a based on the first baseband signals 604a, a first RF interface 664a configured to transmit the antenna feed signals 612a, a second RF interface 664b configured to receive the antenna output signals 612b, the receiver circuitry 608b configured to generate the second baseband signals 604b based on the antenna output signals 612b, the client-side output 600b configured to transmit the second baseband signals 604b to one or more external component, and a digital enhancement and control unit 668 configured to provide digital control and / or processing capabilities for one or more of the components of the first transceiver 220a.

[0249] In some embodiments, the first transceiver 220a comprises the first RF interface 664a, but lacks the second RF interface 664b. In such embodiments, the first RF interface 664a may be configured to transmit antenna feed signals 612a and receive antenna output signals 612b. In some embodiments, the first transceiver 220a may have a number of RF interfaces that is greater than two.

[0250] In the embodiment shown, the transmitter circuitry 608a comprises a frequency synthesizer 672 comprising a PLL 676, a first LO 636a, and a signal distribution block (e.g., splitter) 698, one or more modulator 644a (hereinafter, the "modulator 644a"), a second LO 636b, a first frequency mixer 680a, a third frequency mixer 680c, a first amplifier 684a, a third amplifier 684c, and a fifth amplifier 684e.

[0251] In the embodiment shown, the receiver circuitry 608b comprises the frequency synthesizer 672 comprising the PLL 676, the first LO 636a, and the signal distribution 698, the modulator 644a, a third LO 636c, a second frequency mixer 680b, a fourth frequency mixer 680d, a second amplifier 684b, a fourth amplifier 684d, and a sixth amplifier 684f.

[0252] In some embodiment shown in FIG. 6B, each of the components of the first transceiver 220a are disposed on a single substrate 624, which may be a portion of a semiconductor wafer.

[0253] The modulator 644a may be configured to: (1) receive the first baseband signals 604a from the client-side input 600a, encode the first baseband signals 604a in a format suitable for modulation onto a carrier signal, and send the encoded input signals the third frequency mixer 680c; and (2) receive the encoded output signals from the fourth frequency mixer 680d, decodethe encoded output signals in a format suitable for transmission to one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224), and send the second baseband signals 604b to the client-side output 600b.

[0254] In some embodiments, the modulator 644a may include one or more DAC, one or more ADC, one or more Serializer / Deserializer (SerDes), one or more folded modulator 700 (shown in FIG. 7), one or more rectifying detector 800 (shown in FIG. 8) and / or circuitry operable to encode the first baseband signals 604a in a modulation format, such as AM, ASK, PSK, QAM, or QAM16, or variations thereof, for example, and decode encoded output signals from the modulation format to produce second baseband signals 604b having the client data encoded therein. In some embodiments, the modulator 644a may include circuitry operable to perform forward error correction (FEC).

[0255] The frequency synthesizer 672 may be configured to generate first carrier signals having a continuous waveform (e.g., a sinusoidal waveform) having a predetermined frequency (e.g., within the THz frequency band 104 or in some embodiments, a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz). In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the first carrier signals is in a range between 30 GHz and 300 GHz. In some such embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the first carrier signals is 240 GHz. In other embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the first carrier signals is in a range between 300 GHz and 3 THz. The frequency synthesizer 672 may be further configured to send the first carrier signals to the signal distribution block 698.

[0256] The signal distribution block 698 may be configured to receive the first carrier signals from the first LO 636a and distribute the first carrier signals to the third amplifier 684c and the fourth amplifier 684d.

[0257] Referring now to the transmitter circuitry 608a, in some embodiments, the client-side input 600a is a pair of input interfaces. In some such embodiments, the client-side input 600a is an LVDS link configured to receive LVDS signals, and the first baseband signals 604a are LVDS signals having the client data encoded therein. The client-side input 600a may be further configured to send the first baseband signals 604a to the modulator 644a.

[0258] The second LO 636b may be configured to generate second carrier signals having a continuous waveform (e.g., a sinusoidal waveform) having a predetermined frequency (i.e., the IF frequency). In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the second carrier signals (i.e., the IF frequency) is in a range between 8 GHz and 10 GHz. The second LO 636b may be further configured to send the second carrier signals to the third frequency mixer 680c.

[0259] The third frequency mixer 680c may be configured to receive the encoded input signals from the modulator 644a, receive the second carrier signals from the second LO 636b, up-convert the encoded input signals with the second carrier signals to produce first modulated signals having the client data encoded therein and having the predetermined frequency of the second carrier signals (i.e., the IF frequency), and send the first modulated signals to the fifth amplifier 684e.

[0260] The fifth amplifier 684e may be configured to receive the first modulated signals from the third frequency mixer 680c, adjust an amplitude of the first modulated signals such that the amplified first modulated signals can drive the first frequency mixer 680a, and send the amplified first modulated signals to the first frequency mixer 680a.

[0261] The third amplifier 684c may be configured to receive the first carrier signals from the signal distribution block 698, adjust an amplitude of the first carrier signals to generate amplified carrier signals that can drive the first frequency mixer 680a, and send the amplified carrier signals to the first frequency mixer 680a.

[0262] The first frequency mixer 680a may be configured to receive the amplified carrier signals from the third amplifier 684c, receive the amplified first modulated signals from the fifth amplifier684e, up-convert the amplified first modulated signals with the amplified carrier signals to produce second modulated signals having the data encoded therein and having the predetermined frequency of the amplified carrier signals (i.e., within the THz frequency band 104 or, in some embodiments, in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz), and send the second modulated signals to the first amplifier 684a.

[0263] The first amplifier 684a may be configured to receive the second modulated signals from the first frequency mixer 680a, adjust an amplitude of the second modulated signals such that the amplified second modulated signals can be transmitted by the first RF interface 664a, and send the amplified second modulated signals to the first RF interface 664a.

[0264] The first RF interface 664a may be configured to receive the amplified second modulated signals from the first amplifier 684a and send the amplified second modulated signals as antenna feed signals 612a (i.e., having the data encoded therein) having a frequency within a predetermined frequency range (e.g., the THz frequency band 104 or, in some embodiments, in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz). In some embodiments, the first RF interface 664a may be connected to one of the antennas 616 and configured to send the antenna feed signals 612a to the antenna 616. In other embodiments, however, one of the antennas 616 may be included in place of the first RF interface 664a.

[0265] Referring now to the receiver circuitry 608b, the second RF interface 664b may be configured to receive the antenna output signals 612b (i.e., having client data encoded therein) within a predetermined frequency range (e.g., the THz frequency band 104 or, in some embodiments, in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz) and send the antenna output signals 612b to the second amplifier 684b. As described in further detail below, the second RF interface 664b may be configured to receive the antenna output signals 612b from one of the antennas 616. In other embodiments, however, one of the antennas 616 may be included in place of the second RF interface 664b.

[0266] The second amplifier 684b may be configured to receive the antenna output signals 612b from the second RF interface 664b, adjust an amplitude of the antenna output signals 612b to generate amplified second transmission signals that can drive the second frequency mixer 680b, and send the amplified second transmission signals to the second frequency mixer 680b.

[0267] The fourth amplifier 684d may be configured to receive the first carrier signals from the signal distribution block 698, adjust an amplitude of the first carrier signals to generate amplified carrier signals that can drive the second frequency mixer 680b, and send the amplified carrier signals to the second frequency mixer 680b.

[0268] The second frequency mixer 680b may be configured to receive the amplified second transmission signals from the second amplifier 684b, receive the amplified carrier signals from the fourth amplifier 684d, down-convert the amplified second transmission signals with the amplified carrier signals to produce third modulated signals having the data encoded therein and having the IF or the IF frequency, and send the third modulated signals to the sixth amplifier 684f.

[0269] The sixth amplifier 684f may be configured to receive the third modulated signals from the second frequency mixer 680b, adjust an amplitude of the third modulated signals such that the amplified third modulated signals can drive the fourth frequency mixer 680d, and send the amplified third modulated signals to the fourth frequency mixer 680d.

[0270] The third LO 636c may be configured to generate reference signals having a continuous waveform (e.g., a sinusoidal waveform) having a predetermined frequency (i.e., the IF frequency). In some embodiments, the predetermined frequency of the reference signals (i.e., the IF frequency) is in a range between 8 GHz and 10 GHz. The third LO 636c may be further configured to send the reference signals to the fourth frequency mixer 680d.

[0271] The fourth frequency mixer 680d may be configured to receive the amplified third modulated signals from the sixth amplifier 684f, receive the reference signals from the third LO 636c, down-convert the amplified third modulated signals with the reference signals to produceencoded output signals having the client data encoded therein and having the predetermined frequency of the reference signals (i.e., the IF frequency), and send the encoded output signals to the modulator 644a.

[0272] The client-side output 600b may be configured to transmit the second baseband signals 604b having the client data encoded therein to one or more external component (e.g., a control module 224). In some embodiments, the client-side output 600b is a pair of output interfaces. In some such embodiments, the client-side output 600b is an LVDS link configured to transmit LVDS signals, and the second baseband signals 604b are LVDS signals having the client data encoded therein.

[0273] Referring now to FIG. 7, shown therein is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a folded modulator 700 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The folded modulator 700 may be configured to perform broadband direct modulation to generate the encoded signals and to minimize distortion while doing so. The folded modulator 700 may employ a cascade architecture (e.g., a cascaded circuit drive that is "stacked" or "folded") in orderto produce a linear or near-linear modulated output (i.e., the encoded signals). In embodiments in which the folded modulator 700 employs a cascade architecture, the size of the stack may be directly proportional to the bandwidth.

[0274] Referring now to FIG. 8, shown therein is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a rectifying detector 800 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The rectifying detector 800 may be configured to perform direct detection of incoming signals (i.e., the encoded signals). The rectifying detector 800 may be further configured to detect an envelope of the encoded signals or one or more amplitude transition of the encoded signals to generate the output signals.

[0275] Referring now to FIG. 9A, shown therein is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an antenna 900 coupled with a fifth hollow waveguide 208e constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the description referring to any particular one of the antennas 416, 516, 616, 900 may refer to any of the antennas 416, 516, 616, 900 described herein. As shown in FIG. 8A, the antenna 900 generally comprises a ground plane 904, a radiator 908 mounted on the ground plane 904, and a coaxial feedline 912 electrically connected to the radiator 908. In some embodiments, the antenna 900 may lack the ground plane 904. In some embodiments, the antenna 900 further comprises a casing (not shown) enclosing the radiator 908. The antenna 900 may be a vertical antenna (i.e., an antennaextending orthogonally from a substrate) or a horizontal antenna (i.e., an antenna extending laterally from a substrate).

[0276] The radiator 908 may be configured to transmit and detect radiated signals configured for coherent detection. In the embodiment shown, the radiator 908 is a helical radiator configured to transmit and detect radiated signals having a circular polarization. In this embodiment, the radiator 908 has a length lradiator>adiameter dradiator, and a spacingsradtator between adjacent turns of the radiator 908. The radiator 908 is preferably disposed at a distance dgapfrom the fifth hollow waveguide 208e.

[0277] The radiator 908 may be wound in a predetermined direction, such as clockwise (i.e., a left-hand wind) or counter-clockwise (i.e., a right-hand wind). While the radiator 908 of the antenna 900 is depicted in FIG. 9A as having a right-hand wind or a counter-clockwise rotational direction, it should be understood that the radiator 908 of the antenna 900 may be provided with a left-hand wind or a clockwise rotational direction.

[0278] In some embodiments, signals for transmission may be sent to the antenna 900 via the coaxial feedline 912. In other embodiments, received RF signals may be sent from the antenna 900 via the coaxial feedline 912.

[0279] In some embodiments, the length lradiator of the radiator 908 may be proportional to the wavelength of the signals being transmitted and / or received. In some embodiments, the length lradiator °f the radiator 908 is in a range between 10 microns and 10 mm. In some embodiments, the diameter dradiatorof the radiator 908 may be proportional to the wavelength of the signals being transmitted and / or received. In some embodiments, the diameter dradiator of the radiator 908 is in a range between 10 microns and 10 mm. In some embodiments, the spacing sradiatorbetween adjacent turns of the radiator 908 may be in a range between 1 micron and 1 mm.

[0280] The predetermined distance dgapat which the antenna 900 is spaced from the hollow waveguide 208 may vary depending upon the carrier frequency of the RF signal being transmitted by the antenna 900. In some embodiments, the predetermined distance dgapat which the antenna 900 is spaced from the hollow waveguide 208 is in a range between 3 pm and 3 mm. In one embodiment, the predetermined distance dgapat which the antenna 900 is spaced from the hollow waveguide 208 is 1 mm. In some embodiments, the antenna 900 may be directly connected to the fifth hollow waveguide 208e.

[0281] Referring now to FIG. 9B, shown therein is a top plan view of another exemplary embodiment of the antenna 900 coupled with the fifth hollow waveguide 208e constructed inaccordance with the present disclosure. The antenna 900 is similar in construction and function as the antenna 900, with the exception that the antenna 900 includes a first radiator 908a formed of a conductive material having a plurality of coplanar windings. In one embodiment, the first radiator 908a is in the form of a spiral. The first radiator 908a may be wound in a predetermined direction, such as clockwise ( i.e., a left-hand wind) or counter-clockwise (i.e., a right-hand wind). While the first radiator 908a of the antenna 900 is depicted in FIG. 9B as having a right-hand wind or a counter-clockwise rotational direction, it should be understood that the first radiator 908a of the antenna 900 may be provided with a left-hand wind or a clockwise rotational direction.

[0282] Other embodiments of the antenna 900 include embodiment as a gain horn antenna, a Cassegrain antenna, an omnidirectional antenna, a horn lens antenna, a spot focus antenna, a waveguide probe antenna, a scalar feed horn antenna, a wide-angle scalar feed horn antenna, a trihedral antenna, and a conical horn antenna.

[0283] Referring now to FIG. 10, shown therein is another exemplary embodiment of the antenna 900. As shown in FIG. 10, the antenna 900 may be implemented as a bifilar helix antenna. The bifilar helix antenna 900 generally comprises a ground plane 904a having a first differential pad 1100a and a second differential pad 1100b (the first differential pad 1100a and the second differential pad 1100b, collectively, the "differential pads llOOa-b") (hereinafter the "differential pads 1100") and a second radiator 908b mounted on the ground plane 904a. In some embodiments, the bifilar helix antenna 900 may lack the ground plane 904a. The second radiator 908b is generally in the shape of a double helix and may have a first feed point 1104a electrically connected to the first differential pad 1100a and a second feed point 1104b (the first feed point 1104a and the second feed point 1104b, collectively, the "feed points 1104a-b") (hereinafter the "feed points 1104") electrically connected to the second differential pad 1100b. A first coaxial feedline 1108a and a second coaxial feedline 1108b may be electrically connected to the first differential pad 1100a and the second differential pad 1100b, respectively.

[0284] In some embodiments, the second radiator 908b may be configured to transmit and detect differential radiated signals. That is, in the transmit direction, the second radiator 908b may receive a first complementary antenna feed signal from the first feed point 1104a and a second complementary antenna feed signal from the second feed point 1104b and transmit the radiated signals based on the first complementary antenna feed signal and the second complementary antenna feed signal. Further, in the receive direction, the second radiator 908b may receive the radiated signals and provide the first complementary antenna output signal to the first feed point 1104a and the second complementary antenna output signal to the secondfeed point 1104b. In such embodiments, the first complementary antenna output signal and the second complementary antenna output signal may be equal in magnitude but opposite in phase (i.e., out of phase by 180°).

[0285] The second radiator 908b may be wound in a predetermined direction, such as clockwise or counter-clockwise. While the second radiator 908b of the bifilar helix antenna 900 is depicted in FIG. 9 as having a left-hand wind or a clockwise rotational direction, it should be understood that the second radiator 908b of the bifilar helix antenna 900 may be provided with a right-hand wind or a counter-clockwise rotational direction.

[0286] The second radiator 908b may comprise a first radiator portion 1112 and a second radiator portion 1114. The first radiator portion 1112 has a first end formed by the first feed point 1104a and a second end 1116 spaced a distance from the first feed point 1104a. The first radiator portion 1112 is in the form of a spiral (i.e., a helix shape). The second radiator portion 1114 has a third end formed by the second feed point 1104b and a fourth end 1118 spaced a distance from the second feed point 1104b. The second radiator portion 1114 is in the form of a spiral (i.e., a helix shape). The second end 1116 of the first radiator portion 1112 is connected to the fourth end 1118 of the second radiator portion 1114.

[0287] Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, shown therein is another exemplary embodiment of the bifilar helix antenna 900 shown in FIG. 10. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in some embodiments, a conductive cone 1200 may be provided surrounding the bifilar helix antenna 900 (i.e., such that the bifilar helix antenna 900 is enclosed within the conductive cone 1200). The second radiator 908b may be wound in a predetermined direction, such as clockwise or counter-clockwise. While the second radiator 908b of the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 is depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12 as having a left-hand wind or a clockwise rotational direction, it should be understood that the second radiator 908b of the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 may be provided with a righthand wind or a counter-clockwise rotational direction.

[0288] The conductive cone 1200 may have a first end 1204a, a second end 1204b opposite the first end 1204a, and a sidewall 1208 extending between the first end 1204a and the second end 1204b. The sidewall 1208 may define a first opening 1212a at the first end 1204a and a second opening 1212b at the second end 1204b. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first end 1204a of the conductive cone 1200 is generally provided with a diameter d4shorter than a diameter d5of the second end 1204b of the conductive cone 1200.

[0289] The bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 may be configured to transmit circularly polarized signals with a relatively high gain (e.g., more than 6 decibels relative to isotropic (d Bi), such as 10 d Bi, 12 d Bi, 14 d Bi, 15 dBi, 16 dBi, 18 d Bi, or 20 dBi, for example). In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 may function as an efficient, wide-bandwidth polarizer. That is, the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 may be configured to transmit circularly polarized RF signals with a high radiation efficiency (e.g., greater than 50%, such as 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95%, for example). Losses in radiation efficiency are generally due to losses in conductors or substrates. Further, the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 may be configured to transmit circularly polarized signals with a wide bandwidth (e.g., greater than 10% of center frequency, such as 12%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 18%, 20%, 22%, 24%, or 25%, for example).

[0290] The diameter of the bifilar helix antenna 900 may be less than the wavelength of the signals transmitted by the bifilar helix antenna 900. In some embodiments, the conductive cone 1200 may be constructed of a conductive material, such as aluminum, copper, silver, gold, other conductive metals, combinations thereof, and / or the like.

[0291] It will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the artthat circularly polarized signals transmitted by a radiator 908 of a first particularone ofthe antennas 900 may be received only by a radiator 908 of a second particular one ofthe antennas 900 havingthe same rotational direction. That is, for example, the radiator 908 shown in FIG. 8A and the first radiator 908a shown in FIG. 8B are depicted as having a right-hand wind or a counter-clockwise rotational direction. As a result, circularly polarized RF signals transmitted by the radiator 908 shown in FIG.9A or the first radiator 908a shown in FIG. 9B would have a right-hand circular polarization (RHCP). On the other hand, the second radiator 908b shown in FIGS. 10-12 is depicted as having a left-hand wind or a clockwise rotational direction. As a result, circularly polarized RF signals transmitted by the second radiator 908b shown in FIGS. 10-12 would have a left-hand circular polarization (LHCP).

[0292] Because circularly polarized signals transmitted by a radiator 908 of a first particular one ofthe antennas 900 may be received only by a radiator 908 of a second particular one ofthe antennas 900 havingthe same rotational direction, circularly polarized RF signals transmitted by the radiator 908 as depicted in FIG. 9A or the first radiator 908a as depicted in FIG. 9B (i.e., RHCP RF signals) could not be received bythe second radiator908basdepicted in FIGS. 10-12. Similarly, circularly polarized signals transmitted by the second radiator 908b as depicted in FIGS. 10-12(i.e., LHCP RF signals) could not be received by the radiator 908 as depicted in FIG. 9A orthe first radiator 908a as depicted in FIG. 9B. However, circularly polarized signals transmitted by the radiator 908 as depicted in FIG. 8A (i.e., RHCP RF signals) could be received by the first radiator 908a as depicted in FIG. 9B, and circularly polarized signals transmitted by the second radiator 908b as depicted in FIG. 10 (i.e., LHCP RF signals) could be received by the second radiator 908b as depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0293] Referring now to FIG. 13, shown therein is a diagrammatic view of an electric field 1300 produced by the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 may be operable to produce the electric field 1300 such that a near-field region of the electric field 1300 and a far-field region of the electric field 1300 are established with a greater directivity than would be provided by conventional antennas. Further, the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 may be operable to produce the electric field 1300 in a manner that does not interfere with the circular polarization of the circularly polarized radiated signals transmitted by the second radiator 908b.

[0294] Referring now to FIG. 14, shown therein is a diagrammatic view of a radiation pattern 1400 of the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 shown in FIGS.11 and 12. The radiation pattern 1400 may correspond to a transmission signal having a frequency of 2,000 GHz and a phase of 0°. As shown in FIG. 14, a first curve 1404 demonstrates an LHCP gain of the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200, while a second curve 1408 demonstrates a total directivity of the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200. A difference between the first curve 1404 and the second curve 1408 may indicate metal and polarization losses. As illustrated in FIG. 14 and as described above in relation to FIG. 13, the bifilar helix antenna 900 enclosed within the conductive cone 1200 may be operable to produce the electric field 1300 such that a near-field region 1304 of the electric field 1300 and a far-field region 1308 of the electric field 1300 are established with a greater directivity than would be provided by conventional antennas.

[0295] Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, shown therein are side views of exemplary embodiments of a non-uniform bifilar helix antenna 1500 (hereinafter, the "non-uniform antenna 1500") constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. Providing the antenna with a non-uniform design is effective because the size of the helix determines the frequency of operation. By varying characteristic dimensions of the helix, a wider band of frequencies may be effectively radiated.

[0296] Similar to the bifilar helix antenna 900 described above, the non-uniform antenna 1500 may comprise the ground plane 904a having the first differential pad 1100a and the second differential pad 1100b and a non-uniform third radiator 908c mounted on the ground plane 904a. The third radiator 908c may have a plurality of turns 1504a-n including at least a first turn 1504a and a second turn 1504b. For purposes of clarity, only the first turn 1504a and the second turn 1504b are labeled with a reference character. The first turn 1504a may have a first characteristic dimension, while the second turn 1504b may have a second characteristic dimension different from the first characteristic dimension. The first turn 1504a may be adjacent to the second turn 1504b or non-adjacent to ( i.e., spaced from) the second turn 1504b.

[0297] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the first turn 1504a has a first pitch pltthe second turn 1504b has a second pitch p2, and the first pitch p is less than the second pitch p2. the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the first turn 1504a has the first pitch pltthe second turn 1504b has the second pitch p2, and the first pitch p is greater than the second pitch p2.

[0298] In some embodiments, the non-uniform antenna 1500 may lack the ground plane 904a. The third radiator 908c is generally in the shape of a double helix and may have the first feed point 1104a electrically connected to the first differential pad 1100a and the second feed point 1104b electrically connected to the second differential pad 1100b. The first coaxial feedline 1108a and the second coaxial feedline 1108b may be electrically connected to the first differential pad 1100a and the second differential pad 1100b, respectively.

[0299] In some embodiments, the third radiator 908c may be configured to emit and receive differential signals. That is, in the transmit direction, the third radiator 908c may receive a first complementary signal from the first feed point 1104a and a second complementary signal from the second feed point 1104b and transmit the transmission signal. Further, in the receive direction, the third radiator 908c may receive the transmission signal and provide the first complementary signal to the first feed point 1104a and the second complementary signal to the second feed point 1104b. In such embodiments, the first complementary signal and the second complementary signal may be equal in magnitude but opposite in phase (i.e., out of phase by 180°).

[0300] The third radiator 908c may be wound in a predetermined direction, such as clockwise or counter-clockwise. While the third radiator 908c of the non-uniform antenna 1500 is depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16 as having a right-hand wind or a counter-clockwise rotational direction, it should be understood that the third radiator 908c of the non-uniform antenna 1500 may be provided with a left-hand wind ora clockwise rotational direction.

[0301] The third radiator 908c may comprise the first radiator portion 1112 and the second radiator portion 1114. The first radiator portion 1112 has the first end formed by the first feed point 1104a and the second end 1116 spaced a distance from the first feed point 1104a. The first radiator portion 1112 is in the form of a spiral (i.e., a helix shape). The second radiator portion 1114 has the third end formed by the second feed point 1104b and the fourth end 1118 spaced a distance from the second feed point 1104b. The second radiator portion 1114 is in the form of a spiral (i.e., a helix shape). While the second end 1116 and the fourth end 1118 are shown as being disconnected from each other, it should be understood that, in some embodiments, the second end 1116 of the first radiator portion 1112 is connected to the fourth end 1118 of the second radiator portion 1114.

[0302] The non-uniform antenna 1500 provides a wider frequency response in comparison to uniform antennas existing in the prior art and the uniform bifilar helix antennas discussed herein. A mathematical equation for the helical shape of the non-uniform radiator 908c of the non-uniform antenna 1500 in three-dimensional space is shown in Table 1 below and in a graph 1700 shown in FIG. 17, while the polarization discrimination of a uniform antenna across the frequency range between 0.80 THz and 1.40 THz is shown in a graph 1800 shown in FIG. 18. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the polarization discrimination may be determined by subtracting the left-hand circular polarization directivity (i.e., DirLHCP) from the right-hand circular polarization directivity (i.e., DirRHCP). As shown in Table 1 and FIG. 16, the right-hand circular polarization directivity (i.e., DirRHCP) ofthe non-uniform antenna 1500 may be relatively constant (i.e., 11.5 dBi ± 1 dBi) in the frequency range between 0.80 THz and 1.40 THz. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 17, the polarization discrimination (i.e., DirRHCP — DirLHCP) of the non-uniform antenna 1500 remains above 25 dB across the frequency range between 0.80 THz and 1.40 THz. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 18, the polarization discrimination (i.e., DirRHCP — DirLHCP) of a uniform antenna dips below 25 dB at the band edges and slightly below 25 dB in the mid band range.

[0303] Table 1. Mathematical Equation for a Helical Shape ofthe Non-Uniform Radiator 908c ofthe Non-Uniform Antenna 1500 in Three-Dimensional Space

[0304] Referring now to FIGS. 19 and 20, shown therein are side views of more exemplary embodiments of the non-uniform antenna 1500 shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. For purposes of clarity, the differential pads 1100 and the feed points 1104 are not labeled with a reference character in FIGS. 18 and 19. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the first characteristic dimension and the second characteristic dimension are not pitches, but diameters. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the first turn 1504a has a first diameter d1, the second turn 1504b has a second diameter d2, and the first diameter d is less than the second diameter d2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the first turn 1504a has the first diameter dr, the second turn 1504b has the second diameter d2, and the first diameter d^ is greater than the second diameter d2.

[0305] Varying the diameters cZ1-nof the turns 1504 of the third radiator 908c rather than the pitches p-[-nof the turns 1504 of the third radiator 908c may be advantageous in different bands or with different ground plane dimensions, wire dimensions, etc.

[0306] It should be understood that the third radiator 908c and / or the non-uniform antenna 1500 may be included in place of any of the respective radiators 908 and / or antennas 900 described herein. Further, it should be understood that, while the second turn 1504b is shown as being directly adjacent to the first turn 1504a, there may be one or more turns in between the first turn 1504a and the second turn 1504b. Finally, it should be understood that, while the first turn 1504a is shown as being directly adjacent to the ground plane 904a, there may be one or more turns in between the ground plane 904a and the first turn 1504a.

[0307] Referring now to FIGS. 21A, 21B, and 22A-22C, shown therein is a differential waveguide probe antenna 2100 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The differential waveguide probe antenna 2100 is configured to generate and transmit the transmission signal. Conversely, the differential waveguide probe antenna 2100 is further configured to receive the transmission signal. The differential waveguide probe antenna 2100 comprises a pair of waveguide probes 2104a-b (hereinafter the "waveguide probes 2104") including a first waveguide probe 2104a and a second waveguide probe 2104b.

[0308] In some embodiments, the differential waveguide probe antenna 2100 may further comprise an intermediary waveguide 2108 configured to propagate the transmission signal. In such embodiments, the differential waveguide probe antenna 2100 may be further configured to generate and transmit the transmission signal into the intermediary waveguide 2108. Conversely, in such embodiments, the differential waveguide probe antenna 2100 may be further configured to receive the transmission signal from the intermediary waveguide 2108.

[0309] The intermediary waveguide 2108 may have a first end 2112a, a second end 2112b (the first end 2112a and the second end 2112b, collectively, the "ends 2112a-b") (hereinafterthe "ends 2112") opposite the first end 2112a, and a surface 2116 extending between the ends 2112. In some embodiments, a back reflector 2118 may abut the first end 2112a. The surface 2116 may be constructed of a metal. The intermediary waveguide 2108 may be constructed as such in order to ensure that one or more intended waveguide modes are established. That is, were the intermediary waveguide 2108 to be constructed at a smaller size, the one or more intended waveguide modes may not be able to propagate, and were the intermediary waveguide 2108 to be constructed at a larger size, one or more unintended waveguide modes may be excited. In some embodiments, the one or more intended waveguide modes of the intermediary waveguide 2108 sufficiently matches the one or more intended waveguide modes of the hollow waveguide 208 such that a coupling loss between the intermediary waveguide 2108 and the hollow waveguide 208 is minimized (e.g., the coupling loss is in a range between 0.1 dB and 5.0 d B).

[0310] As shown in FIG. 21A, in a first direction, the intermediary waveguide 2108 may have a first cross-sectional length lagreater than zero and less than two wavelengths of the transmission signal at 10 THz (or a maximum frequency in the frequency band occupied by the transport network 200) (i.e., 60 pm). Further, as shown in FIG. 21B, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the intermediary waveguide 2108 may have a second cross-sectional length lbless than two wavelengths of the transmission signal at 10 THz (ora maximum frequency in the frequency band occupied by thetransport network 200) (i.e., 60 pm) and greater than one-half wavelength at 300 GHz (or a minimum frequency in the frequency band occupied by the transport network 200) (i.e., 0.5 mm).

[0311] The waveguide probes 2104 may be positioned on opposite sides of the surface 2116 of the intermediary waveguide 2108 and may extend into the intermediary waveguide 2108 toward each other, but may be spaced a first distance dafrom each other. The waveguide probes 2104 may thus establish a strong electrical field in line with the one or more intended waveguide modes. Each of the waveguide probes 2104 may be excited with the transmission signal. In some embodiments, each of the waveguide probes 2104 may be excited with the transmission signal at an equal strength and / or an opposite phase. That is, the waveguide probes 2104 may be configured to receive the transmission signal as a differential signal having a first complementary signal and a second complementary signal and generate and transmit the transmission signal in the electromagnetic wave form. Conversely, the waveguide probes 2104 may be furtherconfigured to receive the transmission signal and provide the transmission signal as a differential signal having a first complementary signal and a second complementary signal.

[0312] In some embodiments, the intermediary waveguide 2108 may have a flared end at the second end 2112b configured to facilitate a mode transition between the intermediary waveguide 2108 and the hollow waveguide 208. In such embodiments, as shown in FIG. 21A, in the first direction, the intermediary waveguide 2108 at the flared end may have a third cross-sectional length lcgreater than the first cross-sectional length la. Further, as shown in FIG. 21B, in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the intermediary waveguide 2108 at the flared end may have a fourth cross-sectional length ldgreater than the second cross-sectional length lb. In some such embodiments, the flared end may be formed integrally with the intermediary waveguide 2108. However, in other such embodiments, the flared end may be constructed as a horn 2120 separate from but coupled to the intermediary waveguide 2108. The horn 2120 may have a first end 2124a abutting the second end 2112b of the intermediary waveguide 2108, a second end 2124b (the first end 2124a and the second end 2124b, collectively, the "ends 2124a-b") (hereinafter the "ends 2124") opposite the first end 2124a, and a curved surface 2128 extending between the ends 2124.

[0313] As shown in FIG. 21A, in the first direction, the horn 2120 at the first end 2124a may have a fifth cross-sectional length leequal to the first cross-sectional length la. Further, as shown in FIG. 21B, in the second direction perpendicularto the first direction, the horn 2120 at the first end 2124a may have a sixth cross-sectional length If equal to the second cross-sectional length lb.

[0314] The differential waveguide probe antenna 2100 may be configured to transmit the transmission signal with a wide (i.e., greater than 50%) bandwidth into the hollow waveguide 208 at least in part because an energy contribution from each of the waveguide probes 2104 effectively cancels out the higher-order, unintended waveguide modes of the other waveguide probe 2104. A polarization discrimination of the differential waveguide probe antenna 2100 across a frequency range between 0.60 THz and 1.80 THz is shown in a graph 2500 shown in FIG.22D.

[0315] Referring now to FIGS. 23, 24A, and 24B, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a differential tapered antenna 2600 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The differential tapered antenna 2600 is configured to generate and transmit the transmission signal in the electromagnetic wave form— and, conversely, receive the transmission signal in the electromagnetic wave form. The differential tapered antenna 2600 may have a first end 2602aand a second end 2602b (the first end 2602a and the second end 2602b, collectively, the "ends 2602a-b") (hereinafterthe "ends 2602") opposite the first end 2602a and may comprise a pair of conductors including a first conductor 2604a and a second conductor 2604b (collectively, the "conductors 2604a-b") (hereinafterthe "conductors 2604") spaced a second distance dbfrom the first conductor 2604a at the second end 2602b and a third distance dcat the first end 2602a.

[0316] The differential tapered antenna 2600 may be similar in some respects to a tapered slot antenna and in some respects to a ridged horn antenna. However, the differential tapered antenna 2600 differs from such antennas due to the differential tapered antenna 2600 having a differential launch and being coupled into the intermediary waveguide 2108 which is sized and dimensioned such that the intermediary waveguide 2108 may propagate multiple waveguide modes simultaneously. However, it should be understood that, in some embodiments, the differential tapered antenna 2600 may be configured to excite only a single waveguide mode at a given time.

[0317] The differential tapered antenna 2600 may be configured to generate and transmit the transmission signal into the intermediary waveguide 2108 and receive the transmission signal from the intermediary waveguide 2108. In some embodiments, the differential tapered antenna 2600 may be configured to couple the transmission signal directly into— and receive the transmission signal directly from — the hollow waveguide 208, rather than the intermediary waveguide 2108.

[0318] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 23, 24A, and 24B, the differential tapered antenna 2600 has a first planar, yet longitudinally directed curved surface 2608a and a second planar, yet longitudinally directed curved surface 2608b (collectively, the "curved surfaces 2608a-b") (hereinafter the "curved surfaces 2608") bordering a space 2612. In some embodiments, the second distance dbbetween the first conductor 2604a and the second conductor 2604b at the second end 2602b is greater than zero and less than two wavelengths of the transmission signal at 10 THz (or the maximum frequency in the frequency band occupied by the transport network 200). The second distance dbmay be selected to establish a single waveguide mode for the frequency of the transmission signal. In some embodiments, a third distance dcbetween the conductors 2604 at the first end 2602a is greater than the second distance db. Th is tapered shape may establish a continuously scaled geometry which enables an ultra-wide (i.e., greater than 50%) bandwidth. As energy launches down the conductors 2604, the one or more intended waveguide modes are established between the conductors 2604 and subsequently launched into the intermediary waveguide 2108.

[0319] In some embodiments, each of the conductors 2604 may be fed with the transmission signal at an equal strength and / or an opposite phase. That is, the conductors 2604 may be configured to receive the transmission signal as a differential signal having a first complementary signal and a second complementary signal and generate and transmit the transmission signal in the electromagnetic wave form. Conversely, the conductors 2604 may be further configured to receive the transmission signal and provide the transmission signal as a differential signal having a first complementary signal and a second complementary signal.

[0320] A thickness and a width of the transmission lines at the feed point may be selected to establish a characteristic impedance matched to the receiver and / or driver. Persons having ordinary skill in the art will understand how to perform such calculations. As shown in FIG. 24B, the differential tapered antenna 2600 may further comprise one or more ground connections, such as a first ground connection 2800a and a second ground connection 2800b. A polarization discrimination of the differential tapered antenna 2600 across a frequency range between 0.50 THz and 2.00 THz is shown in a graph 2900 shown in FIG. 24C.

[0321] Referring now to FIGS. 25A and 25B, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a microstrip patch antenna array 3000 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The microstrip patch antenna array 3000 is configured to generate and transmit the transmission signal in the electromagnetic wave form and, conversely, receive the transmission signal in the electromagnetic wave form.

[0322] In some embodiments, the microstrip patch antenna array 3000 comprises a pair of microstrip patch antennas 3004 including a first microstrip patch antenna 3004a and a second microstrip patch antenna 3004b (collectively, the "microstrip patch antennas 3004a-b") (hereinafter the "microstrip patch antennas 3004") spaced a third distance dcfrom the first microstrip patch antenna 3004a. However, in other embodiments, the microstrip patch antenna array 3000 may comprise more than two of the microstrip patch antennas 3004.

[0323] In some embodiments, the microstrip patch antenna array 3000 may further comprise the horn 2120 having the first end 2124a proximal to the microstrip patch antennas 3004, the second end 2124b distal to the microstrip patch antennas 3004, and the curved surface 2128 extending between the ends 2124. As shown in FIG. 25A, in a first direction, the horn 2120 at the first end 2124a may have the fifth cross-sectional length le, and the horn 2120 at the second end 2124b may have the third cross-sectional length lcgreater than the fifth cross-sectional length le. Further, as shown in FIG. 25B, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the horn 2120 at the first end 2124a may have the sixth cross-sectional length If, and the horn 2120at the second end 2124b may have the fourth cross-sectional length ldgreater than the sixth cross-sectional length If.

[0324] In some embodiments, each of the microstrip patch antennas 3004 may be fed with the transmission signal at an equal strength and / or an opposite phase. However, in other embodiments, each of the microstrip patch antennas 3004 may be fed with the transmission signal at an equal strength and / or an equal phase. That is, the microstrip patch antennas 3004 may be configured to receive the transmission signal as a differential signal having a first complementary signal and a second complementary signal and generate and transmit the transmission signal in the electromagnetic wave form. Conversely, the microstrip patch antennas 3004 may be further configured to receive the transmission signal and provide the transmission signal as a differential signal having a first complementary signal and a second complementary signal.

[0325] The differential waveguide probe antenna 2100, the differential tapered antenna 2600, and the microstrip patch antenna array 3000 are configured to generate the transmission signal in a linearly polarized form.

[0326] Referring now to FIGS. 26A, 26B, and 27A-27C, shown therein is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary embodiment of a single-ended waveguide probe antenna 3008 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the single-ended waveguide probe antenna 3008 may lack the second waveguide probe 2104b, thereby only comprising the first waveguide probe 2104a. Further, in some embodiments, the surface 2116 of the intermediary waveguide 2108 may define an opening 3012 through which the first waveguide probe 2104a extends. As referenced above, in some embodiments, the first end 2112a of the intermediary waveguide 2108 may serve as a back reflector.

[0327] Referring now to FIGS. 28A, 28B, 29A-29C, and 30A-30C, shown therein are diagrammatic views of exemplary embodiments of a slot antenna 3014 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 28A, 28B, 29A-29C, and 30A-30C, the slot antenna 3014 may include the ground plane 904 disposed between the intermediary waveguide 2108 and the back reflectors 2118. In some embodiments, the ground plane 904 may define one or more slots 3016a-n (e.g., a first slot 3016a shown in FIGS. 29A-C, 30A, and 30C and a second slot 3016b shown in FIGS. 30A-30C) (hereinafter, the "slots 3016").

[0328] Any of the antennas disclosed herein can be used in combination with network elements described abovethat communicate using radio frequency communicationstransmittedand received by antennas. The radio frequency (RF) communications have a carrier frequency in what is referred to as the THz frequency band 104.

[0329] Referring now to FIG. 31A, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a first transport network 3100a (hereinafter, the "first network 3100a") constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The first network 3100a generally comprises one or more network elements 3104a-n (hereinafter, the "network elements 3104"), such as a first network element 3104a and a second network element 3104b shown in FIG. 31A, spaced apart from other and communicatively coupled to each other by one or more first THz waveguides (e.g., one or more first passive waveguides) 3108a-n (hereinafter, the "first passive waveguides 3108a-n").

[0330] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 31A, the first network element 3104a comprises one or more first transmitters 3112a-n (hereinafter, the "first transmitters 3112a-n") operable to transmit and / or couple signals into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and a first controller 3116a operable to control the first transmitters 3112a-n (e.g., to cause the first transmitters 3112a-n to transmit and / or couple signals into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n), while the second network element 3104b comprises one or more first receivers 3120a-n (hereinafter, the "first receivers 3120a-n") operable to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and a second controller 3116b (the first controller 3116a and the second controller 3116b, collectively, the "controllers 3116a-b") (hereinafter the "controllers 3116") operable to control the first receivers 3120a-n (e.g., to cause the first receivers 3120a-n to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n).

[0331] Each of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n may have a first end 3124 (the first ends 3124a-n of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n, collectively, the "first ends 3124a"), a second end 3128 (the second ends 3128a-n of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n, collectively, the "second ends 3128a") opposite the first end 3124, and a first longitudinal axis 3132a (the first longitudinal axes 3132a-n of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n, collectively, the "first longitudinal axis 3132a") extending between the first ends 3124a and the second ends 3128a.

[0332] As referenced above, the first controller 3116a of the first network element 3104a may be operable to cause the first transmitters 3112a-n to transmit and / or couple signals into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n to be transmitted in a first direction (hereinafter, the "downstream direction") toward the second network element 3104b, while the second controller 3116b of the second network element 3104b may be operable to cause the first receivers 3120a-n to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from at least one of the firstpassive waveguides 3108a-n received from a second direction (hereinafter, the "upstream direction") toward the first network element 3104a.

[0333] The first controller 3116a may be further operable to receive (from a first remote source (not shown)) and / or generate an outbound baseband signal having client data encoded therein and transmitthe outbound baseband signal to at least one ofthe firsttransmitters 3112a-n. At least one of the first transmitters 3112a-n may be operable to receive the outbound baseband signal from the first controller 3116a, generate an outbound client signal based on the outbound baseband signal, and transmit and / or couple the outbound client signal into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. The outbound client signal may comprise one or more guided electromagnetic waves and may have a transmission frequency in a range between 100 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 THz. In some embodiments, the outbound client signal may comprise one or more guided electromagnetic waves and may have a transmission frequency in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz.

[0334] The first controller 3116a may be further operable to receive (from the first remote source) and / or generate an outbound management communication signal having management communication data encoded therein and transmit the outbound management communication signal to at least one of the first transmitters 3112a-n, which may be operable to receive the outbound management communication signal from the first controller 3116a and transmit and / or couple the outbound management communication signal into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n.

[0335] In some embodiments, a first subset of the first transmitters 3112a-n which are operable to receive the outbound baseband signal from the first controller 3116a, generate the outbound client signal based on the outbound baseband signal, and transmit and / or couple the outbound client signal into at least one ofthe first passive waveguides 3108a-n is different (i.e., mutually exclusive) from a second subset ofthe first transmitters 3112a-n which are operable to receive the outbound management communication signal from the first controller 3116a and transmit and / or couple the outbound management communication signal into at least one ofthe first passive waveguides 3108a-n.

[0336] The outbound management communication signal may be a conducted electrical signal. The management communication data may be encoded in the management communication signal using a modulation format conformingto a specification of one of: return-to-zero (RZ) encoding, non-return-to-zero (NRZ) encoding, Manchesterencoding, frequency-shift keying (FSK), pulse position modulation (PPM) and pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM).

[0337] As referenced above, in some embodiments, the first network 3100a comprises the first network element 3104a, the second network element 3104b, and one or more others of the network elements 3104a-n (hereinafter, the "third network elements 3104a-n") spaced a distance from the first network element 3104a and the second network element 3104b. In such embodiments, the management communication data may identify the first network element 3104a as a first endpoint of a datapath and the second network element 3104b as a second end point of the datapath.

[0338] In some embodiments, the management communication data may include operating performance data including one or more of an operating temperature, an incoming operating voltage, a firmware version, an operating mode, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol (e.g., for communicating via the communication network 3214), one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The operating mode may be one of a loopback mode, a transmit-disable mode, and a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) generation mode.

[0339] In some embodiments, the management communication data may include one or more of a predetermined training sequence, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol, one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, a signal launch power, a signal receive power, a bit error rate (BER), and a symbol error rate (SER).

[0340] In some embodiments, the management communication data may include impairment data indicative of an impairment detected between the first end 3124 and the second end 3128 of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. In some embodiments, the management communication data may indicate a drop in a performance of the first network 3100a. In some embodiments, the management communication data may include discontinuity data indicative of a discontinuity detected between the first end 3124 and the second end 3128. In some embodiments, the management communication data may include one or more of loss of signal data and loss of lock data. The loss of signal data may indicate a loss of signal between the first network element 3104a and the second network element 3104b, while the loss of lock data may indicate a loss of clock or carrier synchronization between the first network element 3104a and the second network element 3104b.

[0341] In response to receiving the management communication data indicating a failure (i.e., an impairment, a drop in performance, a discontinuity, a loss of signal, ora loss of lock), thefirst controller 3116a may cause the first network element 3104a to initiate a handshake or training sequence (i.e., placing the first network element 3104a in the "sending a startup sequence and / or a predetermined training sequence" mode as described in more detail below) or initiate a diagnostic procedure configured to provide a user with information related to the failure.

[0342] At least one of the first receivers 3120a-n may be operable to receive, detect, and / or decode an inbound client signal (i.e., the outbound client signal generated by the first network element 3104a) from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n, generate an inbound baseband signal based on the inbound client signal, and transmit the inbound baseband signal having the client data encoded therein to the second controller 3116b. The second controller 3116b may be operable to receive the inbound baseband signal from at least one of the first receivers 3120a-n and transmit the inbound baseband signal to a first remote destination (not shown).

[0343] At least one of the first receivers 3120a-n may be further operable to receive, detect, and / or decode an inbound management communication signal (i.e., the outbound management communication signal generated by the first network element 3104a) from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and transmit the inbound management communication signal to the second controller 3116b. The second controller 3116b may be operable to receive the inbound management communication signal from at least one of the first receivers 3120a-n and adjust one or more operating parameters (hereinafter, the "operating parameters") of the second network element 3104b based on the management communication data and / ortransmit the inbound management communication signal to the first remote destination.

[0344] In some embodiments, a first subset of the first receivers 3120a-n which are operable to receive, detect, and / or decode the inbound client signal from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n, generate the inbound baseband signal based on the inbound client signal, and transmit the inbound baseband signal having the client data encoded therein to the second controller 3116b is different (i.e., mutually exclusive) from a second subset of the first receivers 3120a-n which are operable to receive, detect, and / or decode the inbound management communication signal from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and transmit the inbound management communication signal to the second controller 3116b.As described in more detail below, in some embodiments, the management communication signal transmitted by the first network element 3104a is a first management communication signal having first management communication data encoded therein, and a second management communicationsignal having second management communication data encoded therein is transmitted by the second network element 3104b. In such embodiments, the first management communication data may be indicative of a request to change a second current connection state of the second network element 3104b, and the second management communication data may be indicative of a request to change a first current connection state of the first network element 3104a.

[0345] As described herein, the connection state of a particular one of the network elements 3104 may be one of: an initialization state in which the network elements 3104 are configured to send a startup sequence; a training state in which the network elements 3104 are configured to send a predetermined training sequence; a transmission state in which the network elements 3104 are configured to send payload data; a loss of signal state indicating a loss of signal between the network elements 3104; a reset (or ready to send / receive) state indicating that a local check has been passed and a self-check has concluded; and an adjustment state in which the network elements 3104 are configured to update equalization or other signal quality parameters. It should be understood, however, that any of the connection states described herein may be further separated into connection sub-states.

[0346] As referenced above, performing a local check may include utilizing one or more loopback switches to verify that a particular one of the network elements 3104 is functioning properly. Further, as referenced above, performing a self-check may include operational monitoring, such as monitoring DC currents, voltages, and / ortemperatures in orderto verify that each are within predetermined operating ranges. Operational monitoring may further include monitoring a clock data recovery (CDR) lock status on the client side (i.e., the receive side) and / or communicating with peripheral components on a particular one of the controllers 3116 and / or a particular one of the network elements 3104, for example.

[0347] As described in more detail below, it should be understood that, from the perspective of the first controller 3116a of the first network element 3104a, information related to the first network element 3104a may be referred to as "local", while information related to the second network element 3104b may be referred to as "remote". Conversely, it should be understood that, from the perspective of the second controller 3116b of the second network element 3104b, information related to the first network element 3104a may be referred to as "remote", while information related to the second network element 3104b may be referred to as "local". For example, from the perspective of the first controller 3116a of the first network element 3104a, the first network element 3104a may be referred to as a "local network element 3104" and the first current connection state of the first network element 3104a may be referred to as a "localcurrent connection state", while the second network element 3104b may be referred to as a "remote network element 3104" and the second current connection state of the second network element 3104b may be referred to as a "remote current connection state". Conversely, from the perspective of the second controller 3116b of the second network element 3104b, the first network element 3104a may be referred to as the "remote network element 3104" and the first current connection state of the first network element 3104a may be referred to as the "remote current connection state", while the second network element 3104b may be referred to as the "local network element 3104" and the second current connection state of the second network element 3104b may be referred to as the "local current connection state".

[0348] Referring now to FIG. 31B, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a second transport network 3100b (hereinafter, the "second network 3100b") constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. Like the first network 3100a shown in FIG. 31A, the second network 3100b shown in FIG. 31B comprises the network elements 3104 (e.g., the first network element 3104a and the second network element 3104b) communicatively coupled to each other by the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. However, unlike the first network 3100a shown in FIG. 31A, the second network 3100b shown in FIG. 31B further comprises one or more second THz waveguides (e.g., one or more second passive waveguides) 3108b-n (hereinafter, the "second passive waveguides 3108b-n") (the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and the second passive waveguides 3108b-n, collectively, the "passive waveguides 3108") such that the network elements 3104 are communicatively coupled to each other by the first passive waveguides 3108a-n in the downstream direction and the second passive waveguides 3108b-n in the upstream direction.

[0349] Each of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n may have the first end 3124 (the first ends 3124b-n of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n, collectively, the "first ends 3124b"), the second end 3128 (the second ends 3128b-n of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n, collectively, the "second ends 3128b") opposite the first end 3124, and a second longitudinal axis 3132b (the second longitudinal axes 3132b-n of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n, collectively, the "second longitudinal axis 3132b") (the first longitudinal axis 3132a and the second longitudinal axis 3132b, collectively, the "longitudinal axis 3132") extending between the first ends 3124b and the second ends 3128b.

[0350] Like the embodiment shown in FIG. 31A, the embodiment of the first network element 3104a shown in FIG. 31B comprises the first transmitters 3112a-n and the first controller 3116a operable to control the first transmitters 3112a-n (e.g., to cause the first transmitters3112a-n to transmit and / or couple signals into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n to be transmitted in the downstream direction). However, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 31A, the embodiment of the first network element 3104a shown in FIG. 31B further comprises one or more second receivers 3120b-n (hereinafter, the "second receivers 3120b-n") operable to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n from the downstream direction, and the embodiment of the first controller 3116a shown in FIG. 31B is further operable to control the operable to control the second receivers 3120b-n (e.g., to cause the second receivers 3120b-n to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n from the downstream direction).

[0351] Like the embodiment shown in FIG. 31A, the embodiment of the second network element 3104b shown in FIG. 31B comprises the first receivers 3120a-n and the second controller 3116b operable to control the first receivers 3120a-n (e.g., to cause the first receivers 3120a-n to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n from the downstream direction). However, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 31A, the embodiment of the second network element 3104b shown in FIG. 31B further comprises one or more second transmitters 3112b-n (hereinafter, the "second transmitters 3112b-n") operable to transmit and / or couple signals into at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n in the upstream direction, and the embodiment of the second controller 3116b shown in FIG. 31B is further operable to control the operable to control the second transmitters 3112b-n (e.g., to cause the second transmitters 3112b-n to transmit and / or couple signals into at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n to be transmitted in the upstream direction).

[0352] It should be understood that, in some embodiments, the first transmitters 3112a-n may be operable to transmit and / or couple signals into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n to be transmitted in the downstream direction, while the second receivers 3120b-n may be operable to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n from the downstream direction). Similarly, in some embodiments, the second transmitters 3112b-n may be operable to transmit and / or couple signals into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n to be transmitted in the upstream direction, while the first receivers 3120a-n may be operable to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n from the upstream direction). That is, in some embodiments, the first passive waveguides 3108a-n may be used by the network elements 3104 to enable bidirectional communication in the downstream direction and the upstream direction.

[0353] In some embodiments where bidirectional communication is enabled, signal collision may be detected and / or avoided using a signal collision detection and / or avoidance protocol such as carrier-sense multiple access / collision avoidance (CSMA / CA) or carrier-sense multiple access / collision detection (CSMA / CD), for example. In other such embodiments, signal collision may be avoided by scheduling each of the signals with randomized offsets and / or providing leader-follower designations to each of the signals. In other such embodiments, token passing (i.e., wherein a packet called a token is passed between network elements 3104 to authorize the network elements 3104 to communicate) may be used to avoid signal collision. Finally, in other such embodiments, signal collision may be avoided by simply assigning one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n— orthe conductive layer 3404 of one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n— for signals in the upstream direction and another one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n— or the conductive layer 3404 of one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n— for signals in the downstream direction.

[0354] As described in more detail below, one or more of the passive waveguides 3108 may comprise waveguide portions 3302a-n (hereinafter the "waveguide portions 3302") (shown in FIG. 33) extending along the longitudinal axis 3132 and conductive portions 3306a-n (hereinafter the "conductive portions 3306") (shown in FIG. 33) extending along the longitudinal axis 3132. As described herein, the conductive portions 3306 may be constructed using a conductive metal, such as copper, silver, gold, aluminum, or graphene, for example. The conductive portions 3306 may provide physical contact between the network elements 3104 allowing for a closed electrical circuit that may form the basis for the low-speed (relative to the data communication channel), out-of-band control communication channel. In some embodiments, the conductive portions 3306 may also function as a shield forthe data communication channel.

[0355] As described above, the first controller 3116a may be further operable to receive a first outbound baseband signal having first client data encoded therein and transmit the first outbound baseband signal to at least one of the first transmitters 3112a-n. At least one of the first transmitters 3112a-n may be operable to receive the first outbound baseband signal from the first controller 3116a, generate a first outbound client signal based on the first outbound baseband signal, and transmit and / or couple the first outbound client signal into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n.

[0356] As described above, the first controller 3116a may be further operable to receive (from the first remote source) and / or generate a first outbound management communication signal having first management communication data encoded therein and transmit the firstoutbound management communication signal to at least one of the first transmitters 3112a-n. At least one of the first transmitters 3112a-n may be operable to receive the first outbound management communication signal from the first controller 3116a and transmit and / or couple the first outbound management communication signal into at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n.

[0357] As described above, at least one of the first receivers 3120a-n may be operable to receive, detect, and / or decode a first inbound client signal (i.e., the first outbound client signal generated by the first network element 3104a) from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n, generate a first inbound baseband signal based on the first inbound client signal, and transmit the first inbound baseband signal having the first client data encoded therein to the second controller 3116b. The second controller 3116b may be operable to receive the first inbound baseband signal from at least one of the first receivers 3120a-n and transmit the first inbound baseband signal to the first remote destination.

[0358] As described above, at least one of the first receivers 3120a-n may be further operable to receive, detect, and / or decode a first inbound management communication signal (i.e., the first outbound management communication signal generated by the first network element 3104a) from at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and transmit the first inbound management communication signal to the second controller 3116b. The second controller 3116b may be operable to receive the first inbound management communication signal from at least one of the first receivers 3120a-n and adjust one or more first operating parameters (hereinafter, the "first operating parameters") of the second network element 3104b based on the first management communication data and / or transmit the first inbound management communication signal to the first remote destination.

[0359] Similarly to the first controller 3116a, the second controller 3116b may be further operable to receive a second outbound baseband signal having second client data encoded therein and transmit the second outbound baseband signal to at least one of the second transmitters 3112b-n. At least one of the second transmitters 3112b-n may be operable to receive the second outbound baseband signal from the second controller 3116b, generate a second outbound client signal based on the second outbound baseband signal, and transmit and / or couple the second outbound client signal into at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n.

[0360] Similarly to the first controller 3116a, the second controller 3116b may be further operable to receive (from a second remote source (not shown)) and / or generate a secondoutbound management communication signal having second management communication data encoded therein and transmit the second outbound management communication signal to at least one of the second transmitters 3112b-n. At least one of the second transmitters 3112b-n may be operable to receive the second outbound management communication signal from the second controller 3116b and transmit and / or couple the second outbound management communication signal into at least one ofthe second passive waveguides 3108b-n.

[0361] Similarly to the first receivers 3120a-n, at least one of the second receivers 3120b-n may be operable to receive, detect, and / or decode a second inbound client signal (i.e., the second outbound client signal generated by the second network element 3104b) from at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n, generate a second inbound baseband signal based on the second inbound client signal, and transmit the second inbound baseband signal having the second client data encoded therein to the first controller 3116a. The first controller 3116a may be operable to receive the second inbound baseband signal from at least one ofthe second receivers 3120b-n and transmit the second inbound baseband signal to a second remote destination (not shown).

[0362] Similarly to the first receivers 3120a-n, at least one of the second receivers 3120b-n may be further operable to receive, detect, and / or decode a second inbound management communication signal (i.e., the second outbound management communication signal generated by the second network element 3104b) from at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n and transmit the second inbound management communication signal to the first controller 3116a. The first controller 3116a may be operable to receive the second inbound management communication signal from at least one ofthe second receivers 3120b-n and adjust one or more second operating parameters (hereinafter, the "second operating parameters") of the first network element 3104a based on the second management communication data and / or transmit the second inbound management communication signal to the second remote destination.

[0363] Referring now to FIG. 32, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of the first controller 3116a shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B. However, it should be understood that the description below may be applicable to any of the controllers 3116 described herein. In some embodiments, the first controller 3116a may include, but is not limited to, embodiments as a personal computer, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a network-capable television set, a tablet, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a network-capable handheld device, a server, adigital video recorder, a wearable network-capable device, a virtual reality / augmented reality device, and / orthe like.

[0364] In some embodiments, the first controller 3116a may include one or more controller input devices 3200a-n (hereinafter, the "controller input device 3200"), one or more controller output devices 3204a-n (hereinafter, the "controller output device 3204"), one or more controller processors 3208a-n (hereinafter, the "controller processor 3208"), one or more controller communication devices 3212a-n (hereinafter, the "controller communication device 3212") capable of interfacing with a communication network 3214 (hereinafter, the "network 3214"), one or more controller non-transitory processor-readable mediums 3216a-n (hereinafter, the "controller memory 3216") storing processor-executable code and / or software application(s), for example including a web browser capable of accessing a website and / or communicating information and / or data over a wireless or wired network (e.g., the network 3214) and / or the like. The controller input device 3200, the controller output device 3204, the controller processor 3208, the controller communication device 3212, and the controller memory 3216 may be connected via a controller path 3220 such as a data bus that permits communication among the devices of first controller 3116a.

[0365] In some embodiments, the network 3214 may be the Internet and / or other network. For example, if the network 3214 is the Internet, a primary user interface of the first controller 3116a may be delivered through a series of web pages or private internal web pages of a company or corporation, which may be written in hypertext markup language, and accessible by a user. It should be noted that the primary user interface of the first controller 3116a may be another type of interface including, but not limited to, a Windows-based application, a tabletbased application, a mobile web interface, a virtual reality / augmented reality interface, an application running on a mobile device, and / orthe like.

[0366] It should be understood that the network 3214 may be almost any type of network and may be implemented as the World Wide Web (or Internet), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan network, a wireless network, a cellular network, a Bluetooth network, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a 3G network, a 4G network, an LTE network, a 5G network, a satellite network, a radio network, an optical network, a cable network, a public switched telephone network, an Ethernet network, combinations thereof, and / orthe like. It is conceivable that in the near future, embodiments of the present disclosure may use more advanced networking topologies.

[0367] The controller memory 3216 may store a controller application 3224. The controller application 3224, when executed by the controller processor 3208, may cause the controller processor 3208 of the first controller 3116a to perform one or more steps of the methods 3600 described herein.

[0368] The controller input device 3200 may be capable of receiving information input from the user and / or the controller processor 3208, and transmitting such information to other devices of the first controller 3116a and / or the network 3214. The controller input device 3200 may include, but is not limited to, embodiment as a keyboard, a touchscreen, a mouse, a trackball, a microphone, a camera, a fingerprint reader, an infrared port, a slide-out keyboard, a flip-out keyboard, a cell phone, a PDA, a remote control, a fax machine, a wearable communication device, a network interface, combinations thereof, and / or the like, for example.

[0369] The controller output device 3204 may be capable of outputting information in a form perceivable by the user and / or the controller processor 3208. For example, embodiments of the controller output device 3204 may include, but are not limited to, a computer monitor, a screen, a touchscreen, a speaker, a website, a television set, a smart phone, a PDA, a cell phone, a fax machine, a printer, a laptop computer, a haptic feedback generator, combinations thereof, and the like, for example. It is to be understood that in some exemplary embodiments, the controller input device 3200 and the controller output device 3204 may be implemented as a single device, such as, for example, a touchscreen of a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone. It is to be further understood that as used herein the term "user" is not limited to a human being, and may comprise a computer, a server, a website, a processor, a network interface, a user terminal, a virtual computer, combinations thereof, and / or the like, for example.

[0370] The first controller 3116a may comprise one or more of the controller processor 3208 working together or independently to execute processor-executable code, such as the controller application 3224 stored on the controller memory 3216. Further, the controller processor 3208 may be capable of creating, manipulating, retrieving, altering, and / or storing data structures in the controller memory 3216. It should be understood that in embodiments using more than one of the controller processor 3208, each controller processor 3208 may be located remotely from one another or in the same location or may comprise a unitary multi-core processor.

[0371] Exemplary embodiments of the controller processor 3208 may include, but are not limited to, a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a microprocessor, a multi-core processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), combinations, thereof, and / or the like, for example. The controller processor 3208may be capable of communicating with the controller input device 3200 and / or the controller output device 3204.

[0372] The controller processor 3208 may be capable of interfacing and / or communicating via the network 3214 using the controller communication device 3212. For example, the controller processor 3208 may be capable of communicating via the network 3214 by exchanging signals (e.g., analog, digital, optical, and / orthe like) via one or more ports (e.g., physical or virtual ports) using a network protocol.

[0373] The network 3214 may permit communication of information and / or data to and / or from the first controller 3116a. The network 3214 may interface with the first controller 3116a in a variety of ways. For example, in some embodiments, the network 3214 may interface by optical and / or electronic interfaces, and / or may use a plurality of network topographies and / or protocols including, but not limited to, Ethernet, TCP / IP, circuit switched path, combinations thereof, and / or the like. The network 3214 may utilize a variety of network protocols to permit bidirectional interface and / or communication of data and / or information to and / or from the first controller 3116a.

[0374] The controller memory 3216 may be implemented as a conventional non-transitory memory, such as for example, random access memory (RAM), CD-ROM, a hard drive, a solid-state drive, a flash drive, a memory card, a DVD-ROM, a disk, an optical drive, combinations thereof, and / or the like, for example. In some embodiments, the controller memory 3216 may be located in the same physical location as the first controller 3116a, and / or one or more of the controller memory 3216 may be located remotely from the first controller 3116a. For example, the controller memory 3216 may be located remotely from the first controller 3116a and communicate with the controller processor 3208 via the network 3214. Additionally, when more than one of the controller memory 3216 is used, a first one of the controller memory 3216 may be located in the same physical location as the controller processor 3208, and additional ones of the controller memory 3216 may be located in a location physically remote from the controller processor 3208. Additionally, the controller memory 3216 may be implemented as a "cloud" non-transitory processor-readable storage medium (i.e., one or more of the controller memory 3216 may be partially or completely based on or accessed using the network 3214).

[0375] In some embodiments, the controller database 3228 may be a time series database. The controller database 3228 may be a relational database or a non-relational database. Examples of such databases comprise, DB2®, Microsoft* Access, Microsoft® SQLServer, Oracle®, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Apache Cassandra, InfluxDB, Prometheus, Redis, Elasticsearch,TimescaleDB, and / or the like. It should be understood that these examples have been provided for the purposes of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the presently disclosed inventive concepts. The controller database 3228 may be centralized or distributed across multiple systems.

[0376] The number of devices and / or networks illustrated in FIG. 32 is provided for explanatory purposes. In practice, there may be additional devices and / or networks, fewer devices and / or networks, different devices and / or networks, or differently arranged devices and / or networks than are shown in FIG. 32. Furthermore, two or more of the devices illustrated in FIG. 32 may be implemented within a single device, or a single device illustrated in FIG. 32 may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the devices of the first controller 3116a may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another one or more of the devices of the first controller 3116a. Devices of the first controller 3116a may interconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination thereof.

[0377] In embodiments in which the management communication data includes a predetermined training bit sequence, the second controller 3116b may be operable to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the second network element 3104b based on the predetermined training bit sequence. In such embodiments, the second controller 3116b may be further operable to verify the connection between the network elements 3104 based on the predetermined bit sequence.

[0378] In embodiments in which the first management communication data is indicative of a request to change a second current connection state (i.e., the "remote current connection state" from the perspective of the first controller 3116a and the "local current connection state" from the perspective of the second controller 3116b) of the second network element 3104b, the second controller 3116b may be further operable to change the second current connection state of the second network element 3104b. Similarly, in embodiments in which the second management communication data is further indicative of a request to change a first current connection state (i.e., the "remote current connection state" from the perspective of the second controller 3116b and the "local current connection state" from the perspective of the first controller 3116a) of the first network element 3104a, the first controller 3116a may be further operable to change the first current connection state of the first network element 3104a.

[0379] In some embodiments, the first controller 3116a may be further operable to store, in the controller memory 3216 of the first controller 3116a, one or more of the first currentconnection state (i.e., the "local current connection state" from the perspective of the first controller 3116a and the "remote current connection state" from the perspective of the second controller 3116b) of the first network element 3104a and the second current connection state (i.e., the "remote current connection state" from the perspective of the first controller 3116a and the "local current connection state" from the perspective of the second controller 3116b) of the second network element 3104b. Similarly, in such embodiments, the second controller3116b may be further operable to store, in the controller memory 3216 of the second controller 3116b, one or more of the first current connection state of the first network element 3104a and the second current connection state of the second network element 3104b.

[0380] In some embodiments, the first controller 3116a may be further operable to store, in the controller memory 3216 of the first controller 3116a, one or more of a first prior connection state (i.e., a "local prior connection state" from the perspective of the first controller 3116a and a "remote prior connection state" from the perspective of the second controller 3116b) of the first network element 3104a and a second prior connection state (i.e., a "remote prior connection state" from the perspective of the first controller 3116a and the "local prior connection state" from the perspective of the second controller 3116b) of the second network element 3104b. Similarly, in such embodiments, the second controller 3116b may be further operable to store, in the controller memory 3216 of the second controller 3116b, one or more of the first prior connection of the first network element 3104a and the second prior connection state of the second network element 3104b.

[0381] In some embodiments, the first controller 3116a may be further operable to store, in the controller memory 3216 of the first controller 3116a, one or more of a first history log (i.e., a "local history log" from the perspective of the first controller 3116a and a "remote history log" from the perspective of the second controller 3116b) of the first network element 3104a and a second history log (i.e., a "remote history log" from the perspective of the first controller 3116a and the "local history log" from the perspective of the second controller 3116b) of the second network element 3104b. Similarly, in such embodiments, the second controller 3116b may be further operable to store, in the controller memory 3216 of the second controller 3116b, one or more of the first history log of the first network element 3104a and the second history log of the second network element 3104b. The first history log and / or the second history log may include entries identifying prior connection states, prior sent commands (e.g., a "reset" command, an "adjust signal power" command, a "send start-up sequence" command, a "mute output signal"command, or an "adjust phase and / or amplitude of elements in the transmission chain" command), and prior sent data of the network elements 3104.

[0382] In some embodiments, the first controller 3116a may be further operable to store, in the controller memory 3216 of the first controller 3116a, signal condition information associated with one or more of the client signal and the management communication signal. Similarly, in such embodiments, the second controller 3116b may be further operable to store, in the controller memory 3216 of the second controller 3116b, the signal condition information associated with one or more of the client signal and the management communication signal. The signal condition information may include information related to power, lane mapping, absolute phase information, dispersion, nonlinear distortion, relative phase information (i.e., between an I component and a Q component), relative gain, frequency offset, power spectral density, timing skew (i.e., I component-to-Q. component or lane-to-lane), or signal quality (e.g., SNR or BER), for example.

[0383] Referring now to FIG. 33A, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a first network element assembly 3300a (hereinafter, the "first assembly 3300a") constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The first assembly 3300a generally comprises the first network element 3104a and the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. As can be seen in FIG. 33A, at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n may comprise a first waveguide portion 3302a extending along the first longitudinal axis 3132a and a first conductive portion 3306a extending along the first longitudinal axis 3132a.

[0384] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 33A, the first network element 3104a comprises the first controller 3116a, a first transmitter 3112a, and a second transmitter 3112b. The first transmitter 3112a is generally coupled to the first waveguide portion 3302a of the first passive waveguides 2108a-n and operable to transmit and / or couple signals into the first waveguide portion 3302a of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. To that end, the first transmitter 3112a may comprise one or more first antennas 3308a-n (hereinafter, the "first antennas 3308a-n") operable to transmit and / or couple signals into the first waveguide portion 3302a of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. Similarly, the second transmitter 3112b is generally coupled to the first conductive portion 3306a of the first passive waveguides 2108a-n and operable to transmit and / or couple signals into the first conductive portion 3306a of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. To that end, the second transmitter 3112b may comprise one or more first management communication interfaces 3312a-n (hereinafter, the "first management communication interfaces 3312a-n") (e.g., a first management communication interface 3312ashown in FIG. 33A) operable to transmit and / or couple signals into the first conductive portion 3306a of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n.

[0385] Referring now to FIG. 33B, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a second network element assembly 3300b (hereinafter, the "second assembly 3300b") constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The second assembly 3300b generally comprises the second network element 3104b and the second passive waveguides 3108b-n. As can be seen in FIG. 33B, at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n may comprise a second waveguide portion 3302b (the first waveguide portion 3302a and the second waveguide portion 3302b, collectively, the "waveguide portions 3302") extending along the second longitudinal axis 3132b and a second conductive portion 3306b (the first conductive portion 3306a and the second conductive portion 3306b, collectively, the "conductive portions 3306") extending along the second longitudinal axis 3132b.

[0386] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 33B, the second network element 3104b comprises the second controller 3116b, a first receiver 3120a, and a second receiver 3120b. The first receiver 3120a is generally coupled to the second waveguide portion 3302b of at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n and operable to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from the second waveguide portion 3302b of at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n. To that end, the first receiver 3120a may comprise one or more second antennas 3308b-n (hereinafter, the "second antennas 3308b-n") operable to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from the second waveguide portion 3302b of at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n. Similarly, the second receiver 3120b is generally coupled to the second conductive portion 3306b of at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n and operable to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from the second conductive portion 3306b of at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n. To that end, the second receiver 3120b may comprise one or more second management communication interfaces 3312b-n (hereinafter, the "second management communication interfaces 3312b-n") (e.g., a second management communication interface 3312b shown in FIG. 33B) (the first management communication interfaces 3312a-n and the second management communication interfaces 3312b-n, collectively, the "management communication interfaces 3312") operable to receive, detect, and / or decode signals from the second conductive portion 3306b of at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n.

[0387] In some embodiments, at least one of the management communication interfaces 3312 (e.g., the first management communication interface 3312a and / or the second management communication interface 3312b shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B) may be operable tocommunicate (e.g., transmit and / or couple the management communication signal and / or receive, detect, and / or decode the management communication signal) using a digital communication protocol. The digital communication protocol may be one of a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART) protocol and a serial peripheral interface (SPI) protocol, for example.

[0388] Referring now to FIGS. 34A-34J, shown therein are exemplary embodiments of particular ones of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n shown in FIG. 31A, including a first THz waveguide (e.g., a first passive waveguide) 3108a (hereinafter, the "first passive waveguide 3108a") (shown in FIG. 34A), a second THz waveguide (e.g., a second passive waveguide) 3108b (hereinafter, the "second passive waveguide 3108b") (shown in FIG. 34B), a third THz waveguide (e.g., a third passive waveguide) 3108c (hereinafter, the "third passive waveguide 3108c") (shown in FIG. 34C), a fourth THz waveguide (e.g., a fourth passive waveguide) 3108d (hereinafter, the "fourth passive waveguide 3108d") (shown in FIG. 34D), a fifth THz waveguide (e.g., a fifth passive waveguide) 3108e (hereinafter, the "fifth passive waveguide 3108e") (shown in FIG. 34E), a sixth THz waveguide (e.g., a sixth passive waveguide) 3108f (hereinafter, the "sixth passive waveguide 3108f") (shown in FIG. 34F), a seventh THz waveguide (e.g., a seventh passive waveguide) 3108g (hereinafter, the "seventh passive waveguide 3108g") (shown in FIG. 34G), an eighth THz waveguide (e.g., an eighth passive waveguide) 3108h (hereinafter, the "eighth passive waveguide 3108h") (shown in FIG. 34H), a ninth THz waveguide (e.g., a ninth passive waveguide) 3108i (hereinafter, the "ninth passive waveguide 3108i") (shown in FIG. 341), and a tenth THz waveguide (e.g., a tenth passive waveguide) 3108j (hereinafter, the "tenth passive waveguide 3108j") (shown in FIG. 34J). However, it should be understood that any one of the passive waveguides 3108 described herein may be implemented similarly to any one of the passive waveguides 3108 shown in FIGS. 34A-34J.

[0389] Generally, the waveguide portions 3302 of the passive waveguides 3108 are configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves. In some embodiments, the waveguide portions 3302 of the passive waveguides 3108 are configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having data rates in a range between 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) and 6.4 Terabits per second (Tbps). In other embodiments, the waveguide portions 3302 of the passive waveguides 3108 are configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having data rates in a range between 100 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and 6.4 Tbps. In still other embodiments, the waveguide portions 3302 of the passive waveguides 3108 are configured tosupport propagation of electromagnetic waves having data rates in a range between 200 Gbps and 1.6 Tbps.

[0390] The first passive waveguide 3108a (shown in FIG. 34A) may have a hollow waveguide core 3400 (i.e., filled with one or more of a gas, a vacuum, and a porous material having a porosity in a range between 25% and 99%), a conductive layer 3404 on and / or surrounding the hollow waveguide core 3400, and a non-conductive (i.e., dielectric) layer 3408 (hereinafter, the "non-conductive layer 3408") on and / or surrounding the conductive layer 3404. The non-conductive layer 3408 may comprise a dielectric material. The first waveguide portion 3302a of the first passive waveguide 3108a may be the hollow waveguide core 3400, while the first conductive portion 3306a of the first passive waveguide 3108a may be the conductive layer 3404.

[0391] The non-conductive layer 3408 may be constructed of a non-conductive material, such as a polymer, PTFE, COC, HDPE, or glass, for example.

[0392] The second passive waveguide 3108b (shown in FIG. 34B) may have the hollow waveguide core 3400, the non-conductive layer 3408 on and / or surrounding the hollow waveguide core 3400, and the conductive layer 3404 on and / or surrounding the non-conductive layer 3408. The first waveguide portion 3302a of the second passive waveguide 3108b may be the hollow waveguide core 3400, while the first conductive portion 3306a of the second passive waveguide 3108b may be the conductive layer 3404.

[0393] The third passive waveguide 3108c (shown in FIG. 34C) may have a non-conductive (i.e., dielectric) waveguide core 3412 (hereinafter, the "non-conductive waveguide core 3412"), the non-conductive layer 3408 on and / or surrounding the non-conductive waveguide core 3412, and the conductive layer 3404 on and / or surrounding the non-conductive layer 3408. The non-conductive waveguide core 3412 may have a first refractive index, and the non-conductive layer 3408 may have a second refractive index less than the first refractive index. The first waveguide portion 3302a of the third passive waveguide 3108c may be the non-conductive waveguide core 3412, while the first conductive portion 3306a of the third passive waveguide 3108c may be the conductive layer 3404.

[0394] The fourth passive waveguide 3108d (shown in FIG. 34D) may have a conductive waveguide core 3416 and the non-conductive layer 3408 on and / or surrounding the conductive waveguide core 3416. The first waveguide portion 3302a of the fourth passive waveguide 3108d may be the non-conductive layer 3408, while the first conductive portion 3306a of the fourth passive waveguide 3108d may be the conductive waveguide core 3416.

[0395] The fifth passive waveguide 3108e (shown in FIG. 34E) may have a conductive conduit 3420 and a non-conductive (i.e., dielectric) conduit 3424 (hereinafter, the "non-conductive conduit 3424") disposed non-concentrically with the conductive conduit 3420. The first waveguide portion 3302a of the fifth passive waveguide 3108e may be the non-conductive conduit 3424, while the first conductive portion 3306a of the fifth passive waveguide 3108e may be the conductive conduit 3420.

[0396] The sixth passive waveguide 3108f (shown in FIG. 34F) may have the hollow waveguide core 3400 and the conductive layer 3404 on and / or surrounding the hollow waveguide core 3400. The first waveguide portion 3302a of the sixth passive waveguide 3108f may be the hollow waveguide core 3400, while the first conductive portion 3306a of the sixth passive waveguide 3108f may be the conductive layer 3404.

[0397] As described in more detail below, while each of the passive waveguides 3108a-f are shown in FIGS. 34A-34F as having a circular cross-section, it should be understood that one or more of the passive waveguides 3108a-f may have a cross-section that is elliptical, square, rectangular, for example.

[0398] The seventh passive waveguide 3108g (shown in FIG. 34G) and the eighth passive waveguide 3108h (shown in FIG. 34H) may have the non-conductive waveguide core 3412, the non-conductive layer 3408 surrounding the non-conductive waveguide core 3412, and the conductive layer 3404 surrounding the non-conductive layer 3408. At least a portion of an outer surface 3428 of the non-conductive waveguide core 3412 may be spaced a distance from at least a portion of an inner surface 3432 of the non-conductive layer 3408 to define a cladding region 3436 between the outer surface 3428 of the non-conductive waveguide core 3412 and the inner surface 3432 of the non-conductive layer 3408.

[0399] As shown in FIG. 34G, the non-conductive waveguide core 3412 of the seventh passive waveguide 3108g may have a circular or elliptical cross-section. As shown in FIG. 34H, the non-conductive waveguide core 3412 of the eighth passive waveguide 3108h may have a square or rectangular cross-section.

[0400] The ninth passive waveguide 3108i (shown in FIG. 341) and the tenth passive waveguide 3108j (shown in FIG. 34J) may have the non-conductive waveguide core 3412 and the non-conductive layer 3408 surrounding the non-conductive waveguide core 3412, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface 3428 of the non-conductive waveguide core 3412 may be spaced a distance from at least a portion of the inner surface 3432 of the non-conductive layer 3408 to define the cladding region 3436 between the outer surface 3428 of the non-conductivewaveguide core 3412 and the inner surface 3432 of the non-conductive layer 3408. The ninth passive waveguide 3108i and the tenth passive waveguide 3108j may further have the conductive conduit 3420 disposed non-concentrically with the non-conductive waveguide core 3412.

[0401] As shown in FIG. 341, the non-conductive waveguide core 3412 of the ninth passive waveguide 3108i may have a circular or elliptical cross-section. As shown in FIG. 34J, the dielectric waveguide core 3412 of the tenth passive waveguide 3108j may have a square or rectangular cross-section.

[0402] The cladding region 3436 of each of the seventh passive waveguide 3108g, the eighth passive waveguide 3108h, the ninth passive waveguide 3108i, and the tenth passive waveguide 3108j may comprise one or more of a gas (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen), a vacuum, and a porous material (e.g., a foam) having a porosity in a range between 25% and 99%.

[0403] Referring now to FIGS. 35A-35C, shown therein are exemplary embodiments of a computer system 3500 constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The computer system 3500 generally comprises a PCB 3504, a multi-chip module (MCM) substrate 3508 disposed on the PCB 3504, an interposer substrate 3512 disposed on the MCM substrate 3508, one or more IC devices 3516 (hereinafter, the "IC devices 3516") disposed on the interposer substrate 3512, and a third transport network 3100c (hereinafter, the "third network 3100c") comprising the first network element 3104a and the second network element 3104b communicatively coupled to each other by the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. The IC devices 3516 may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch, for example. A protective lid 3520 may be disposed over the IC devices 3516.

[0404] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 35A-35C, the first network element 3104a further comprises a first connector 3524a configured to couple the first network element 3104a to the first passive waveguides 3108a-n, while the second network element 3104b further comprises a second connector 3524b configured to couple the second network element 3104b to the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. Further, as shown in FIGS. 35A-35C, in some embodiments, the first network element 3104a may be disposed on one of the interposer substrate 3512 (i.e., a common interposer substrate with the IC devices 3516) (shown in FIG. 35A), the MCM substrate 3508 (i.e., a common MCM substrate with the IC devices 3516) (shown in FIG. 35B), or the PCB 3504 (i.e., a common PCB with the IC devices 3516) (shown in FIG. 35C).

[0405] In other embodiments, it should be understood that one or more of the network elements 3104 may be disposed on an expansion module configured to be removably coupled to a host device. Expansion modules may include Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) transceivers and related devices such as SFP+, SFP28, and SFP56; Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) transceivers and related devices such as QSFP28 and QSFP-DD; and Octal Small Form-factor Pluggable (OSFP) transceivers and related devices such as OSFP-XD, for example. Host devices may include network switches, routers, network interface cards (NICs), network adapters, blade servers, rack servers, storage arrays, fiber channel switches, packet brokers, network TAPs, protocol analyzers, network security appliances, media converters, optical transport platforms, data center interconnect (DCI) platforms, network test equipment, traffic generators, network monitoring systems, wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems, graphical processing units (GPUs), tensor processing units (TPUs), and optical-electrical-optical (OEO) converters, for example.

[0406] Referring now to FIG. 36, shown therein is an exemplary embodiment of a method 3600 of using the first network 3100a shown in FIG. 31A. However, it should be understood that the description below may be applicable to any of the transport networks 3100 described herein.

[0407] As shown in FIG. 36, the method 3600 generally comprises the steps of: coupling, by the first transmitter 3112a of the first network element 3104a, the client signal into the first waveguide portion 3302a of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n (step 3604); coupling, by the second transmitter 3112b of the first network element 3104a, the management communication signal into the first conductive portion 3306a of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n (step 3608); receiving and decoding, by the first receiver 3120a of the second network element 3104b, the client signal from the first waveguide portion 3302a of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n (step 3612); receiving and decoding, by the second receiver 3120b of the second network element 3104b, the management communication signal from the first conductive portion 3306a of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n (step 3616); and adjusting, by the second controller 3116b of the second network element 3104b, one or more operating parameters of the second network element 3104b based on the management communication data (step 3620).

[0408] In some embodiments, the client signal may be a differential client signal pair having a first complementary client signal and a second complementary client signal. Similarly, in such embodiments, the management communication signal may be a differential managementcommunication signal pair having a first complementary management communication signal and a second management communication signal.

[0409] In such embodiments, the step of coupling the client signal into the first waveguide portion 3302a of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n (step 3604) may be further defined as coupling, by the first transmitter 3112a of the first network element 3104a, the first complementary client signal into the first waveguide portion 3302a of a first one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and the second complementary client signal into the first waveguide portion 3302a of a second one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n. Similarly, in such embodiments, the step of coupling the management communication signal into the first conductive portion 3306a of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n (step 3604) may be further defined as coupling, by the second transmitter 3112b of the first network element 3104a, the first complementary management communication signal into the first conductive portion 3306a of the first one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and the second complementary management communication signal into the first conductive portion 3306a of the second one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n.

[0410] Further, in such embodiments, the step of receiving and decoding, by the first receiver 3120a of the second network element 3104b, the client signal from the first waveguide portion 3302a of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n (step 3612) may be further defined as receiving and decoding, by the first receiver 3120a of the second network element 3104b, the first complementary client signal from the first waveguide portion 3302a of the first one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and the second complementary client signal from the first waveguide portion 3302a of the second one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n.

[0411] In some embodiments, the management communication signal is a first management communication signal, and the management communication data is first management communication data indicative of a request to establish a connection between the first network element 3104a and the second network element 3104b. In such embodiments, the method 3600 may further comprise coupling, by a third transmitter 3112c of the second transmitters 3112b-n of the second network element 3104b, a second management communication signal into one of the first conductive portion 3306a of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and the second conductive portion 3306b of at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n. The second management communication signal may have second management communication data encoded therein indicative of a response to the request to establish the connection between the first network element 3104a and the second network element 3104b.

[0412] Further, in such embodiments, the method 3600 may further comprising: receiving and decoding, by a third receiver 3120c of the second receivers 3120b-n of the first network element 3104a, the second management communication signal from one of the first conductive portion 3306a of at least one of the first passive waveguides 3108a-n and the second conductive portion 3306b of at least one of the second passive waveguides 3108b-n; and adjusting, by the first controller 3116a of the first network element 3104a, one or more operating parameters of the first network element 3104a based on the second management communication data.ILLUSTRATIVE CLAUSES

[0413] Exemplary, non-limiting illustrative clauses are provided in the clauses below. However, the scope of the present inventive concept(s) is to be understood to not be limited in any manner by the clauses presented below.

[0414] Illustrative clause 1. A transport network, comprising: a Terahertz (THz) waveguide having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, the THz waveguide comprising a waveguide portion extending along the longitudinal axis and a conductive portion extending along the longitudinal axis; a first network element comprising a first transmitter coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide and a second transmitter coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the first transmitter being operable to couple a client signal into the waveguide portion, the second transmitter being operable to couple a management communication signal into the conductive portion, the client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have client data encoded therein and having a frequency in a range between 300 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 THz, the management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have management communication data encoded therein; and a second network element spaced a distance from the first network element, the second network element comprising a controller, a first receiver coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide, and a second receiver coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the first receiver being operable to receive the client signal from the waveguide portion and decode the client signal, the second receiver being operable to receive the management communication signal from the conductive portion and decode the management communication signal, the controller being operable to adjust one or more operating parameters of the second network element based on the management communication data.

[0415] Illustrative clause 2. The transport network of illustrative clause 1, further comprising one or more third network elements spaced a distance from the first network element and thesecond network element, wherein the management communication data identifies the first network element as a first endpoint of a datapath and the second network element as a second end point of the datapath.

[0416] Illustrative clause 3. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 or 2, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) and 6.4 Terabits per second (Tbps).

[0417] Illustrative clause 4. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 or 2, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 100 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and 4.8 Terabits per second (Tbps).

[0418] Illustrative clause 5. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 or 2, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves havinga data rate in a range between 200Gigabits persecond (Gbps) and 1.6Terabits per second (Tbps).

[0419] Illustrative clause 6. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 5, wherein the management communication data is encoded in the management communication signal using a modulation format conforming to one of return-to-zero (RZ) encoding, non-return-to-zero (NRZ) encoding, Manchester encoding, frequency-shift keying (FSK), pulse position modulation (PPM), and pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM).

[0420] Illustrative clause 7. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 6, wherein the second transmitter includes a first management communication interface and is operable to couple the management communication signal into the conductive portion using the first management communication interface, and wherein the second receiver includes a second management communication interface and is operable to receive the management communication signal from the conductive portion using the second management communication interface, the first management communication interface and the second management communication interface being operable to communicate using a digital communication protocol.

[0421] Illustrative clause 8. The transport network of illustrative clause 7, wherein the digital communication protocol is one of a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter(UART) protocol and a serial peripheral interface (SPI) protocol.

[0422] Illustrative clause 9. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 8, wherein the THz waveguide is a first THz waveguide, the longitudinal axis is a first longitudinal axis, the waveguide portion is a first waveguide portion, the conductive portion is a first conductive portion, and the transport network further comprises a second THz waveguide having a third end, a fourth end opposite the third end, and a second longitudinal axis extending between the third end and the fourth end, the second THz waveguide comprising a second waveguide portion extending along the second longitudinal axis and a second conductive portion extending along the second longitudinal axis.

[0423] Illustrative clause 10. The transport network of illustrative clause 9, wherein the client signal is a differential client signal pair having a first complementary client signal and a second complementary client signal, the management communication signal is a differential management communication signal pair having a first complementary management communication signal and a second complementary management communication signal, and: wherein the first transmitter is coupled to the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to couple the first complementary client signal into the first waveguide portion and the second complementary client signal into the second waveguide portion, and the second transmitter is coupled to the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to couple the first complementary management communication signal into the first conductive portion and the second complementary management communication signal into the second conductive portion; and wherein the first receiver is coupled to the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to receive the first complementary client signal from the first waveguide portion and the second complementary client signal from the second waveguide portion and decode the client signal, and the second receiver is coupled to the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to receive the first complementary management communication signal from the first conductive portion and the second complementary management communication signal from the second conductive portion and decode the management communication signal.

[0424] Illustrative clause 11. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 9 or 10, wherein the client signal is a first client signal, the client data is first client data, the frequency is a first frequency, the management communication signal is a first management communicationsignal, the management communication data is first management communication data, the controller is a first controller, the one or more operating parameters are one or more first operating parameters, the first network element further comprising a second controller, a third receiver coupled to a particular one of the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide, and a fourth receiver coupled to a particular one of the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide, the second network element further comprising a third transmitter coupled to the particular one of the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion and a fourth transmitter coupled to the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, and: wherein the third transmitter is operable to couple a second client signal into the particular one of the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion, and the fourth transmitter is operable to couple a second management communication signal into the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, the second client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have second client data encoded therein and having a second frequency in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz and the second management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have second management communication data encoded therein; wherein the third receiver is operable to receive the second client signal from the particular one of the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion and decode the second client signal, and the fourth receiver is operable to receive the second management communication signal from the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and decode the second management communication signal; and wherein the second controller is operable to adjust one or more second operating parameters of the first network element based on the second management communication data.

[0425] Illustrative clause 12. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 9 to 11, wherein the management communication signal is a first management communication signal, the management communication data is first management communication data indicative of a request to establish a connection between the first network element and the second network element, the controller is a second controller, and the one or more operating parameters are one or more second operating parameters, the first network element further comprising a third receiver coupled to a particular one of the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide and a first controller, the second network element further comprising a third transmitter coupled to the particular one of the firstconductive portion and the second conductive portion, and: wherein the second controller is further operable to enable thethird transmitterto couple a second management communication signal into the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, the second management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have second management communication data encoded therein, the second management communication data being indicative of a response to the request to establish the connection between the first network element and the second network element; and wherein the third receiver is operable to receive the second management communication signal from the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and decode the second management communication signal, the second controller being operable to adjust one or more first operating parameters of the first network element based on the second management communication data.

[0426] Illustrative clause 13. The transport network of illustrative clause 12, wherein the first management communication data is further indicative of a request to change a second current connection state of the second network element, the second controller is further operable to change the second current connection state of the second network element, the second management communication data is further indicative of a request to change a first current connection state of the first network element, and the first controller is further operable to change the first current connection state of the first network element.

[0427] Illustrative clause 14. The transport network of illustrative clause 13, wherein the first controller comprises a first memory comprising a first non-transitory processor-readable medium, the second controller comprises a second memory comprising a second non-transitory processor-readable medium, the first controller is further operable to store, in the first memory, the first current connection state of the first network element, and the second controller is further operable to store, in the second memory, the second current connection state of the second network element.

[0428] Illustrative clause 15. The transport network of illustrative clause 14, wherein the first controller is further operable to store, in the first memory, a first prior connection state of the first network element, and the second controller is further operable to store, in the second memory, a second prior connection state of the second network element.

[0429] Illustrative clause 16. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 12 to 15, wherein the first controller comprises a first memory comprising a first non-transitory processor-readable medium, the second controller comprises a second memory comprising asecond non-transitory processor-readable medium, the first controller is further operable to store, in the first memory, signal condition information of the client signal, and the second controller is further operable to store, in the second memory, the signal condition information of the client signal.

[0430] Illustrative clause 17. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 16, wherein the management communication data includes a predetermined training bit sequence, and the controller is operable to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the second network element based on the predetermined training bit sequence.

[0431] Illustrative clause 18. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 17, wherein the management communication data includes impairment data indicative of an impairment detected between the first end and the second end.

[0432] Illustrative clause 19. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 18, wherein the management communication data includes discontinuity data indicative of a discontinuity detected between the first end and the second end.

[0433] Illustrative clause 20. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 19, wherein the management communication data includes operating performance data including one or more of an ope ratingtempe nature, an incoming operating voltage, a firmware version, an operating mode, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol, one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the operating mode being one of a loopback mode, a transmit-disable mode, and a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) generation mode.

[0434] Illustrative clause 21. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 20, wherein the management communication data includes one or more of a training sequence, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol, one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, a signal launch power, a signal receive power, a bit error rate (BER), and a symbol error rate (SER).

[0435] Illustrative clause 22. The transport network of illustrative clause 21, wherein the management communication data indicates a drop in a performance of the transport network.

[0436] Illustrative clause 23. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 22, wherein the management communication data includes one or more of loss of signal data and loss of lock data, the loss of signal data being indicative of a loss of signal between the firstnetwork element and the second network element, the loss of lock data being indicative of a loss of clock synchronization between the first network element and the second network element.

[0437] Illustrative clause 24. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 23, wherein at least one of the first network element and the second network element is disposed on an expansion module configured to be removably coupled to a host device.

[0438] Illustrative clause 25. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 24, wherein at least one of the first network element and the second network element is disposed on a common interposer substrate with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

[0439] Illustrative clause 26. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 25, wherein at least one of the first network element and the second network element is disposed on a common multi-chip module (MCM) with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

[0440] Illustrative clause 27. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 26, wherein at least one of the first network element and the second network element is disposed on a common printed circuit board (PCB) with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

[0441] Illustrative clause 28. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 27, wherein at least one of the first transmitter, the second transmitter, the first receiver, and the second receiver includes an antenna.

[0442] Illustrative clause 29. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 1 to 28, wherein the waveguide portion is a dielectric waveguide core, and wherein the THz waveguide further comprises a dielectric layer surrounding the dielectric waveguide core such that at least a portion of an outer surface of the dielectric waveguide core is spaced a distance from at least a portion of an inner surface of the dielectric layer, thereby forming a cladding region therebetween.

[0443] Illustrative clause 30. The transport network of illustrative clause 29, wherein the cladding region is filled one or more of a gas, a vacuum, and a porous material having a porosity in a range between 25% and 99%.

[0444] Illustrative clause 31. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 29 or 30, wherein the conductive portion is a conductive layer surrounding the dielectric layer.

[0445] Illustrative clause 32. The transport network of any one of illustrative clauses 29 or 30, wherein the conductive portion is a conductive conduit disposed non-concentrically with the dielectric waveguide core.

[0446] Illustrative clause 33. A network element assembly, comprising: a Terahertz (THz) waveguide having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, the THz waveguide comprising a waveguide portion extending along the longitudinal axis and a conductive portion extending along the longitudinal axis; and a network element comprising a controller, a transmitter coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide, and a receiver coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the transmitter including an antenna operable to couple a client signal into the waveguide portion, the receiver being operable to receive a management communication signal from the conductive portion and decode the management communication signal, the client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have client data encoded therein and having a frequency in a range between 300 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 THz, the management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have management communication data encoded therein, the controller being operable to adjust one or more operating parameters of the network element based on the management communication data.

[0447] Illustrative clause 34. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 33, wherein the network element is a local network element and the management communication data identifies the local network element as a first endpoint of a datapath and a remote network element as a second endpoint of the datapath.

[0448] Illustrative clause 35. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 or 34, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) and 6.4 Terabits per second (Tbps).

[0449] Illustrative clause 36. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 or 34, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 100 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and 4.8 Terabits per second (Tbps).

[0450] Illustrative clause 37. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 or 34, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 200 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and 1.6 Terabits per second (Tbps).

[0451] Illustrative clause 38. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 37, wherein the management communication data is encoded in the management communication signal using a modulation format conforming to one of return-to-zero (RZ) encoding, non-return-to-zero (NRZ) encoding, Manchester encoding, frequency-shift keying (FSK), pulse position modulation (PPM), and pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM).

[0452] Illustrative clause 39. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 38, wherein the receiver includes a management communication interface and is operable to receive the management communication signal from the conductive portion using the management communication interface, the management communication interface being operable to communicate using a digital communication protocol.

[0453] Illustrative clause 40. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 39, wherein the digital communication protocol is one of a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART) protocol and a serial peripheral interface (SPI) protocol.

[0454] Illustrative clause 41. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 40, wherein the THz waveguide is a first THz waveguide, the longitudinal axis is a first longitudinal axis, the waveguide portion is a first waveguide portion, the conductive portion is a first conductive portion, and the network element assembly further comprises a second THz waveguide having a third end, a fourth end opposite the third end, and a second longitudinal axis extending between the third end and the fourth end, the second THz waveguide comprising a second waveguide portion extending along the second longitudinal axis and a second conductive portion extending along the second longitudinal axis.

[0455] Illustrative clause 42. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 41, wherein the client signal is a differential client signal pair having a first complementary client signal and a second complementary client signal, the management communication signal is a differential management communication signal pair having a first complementary management communication signal and a second complementary management communication signal, the transmitter is coupled to the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide, and the receiver is coupled to the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide, and: wherein the transmitter is operable to couple the first complementary client signal into the first waveguide portion and the second complementary client signal into the second waveguide portion; and wherein the receiver is operable to receive the first complementary management communication signal from the first conductive portion and thesecond complementary management communication signal from the second conductive portion and decode the management communication signal.

[0456] Illustrative clause 43. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 41 or 42, wherein the transmitter is a first transmitter, the receiver is a first receiver, the client signal is a first client signal, the client data is first client data, the frequency is a first frequency, the management communication signal is a first management communication signal, and the management communication data is first management communication data, the network element further comprising a second transmitter coupled to a particular one of the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide and a second receiver coupled to a particular one of the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide, and: wherein the second transmitter is operable to couple a second management communication signal into the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, the second management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have second management communication data encoded therein; and wherein the second receiver is operable to receive a second client signal from the particular one of the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion and decode the second client signal, the second client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have second client data encoded therein and having a second frequency in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz.

[0457] Illustrative clause 44. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 41 to 43, wherein the network element is a local network element, the management communication signal is a first management communication signal, and the management communication data isfirst management communication data indicative of a request to establish a connection between the network element and a remote network element, the local network element further comprising a second transmitter coupled to a particular one of the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide, and: wherein the second transmitter is operable to couple a second management communication signal into the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, the second management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have second management communication data encoded therein, the second management communication data being indicative of a response to the request to establish the connection between the network element and the remote network element.

[0458] Illustrative clause 45. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 44, wherein the first management communication data is further indicative of a request to change a local current connection state of the local network element, the controller is further operable to change the local current connection state of the local network element, and the second management communication data is further indicative of a request to change a remote current connection state of the remote network element.

[0459] Illustrative clause 46. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 45, wherein the controller comprises a memory comprising a non-transitory processor-readable medium, the controller is further operable to store, in the memory, the remote current connection state of the remote network element.

[0460] Illustrative clause 47. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 46, wherein the controller is further operable to store, in the memory, a remote prior connection state of the remote network element.

[0461] Illustrative clause 48. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 44 to 47, wherein the controller comprises a memory comprising a non-transitory processor-readable medium and is further operable to store, in the memory, signal condition information of the client signal.

[0462] Illustrative clause 49. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 48, wherein the management communication data includes a predetermined training bit sequence, and the controller is operable to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the network element based on the predetermined training bit sequence.

[0463] Illustrative clause 50. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 49, wherein the management communication data includes impairment data indicative of an impairment detected between the first end and the second end.

[0464] Illustrative clause 51. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 50, wherein the management communication data includes discontinuity data indicative of a discontinuity detected between the first end and the second end.

[0465] Illustrative clause 52. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 51, wherein the management communication data includes one or more of an operating temperature, an incoming operating voltage, a firmware version, an operating mode, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol, one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, and asignal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the operating mode being one of a loopback mode, a transmit-disable mode, and a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) generation mode.

[0466] Illustrative clause 53. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 52, wherein the management communication data includes one or more of a training sequence, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol, one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, a signal launch power, a signal receive power, a bit error rate (BER), and a symbol error rate (SER).

[0467] Illustrative clause 54. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 53, wherein the management communication data indicates a drop in a performance of the network element assembly.

[0468] Illustrative clause 55. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 54, wherein the network element is a local network element and the management communication data includes one or more of loss of signal data and loss of lock data, the loss of signal data being indicative of a loss of signal between the local network element and a remote network element, the loss of lock data being indicative of a loss of clock synchronization between the local network element and the remote network element.

[0469] Illustrative clause 56. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 55, wherein the network element is disposed on an expansion module configured to be removably coupled to a host device.

[0470] Illustrative clause 57. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 56, wherein the network element is disposed on a common interposer substrate with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

[0471] Illustrative clause 58. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 57, wherein the network element is disposed on a common multi-chip module (MCM) with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

[0472] Illustrative clause 59. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 58, wherein the network element is disposed on a common printed circuit board (PCB) with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

[0473] Illustrative clause 60. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 33 to 59, wherein the waveguide portion is a dielectric waveguide core, and wherein the THz waveguide further comprises a dielectric layer surrounding the dielectric waveguide core such that at least a portion of an outer surface of the dielectric waveguide core is spaced a distance from at least a portion of an inner surface of the dielectric layer, thereby forming a cladding region therebetween.

[0474] Illustrative clause 61. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 60, wherein the cladding region is filled one or more of a gas, a vacuum, and a porous material having a porosity in a range between 25% and 99%.

[0475] Illustrative clause 62. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 60 or 61, wherein the conductive portion is a conductive layer surrounding the dielectric layer.

[0476] Illustrative clause 63. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 60 or 61, wherein the conductive portion is a conductive conduit disposed non-concentrically with the dielectric waveguide core.

[0477] Illustrative clause 64. A network element assembly, comprising: a Terahertz (THz) waveguide having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, the THz waveguide comprising a waveguide portion extending along the longitudinal axis and a conductive portion extending along the longitudinal axis; and a network element comprising a controller, a first receiver coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide, and a second receiver coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the first receiver including an antenna operable to receive a client signal from the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide, the first receiver being operable to decode the client signal, the second receiver being operable to receive a management communication signal from the conductive portion and decode the management communication signal, the client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have client data encoded therein and having a frequency in a range between 300 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 THz, the management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have management communication data encoded therein, the controller being operable to adjust one or more operating parameters of the network element based on the management communication data.

[0478] Illustrative clause 65. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 64, wherein the network element is a local network element and the management communication dataidentifies the local network element as a first endpoint of a datapath and a remote network element as a second endpoint of the datapath.

[0479] Illustrative clause 66. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 or 65, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) and 6.4 Terabits per second (Tbps).

[0480] Illustrative clause 67. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 or 65, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 100 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and 4.8 Terabits per second (Tbps).

[0481] Illustrative clause 68. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 or 65, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 200 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and 1.6 Terabits per second (Tbps).

[0482] Illustrative clause 69. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 68, wherein the management communication data is encoded in the management communication signal using a modulation format conforming to one of return-to-zero (RZ) encoding, non-return-to-zero (NRZ) encoding, Manchester encoding, frequency-shift keying (FSK), pulse position modulation (PPM), and pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM).

[0483] Illustrative clause 70. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 69, wherein the second receiver includes a management communication interface and is operable to receive the management communication signal from the conductive portion using the management communication interface, the management communication interface being operable to communicate using a digital communication protocol.

[0484] Illustrative clause 71. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 70, wherein the digital communication protocol is one of a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART) protocol and a serial peripheral interface (SPI) protocol.

[0485] Illustrative clause 72. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 71, wherein the THz waveguide is a first THz waveguide, the longitudinal axis is a first longitudinal axis, the waveguide portion is a first waveguide portion, the conductive portion is a first conductive portion, and the network element assembly further comprises a second THz waveguide having a third end, a fourth end opposite the third end, and a second longitudinal axis extending between the third end and the fourth end, the second THz waveguide comprising asecond waveguide portion extending along the second longitudinal axis and a second conductive portion extending along the second longitudinal axis.

[0486] Illustrative clause 73. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 72, wherein the client signal is a differential client signal pair having a first complementary client signal and a second complementary client signal, the management communication signal is a differential management communication signal pair having a first complementary management communication signal and a second complementary management communication signal, and: wherein the first receiver is coupled to the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to receive the first complementary client signal from the first waveguide portion and the second complementary client signal from the second waveguide portion and decode the client signal, and the second receiver is operable to receive the first complementary management communication signal from the first conductive portion and the second complementary management communication signal from the second conductive portion and decode the management communication signal; and wherein the controller is operable to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the network element based on the management communication data.

[0487] Illustrative clause 74. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 72 or 73, wherein the client signal is a first client signal, the client data is first client data, the frequency is a first frequency, the management communication signal is a first management communication signal, and the management communication data is first management communication data, the network element further comprising a first transmitter and a second transmitter, and: wherein the first transmitter is coupled to a particular one of the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to couple a second client signal into the particular one of the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion, and the second transmitter is coupled to a particular one of the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to couple a second management communication signal into the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, the second client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have second client data encoded therein and having a second frequency in a range between 300 GHz and 10 THz and the second management communication signal being aconducted electrical signal configured to have second management communication data encoded therein.

[0488] Illustrative clause 75. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 72 to 74, wherein the network element is a local network element, the management communication signal is a first management communication signal, and the management communication data isfirst management communication data indicative of a request to establish a connection between the local network element and a remote network element, the local network element further comprising a transmitter coupled to a particular one of the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide, and:

[0489] wherein the transmitter is operable to couple a second management communication signal into the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, the second management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have second management communication data encoded therein, the second management communication data being indicative of a response to the request to establish the connection between the local network element and the remote network element.

[0490] Illustrative clause 76. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 75, wherein the first management communication data is further indicative of a request to change a local current connection state of the local network element, the controller is further operable to change the local current connection state of the local network element, and the second management communication data is further indicative of a request to change a remote current connection state of the remote network element.

[0491] Illustrative clause 77. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 76, wherein the controller comprises a memory comprising a non-transitory processor-readable medium and the controller is further operable to store, in the memory, the remote current connection state of the remote network element.

[0492] Illustrative clause 78. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 77, wherein the controller is further operable to store, in the memory, a remote prior connection state of the remote network element.

[0493] Illustrative clause 79. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 75 to 78, wherein the controller comprises a memory comprising a non-transitory processor-readable medium and the controller is further operable to store, in the memory, signal condition information of the client signal.

[0494] Illustrative clause 80. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 79, wherein the management communication data includes a predetermined training bit sequence, and the controller is operable to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the network element based on the predetermined training bit sequence.

[0495] Illustrative clause 81. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 80, wherein the management communication data includes impairment data indicative of an impairment detected between the first end and the second end.

[0496] Illustrative clause 82. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 81, wherein the management communication data includes discontinuity data indicative of a discontinuity detected between the first end and the second end.

[0497] Illustrative clause 83. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 82, wherein the management communication data includes operating performance data including one or more of an operating temperature, an incoming operating voltage, a firmware version, an operating mode, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol, one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the operating mode being one of a loopback mode, a transmit-disable mode, and a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) generation mode.

[0498] Illustrative clause 84. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 83, wherein the management communication data includes one or more of a training sequence, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol, one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, a signal launch power, a signal receive power, a bit error rate (BER), and a symbol error rate (SER).

[0499] Illustrative clause 85. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 84, wherein the management communication data indicates a drop in a performance of the network element assembly.

[0500] Illustrative clause 86. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 85, wherein the network element is a local network element and the management communication data includes one or more of loss of signal data and loss of lock data, the loss of signal data being indicative of a loss of signal between the local network element and a remote network element, the loss of lock data being indicative of a loss of clock synchronization between the local network element and the remote network element.

[0501] Illustrative clause 87. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 86, wherein the network element is disposed on an expansion module configured to be removably coupled to a host device.

[0502] Illustrative clause 88. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 87, wherein the network element is disposed on a common interposer substrate with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

[0503] Illustrative clause 89. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 88, wherein the network element is disposed on a common multi-chip module (MCM) with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

[0504] Illustrative clause 90. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 89, wherein the network element is disposed on a common printed circuit board (PCB) with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

[0505] Illustrative clause 91. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 90, wherein at least one of the first receiver and the second receiver includes an antenna.

[0506] Illustrative clause 92. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 64 to 91, wherein the waveguide portion is a dielectric waveguide core, and wherein the THz waveguide further comprises a dielectric layer surrounding the dielectric waveguide core such that at least a portion of an outer surface of the dielectric waveguide core is spaced a distance from at least a portion of an inner surface of the dielectric layer, thereby forming a cladding region therebetween.

[0507] Illustrative clause 93. The network element assembly of illustrative clause 92, wherein the cladding region is filled one or more of a gas, a vacuum, and a porous material having a porosity in a range between 25% and 99%.

[0508] Illustrative clause 94. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 92 or 93, wherein the conductive portion is a conductive layer surrounding the dielectric layer.

[0509] Illustrative clause 95. The network element assembly of any one of illustrative clauses 92 or 93, wherein the conductive portion is a conductive conduit disposed non-concentrically with the dielectric waveguide core.CONCLUSION

[0510] The foregoing description provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventive concepts to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the methodologies set forth in the present disclosure.

[0511] Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one other claim, the disclosure includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

[0512] No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such outside of the preferred embodiment. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to mean "based, at least in part, on" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A transport network, comprising:a Terahertz (THz) waveguide having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, the THz waveguide comprising a waveguide portion extending along the longitudinal axis and a conductive portion extending along the longitudinal axis;a first network element comprising a first transmitter coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide and a second transmitter coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the first transmitter being operable to couple a client signal into the waveguide portion, the second transmitter being operable to couple a management communication signal into the conductive portion, the client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have client data encoded therein and having a frequency in a range between 300 Gigahertz (GHz) and 10 THz, the management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have management communication data encoded therein; and a second network element spaced a distance from the first network element, the second network element comprising a controller, a first receiver coupled to the waveguide portion of the THz waveguide, and a second receiver coupled to the conductive portion of the THz waveguide, the first receiver being operable to receive the client signal from the waveguide portion and decode the client signal, the second receiver being operable to receive the management communication signal from the conductive portion and decode the management communication signal, the controller being operable to adjust one or more operating parameters of the second network element based on the management communication data.

2. The transport network of claim 1, further comprising one or more third network elements spaced a distance from the first network element and the second network element, wherein the management communication data identifies the first network element as a first endpoint of a datapath and the second network element as a second endpoint of the datapath.

3. The transport network of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) and 6.4 Terabits per second (Tbps).

4. The transport network of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 100 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and 4.8 Terabits per second (Tbps).

5. The transport network of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the waveguide portion is configured to support propagation of electromagnetic waves having a data rate in a range between 200 Gigabits per second (Gbps) and 1.6 Terabits per second (Tbps).

6. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the management communication data is encoded in the management communication signal using a modulation format conforming to one of return-to-zero (RZ) encoding, non-return-to-zero (NRZ) encoding, Manchester encoding, frequency-shift keying (FSK), pulse position modulation (PPM), and pulseamplitude modulation (PAM).

7. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second transmitter includes a first management communication interface and is operable to couple the management communication signal into the conductive portion using the first management communication interface, and wherein the second receiver includes a second management communication interface and is operable to receive the management communication signal from the conductive portion using the second management communication interface, the first management communication interface and the second management communication interface being operable to communicate using a digital communication protocol.

8. The transport network of claim 7, wherein the digital communication protocol is one of a universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter (UART) protocol and a serial peripheral interface (SPI) protocol.

9. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the THz waveguide is a first THz waveguide, the longitudinal axis is a first longitudinal axis, the waveguide portion is a first waveguide portion, the conductive portion is a first conductive portion, and the transport network further comprises a second THz waveguide having a third end, a fourth end opposite the third end, and a second longitudinal axis extending between the third end and the fourth end, the second THz waveguide comprising a second waveguide portion extending along the second longitudinal axis and a second conductive portion extending along the second longitudinal axis.

10. The transport network of claim 9, wherein the client signal is a differential client signal pair having a first complementary client signal and a second complementary client signal, the management communication signal is a differential management communication signal pairhaving a first complementary management communication signal and a second complementary management communication signal, and:wherein the first transmitter is coupled to the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to couple the first complementary client signal into the first waveguide portion and the second complementary client signal into the second waveguide portion, and the second transmitter is coupled to the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to couple the first complementary management communication signal into the first conductive portion and the second complementary management communication signal into the second conductive portion; andwherein the first receiver is coupled to the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to receive the first complementary client signal from the first waveguide portion and the second complementary client signal from the second waveguide portion and decode the client signal, and the second receiver is coupled to the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide and is operable to receive the first complementary management communication signal from the first conductive portion and the second complementary management communication signal from the second conductive portion and decode the management communication signal.

11. The transport network of any one of claims 9 or 10, wherein the client signal is a first client signal, the client data is first client data, the frequency is a first frequency, the management communication signal is a first management communication signal, the management communication data is first management communication data, the controller is a first controller, the one or more operating parameters are one or more first operating parameters, the first network element further comprising a second controller, a third receiver coupled to a particular one of the first waveguide portion of the first THz waveguide and the second waveguide portion of the second THz waveguide, and a fourth receiver coupled to a particular one of the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide, the second network element further comprising a third transmitter coupled tothe particular one of the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion and a fourth transmitter coupled to the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, and:wherein the third transmitter is operable to couple a second client signal into the particular one of the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion, and the fourth transmitter is operable to couple a second management communication signal into the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, the second client signal being a guided electromagnetic wave configured to have second client data encoded therein and having a second frequency in a range between 300 GHz and lOTHz and the second management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have second management communication data encoded therein; wherein the third receiver is operable to receive the second client signal from the particular one of the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion and decode the second client signal, and the fourth receiver is operable to receive the second management communication signal from the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and decode the second management communication signal; andwherein the second controller is operable to adjust one or more second operating parameters of the first network element based on the second management communication data.

12. The transport network of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the management communication signal is a first management communication signal, the management communication data is first management communication data indicative of a request to establish a connection between the first network element and the second network element, the controller is a second controller, and the one or more operating parameters are one or more second operating parameters, the first network element further comprising a third receiver coupled to a particular one of the first conductive portion of the first THz waveguide and the second conductive portion of the second THz waveguide and a first controller, the second network element further comprising a third transmitter coupled to the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, and:wherein the second controller is further operable to enable the third transmitter to couple a second management communication signal into the particular one of the firstconductive portion and the second conductive portion, the second management communication signal being a conducted electrical signal configured to have second management communication data encoded therein, the second management communication data being indicative of a response to the request to establish the connection between the first network element and the second network element; andwherein the third receiver is operable to receive the second management communication signal from the particular one of the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion and decode the second management communication signal, the second controller being operable to adjust one or more first operating parameters of the first network element based on the second management communication data.

13. The transport network of claim 12, wherein the first management communication data is further indicative of a request to change a second current connection state of the second network element, the second controller is further operable to change the second current connection state of the second network element, the second management communication data is further indicative of a request to change a first current connection state of the first network element, and the first controller is further operable to change the first current connection state of the first network element.

14. The transport network of claim 13, wherein the first controller comprises a first memory comprising a first non-transitory processor-readable medium, the second controller comprises a second memory comprising a second non-transitory processor-readable medium, the first controller is further operable to store, in the first memory, the first current connection state of the first network element, and the second controller is further operable to store, in the second memory, the second current connection state of the second network element.

15. The transport network of claim 14, wherein the first controller is further operable to store, in the first memory, a first prior connection state of the first network element, and the second controller is further operable to store, in the second memory, a second prior connection state of the second network element.

16. The transport network of any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the first controller comprises a first memory comprising a first non-transitory processor-readable medium, the second controller comprises a second memory comprising a second non-transitory processor-readable medium, the first controller is further operable to store, in the first memory, signal conditioninformation of the client signal, and the second controller is further operable to store, in the second memory, the signal condition information of the client signal.

17. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the management communication data includes a predetermined training bit sequence, and the controller is operable to adjust the one or more operating parameters of the second network element based on the predetermined training bit sequence.

18. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the management communication data includes impairment data indicative of an impairment detected between the first end and the second end.

19. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the management communication data includes discontinuity data indicative of a discontinuity detected between the first end and the second end.

20. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the management communication data includes operating performance data including one or more of an operating temperature, an incoming operating voltage, a firmware version, an operating mode, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol, one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, and a signa I-to-noise ratio (SNR), the operating mode being one of a loopback mode, a transmit-disable mode, and a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) generation mode.

21. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the management communication data includes one or more of a training sequence, one or more operating frequencies including the frequency of the client signal, a modulation format, a data rate, a communication protocol, one or more forward error correction (FEC) modes, a signal launch power, a signal receive power, a bit error rate (BER), and a symbol error rate (SER).

22. The transport network of claim 21, wherein the management communication data indicates a drop in a performance of the transport network.

23. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the management communication data includes one or more of loss of signal data and loss of lock data, the loss of signal data being indicative of a loss of signal between the first network element and the second network element, the loss of lock data being indicative of a loss of clock synchronization between the first network element and the second network element.

24. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein at least one of the first network element and the second network element is disposed on an expansion module configured to be removably coupled to a host device.

25. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein at least one of the first network element and the second network element is disposed on a common interposer substrate with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

26. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein at least one of the first network element and the second network element is disposed on a common multi-chip module (MCM) with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

27. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein at least one of the first network element and the second network element is disposed on a common printed circuit board (PCB) with one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a network switch of a computer system.

28. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein at least one of the first transmitter, the second transmitter, the first receiver, and the second receiver includes an antenna.

29. The transport network of any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the waveguide portion is a dielectric waveguide core, and wherein the THz waveguide further comprises a dielectric layer surrounding the dielectric waveguide core such that at least a portion of an outer surface of the dielectric waveguide core is spaced a distance from at least a portion of an inner surface of the dielectric layer, thereby forming a cladding region therebetween.

30. The transport network of claim 29, wherein the cladding region is filled one or more of a gas, a vacuum, and a porous material having a porosity in a range between 25% and 99%.

31. The transport network of any one of claims 29 or 30, wherein the conductive portion is a conductive layer surrounding the dielectric layer.

32. The transport network of any one of claims 29 or 30, wherein the conductive portion is a conductive conduit disposed non-concentrically with the dielectric waveguide core.

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