Guided Surface Waveguide Probe for Lossy Media Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
For over a century, there has been no practical structure for efficiently launching open surface guided waves over planar or spherical surfaces of lossy, homogeneous media, despite theoretical possibilities.
Innovation Solution
Guided surface waveguide probes are configured to excite electric fields that couple into a guided surface waveguide mode along the surface of a lossy conducting medium, such as the Earth, by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, resulting in zero reflection and launching a guided electromagnetic field as a guided surface wave.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional antenna structures are used for radio wave transmission, then radiation fields can be launched, but the transmission efficiency is poor and energy loss is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional radiation-based electromagnetic transmission with a guided surface wave transmission system. The waveguide probe structure substitutes traditional antenna radiation mechanisms with a guided wave coupling mechanism that directs energy along the Earth's surface, reducing energy loss into the atmosphere and improving transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental transmission parameter from radiated fields to guided surface waves. By adjusting the probe configuration, orientation, and coupling parameters, the system transforms how electromagnetic energy propagates—confining it to the Earth's surface rather than allowing it to radiate freely, thereby reducing energy loss.
2Productivity
If guided surface waveguide probes are configured to excite electric fields at complex Brewster angle, then zero reflection is achieved and guided surface waves are launched efficiently, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves zero reflection by precisely controlling the probe's orientation angle to match the complex Brewster angle of the Earth's surface. This parameter adjustment—specifically the angular orientation of the probe relative to the surface—enables efficient guided surface wave launching without requiring complex additional structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The guided surface waveguide probe is designed to self-couple with the Earth's surface at the complex Brewster angle, utilizing the natural electromagnetic properties of the Earth-atmosphere interface. The probe's configuration automatically exploits the Brewster angle condition to minimize reflection and maximize guided wave generation, reducing the need for additional complex control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient propagation of guided surface waves along lossy conducting media with exponential decay vertical to the surface, effectively addressing the long-standing challenge of launching open surface guided waves with practical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, resulting in zero reflection
Implementation Method 2
launching a guided electromagnetic field as a guided surface wave... exponential decay vertical to the surface
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for transmitting energy at multiple frequencies via a guided surface wave along the surface of a lossy medium such as, e.g., a terrestrial medium by exciting a guided surface waveguide probe.