Guided Surface Waveguide Probe Coupling for Lossy Media
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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 wave 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
1Reliability
If conventional antenna structures are used to transmit signals, then radio waves can be launched, but efficient propagation along lossy conducting media surfaces cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guided surface waveguide mode as an intermediary between the excitation source and the lossy conducting media surface. This waveguide mode acts as a mediator that efficiently couples energy along the surface by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving efficient wave launching and having a practical manufacturable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the electromagnetic wave by synthesizing a wave front with a specific complex Brewster angle incidence. This parameter transformation allows the wave to couple efficiently into the guided surface waveguide mode, enabling reliable propagation along lossy conducting media surfaces where conventional structures fail.
2Reliability
If radio frequency signals are transmitted using conventional antennas, then radiation fields are launched, but guided surface wave modes cannot be excited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional three-dimensional radiation fields to two-dimensional guided surface wave propagation along the interface between lossy conducting media and air. This dimensional change enables the excitation of guided surface waveguide modes by confining the electromagnetic energy to propagate along the surface, achieving reliable coupling while managing device complexity through a specialized probe configuration.
3Reliability
If energy is transmitted along electrical conductors, then power distribution is achieved, but open surface guided wave propagation cannot be launched
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guided surface waveguide mode from conventional transmission line structures and applies it directly to the surface of lossy conducting media. By separating the waveguide function from traditional enclosed conductor systems, the invention enables open surface guided wave propagation with a practical probe structure that can be manufactured and deployed.
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 the 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.
Implementation Method 1
a primary coil and a secondary coil, each having a generally planar geometry and configured to overlap one another in a face-to-face relationship
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a guided surface waveguide probe with a charge terminal that is elevated over a lossy conducting medium. A primary coil can be coupled to an excitation source within a substructure. A secondary coil can provide a voltage to the charge terminal with a phase delay (Φ) that matches a wave tilt angle (Ψ) associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence (θi,B) associated with the lossy conducting medium. The primary coil can be configured to inductively couple to the secondary coil.