Guided Surface Wave Probe Site Preparation 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 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 to transmit signals by radio waves, then radiation fields can be launched, but the transmission efficiency is poor due to energy loss in lossy media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of wave propagation by transitioning from radiation fields to guided surface waves. This involves modifying the wave mode, propagation mechanism, and interaction with the lossy medium to achieve lower energy loss and higher transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the conventional radio wave transmission mechanism with a guided surface wave mechanism. Instead of using traditional antenna radiation patterns, the invention employs guided waves that propagate along the surface of the lossy medium, fundamentally replacing the transmission approach.
2Reliability
If guided surface waveguide probes are configured to excite electric fields at complex Brewster angle, then mode-matching is achieved and reflection is eliminated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes complex Brewster angle parameters to achieve perfect mode-matching between the guided surface waveguide probe and the lossy conducting medium. By operating at this specific complex angle, the probe eliminates reflection and maximizes energy transfer, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity through precise parameter selection.
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 launch of guided surface waves along lossy conducting media, achieving mode-matching of electromagnetic fields to a guided surface wave mode, thereby overcoming the limitations of existing technologies in surface wave propagation.
Implementation Method 1
by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, resulting in zero reflection
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of a guided surface waveguide probe site and the preparation thereof are described. In various embodiments, the guided surface waveguide probe site may include a propagation interface including a first region and a second region, and a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along the propagation interface. In one aspect of the embodiments, at least a portion of the first region may be prepared to more efficiently launch or propagate the guided surface wave. Among embodiments, the portion of the first region, which may be composed of the Earth, may be treated or mixed with salt, gypsum, sand, or gravel, for example, among other compositions of matter. In other embodiments, the portion of the first region may be covered, insulated, irrigated, or temperature-controlled, for example. By preparing the site, a guided surface wave may be more efficiently launched and/or propagated.