Guided Surface Wave Time Synchronization via Complex Brewster Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
For over a century, there has been a lack of practical structures for efficiently launching open surface guided waves over planar or spherical surfaces of lossy, homogeneous media, with existing theoretical analyses remaining largely unimplemented.
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, thereby launching a guided electromagnetic field in the form of a guided surface wave.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional antenna structures are used to transmit 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 replaces conventional radiating antenna structures with a guided surface wave system that transmits electromagnetic energy along the Earth's surface as a guided mode rather than radiating it into free space. This substitution of transmission mechanism fundamentally changes how energy propagates through lossy media, converting a radiative problem into a guided wave problem with lower attenuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the propagation parameter from radiative mode to guided surface wave mode by designing a specific antenna structure (monopole over lossy ground) that excites the surface wave mode. This parameter change in the transmission mode allows energy to follow the Earth's curvature and propagate along the interface between the Earth and atmosphere, significantly reducing energy loss in lossy media.
2Reliability
If guided surface waveguide probes are configured to excite electric fields at complex Brewster angle, then mode-matching with surface wave mode is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monopole antenna structure automatically achieves mode-matching to the guided surface wave mode when positioned over the lossy conducting medium. The system self-adjusts to the optimal configuration through the natural interaction between the monopole and the Earth's surface, eliminating the need for complex external adjustment mechanisms or sophisticated control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter by exciting the antenna at the complex Brewster angle frequency, which naturally produces the optimal wave front angle for coupling into the guided surface wave mode. This parameter change in the excitation frequency automatically achieves mode-matching without requiring mechanical adjustment of the antenna orientation or configuration.
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 with the surface wave mode and overcoming the limitations of traditional radiated electromagnetic fields.
Implementation Method 1
by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle
Implementation Method 2
excite electric fields that couple into a guided surface waveguide mode
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments of apparatuses and methods for global time synchronization using a guided surface wave traveling along the surface of a terrestrial medium. In one embodiment, a guided surface wave receive structure receives electrical energy from a guided surface wave that is generated at a specific time and is traveling along a terrestrial medium. A time synchronization circuit that is coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure synchronizes its time with the time at the origin of the guided surface wave based at least in part based on the propagation delay of the guided surface wave between the origin of the guided surface wave and the guided surface wave receive structure.