Guided Surface Waveguide Probe for Efficient Energy Launch
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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
1Loss of energy
If conventional antenna structures are used to transmit signals, then radio wave radiation fields are launched, but energy loss increases and field strength decreases over distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guided surface wave probe as an intermediary structure that couples energy from a conventional antenna system into a guided surface wave mode propagating along the Earth's surface. This mediator converts radiated fields into guided fields, reducing energy loss while maintaining practical implementation through standard antenna components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the propagation parameter from radiated electromagnetic fields to guided surface wave modes by adjusting the wavefront orientation to match the complex Brewster angle of the Earth's surface. This parameter change transforms the field behavior from spherical radiation to surface-guided propagation, significantly reducing energy loss over distance
2Illumination intensity
If conventional antenna structures are used, then signal transmission is achieved, but field strength decreases rapidly with distance
Solution Approach 1:
The guided surface wave probe acts as a mediator that channels energy along the Earth's surface, maintaining field strength over extended distances by confining the electromagnetic energy to a surface-guided mode rather than allowing spherical radiation dispersion
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the propagation mode from radiated to guided surface waves through complex Brewster angle matching, the field strength decay characteristic is fundamentally altered from rapid spherical attenuation to slower surface-guided propagation, extending effective transmission distance
3Productivity
If no practical structure is used for launching guided surface waves, then theoretical possibilities remain unexploited, but efficient energy transmission cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The guided surface wave probe serves as a practical intermediary structure that makes theoretically possible guided surface wave launching. It provides a concrete implementation method using elevated charge terminals and phase-delay networks, transforming theoretical possibility into practical efficient energy transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the charge terminal phase delay and elevation to match the complex Brewster angle before wave generation. This preliminary setup ensures that when energy is transmitted, it automatically couples into the guided surface wave mode, achieving efficient transmission without complex real-time adjustments
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-matched guided wave propagation with enhanced field strength and reduced energy loss, overcoming the limitations of traditional radiated electromagnetic fields.
Implementation Method 1
synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, resulting in zero reflection
Implementation Method 2
excite electric fields that couple into a guided surface wave mode along the surface of a lossy conducting medium
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for transmitting and receiving energy conveyed in the form of a guided surface-waveguide mode along the surface of a lossy medium such as, e.g., a terrestrial medium excited by a guided surface waveguide probe.