Guided Wave Antenna Launching Electromagnetic Waves

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for bandwidth in communication networks due to widespread use of smartphones and data-intensive services poses challenges for traditional wireless infrastructure, particularly in providing efficient and reliable data transmission over long distances without significant loss.

Innovation Solution

A guided wave communication system that utilizes electromagnetic waves bound to transmission media such as wires or dielectric materials, allowing for efficient data transmission along the surface or within the medium without the need for an electrical return path, using couplers and transceivers to launch and receive waves at millimeter-wave frequencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If traditional wireless infrastructure is used to provide broadband access, then wireless coverage can be extended, but propagation loss increases and transmission distance is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepropagation lossVSAvoidtransmission distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transmission medium (such as a wire or dielectric material) as an intermediary carrier for electromagnetic waves. This mediator guides the waves along its structure, enabling long-distance transmission with reduced propagation loss compared to traditional wireless propagation through free space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the propagation parameter from free-space wireless transmission to guided transmission along a transmission medium. This parameter change enables the electromagnetic waves to maintain signal strength over longer distances by confining the energy to the transmission medium rather than allowing it to dissipate in three-dimensional space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If higher bandwidth capability is provided to meet increasing data demand, then network capacity increases, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the typically harmful effect of signal attenuation into a benefit by using a transmission medium to guide the waves. The transmission medium, which would normally cause loss through absorption and radiation, is instead used to confine and direct the electromagnetic energy, reducing overall propagation loss and enabling more efficient energy utilization for high-bandwidth transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If guided waves are used for transmission, then propagation loss is reduced and transmission distance is extended, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs universal coupling mechanisms that can interface with various transmission media types (wires, dielectric materials, etc.). The coupler design is sufficiently general to work with different medium characteristics, reducing the need for specialized components for each medium type and thereby managing system complexity while maintaining transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This system reduces propagation loss and enables longer-distance data transmission with lower energy consumption, as guided waves maintain signal strength and can traverse obstacles, enhancing network connectivity and capacity.

Implementation Method 1

An interface receives a signal. An antenna launches an electromagnetic wave according to the signal to induce propagation of an electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave generation and propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10135147B2Apparatus and methods for launching guided waves via an antenna

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system having an antenna for launching, according to a signal, a first electromagnetic wave to induce a propagation of a second electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, the second electromagnetic wave having a non-fundamental wave mode and a non-optical operating frequency. A reflective plate is spaced a distance behind the antenna relative to a direction of the propagation of the second electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.