Guided Wave Coupler for Bandwidth and Coverage Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for higher bandwidth in wireless infrastructure due to increased data usage, particularly in smart phone and portable device usage, is not adequately met by existing technologies, especially in providing efficient broadband access and managing electromagnetic wave propagation in wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A guided wave communication system that utilizes electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium, such as wires or dielectric materials, to propagate signals without requiring an electrical circuit, allowing for efficient data transmission over long distances with reduced loss, using couplers and transceivers to launch and receive guided waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional wireless infrastructure (macrocells) is used to provide broadband access, then coverage area is large, but bandwidth capability is insufficient to meet increasing data demand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless coverage area by deploying small cells (microcells and picocells) within the macrocell infrastructure. This segmentation allows each small cell to provide high-bandwidth service for localized areas, collectively meeting the overall bandwidth demand while maintaining extensive coverage through the hierarchical structure of macrocells and small cells working together
2Productivity
If small cell deployment is pursued to provide additional mobile bandwidth, then bandwidth capability increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges small cell technology with existing macrocell infrastructure to create a heterogeneous network. By combining the high-capacity small cells with the extensive coverage of macrocells, the system achieves enhanced bandwidth capability while leveraging the established macrocell framework to manage complexity, rather than deploying small cells as a completely separate system
3Loss of energy
If electromagnetic waves are transmitted through free space in traditional wireless systems, then ease of transmission is high, but propagation loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along transmission media (such as cables or waveguides) as an intermediary between transmitter and receiver. This guided propagation mode reduces energy loss compared to free-space transmission by confining the electromagnetic energy to a controlled path, while the transmission media themselves serve as the simple intermediary that carries the signals without requiring complex active components along the path
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 enables efficient data transmission with reduced propagation loss, supporting higher bandwidth requirements and providing reliable broadband access by leveraging the guided nature of electromagnetic waves along transmission media, thus addressing the limitations of existing wireless communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
A guided wave communication system that utilizes electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium, such as wires or dielectric materials, to propagate signals
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, generating, a first hollow waveguide that facilitates coupling, via the first dielectric coupler, a first electromagnetic wave onto a transmission medium, and a second hollow waveguide that facilitates coupling, via the second dielectric coupler, a second electromagnetic wave onto the transmission medium, where the first electromagnetic wave and the second electromagnetic wave combine to form a combined electromagnetic wave that propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and where the first dielectric coupler has an adjustable length that facilitates an adjustment of a wave mode of the combined electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.