Guided Surface Waveguide Probe Brewster Angle 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 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, then radiation fields can be launched, but the transmission efficiency is low due to energy loss in lossy media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of wave propagation mode from radiation fields to guided surface waves. By adjusting the excitation mechanism to create waves that travel along the interface between air and lossy media rather than radiating into free space, the system achieves significantly reduced energy loss while maintaining effective signal transmission over distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the interface between air and lossy conducting media as an intermediary guiding structure. This interface acts as a natural waveguide that channels electromagnetic energy along the surface, preventing energy dissipation into the lossy media while enabling long-distance transmission with minimal loss.
2Productivity
If guided surface waves are launched, then energy can be transmitted efficiently along the surface, but no practical structure has existed to achieve this
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the natural interface between air and lossy conducting media as a self-service waveguide structure. The Earth's surface itself provides the guiding mechanism for electromagnetic waves, eliminating the need for artificial waveguide structures. This approach achieves efficient guided wave transmission while maintaining simplicity in the transmitting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the Earth's surface serve multiple functions: it acts as both the propagation medium and the waveguide structure. This universal utilization of the natural environment eliminates the need for separate guiding structures, achieving efficient transmission without increasing device complexity.
3Length of moving object
If waves propagate along lossy conducting media, then signals can reach distant locations, but the signal strength decays exponentially perpendicular to the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates localized confinement of electromagnetic energy near the surface of the lossy conducting media. The guided surface waves are concentrated in the region close to the interface, with exponential decay perpendicular to the surface. This local concentration of energy along the propagation path enables long-distance transmission while minimizing energy loss in the bulk of the lossy media.
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 propagation of guided surface waves along lossy conducting media with exponential decay vertical to the surface, effectively addressing the long-standing challenge of launching open surface guided waves with practical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
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
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed a guided surface waveguide probe including a charge terminal configured to generate an electromagnetic field and a support apparatus that supports the charge terminal above a lossy conducting medium, wherein the electromagnetic field generated by the charge terminal synthesizes a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle of incidence (θi,B) of the lossy conducting medium.