Guided Wave Repeater for Broadband Access
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 macrocell base stations, requiring innovative solutions for efficient data transmission, especially in providing broadband access to homes and businesses.
Innovation Solution
A guided wave communication system that utilizes electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium, such as wires, to transmit data without the need for an electrical return path, allowing for efficient data propagation along the medium's surface with reduced loss, using couplers to launch and extract guided waves at millimeter-wave frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional macrocell base stations are used for wireless communication, then coverage area is provided, but bandwidth capacity is insufficient to meet increasing data demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication network into macrocells for wide coverage and small cells (microcells, picocells) for high-bandwidth localized access. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously provide both extensive coverage and sufficient bandwidth capacity by distributing traffic across multiple cell types with different capabilities.
2Productivity
If small cell deployment is implemented to provide additional mobile bandwidth, then bandwidth capacity increases, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines macrocell and small cell infrastructures into a heterogeneous network where both cell types operate simultaneously. Small cells are deployed within macrocell coverage areas to provide additional bandwidth capacity while leveraging the existing macrocell infrastructure for backhaul and control functions, thereby managing overall system complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If broadband access networks are expanded to serve more homes and businesses, then service coverage increases, but propagation loss and signal degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional two-conductor electrical signal transmission to electromagnetic wave propagation in a third dimension (through the air/wireless medium). This dimensional change enables broadband access expansion without being constrained by the need for physical return paths, thereby reducing propagation loss limitations and enabling broader service coverage.
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 reliable and efficient data transmission with reduced propagation loss, supporting high-bandwidth communication over long distances without the need for separate electrical return paths, thus addressing the bandwidth demands in modern communication networks.
Implementation Method 1
The repeater may be coupled to the wire using magnetic coupling to receive power for operation
Implementation Method 2
A signal embedded in the guided wave is extracted from the transmission and processed for communication with another network and/or one or more other devices. The guided wave and/or the signal embedded therein is amplified
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a repeater device having a first coupler to extract downstream channel signals from first guided electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium of a guided wave communication system. An amplifier amplifies the downstream channel signals to generate amplified downstream channel signals. A channel selection filter selects one or more of the amplified downstream channel signals to wirelessly transmit to the at least one client device via an antenna. A second coupler guides the amplified downstream channel signals to the transmission medium of the guided wave communication system to propagate as second guided electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.