Guided Wave Repeater for Power Line Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless infrastructure faces challenges in providing sufficient bandwidth to meet increasing data demands, particularly in areas served by macrocells, as traditional methods require higher capacity and efficient data transmission over larger distances.

Innovation Solution

A guided wave communication system that utilizes electromagnetic waves bound to transmission media like wires or dielectric materials, allowing for efficient data transmission without the need for an electrical circuit, using couplers to launch and extract waves at millimeter-wave frequencies, enabling propagation along surfaces or within transmission media with reduced loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional wireless infrastructure is used to provide broadband access, then coverage area is maintained, but bandwidth capacity becomes insufficient to meet increasing data demands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth capacityVSAvoiddata demand

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces guided electromagnetic waves as an intermediary transmission medium between transmitter and receiver. These waves propagate along conductors or dielectric surfaces, serving as a mediator that enables high-capacity data transmission through existing infrastructure without requiring new wireless spectrum allocation, thereby resolving the bandwidth capacity insufficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional wireless electromagnetic radiation with guided wave propagation along physical media. This substitution transitions from free-space propagation to guided transmission, enabling higher bandwidth capacity by utilizing the confined electromagnetic field structure that can carry more data through existing conductor infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If small cell deployment is pursued to provide additional mobile bandwidth, then bandwidth capacity increases, but infrastructure complexity and deployment cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobile bandwidthVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables existing conductor infrastructure to serve dual purposes: traditional electrical power transmission and guided wave data communication. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate communication infrastructure, reducing deployment complexity while providing additional mobile bandwidth through the same physical medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges power line infrastructure with communication functions by propagating guided electromagnetic waves along the same conductors used for power transmission. This combination consolidates infrastructure requirements, reducing the number of separate systems needed and simplifying deployment while increasing available bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If guided wave transmission is used to increase bandwidth capacity, then data transmission efficiency improves, but signal loss over long distances increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidsignal loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions electromagnetic wave propagation from three-dimensional free-space radiation to two-dimensional guided propagation along conductor surfaces. This dimensional change confines the electromagnetic energy to a guided path, reducing omnidirectional radiation losses and improving transmission efficiency over long distances while maintaining high bandwidth capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 enhances bandwidth capacity and reduces signal loss over long distances by using guided electromagnetic waves, allowing for efficient data transmission along transmission media without the need for an electrical return path, thus addressing the limitations of traditional wireless communication methods.

Implementation Method 1

A guided wave transceiver that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves guided by a transmission medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGuided electromagnetic wave propagation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

using couplers to launch and extract waves at millimeter-wave frequencies

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10439675B2Method and apparatus for repeating guided wave communication signals

Publication Date: 2019.10.08 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a guided wave repeater system operable to receive via a guided wave transceiver a first plurality of electromagnetic waves that includes a first communication signal. A second plurality of electromagnetic waves that includes a second communication signal is transmitted via the guided wave transceiver. The first plurality of electromagnetic waves and the second plurality of electromagnetic waves are guided by a power line of a utility pole. A third communication signal is received from a smart grid device. A fourth communication signal is transmitted to the smart grid device. Other embodiments are disclosed.