Planar Antenna Guided Wave Propagation on Transmission Medium
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless infrastructure faces challenges in providing higher bandwidth to address increased data demand from ubiquitous smartphones and portable devices, particularly in supporting broadband access networks, as existing systems require higher capacity and efficient coverage for smaller areas.
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 return path, using couplers and transceivers to launch and receive guided electromagnetic waves along the surface of transmission media like power lines, enabling efficient data transmission over long distances with reduced loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional wireless infrastructure is used to provide broadband access, then coverage area is extended, but bandwidth capacity is insufficient to address increased data demand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hybrid wireless-optical access system where optical fibers serve as an intermediary medium to carry high-capacity data signals from the core network to remote locations. This intermediary optical infrastructure enables high bandwidth delivery without requiring dense wireless base station deployment, thus resolving the contradiction between bandwidth capacity and coverage area.
2Quantity of substance
If small cell deployment is pursued to provide coverage for smaller areas, then bandwidth capacity increases, but infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the radio access function from traditional cellular base stations and separates it into remote radio heads connected via optical fibers. This extraction allows the complex signal processing and control functions to be centralized while the remote access points remain simple, reducing overall infrastructure complexity while maintaining high bandwidth capacity through optical backhaul.
3Area of stationary object
If electromagnetic waves are transmitted through free space, then coverage area is extended, but propagation loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical fibers as an intermediary transmission medium to carry signals over long distances with minimal loss. The optical fiber backbone delivers signals to remote locations where wireless transmission is then used for final delivery, combining the low-loss characteristics of optical transmission with the coverage advantages of wireless access.
4Quantity of substance
If higher frequency bands are used to increase bandwidth capacity, then data transmission capacity increases, but propagation loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission path into two parts: optical fiber transmission for long-distance backbone connectivity and wireless transmission for short-range access. This segmentation allows high-frequency wireless signals to be used only for the final access leg where short distance minimizes propagation loss, while the optical backbone handles long-distance transmission with minimal loss.
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 solution allows for efficient data transmission with reduced propagation loss, supporting higher bandwidth requirements and enabling coverage of smaller areas without the need for traditional electrical return paths, thus enhancing wireless infrastructure capacity.
Implementation Method 1
A planar antenna is configured to transmit the first signals as a first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path
Implementation Method 2
A planar antenna includes an array of patch antennas configured to generate first near field signals in response to the first signals
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include a planar antenna configured to transmit first signals as a first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the planar antenna includes an array of patch antennas that generates first near field signals in response to the first signals and a plurality of directors configured to guide a portion of the first near field signals from the array of patch antennas to the surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the portion of the first near field signals combines to induce the first guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to the surface of the transmission medium.