Methods and apparatus for generating and receiving electromagnetic waves

US10389419B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. · US

Inventors

• Shikik Johnson · Tinton Falls, US
• David M. Britz · Rumson, US
• Paul Shala Henry · Holmdel, US
• Irwin Gerszberg · Kendall Park, US
• Farhad Barzegar · Readington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 1, 2017
• Grant date: Aug 20, 2019
• Expiry date: Dec 1, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B3/52
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, coupler having an array of dielectric antennas positioned around an outer surface of a transmission medium. A processing system can perform operations including selecting at least two dielectric antennas of the array of dielectric antennas, and configuring at least two transmitters coupled to the at least two dielectric antennas according to a wave mode type to generate, via the at least two dielectric antennas, first wireless signals and second wireless signals that combine to induce propagation of electromagnetic waves along a transmission medium according to the wave mode type without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.