At&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

Shikik Johnson

Irwin Gerszberg

Farhad Barzegar

Paul Shala Henry

Robert Bennett

Thomas M Willis, Iii

Donald J Barnickel

Giovanni Vannucci

David Michael Britz

Martin Birk

Bruce Edward Stuckman

Peter Wasily Wolniansky

Pamela A M Bogdan

Ed Guntin

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a device having a cylindrical coupler having a metallic shell that surrounds a transmission medium, wherein the cylindrical coupler launches a radio frequency signal from an aperture of the metallic shell as a guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to an outer surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium without requiring any electrical return path. An impedance matching element has a conductive trough within the metallic shell, wherein the impedance matching element couples the radio frequency signal to the cylindrical coupler via a coaxial feed point within the conductive trough, and wherein the conductive trough includes a first end forming a short circuit with the metallic shell and further includes a second end forming an open circuit within the metallic shell.

Impedance matched launcher with cylindrical coupling device and methods for use therewith

In accordance with one or more embodiments, an antenna system includes a dielectric antenna having a feedpoint and an aperture. A fractal patch antenna is configured to receive a signal via a feedline and to generate an electromagnetic wave in response to the signal. A waveguide is configured to couple the electromagnetic wave to the feedpoint, wherein the dielectric antenna is configured to radiate a free space wireless signal from the aperture in response to the electromagnetic wave.

Antenna system with dielectric antenna and methods for use therewith

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a cabling system can include a plurality of cables, and a tapered supporting structure coupled to the plurality of cables. The tapered supporting structure can facilitate exposure of an endpoint of each cable of the plurality of cables, and the endpoint of each cable of the plurality of cables can be coupled to a communication device that facilitates transmitting electromagnetic waves that propagate along the plurality of cables without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for accessing interstitial areas of a cable

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.

Methods and apparatus for generating and receiving electromagnetic waves

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, detecting a communication device in transit, determining a trajectory of the communication device, selecting a section from a plurality of sections of an omnidirectional array of dielectric antennas according to the trajectory of the communication device, where the section corresponds to a set of one or more dielectric antennas from the omnidirectional array of dielectric antennas coupled to a set of launchers, and directing the set of launchers to launch electromagnetic waves directed to the set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate a beam pattern directed to the communication device while in transit. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for selectively targeting communication devices with an antenna array

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, selecting a first segment from a plurality of selectable segments of an array of dielectric antennas, where the first segment corresponds to a first set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a first set of launchers, directing the first set of launchers to launch first electromagnetic waves directed to the first set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate a first beam pattern, selecting a second segment from the plurality of selectable segments, where the second segment corresponds to a second set of one or more dielectric antennas from the array of dielectric antennas coupled to a second set of launchers, and directing the second set of launchers to launch second electromagnetic waves directed to the second set of one or more dielectric antennas to generate a second beam pattern. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for selecting sections of an antenna array and use therewith

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a launching device including a transmitter configured to generate a radio frequency signal on a transmission medium, wherein the transmitter is included in a launching circuit with the transmission medium having an electrical return path. A cylindrical coupler launches the radio frequency signal from an aperture of the cylindrical coupler as a guided electromagnetic wave that is bound to an outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium without an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Launcher with cylindrical coupling device and methods for use therewith

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a device with a polyrod antenna having a core, where the core has a first region with a first dielectric constant and a second region with a second dielectric constant, and where the second dielectric constant is higher than the first dielectric constant. The device can include a waveguide coupled with the core, where the waveguide is configured to confine an electromagnetic wave at least in part within the core in the first region. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for communication using variable permittivity polyrod antenna

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method includes receiving a first wireless signal via a feed point on an antenna body, wherein the antenna body includes a dielectric core having a reflective surface configured as a dish reflector; reflecting the first wireless signal via the reflective surface to an aperture of the antenna body; and radiating the first wireless signal from the aperture.

Dielectric dish antenna system and methods for use therewith

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, generating, by a first hollow waveguide coupled to a first dielectric coupler, a first electromagnetic wave that couples onto a transmission medium, generating, by a second hollow waveguide coupled to a second dielectric coupler, a second electromagnetic wave that couples onto the transmission medium, combining the first electromagnetic wave and the second electromagnetic wave combine to form a combined electromagnetic wave that propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and adjusting a first phase of the first electromagnetic wave, a second phase of the second electromagnetic wave, or both to adjust a wave mode of the combined electromagnetic wave. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for adjusting a phase of electromagnetic waves

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a system can include a plurality of uninsulated conductors that is stranded together. The plurality of uninsulated conductors can form a hollow pathway that is bounded by internal conductive surfaces of at least three of the plurality of uninsulated conductors. The system can further include a communication device coupled to a first plurality of external conductive surfaces of the plurality of uninsulated conductors, where the communication device facilitates generating transmission signals at the first plurality of external conductive surfaces, and where the transmission signals induce electromagnetic waves that propagate along the hollow pathway without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for inducing electromagnetic waves within pathways of a cable

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, generating, by a plurality of dielectric antennas of a waveguide system, a plurality of instances of electromagnetic waves that combines to form a combined electromagnetic wave, and directing, by the waveguide system, the combined electromagnetic wave to an interface of a transmission medium for guiding propagation of the combined electromagnetic wave along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for generating an electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method includes receiving a first wireless signal via a feed point on an antenna body, wherein the antenna body includes a dielectric core having a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface that are spatially aligned in a reflecting telescope configuration; reflecting the first wireless signal via the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface to an aperture of the antenna body; and radiating the first wireless signal from the aperture.

Reflecting dielectric antenna system and methods for use therewith

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that can transmit first wireless signals associated with communication signals, where the first wireless signals are directed via beam steering by an antenna array towards a wireless receiver. The system can transmit second wireless signals associated with the communication signals, where the second wireless signals are directed via the beam steering by the antenna array towards a transmission medium. The second wireless signals can induce electromagnetic waves at a physical interface of the transmission medium where the electromagnetic waves are associated with the communication signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for communicating utilizing an antenna array and multiple communication paths

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system having a polyrod antenna array. Beam steering can be performed according to a first subset of elements of the polyrod antenna array generating first electromagnetic waves with a first phase that is different from a second phase of the first electromagnetic waves being generated by a second subset of elements of the polyrod antenna array. Other embodiments are disclosed.

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Tinton Falls, NJ, United States of America

Shikik Johnson