Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a feed point of a dielectric antenna, electromagnetic waves from a dielectric core coupled to the feed point without an electrical return path, where at least a portion of the dielectric antenna comprises a conductive surface, directing, by the feed point, the electromagnetic waves to a proximal portion of the dielectric antenna, and radiating, via an aperture of the dielectric antenna, a wireless signal responsive to the electromagnetic waves being received at the aperture. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for coupling an antenna to a device

A distributed antenna and backhaul system provide network connectivity for a small cell deployment. Rather than building new structures, and installing additional fiber and cable, embodiments described herein disclose using high-bandwidth, millimeter-wave communications and existing power line infrastructure. Above ground backhaul connections via power lines and line-of-sight millimeter-wave band signals as well as underground backhaul connections via buried electrical conduits can provide connectivity to the distributed base stations. An overhead millimeter-wave system can also be used to provide backhaul connectivity. Modules can be placed onto existing infrastructure, such as streetlights and utility poles, and the modules can contain base stations and antennas to transmit the millimeter-waves to and from other modules.

Backhaul link for distributed antenna system

A distributed antenna system is provided that frequency shifts the output of one or more microcells to a 60 GHz or higher frequency range for transmission to a set of distributed antennas. The cellular band outputs of these microcell base station devices are used to modulate a 60 GHz (or higher) carrier wave, yielding a group of subcarriers on the 60 GHz carrier wave. This group will then be transmitted in the air via analog microwave RF unit, after which it can be repeated or radiated to the surrounding area. The repeaters amplify the signal and resend it on the air again toward the next repeater. In places where a microcell is required, the 60 GHz signal is shifted in frequency back to its original frequency (e.g., the 1.9 GHz cellular band) and radiated locally to nearby mobile devices.

Remote distributed antenna system

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that facilitates transmitting electromagnetic waves along a surface of a wire that facilitates delivery of electric energy to devices, and sensing a condition that is adverse to the electromagnetic waves propagating along the surface of the wire. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for sensing a condition in a transmission medium of electromagnetic waves

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for detecting a fault in a first wire of a power grid that affects a transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that transport data and that propagate along a surface of the first wire, selecting a backup communication medium from one or more backup communication mediums according to one or more selection criteria, and redirecting the data to the backup communication medium to circumvent the fault. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus that provides fault tolerance in a communication network

Improved single-mode optical waveguide fibers comprising a central core region, surrounded by an inner cladding region through which light at a chosen signal wavelength will propagate to an appreciable degree along with propagation of same in the central core region, the inner core region further surrounded by an outer cladding region, the improvement comprising germanium dioxide in the inner cladding region at a concentration within the range of about .005 percent by weight to about 1 percent by weight of said inner cladding region, effective to significantly reduce the concentration of oxygen atoms in the inner cladding region which are available to form defects that cause hydrogen-induced attenuation. Also provided are core preforms, overclad preforms, and processes for making the fibers, core preforms and overclad preforms.

Optical fiber resistant to hydrogen-induced attenuation

A single mode optical waveguide fiber having low, non-zero dispersion over a pre-selected wavelength range is disclosed. The refractive index profile of the core is characterized in that the core includes a plurality of distinct regions, each having an index profile, and a radius or width. By adjusting the index profile sizes and shapes of the plurality of core regions, a waveguide fiber may be made having a set of properties tailored for a high performance telecommunication system. In particular, dispersion slope can be maintained less than 0.05 ps/nm2 -km and absolute magnitude of total dispersion maintained in the range of 0.5 to 3.5 ps/nm-km over a pre-selected wavelength range. The zero dispersion wavelength is outside the pre-selected wavelength range and the cut off wavelength and mode field diameter are controlled to target values.

Controlled dispersion optical waveguide

Disclosed is a single mode optical waveguide fiber having periodic perturbations (2) in the core to provide a birefringence which mixes the polarization modes of launched ligth. In addition, pertubations (4) are introduced into the core which serve to manage total dispersion. The total dispersion of preselected segments (6, 8) of the waveguide are caused to change sign so that the sum of products, total dispersion times length (13, 15), algebraically add to a preselected value. The two distinct core perturbation types serve to control both polarization mode dispersion and total dispersion. Methods for making the subject waveguide are also discussed.

Control of dispersion in an optical waveguide

A single mode optical waveguide having reduced polarization mode dispersion and a method of making such a waveguide is disclosed. Perturbations (6, 8) are introduced into the waveguide core (4) to couple power between the two polarization modes. A model calculation shows that the perturbation length may be of the order of the correlation length. The inventive waveguide is robust in that polarization mode dispersion is reduced even if perturbations (6, 8) are impressed on the fiber after manufacture.

Polarization mode coupled single mode waveguide

Transparency of a 91-km distributed erbium-doped fiber is achieved with 0.46 mW/km of pump power at a signal power of -12 d Bm. The accumulation of amplif ier noise is measured to be smaller than the minimum noise accumulation that can be achieved in a 91-km link with two lumped amplifiers separated by 45 km.

Alfred Joseph Antos

Papers

Optical fiber resistant to hydrogen-induced attenuation

Controlled dispersion optical waveguide

Control of dispersion in an optical waveguide

Polarization mode coupled single mode waveguide

91-km attenuation-free transmission with low noise accumulation by use of distributed erbium-doped fiber.