The widely used transversely corrugated surfaces and other alternative surfaces having the same anisotropic surface impedance deserve a common name. Here it is proposed to call them soft surfaces by analogy with the soft surfaces in acoustics. In the same way artificially hard surfaces are defined. Cylindrical hard waveguides of any cross-sectional shape can support TEM waves.

Definition of artificially soft and hard surfaces for electromagnetic waves

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

A dual-reflector microwave antenna comprises the combination of a paraboloidal main reflector having an axis; a waveguide and dual-mode feed horn extending along the axis of the main reflector, a subreflector for reflecting radiation from the feed horn onto the main reflector in the transmitting mode, and a shield extending from the outer edge of the main reflector and generally parallel to the axis of the main reflector, the inside surface of the shield being lined with absorptive material for absorbing undesired radiation. The subreflector is shaped to produce an aperture power distribution that is substantially confined to the region of the main reflector outside the shadow of the subreflector. The support for the subreflector is preferably a hollow dielectric cone having a resonant thickness to cause energy passing through said cone to be in phase with energy reflected off of said cone so as to achieve phase cancellation.

Dual reflector microwave antenna

A horn-reflector antenna comprising a paraboloidal reflector for transmitting and receiving microwave energy, and a flared feed horn for guiding microwave energy to and from the reflector, the longitudinal shape of at least a section of the horn at the end where the horn begins to flare outwardly being defined by the equation ##EQU1## where R is the transverse dimension from the longitudinal axis of the horn to the side wall of the horn 1 is the axial distance along the horn measured from the end where the horn begins to flare outwardly, R 1 and R 2 are the radii of the horn at opposite ends of the horn section defined by the equation, L is the axial length of the horn section defined by the equation, and the exponent p has a value greater than two and less than about 7, to effect a substantial reduction in the TM 11 mode level.

Flared microwave feed horns and waveguide transitions

A microwave feed horn or horn antenna (11,12) for at least two frequency bands comprises a conical waveguide section (42) whose aperture at the large end has an inside diameter (D1) approximately equal to one wavelength in the lower frequency band so as to produce substantially equal power patterns in the E and H planes in the lower frequency band. The slope (s) of the inside wall of said conical section (42) is selected to cancel the electric field at the aperture of the horn in the higher frequency band, thereby producing substantially equal power patterns in the E and H planes in the higher frequency band. A pair of straight waveguide sections (40,41) connects the opposite ends of the conical waveguide section (42).

Dual mode feed horn or horn antenna for two or more frequency bands

A hog-horn antenna for producing two orthogonally polarized signals. The elevation plane pattern of each signal can be made to have virtually any shape, but is typically of a substantially cosecant-squared shape. In providing for the dual-polarization capability, the hog-horn antenna is designed to produce substantially equal gains for orthogonal polarizations, either simultaneously or separately. Two techniques to substantially equate the elevation plane radiation patterns of the two polarizations include corrugating or absorber-lining the surfaces of portions of the hog-horn antenna. Azimuthal pattern control may be achieved by corrugated/absorber lined flanges.

Dual-polarized shaped-reflector antenna

A phased-overmoded, tapered waveguide transition has a central section which is tapered linearly in the longitudinal direction and two end sections which are tapered curvilinearly in the longitudinal direction. One of the end sections and at least a portion of the other end section are overmoded and, therefore, give rise to higher order modes of the desired microwave signals propagated therethrough. The lineraly tapered central section shifts the phase of higher order modes generated at one end of the transition so that at least a major portion of such higher order modes is cancelled by higher order modes generated at the other end of the transition.

Charles M. Knop

Papers

Dual reflector microwave antenna

Flared microwave feed horns and waveguide transitions

Dual mode feed horn or horn antenna for two or more frequency bands

Dual-polarized shaped-reflector antenna

Overmoded tapered waveguide transition having phase shifted higher order mode cancellation