Transmission device with mode division multiplexing and methods for use therewith
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission device that includes at least one transceiver configured to modulate data to generate a plurality of first electromagnetic waves. A plurality of couplers are configured to couple at least a portion of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves to a transmission medium, wherein the plurality of couplers generate a plurality of mode division multiplexed second electromagnetic waves that propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.
1. A transmission device comprising:
at least one transceiver that facilitates modulation of data to generate a plurality of first electromagnetic waves; and
a plurality of couplers that facilitates coupling at least a portion of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves to a transmission medium, wherein the plurality of couplers generates a plurality of second electromagnetic waves that propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium via differing ones of a plurality of guided wave modes, wherein the plurality of couplers is arranged at a corresponding plurality of azimuthal orientations about the transmission medium.
2. The transmission device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of guided wave modes includes a first non-fundamental mode and a second non-fundamental mode.
3. The transmission device of claim 2 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field pattern that includes a first lobe at a first azimuthal orientation to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field pattern that includes a second lobe at a second azimuthal orientation to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and wherein the first azimuthal orientation differs from the second azimuthal orientation.
4. The transmission device of claim 3 wherein the first azimuthal orientation corresponds to a local minimum of the second electromagnetic field pattern and wherein the second azimuthal orientation corresponds to a local minimum of the first electromagnetic field pattern.
5. The transmission device of claim 2 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.
6. The transmission device of claim 5 wherein the first electromagnetic field strength varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium via a first direction of rotation and wherein the second electromagnetic field strength varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium via a second direction of rotation.
7. A method, comprising:
modulating data, by at least one transceiver, to generate a plurality of first electromagnetic waves; and
coupling, by a plurality of couplers, at least a portion of each of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves onto an outer surface of a transmission medium to induce a plurality of second electromagnetic waves that propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium, wherein the plurality of second electromagnetic waves propagates via differing ones of a plurality of guided wave modes, wherein the plurality of couplers is arranged at a corresponding plurality of azimuthal orientations about the transmission medium.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of guided wave modes includes a first non-fundamental mode and a second non-fundamental mode.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field strength that varies with azimuthal orientation to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field strength that varies with azimuthal orientation to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field pattern that includes a first lobe at a first azimuthal orientation to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field pattern that includes a second lobe at a second azimuthal orientation to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and wherein the first azimuthal orientation differs from the second azimuthal orientation.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first azimuthal orientation corresponds to a local minimum of the second electromagnetic field pattern and wherein the second azimuthal orientation corresponds to a local minimum of the first electromagnetic field pattern.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first electromagnetic field strength varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium via a first direction of rotation and wherein the second electromagnetic field strength varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium via a second direction of rotation.
14. A transmission device comprising:
at least one transceiver configured to modulate data to generate a plurality of first electromagnetic waves; and
a plurality of couplers configured to couple at least a portion of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves to a transmission medium, wherein the plurality of couplers generates a plurality of mode division multiplexed second electromagnetic waves that propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium.
15. The transmission device of claim 14 wherein one of the plurality of mode division multiplexed second electromagnetic waves propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium via a first non-fundamental mode and another of the plurality of mode division multiplexed second electromagnetic waves propagates along the outer surface of the transmission medium via a second non-fundamental mode.
16. The transmission device of claim 15 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field strength that varies with azimuthal orientation to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field strength that varies with the azimuthal orientation to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.
17. The transmission device of claim 15 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field pattern that includes a first lobe at a first azimuthal orientation to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field pattern that includes a second lobe at a second azimuthal orientation to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and wherein the first azimuthal orientation differs from the second azimuthal orientation.
18. The transmission device of claim 17 wherein the first azimuthal orientation corresponds to a local minimum of the second electromagnetic field pattern and wherein the second azimuthal orientation corresponds to a local minimum of the first electromagnetic field pattern.
19. The transmission device of claim 15 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium.
20. The transmission device of claim 19 wherein the first electromagnetic field strength varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium via a first direction of rotation and wherein the second electromagnetic field strength varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium via a second direction of rotation.
21. A transmission device comprising:
at least one transceiver configured to modulate data to generate a plurality of first electromagnetic waves; and
a plurality of couplers configured to couple at least a portion of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves to a transmission medium at spatially diverse points along a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, wherein the plurality of couplers contemporaneously generates a plurality of second electromagnetic waves that propagate along an outer surface of the transmission medium via differing ones of a plurality of guided wave modes, wherein the plurality of couplers is arranged at a corresponding plurality of azimuthal orientations about the transmission medium.
22. The transmission device of claim 21 wherein the plurality of guided wave modes includes a first non-fundamental mode and a second non-fundamental mode.
23. The transmission device of claim 22 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field pattern that includes a first lobe at a first azimuthal orientation to a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field pattern that includes a second lobe at a second azimuthal orientation to the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and wherein the first azimuthal orientation differs from the second azimuthal orientation.
24. The transmission device of claim 23 wherein the first azimuthal orientation corresponds to a local minimum of the second electromagnetic field pattern and wherein the second azimuthal orientation corresponds to a local minimum of the first electromagnetic field pattern.
25. The transmission device of claim 22 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field pattern that varies helically along a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium via a first direction of rotation and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field pattern that varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the transmission medium via a second direction of rotation.