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. An antenna system comprising:
at least one antenna;
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 dielectric transmission medium that facilitates wireless network connectivity via the at least one antenna, wherein the plurality of couplers generates a plurality of second electromagnetic waves that propagates on the dielectric transmission medium via differing ones of a plurality of guided wave modes.
2. The antenna system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of guided wave modes includes a first non-fundamental mode and a second non-fundamental mode.
3. The antenna system 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 dielectric 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 dielectric transmission medium, and wherein the first azimuthal orientation differs from the second azimuthal orientation.
4. The antenna system of claim 2 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along a longitudinal axis of the dielectric transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the dielectric transmission medium.
5. The antenna system of claim 1 wherein a first portion of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves propagates within the dielectric transmission medium and a second portion of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves propagates outside the dielectric transmission medium.
6. The antenna system of claim 5 wherein a first portion of the plurality of second electromagnetic waves propagates within the dielectric transmission medium and a second portion of the plurality of second electromagnetic waves propagates outside the dielectric transmission medium.
7. The antenna system of claim 1 wherein the dielectric transmission medium facilitates the wireless network connectivity to a mobile device.
8. 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 a conductorless transmission medium that is coupled to an antenna, wherein the plurality of couplers induces a plurality of second electromagnetic waves that propagates along the conductorless transmission medium, wherein the plurality of second electromagnetic waves propagates via differing ones of a plurality of guided wave modes.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the plurality of guided wave modes includes a first non-fundamental mode and a second non-fundamental mode.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field strength that varies with an azimuthal orientation to a longitudinal axis of the conductorless 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 conductorless transmission medium.
11. The method of claim 9 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 conductorless 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 conductorless transmission medium, and wherein the first azimuthal orientation differs from the second azimuthal orientation.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein a first portion of the first electromagnetic field pattern is within the conductorless transmission medium and a second portion of the first electromagnetic field pattern is outside the conductorless transmission medium.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along a longitudinal axis of the conductorless transmission medium and the second non-fundamental mode has a second electromagnetic field strength that varies helically along the longitudinal axis of the conductorless transmission medium.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein the antenna provides wireless network connectivity.
15. 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 conductorless transmission medium via an antenna that radiates free space wireless signals, wherein the plurality of couplers generates a plurality of mode division multiplexed second electromagnetic waves that propagates along the conductorless transmission medium.
16. The transmission device of claim 15 wherein one of the plurality of mode division multiplexed second electromagnetic waves propagates along the conductorless transmission medium via a first non-fundamental mode and another of the plurality of mode division multiplexed second electromagnetic waves propagates along the conductorless transmission medium via a second non-fundamental mode.
17. The transmission device of claim 16 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field strength that varies with an azimuthal orientation to a longitudinal axis of the conductorless 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 conductorless transmission medium.
18. The transmission device of claim 16 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 conductorless 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 conductorless transmission medium, and wherein the first azimuthal orientation differs from the second azimuthal orientation.
19. The transmission device of claim 15 wherein the free space wireless signals provide wireless network connectivity.
20. The transmission device of claim 15 wherein the conductorless transmission medium comprises a dielectric.
21. The transmission device of claim 15 wherein the free space wireless signals provide wireless network connectivity to a mobile device.
22. 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 dielectric transmission medium at spatially diverse points along a longitudinal axis of the dielectric transmission medium, wherein the dielectric transmission medium provides network connectivity via at least one antenna that radiates free space wireless signals, wherein the plurality of couplers contemporaneously generates a plurality of second electromagnetic waves that propagates on the dielectric transmission medium via differing ones of a plurality of guided wave modes.
23. The transmission device of claim 22 wherein the plurality of guided wave modes includes a first non-fundamental mode and a second non-fundamental mode.
24. The transmission device of claim 23 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 dielectric 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 dielectric transmission medium, and wherein the first azimuthal orientation differs from the second azimuthal orientation.
25. The transmission device of claim 24 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.
26. The transmission device of claim 23 wherein the first non-fundamental mode has a first electromagnetic field pattern that varies helically along a longitudinal axis of the dielectric 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 dielectric transmission medium via a second direction of rotation.