Guided wave launcher with lens and methods for use therewith

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a guided wave launcher includes an array of antennas that generates first electromagnetic field signals. A lens is configured to guide the first electromagnetic field signals to a surface of a transmission medium, the first electromagnetic field signals inducing a first guided electromagnetic wave that is guided by the surface of the transmission medium and propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A guided wave launcher comprising:
 an array of antennas that generates first electromagnetic field signals; and   a lens having a major axis tilted at an off-axis orientation from a longitudinal axis of each antenna of the array of antennas configured to guide the first electromagnetic field signals to a surface of a transmission medium, the first electromagnetic field signals inducing a first guided electromagnetic wave that is guided by the surface of the transmission medium and propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.   
     
     
         2 . The guided wave launcher of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of each antenna of the array of antennas is parallel to, and spaced a distance apart from, a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium. 
     
     
         3 . The guided wave launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the array of antennas is further configured to receive second electromagnetic field signals guided by the lens in response to a second guided electromagnetic wave that propagates along the surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the second guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring the electrical return path. 
     
     
         4 . The guided wave launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnetic field signals are emitted along the longitudinal axis of each antenna of the array of antennas, the first electromagnetic field signals are tilted by the lens at the off-axis orientation from the longitudinal axis of each antenna of the array of antennas to guide the first electromagnetic field signals to the surface of the transmission medium. 
     
     
         5 . The guided wave launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the lens comprises a dielectric lens. 
     
     
         6 . The guided wave launcher of  claim 5 , wherein the dielectric lens has a dichroic aspheric configuration or a double concave configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The guided wave launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the lens comprises a lens reflector. 
     
     
         8 . The guided wave launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the array of antennas comprises an array of polyrod antennas. 
     
     
         9 . The guided wave launcher of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a circuit board that supports the array of antennas.   
     
     
         10 . The guided wave launcher of  claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnetic field signals comprise a near field signal, a far field signal, or a combination of near field and far field signals. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 generating first electromagnetic field signals via an array of antennas; and   guiding, via a lens having a major axis tilted at an off-axis orientation from a longitudinal axis of each antenna of the array of antennas, the first electromagnetic field signals to a surface of a transmission medium, the first electromagnetic field signals inducing a first guided electromagnetic wave that is guided by the surface of the transmission medium and propagates along the transmission medium at non-optical frequencies without requiring an electrical return path.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a longitudinal axis of each antenna of the array of antennas is parallel to, and spaced a distance apart from, a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the array of antennas is further configured to receive second electromagnetic field signals guided by the lens in response to a second guided electromagnetic wave that propagates along the surface of the transmission medium, and wherein the second guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring the electrical return path. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first electromagnetic field signals are emitted along the longitudinal axis of each antenna of the array of antennas, the first electromagnetic field signals are tilted by the lens at the off-axis orientation from the longitudinal axis of each antenna of the array of antennas to guide the first electromagnetic field signals to the surface of the transmission medium. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the lens comprises a dielectric lens. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the lens comprises a lens reflector. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the array of antennas comprises an array of polyrod antennas each including a tapered dielectric rod. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 deploying one or more additional lenses at one or more distances along the transmission medium from the lens to refocus the first guided electromagnetic wave as the first guided electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first electromagnetic field signals comprise a near field signal, a far field signal, or a combination of near field and far field signals. 
     
     
         20 . A guided wave launcher comprising:
 means for generating electromagnetic field signals; and   means for tilting the electromagnetic field signals towards a surface of a transmission medium, the electromagnetic field signals inducing a guided electromagnetic wave that is guided by the surface of the transmission medium and propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.