A transmission line portion of a flat cable includes first regions and second regions connected alternately. In the first region, the transmission line portion is a flexible tri-plate transmission line including a dielectric element including a signal conductor, a first ground conductor including opening portions, and a second ground conductor which is a solidly filled conductor. In the second region, the transmission line portion is a hard tri-plate transmission line including a wide dielectric element including a meandering conductor, and a first ground conductor and a second ground conductor which are solidly filled conductors. A variation width of the characteristic impedance in the second region is larger than a variation width of the characteristic impedance in the first region.

A transmission line portion of a flat cable includes first regions and second regions connected alternately. In the first region, the transmission line portion is a flexible tri-plate transmission line including a dielectric element including a signal conductor, a first ground conductor including opening portions, and a second ground conductor which is a solidly filled conductor. In the second region, the transmission line portion is a hard tri-plate transmission line including a wide dielectric element including a meandering conductor, and a first ground conductor and a second ground conductor which are solidly filled conductors. A variation width of the characteristic impedance in the second region is larger than a variation width of the characteristic impedance in the first region.

Disclosed are various embodiments for embedding data on a guided surface wave. A guided surface waveguide probe emits power as a guided surface wave received by a guided surface wave receive structure circuit. An aggregate electric load of the receiver circuit is modulated with reference to a data signal. A current at the guided surface waveguide probe is monitored. A data signal is recaptured at the guided surface waveguide probe.

Disclosed are various embodiments for embedding data on a guided surface wave. A guided surface waveguide probe emits power as a guided surface wave received by a guided surface wave receive structure circuit. An aggregate electric load of the receiver circuit is modulated with reference to a data signal. A current at the guided surface waveguide probe is monitored. A data signal is recaptured at the guided surface waveguide probe.

A guided surface waveguide probe structure is described. In one example, the guided surface waveguide probe structure includes a charge terminal elevated to a first height above a lossy conducting medium and a phasing coil elevated to a second height above the lossy conducting medium, wherein the first height is larger than the second height. The structure further includes a non-conductive support structure to support the phasing coil and the charge terminal. The non-conductive support structure includes a truss frame secured to and supported over a substructure, and the truss frame supports the phasing coil at the second height above the lossy conducting medium. The non-conductive support structure also includes a charge terminal truss extension supported by the truss frame, and the charge terminal truss extension supports the charge terminal at the first height above the lossy conducting medium.

A guided surface waveguide probe structure is described. In one example, the guided surface waveguide probe structure includes a charge terminal elevated to a first height above a lossy conducting medium and a phasing coil elevated to a second height above the lossy conducting medium, wherein the first height is larger than the second height. The structure further includes a non-conductive support structure to support the phasing coil and the charge terminal. The non-conductive support structure includes a truss frame secured to and supported over a substructure, and the truss frame supports the phasing coil at the second height above the lossy conducting medium. The non-conductive support structure also includes a charge terminal truss extension supported by the truss frame, and the charge terminal truss extension supports the charge terminal at the first height above the lossy conducting medium.

A guided surface waveguide probe structure is described. In one example, the guided surface waveguide probe structure includes a charge terminal elevated to a first height and a phasing coil elevated to a second height above a lossy conducting medium. The structure further includes a non-conductive support structure to support the phasing coil and the charge terminal. The non-conductive support structure includes a truss frame that supports the phasing coil at the second height above the lossy conducting medium and supports the charge terminal at the first height above the lossy conducting medium. The structure further includes a substructure bunker constructed in the lossy conducting medium. The substructure bunker can include foundational walls, a grounding grid formed in a foundational seal slab, and a covering support slab at a ground surface elevation of the lossy conducting medium, the covering support slab supporting the non-conductive support structure.

A guided surface waveguide probe structure is described. In one example, the guided surface waveguide probe structure includes a charge terminal elevated to a first height and a phasing coil elevated to a second height above a lossy conducting medium. The structure further includes a non-conductive support structure to support the phasing coil and the charge terminal. The non-conductive support structure includes a truss frame that supports the phasing coil at the second height above the lossy conducting medium and supports the charge terminal at the first height above the lossy conducting medium. The structure further includes a substructure bunker constructed in the lossy conducting medium. The substructure bunker can include foundational walls, a grounding grid formed in a foundational seal slab, and a covering support slab at a ground surface elevation of the lossy conducting medium, the covering support slab supporting the non-conductive support structure.

Disclosed is an exemplary guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along a surface of a lossy conducting medium. In one embodiment, the guided surface waveguide probe comprises a charge terminal elevated to a height above the lossy conducting medium; a support structure that supports the charge terminal; at least one section of internal coil that is supported within the support structure and is coupled to an excitation source; a conductive tube conductively coupled to the at least one section of internal coil at a bottom end, and a plurality of coupling conductors that extend radially away from a top of the conductive tube to a plurality of points located on an inner surface of the charge terminal.

Disclosed is an exemplary guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along a surface of a lossy conducting medium. In one embodiment, the guided surface waveguide probe comprises a charge terminal elevated to a height above the lossy conducting medium; a support structure that supports the charge terminal; at least one section of internal coil that is supported within the support structure and is coupled to an excitation source; a conductive tube conductively coupled to the at least one section of internal coil at a bottom end, and a plurality of coupling conductors that extend radially away from a top of the conductive tube to a plurality of points located on an inner surface of the charge terminal.