In accordance with one or more embodiments, an antenna system includes a dielectric antenna having a feed point, wherein the dielectric antenna is a single antenna. At least one cable having a plurality of conductorless dielectric cores is coupled to the feed point of the dielectric antenna, wherein electromagnetic waves that are guided by differing ones of the plurality of conductorless dielectric cores to the dielectric antenna result in differing ones of a plurality of antenna beam patterns.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a guided wave repeater system operable to receive via a guided wave transceiver a first plurality of electromagnetic waves that includes a first communication signal. A second plurality of electromagnetic waves that includes a second communication signal is transmitted via the guided wave transceiver. The first plurality of electromagnetic waves and the second plurality of electromagnetic waves are guided by a power line of a utility pole. A third communication signal is received from a smart grid device. A fourth communication signal is transmitted to the smart grid device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

The present invention relates to tackifier compounds and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a tackifier compound including independently substituted or unsubstituted fused rings A and B each independently chosen from (C.sub.5-C.sub.10)cycloalkyl and (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)heterocyclyl. Fused ring A is substituted with (R.sup.1).sub.1-8 and fused ring B is substituted with (OC(O)RC(O)R.sup.2).sub.1-8. At each occurrence R is independently chosen from (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkanylene, (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkenylene, (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkynylene, C.sub.5-C.sub.20(arylene), and (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)heteroarylene, wherein R is unsubstituted or substituted. At each occurrence R.sup.1 is independently selected from OH, OR.sup.3, and OC(O)RC(O)R.sup.2. At each occurrence R.sup.2 is independently chosen from OH, OR.sup.3, NH.sub.2, NHR.sup.3, and NR.sup.3.sub.2. At each occurrence R.sup.3 is independently chosen from (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)alkanyl, (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkenyl, (C.sub.2-C.sub.10)alkynyl, C.sub.5-C.sub.20(aryl), and (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)heteroaryl, wherein R.sup.3 is unsubstituted or substituted.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission system having a coupling device, a bypass circuit, a memory and a processor. The coupling device can facilitate transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a transmission medium. The memory can store instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations including restarting a timer to prevent the bypass circuit from disabling the transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves by the coupling device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Systems and methods are provided for optimizing power consumption for power line communication (PLC). An example system may include a coupler that connects the system to a power line; an analog front end (AFE) for handling communications over the power line via the coupler; and a processor for controlling power consumption of the AFE. The processor may determine information regarding one or more control parameters of the analog front end (AFE), the information relating to powerline communications (PLC) over the power line; and based on the information, sets or adjusts the one or more control parameters of the analog front end (AFE), to control power consumption of the analog front end (AFE) during the powerline communications (PLC) over the power line. The analog front end (AFE) may then transmit or receive data over the power line using powerline communications (PLC), based on the one or more control parameters.

A method includes digital/analog conversion of a digital signal modulated by information to provide a modulated initial analog signal having a crest factor greater than one, and amplification of the initial analog signal to provide an amplified modulated signal. A modulated channel analog signal derived from the modulated amplified analog signal is transmitted over a communications channel, with impedance of the communications channel varying during the transmission. The method further includes at least one determination during the transmission of a peak-clipping rate of the amplified analog signal over at least one time interval, and an adjustment of a level of the initial analog signal as a function of the determined peak-clipping rate.

A power receiving apparatus includes: a communication circuit that receives a control signal from a power transmitting apparatus through a wired transmission line; a control circuit that determines a propagation time in which the control signal is propagated from the power transmitting apparatus to the power receiving apparatus through the wired transmission line; and a demodulation circuit that receives modulated power from the power transmitting apparatus through a wired transmission line, and demodulates, based on the determined propagation time, the modulated power in synchronization with a phase of the modulated power.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide system for detecting a condition that adversely affects a propagation of electromagnetic waves generated by the waveguide system on a surface of the wire, and adjusting characteristics of the electromagnetic waves generated by the waveguide system to reduce adverse effects caused by the condition. Other embodiments are disclosed.

The present invention is to provide a power line communication adapter capable of being freely assembled by accessories thereof, which includes an anti-noise device having a first male plug for receiving a power line communication signal from a power outlet, a first female socket for connecting the first male plug with an electrical equipment through a filter module, and a first adapting port connected to the first male plug, such that noise generated by the electrical equipment device can be filtered by the filter module without interfering the power line communication signal; and a power line communication device having a power line communication module along with a second adapting port connected thereto such that, when the first and second adapting ports are connected with each other, the power line communication device and the anti-noise device are combined into an anti-noise adapter for receiving and transmitting the power line communication signal.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission medium for propagating electromagnetic waves. The transmission medium can include a plurality of cores for selectively guiding an electromagnetic wave of a plurality of electromagnetic waves longitudinally along each core, and a shell surrounding at least a portion of each core for reducing exposure of the electromagnetic wave of each core. Other embodiments are disclosed.