A quasi-optical coupling system launches and extracts surface wave communication transmissions from a wire. At millimeter-wave frequencies, where the wavelength is small compared to the macroscopic size of the equipment, the millimeter-wave transmissions can be transported from one place to another and diverted via lenses and reflectors, much like visible light. Transmitters and receivers can be positioned near telephone and power lines and reflectors placed on or near the cables can reflect transmissions onto or off of the cables. The lenses on the transmitters are focused, and the reflectors positioned such that the reflected transmissions are guided waves on the surface of the cables. The reflectors can be polarization sensitive, where one or more of a set of guided wave modes can be reflected off the wire based on the polarization of the guided wave modes and polarization and orientation of the reflector.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a transmission device includes a receiver configured to receive an interfering signal via an antenna. A controller is configured to select a subset of a plurality of guided electromagnetic wave resource blocks, based on the interfering signal, to mitigate an interference with a distributed antenna system. A transmitter is configured to generate electromagnetic signals conveying data, in accordance with the subset of the plurality of guided electromagnetic wave resource blocks. A coupler is configured to generate guided electromagnetic waves in response to the electromagnetic signals, wherein the guided electromagnetic waves propagate, without requiring an electrical return path, along a surface of a transmission medium of a distributed antenna system.

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a MIMO transceiver generates first electromagnetic signals convey first data in accordance with one or more MIMO techniques. The MIMO transceiver generates, responsive to the first electromagnetic signals, first electromagnetic waves on a plurality of transmission lines, wherein the first electromagnetic waves are guided by a plurality of surfaces of the plurality of transmission lines, wherein the first electromagnetic waves propagate along the plurality of transmission lines without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the first electromagnetic waves convey the first data.

The present invention relates to a device for transmission by power-line communication (1) between two items of equipment (10, 20) on board an aircraft (1), comprising a transmission cable (3) configured to simultaneously transmit a power sup ply current and a data signal. This cable (3) comprises two twisted pairs of conductors (34, 34a, 34b). The device comprises a data sender (100) comprising a COFDM coupler (44) configured to modulate a signal by carrier modulation according to a COFDM mode, and a data receiver (200) comprising a COFDM coupler (44) configured to demodulate a signal modulated by carrier modulation according to a COFDM mode. The data sender (100) is configured to send a test signal by carrier modulation according to a COFDM mode, while the data receiver (200) is configured to detect signals corresponding to the test signals sent, and to analyse the carriers of the detected signal in regard to the signal sent and deduce therefrom the state of the transmission cable (3).

An apparatus includes an AC power module that provides alternating current (AC) electrical power; a power distribution wiring harness that receives the AC electrical power from the AC power module; a signal injection module that injects a communication signal on the power distribution wiring harness using signal modulation; and a plurality of inductive coupling modules, each inductive coupling module inductively receiving power and the communication signal from a location along the power distribution wiring harness, wherein each inductive coupling module is structured to transmit at least one of the power and the communication signal to one or more loads, wherein each inductive coupling module is separate from other inductive coupling modules in the plurality of inductive coupling modules.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by each of a plurality of receivers, one of a plurality of electromagnetic waves, each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves guided by a different one of a plurality of twin-lead transmission lines, each twin-lead transmission line sharing a wire, and each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves including a different one of a plurality of communication signals, and obtaining, by each of the plurality of receivers, one of the plurality of communication signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A circuit (100) for coupling an amplifier (1) in an electrical power distribution system with the amplifier electrically and physically isolated from a power line of the system. The amplifier generates arbitrary signal waveforms injected into the power line. A transformer (T1) has a primary and a secondary side with the amplifier located on the primary side and the secondary side connected to the power line. A resistor (R1) series connected with the primary side of the transformer is sized to accommodate a minimum load impedance of the amplifier and minimize power dissipation. A resonant circuit interposed between the secondary side of the transformer and the power line has values for a capacitor (C1) and an inductor (L3) forming the resonant circuit chosen to peak the amplitude of the arbitrary signal waveform at the frequency of a waveform propagated through the power line.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a coupler having a base for coupling to a transmission medium, and a plurality of members extending from the base. A distal end of each member of the plurality of members can be separated from an outer surface of the transmission medium. A transmitter coupled to the base can facilitate transmission of signals via the plurality of members. The transmission of signals can induce electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A broadband powerline communication system makes use of knowledge of the spectrum characteristics of a local radio environment in order to improve system performance. A determination is made of the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies. In order to avoid interference, certain ones of the carrier frequencies otherwise used by the broadband powerline communication system may be selectively masked based on the determination. The spectrum characteristics may be determined 1) in advance and used to compile a configuration database comprising frequency masking parameters; 2) by monitoring the local radio environment using the transmitter/receiver nodes of the system; or 3) based upon receipt of an indication from a conflicting user that the user is experiencing interference. Various combinations of these spectrum characteristic determination techniques may also be used.

A transmission circuit includes a photocoupler, a conductive/non-conductive state of which is controlled in accordance with data to be transmitted to a communication device. A reception circuit includes a photocoupler, a conductive/non-conductive state of which is controlled in accordance with the conductive/non-conductive state of the transmission path. A transmission circuit includes a photocoupler, a conductive/non-conductive state of which is controlled in accordance with data to be transmitted to a communication device. A reception circuit includes a photocoupler, a conductive/non-conductive state of which is controlled in accordance with the conductive/non-conductive state of the transmission path. The photocoupler is included in the transmission path. The photocoupler and the photocoupler are in opposite conductive/non-conductive states.