Apparatus and methods for generating non-interfering electromagnetic waves on an insulated transmission medium

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a plurality of communication signals, and generating, according to the plurality of communication signals, signals that induce a plurality of electromagnetic waves bound at least in part to a dielectric material. Each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveys at least one communication signal of the plurality of communication signals, and the plurality of electromagnetic waves has a multiplexing configuration that reduces an interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of communication signals; and   generating, by a transmitting device according to the plurality of communication signals, wireless signals to induce a plurality of electromagnetic waves bound at least in part to an insulated transmission medium, the plurality of electromagnetic waves propagating along the insulated transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveying at least one communication signal of the plurality of communication signals, the plurality of electromagnetic waves having a signal multiplexing configuration that reduces interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves and enabling a receiving device to retrieve from each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves the at least one communication signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal multiplexing configuration comprises an HE11 wave mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal multiplexing configuration comprises configuring at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves according to a transverse magnetic wave mode. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal multiplexing configuration comprises configuring a first electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves according to a first hybrid wave mode. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the signal multiplexing configuration further comprises configuring a second electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves according to a second hybrid wave mode. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first hybrid wave mode has a first target polarization, and wherein the second hybrid wave mode has a second target polarization. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first target polarization and the second target polarization are at least substantially orthogonal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves is configured according to a hybrid wave mode having a cutoff frequency above 0 Hertz. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves is configured according to a high order wave mode. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting an obstruction causing propagation losses affecting at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves; and   adjusting the signal multiplexing configuration of the plurality of electromagnetic waves to generate an updated plurality of electromagnetic waves that reduces the propagation losses affecting the at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the adjusting the signal multiplexing configuration comprises adjusting a wave mode multiplexing configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the obstruction comprises water accumulated on an outer surface of the insulated transmission medium. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the insulated transmission medium comprises an insulated conductor. 
     
     
         14 . A launcher, comprising:
 a generator; and   a circuit coupled to the generator,   wherein the circuit performs operations including:   receiving a plurality of communication signals; and   generating, according to the plurality of communication signals, signals that induce a plurality of electromagnetic waves bound at least in part to a dielectric layer of a transmission medium, each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveying at least one communication signal of the plurality of communication signals, the plurality of electromagnetic waves having a signal multiplexing configuration that reduces interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves.   
     
     
         15 . The launcher of  claim 14 , wherein the signal multiplexing configuration comprises an HE11 wave mode. 
     
     
         16 . The launcher of  claim 14 , wherein the signal multiplexing configuration comprises configuring a first electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves according to a first hybrid wave mode, and a second electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves according to a second hybrid wave mode. 
     
     
         17 . The launcher of  claim 14 , wherein the signal multiplexing configuration comprises configuring the plurality of electromagnetic waves according to substantially orthogonal wave modes. 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a receiving device, a plurality of electromagnetic waves bound at least in part to an insulated transmission medium, the plurality of electromagnetic waves propagating along the insulated transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveying at least one communication signal of a plurality of communication signals, the plurality of electromagnetic waves having a signal multiplexing configuration that reduces interference between the plurality of electromagnetic waves and enabling the receiving device to retrieve from each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves the at least one communication signal; and   retrieving, by the receiving device, the plurality of communication signals from the plurality of electromagnetic waves.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves is configured according to a hybrid wave mode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic waves is configured according to a high order wave mode.