Quadrifilar helical antenna

• US 20050264468A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yegin, Korkut, Livengood, William R., Morris, Daniel G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,180,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas

Abstract

An antenna having a plurality of elongated conductors is disclosed. The elongated conductors have a substantially straight portion and a substantially helical portion.

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

a plurality of elongated conductors, said elongated conductors having a substantially straight portion and a substantially helical portion.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said elongated conductors are coupled to and extend from a base.

3. The antenna of claim 2, further comprising a substantially circular conductor that electrically couples said elongated conductors together at a distal end from said base.

4. The antenna of claim 2, wherein said substantially straight portion is positioned between said base and said substantially helical portion.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said substantially straight portion is shorter than said substantially helical portion.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said plurality of elongated conductors together form a substantially cylindrical shape.

7. The antenna of claim 6, wherein said elongated conductors are wrapped around a solid core.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein said solid core includes a longitudinal bore therethrough.

9. The antenna of claim 7, wherein said solid core comprises a dielectric material.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said elongated conductors are capacitively loaded.

11. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising tuning stubs coupled to said elongated conductors.

12. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a phasing network that is electrically coupled to said elongated conductors.

13. An antenna, comprising

a plurality of elongated conductors, said elongated conductors being substantially helical;

and

a substantially circular conductor that electrically couples said elongated conductors.

14. The antenna of claim 13, wherein said elongated conductors are coupled to and extend from a base, and wherein said substantially circular conductor electrically couples said elongated conductors together at a distal end from said base.

15. An antenna for satellite digital audio radio systems, comprising:

a plurality of elongated conductors wrapped around a dielectric core;

said elongated conductors having a substantially straight portion and a substantially helical portion; and

a substantially circular conductor electrically coupled to said elongated conductors.

16. The antenna of claim 15, further comprising a base to which said elongated conductors are coupled, and wherein said substantially circular conductor couples said elongated conductors at a distal end from said base.

17. The antenna of claim 15, further comprising a base to which said elongated conductors are coupled, and wherein said substantially straight portion is positioned between said base and said substantially helical portion.

18. A portable SDARS-receiving device, comprising:

a primary housing unit;

at least one ear phone electrically coupled to said primary housing using by an audio wire; and

an antenna, said antenna comprising;

a plurality of elongated conductors together forming a substantially cylindrical shape;

said elongated conductors having a substantially straight portion and a substantially helical portion; and

a substantially circular conductor electrically coupled to said elongated conductors;

wherein said antenna is positioned between said primary housing unit and said ear phone such that said audio wire passes through said substantially cylindrical shape defined by said elongated conductors.

19. The SDARS-receiving device of claim 18, further comprising:

a solid core within said substantially cylindrical shape defined by said elongated conductors, said solid core having a longitudinal bore therethrough; and

wherein said audio wire passes through said longitudinal bore.