MINIATURIZED QUADRIFILAR HELIX ANTENNA

• US 20080014927A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobile Satellite Venture LP
• Inventors: Bondyopadhyay, Probir
• Granted Patent: US 8,022,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas

Abstract

A quadrifilar helix antenna used to transmit and receive wireless signals may include a number of inductively loaded antenna elements. The antenna elements may be helically wound around a cylindrical structure.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a quadrifilar helix antenna (QHA) used to transmit and receive wireless signals, the QHA comprising;

a plurality of inductively loaded antenna elements, and

a feed structure coupled to the plurality of inductively loaded antenna elements.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inductively loaded antenna elements comprises distributed transmission line type antenna elements.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inductively loaded antenna elements comprises a lumped element type.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a pitch angle associated with each of the antenna elements is constant.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a pitch angle associated with each of the antenna elements is variable.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the feed structure connects the antenna elements to generate circular polarization.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the circular polarization is right-handed.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the circular polarization is left-handed.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the QHA is configured to at least one transmit or receive wireless signals.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the QHA is configured to receive Global Positioning System (GPS) signals.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a height of the QHA ranges from approximately 2.75 inches to approximately 3.0 inches.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein a diameter of the QHA ranges from approximately 0.3 inches to approximately 0.35 inches.

13. A quadrifilar helix antenna for transmission and reception of wireless signals by hand-held terminals, the antenna comprising:

a plurality of reactively loaded antenna elements; and

a feed structure coupled to at least some of the antenna elements.

14. A quadrifilar helix antenna for transmission and reception of wireless signals by hand-held terminals, the antenna comprising

a plurality of capacitively loaded antenna elements;

and

a feed structure coupled to the antenna elements.

15. The quadrifilar helix antenna of claim 14, wherein at least some of the plurality of capacitively loaded antenna elements are simultaneously inductively loaded.

16. The quadrifilar helix antenna of claim 14, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of antenna elements includes a plurality of segments and wherein a pitch angle associated with the plurality of segments varies over a length of the first antenna element.

17. The quadrifilar helix antenna of claim 14, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of antenna elements includes a plurality of segments and wherein a pitch angle associated with the plurality of segments is constant over a length of the first antenna element.

18. The quadrifilar helix antenna of claim 14, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of antenna elements includes a plurality of segments and wherein a pitch angle associated with the plurality of segments varies over a length of the first antenna element, and

wherein at least a second one of the plurality of antenna elements includes a plurality of segments and wherein a pitch angle associated with the plurality of segments is constant over a length of the second antenna element.

19. The quadrifilar helix antenna of claim 14, wherein a height of the antenna ranges from approximately 2.75 inches to approximately 3.0 inches.

20. The quadrifilar helix antenna of claim 19, wherein a diameter of the antenna ranges from approximately 0.3 inches to approximately 0.35 inches.