HELICAL ANTENNA FOR WIRELESS MICROPHONE AND METHOD FOR THE SAME

• US 20170149121A1
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings Inc. (Shure Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Shure Acquisition Holdings Inc. (Shure Incorporated)
• Inventors: Celebi, Adem, Bachman, Gregory W., Zachara, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 10,230,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/27 Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies H01Q1/08, H01Q1/12, H01Q1/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/357 using a single feed point
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/04 Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor in deaf-aid sets H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/083 Special constructions of mouthpieces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Abstract

Embodiments include an antenna assembly for a wireless microphone, comprising a helical antenna including a feed point and at least one contact pin coupling the feed point to the wireless microphone. The helical antenna is configured for operation in first and second frequency bands. Embodiments also include a wireless microphone comprising a main body having top and bottom ends and an antenna assembly coupled to the bottom end. The antenna assembly comprises a helical antenna configured to transmit and receive wireless signals, an inner core configured to support the helical antenna on an outer surface of the inner core, and an outer shell formed over the inner core and the helical antenna. Embodiments further include a method of manufacturing an antenna assembly for a wireless microphone using a first manufacturing process to form a core unit of the antenna assembly and a second manufacturing process to form an overmold.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly for a wireless microphone, comprising:

a helical antenna including a feed point, and

at least one contact pin coupling the feed point to the wireless microphone,

wherein the helical antenna is configured for operation in a first frequency band and a second frequency band.

2. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the helical antenna further comprises:

a first antenna structure configured for operation in the first frequency band, and

a second antenna structure configured for operation in the second frequency band,

wherein the first and second antenna structures both extend from the feed point.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein the first antenna structure is longer in length than the second antenna structure.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the second frequency band includes at least 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) operating band.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band includes at least one Ultra High Frequency (UHF) operating band.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the helical antenna is configured to simultaneously transmit and/or receive wireless signals in the first and second frequency bands.

7. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna assembly includes a core unit and the helical antenna includes two or more conductive strips wound around the core unit in a parallel arrangement.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one contact pin includes a primary contact pin and a redundant contact pin.

9. A wireless microphone, comprising:

a main body having a top end and a bottom end; and

an integrated antenna assembly coupled to the bottom end of the main body, the antenna assembly comprising;

a helical antenna configured to transmit and receive wireless signals;

an inner core configured to support the helical antenna on an outer surface of the inner core; and

an outer shell formed over the inner core and the helical antenna.

10. The wireless microphone of claim 9, wherein the helical antenna is wrapped around the inner core to form a helix configuration.

11. The wireless microphone of claim 10, wherein the inner core comprises a hollow body and a closed bottom end.

12. The wireless microphone of claim 11, wherein the helical antenna comprises a first antenna structure with an elongated body wrapped around the hollow body and a rounded end portion folded over the closed bottom end.

13. The wireless microphone of claim 12, wherein the helical antenna further comprises a second antenna structure that is shorter in length than the first antenna structure.

14. The wireless microphone of claim 9, wherein the inner core is mechanically coupled to the bottom end of the main body.

15. The wireless microphone of claim 9, wherein the antenna assembly further comprises a plurality of pins for securing the helical antenna to the outer surface of the inner core.

16. The wireless microphone of claim 9, wherein at least one of the inner core and the outer shell are formed using an injection molding process.

17. A method of manufacturing an antenna assembly for a wireless microphone, the method comprising:

forming a core unit with a hollow body and a closed bottom end using a first manufacturing process;

coupling a feed end of an antenna element to the core unit;

wrapping the antenna element around the core unit to form a helical structure with a free end of the antenna element positioned adjacent to the bottom end of the core unit; and

forming an overmold around the antenna element and the core unit using a second manufacturing process.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising adhering the antenna element to the core unit using a plurality of pins positioned on an outer surface of the core unit.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising folding the free end of the antenna element over the bottom end of the core unit.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the antenna element includes:

a first antenna structure comprising an elongated body extending from the feed end to the free end, and a second antenna structure extending from the feed end and having a length that is shorter than that of the first antenna structure.