Micro-helix antenna and methods for making same

• US 7,183,998 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sciperio, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sciperio, Inc.
• Inventors: Taylor, Robert M., Salisbury, Ryan T., Wilhelm, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hoang V.
• Application Number:
  US10/908,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 343/895, 343/788, 343/702, 343/787
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/362 for broadside radiating helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core

Abstract

A micro-helix antenna. The antenna comprises a helically-shaped conductive element disposed on a dielectric core. The diameter of the helix formed by the conductive element is very small relative to the wavelength of the antenna, preferably no more than about 1/100th of the wavelength. Having such a small diameter, this micro-helix antenna can be further compressed into two- and three-dimensional shapes, such as spirals, helices and meandering or stochastic patterns. The micro-helix antenna can be created by pressing a fine wire into a helical shape. Alternately, the helical conductor can be formed by a laser ablation process or laying down the helical shape using a direct-write process.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

an elongate dielectric core;

at least a first helically-shaped conductor disposed about the core;

wherein the diameter of the helix formed by the conductor is less than about 1/100 of the wavelength of the antenna.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the helix is less than about 1/500 of the wavelength of the antenna.

3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the helix is less than about 1/1000 of the wavelength of the antenna.

4. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the core is flexible.

5. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the helix formed by the conductor is circular.

6. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the helix formed by the conductor is ovoid.

7. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the helix formed by the conductor is polygonal.

8. The antenna of claim 7 wherein all the sides of the polygonally-shaped helix are of equal length.

9. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed.

10. The antenna of claim 9 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed stochastically.

11. The antenna of claim 9 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed spirally.

12. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is straight.

13. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is two-dimensional.

14. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is three-dimensional.

15. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising a second helically-shaped conductor disposed on the core.

16. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the helically-shaped conductor is a metal wire wrapped around the core.

17. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the helically-shaped conductor is a metal coating on the core.

18. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the pitch of the helix formed by the conductor is non-uniform.

19. An antenna comprising:

an elongate dielectric core; and

at least a first helically-shaped conductive element disposed on the core;

wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed.

20. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed stochastically.

21. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the helix formed by the conductor is circular.

22. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the helix formed by the conductor is ovoid.

23. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the helix formed by the conductor is polygonal.

24. The antenna of claim 23 wherein all the sides of the polygonally-shaped helix are of equal length.

25. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the core is flexible.

26. The antenna of claim 19 further comprising a second helically-shaped conductor disposed on the core.

27. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is two-dimensional.

28. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is three-dimensional.

29. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the helically-shaped conductor is a metal wire wrapped around the core.

30. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the helically-shaped conductor is a metal coating on the core.

31. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed spirally.

32. The antenna of claim 19 wherein the pitch of the helix formed by the conductor is non-uniform.

33. A method for making an antenna comprising:

providing a helically-shaped conductive element on a dielectric core so that the diameter of the helix formed by the conductor is less than about 1/100 of the wavelength of the antenna.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the helically-shaped conductive element is provided by wrapping a wire around the core.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the helically-shaped conductive element is provided by ablating a helically-shaped strip from a conductive metal coating on the core.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the ablation of the helically-shaped strip is carried out using a laser.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the metal is silver.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the helically-shaped conductive element is provided by applying a helically-shaped strip of conductive metal to the core.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the application of the helically-shaped strip of conductive metal is carried out using a direct-write process.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the metal is silver.

41. The method of claim 33 further comprising compressing the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed spirally.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed stochastically.

44. The method of claim 33 wherein the pitch of the helix formed on the conductor is non-uniform.

45. A method for making an antenna comprising:

providing a helically-shaped conductive element on a dielectric core; and

compressing the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the helically-shaped conductive element is provided by wrapping a wire around the core.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the helically-shaped conductive element is provided by ablating a helically-shaped strip from a conductive metal coating on the core.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the ablation of the helically-shaped strip is carried out using a laser.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein the metal is silver.

50. The method of claim 45 wherein the helically-shaped conductive element is provided by applying a helically-shaped strip of conductive metal to the core.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the application of the helically-shaped strip of conductive metal is carried out using a direct-write process.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein the metal is silver.

53. The method of claim 45 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed spirally.

54. The method of claim 45 wherein the core with the helically-shaped conductor thereon is compressed stochastically.

55. The method of claim 45 wherein the pitch of the helix provided on the core is non-uniform.