EP2158637A1

EP2158637A1 - Helix antenna

Info

Publication number: EP2158637A1
Application number: EP08759842A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nelson Fonseca; Sami Hebib; Hervé AUBERT; Lamyaa Hanane
Original assignee: Centre National dEtudes Spatiales CNES
Current assignee: Centre National dEtudes Spatiales CNES
Priority date: 2007-05-21
Filing date: 2008-05-21
Publication date: 2010-03-03
Also published as: FR2916581B1; FR2916581A1; US20100156752A1; WO2008142099A1; CA2687900A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a helix antenna comprising a plurality of radiating elements wound helically in an axisymmetric shape (15), characterized in that each radiating element comprises a repetition of the same pattern, which is defined by an at least second-order fractal (F1, F1' F2, F2', F3, F3', F4, F5).

Description

PROPELLER TYPE ANTENNA

GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to antennas of the helix type.

In particular, it relates to printed quadrifilar helix type antennas.

Such antennas find particular application in L-band telemetry systems (operating frequency between 1 and 2 GHz, typically around 1.5 GHz) for stratospheric balloon payloads.

STATE OF THE ART

The printed helix antennas have the advantage of being simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

They are particularly suitable for L-band circular polarization telemetry signals used in stratospheric balloon payloads. They also offer a good ellipticity rate and therefore a good circular polarization over a wide range of elevation angles.

EP 0320404 discloses a printed helix antenna and its manufacturing method.

Such an antenna comprises four radiating strands in the form of metal strips obtained by removing material from the metallization on either side of the strips of a metallized zone of a printed circuit. The printed circuit is intended to be wound helically around a cylinder.

These antennas although offering good performance are however cumbersome. Compact helical antennas comprising meandering radiating strands have been proposed to reduce the size of antennas of this type. The article: Y. Letestu, A. Sharaiha, Ph. Besnier "A small size configuration of printed quadrifilar helix antenna," IEEE workshop on Antenna Technology: Small Antennas and Novel Metamaterials, 2005, pp. 326-328, March 2005, describes such compact antennas. However, although a gain in the order of 35% on the congestion has been obtained, the performances, in particular in cross polarization and backward radiation, are degraded showing the limits of the use of such patterns as to the reduction. the size of antennas of this type.

In particular, payloads strastrophériques balloons require more and more compact antennas while maintaining good performance.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to reduce the size of known type helix antennas.

To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a helical antenna comprising a plurality of radiating strands helically wound in a form of revolution. The antenna of the invention is characterized in that each radiating strand comprises a repetition of the same pattern which is defined by a fractal of order at least equal to two.

The antenna of the invention may furthermore optionally have at least one of the following characteristics: the fractal is generated by iteration of steps of reduction of a reference pattern and then application of the pattern obtained to the reference pattern; the iterated steps further comprise an operation of rotation and / or flattening and / or shearing of the pattern; the reference pattern comprises a support geometric shape a director axis of the radiating strand, selected from the following group: trapezium in which one of the bases is deleted, triangle in which the base is deleted, square in which the base is deleted; the reference pattern comprises two identical geometric shapes of support the steering axis of the radiating strand, alternated with respect to said axis; the reference pattern comprises two identical isosceles trapezes supporting the direction axis of the radiating strand, alternated with respect to said axis and spaced apart from the width of the small base, in which one of the bases is suppressed; the reference pattern comprises two identical equilateral triangles supporting the direction axis of the radiating strand, alternated with respect to said axis and spaced from the width of one side, in which the base is removed; each radiating strand comprises an integer number of fractals; the radiating strands are each constituted by a determined metallized zone, helically wound on the lateral surface of a sleeve, such that the direction axis of each strand is distant from the axis of the next strand by a determined distance, defined according to any perpendicular to any guide line of the sleeve as the distance between two points, each defined by an intersection between the axis of a strand and a perpendicular to any guide line of the sleeve; the distance between the axis of each strand is equal to the perimeter of the sleeve divided by the number of radiating strands; the radiating strands are connected firstly in a short circuit at a first end to a conductive area and secondly at a second end to a supply circuit; the antenna comprises a printed circuit on which are formed the metallized areas, the circuit being adapted to be wound around a sleeve forming a form of revolution; each radiating strand is obtained by removing material from a metallized zone of the printed circuit on either side of the patterns of the radiating strands; the form of revolution is cylindrical or conical; the radiating strands are identical; the antenna comprises four radiating strands. Such an antenna makes it possible to reduce the space requirement by more than 30%, in particular the height, while maintaining performance equivalent to that of the known type of larger-size propeller antennas.

By tolerating a degradation of the cross polarization of the antenna, a reduction of up to 70% of the height is possible, while maintaining an acceptable back radiation. In addition, the use of fractals for the patterns of the radiating strands of the antenna makes it possible to improve the cross polarization with respect to compact helical antennas of known type.

Thus, such an antenna is of reduced size while respecting a very precise specification in terms of radiation pattern and polarization purity.

The antenna of the invention can, moreover, integrate into a telemetry system.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a helix-type antenna, comprising a step during which a plurality of radiating strands are formed according to determined zones, to be helically wound in a form of revolution.

The radiating strands are characterized in that each strand comprises a repetition of the same pattern which is defined by a fractal of order at least equal to two.

The method further comprises the steps of:

- Cutting a double-sided flexible printed circuit sheet to the corresponding dimensions for a cylindrical sleeve of given dimensions; - On the printed circuit is defined a first zone and a second zone for containing the radiating strands and a supply circuit, respectively; removing the metallization at the first zone on a first face of the printed circuit, the metallization being maintained over the whole of the first zone to constitute the reference propagation plane; the second face of the printed circuit is formed, at the level of the first zone, by removing material from the metallization on either side of the determined zones, the radiating strands and the upper conductive zone and at the level of the second zone; by removing material from the metallization a conductive area forming with the reference plane of propagation the ribbon line; the printed circuit board is wound on the reference plane of propagation plane or radiating strands on a sleeve.

PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description which is purely illustrative and nonlimiting and should be read with reference to the appended figures in which: - Figure 1 schematically illustrates in developed a helical antenna of known type; Figure 2 schematically illustrates a front view of a known type of helix antenna; FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c schematically illustrate, respectively, a reference pattern, first order fractal, a second order fractal and a third order fractal of a fractal for patterns of the radiating strands, according to a first embodiment; FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c schematically illustrate, respectively, a reference pattern, first order fractal, a second order fractal and a third order fractal for patterns of the radiating strands, according to a second embodiment. ; FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c schematically illustrate, respectively, a reference pattern, first order fractal, a second order fractal and a third order fractal for patterns of the radiating strands, according to a third embodiment. ; FIGS. 6a and 6b schematically illustrate, respectively, a reference pattern, a fractal of order 1 and a fractal of order 2 for patterns of the radiating strands, according to a fourth embodiment; FIGS. 7a and 7b schematically illustrate, respectively, a reference pattern, first order fractal and a second order fractal for patterns of the radiating strands, according to a fifth embodiment; FIGS. 8a and 8b schematically illustrate in developed form a helical type antenna, respectively comprising strands, obtained with the fractal of FIG. 6b with θ = 30 ° and θ = 45 ° for the reference pattern; FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d respectively show helically wound with the radiating strands in the form of metal strips, and obtained with the fractals of FIG. 6b with θ = 30 ° and θ = 45 ° for the reference pattern, and Figure 7b;

FIGS. 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d illustrate steps of the method of manufacturing an antenna according to the present invention; Figures 11a and 11b respectively show simulated radiation patterns of the antennas shown in Figures 8a and 8b.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE OR MORE MODES OF REALIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

Antenna structure

Figure 1 shows in developed a helix antenna. Figure 2 shows a front view of a helix antenna. Such an antenna comprises two parts 1, 2.

Part 1 comprises a conductive zone 10 and four radiating strands 11, 12, 13 and 14.

In part 1, the helical type antenna comprises four radiating strands 11, 12, 13, 14 helically wound in a form of revolution around a sleeve 15, for example.

On this part, the strands 11 -14 are connected on the one hand in short circuit at a first end 111, 121, 131, 141 strands to the conductive zone 10 and secondly in a second end 112, 122, 132, 142 of the strands to the feed circuit 20.

The radiating strands 11-14 of the antenna may be identical and are for example four in number. The antenna is in this case quadrifilar.

The sleeve 15 on which the antenna is wound is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 to form the antenna as shown in FIG.

The radiating strands 11-14 are oriented so that a support axis AA ', BB', CC and DD 'of each strand forms an angle α with respect to any plane orthogonal to any line L directing the sleeve 15. This angle α corresponds to the helical winding angle of the radiating strands.

The radiating strands 11-14 are each constituted by a metallized zone.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the metallized zones of part 1 are symmetrical bands with respect to a guide axis AA ', BB', CC, DD 'of the strands.

The distance d between two successive strands is defined along any perpendicular to any line L of the sleeve 15 as the distance between two points, each defined as the intersection of the said perpendicular with an axis of the strands.

For example, to obtain a symmetrical quadrifilar antenna, this distance d will be fixed at a quarter of the perimeter of the sleeve 15. The substrate supporting the metal strips is helically wound on the lateral surface of the sleeve 15.

According to one embodiment of such an antenna, the two parts 1, 2 are formed on a printed circuit 100. The radiating strands 11-14 are then metal strips obtained by removal of material on each side of the strips of a zone. metallized on the surface of the circuit board 100.

The printed circuit 100 is intended to be wound around a sleeve 15 having a general shape of revolution, such as a cylinder or a cone, for example.

Part 2 of the antenna comprises a supply circuit 20 of the antenna.

The supply circuit 20 of the antenna is constituted by a transmission line of the meander-shaped ribbon line type, ensuring both the function of distribution of the supply and adaptation of the radiating strands 11-14 of the antenna.

The supply of the radiating elements is at equal amplitudes with a progression of phases in quadrature.

The reduction in the size of the helix type antennas as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is obtained by using fractals for the radiating strand patterns for the antenna part 1. Part 2 of the antenna is of known type.

reasons

The radiating strands comprise a repetition of the same pattern which is defined by a fractal of order at least equal to two.

Fractals have the property of self-similarity, they are formed of copies of themselves at different scales. They are self-similar and very irregular curves.

A fractal is composed of reduced replicas, a reference pattern, not identical but similar.

The fractal is generated by iteration of steps of reduction of a reference pattern then application of the pattern obtained to the reference pattern. The iterated steps further include an operation of rotation and / or flattening and / or shearing of the pattern.

It is therefore understood that the fractals are obtained by means of a reference pattern. This reference pattern is a first order fractal.

The higher orders are obtained by applying to the middle of each segment of the reference pattern this same reduced reference pattern, and so on.

The reference pattern may be simple or alternating with respect to a director axis AA ', BB', CC, DD 'of the pattern.

The choice of the pattern itself is guided by the radiation performance of the antenna.

In general, the patterns with sharp angles provide a better reduction in the size of the part 1 of the antenna, but the cross-polarization performance is lower.

Conversely, patterns with smaller angular variations provide less reduction but with better radiation performance.

However, alternating patterns will be preferred because their symmetry helps to maintain cross-polarization levels comparable to those of a reference antenna of known type (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

Figures 3a, 4a and 5a illustrate so-called "simple" reference patterns.

By simple reference pattern is meant a support geometrical shape a steering axis AA 'of the radiating strand, selected from the following group: trapezium in which one of the bases is deleted MR1, triangle in which the base is deleted MR2, square in which the base is deleted MR3.

FIG. 3a illustrates, according to a first embodiment, a reference pattern MR1 which is a trapezium for supporting the axis AA 'of a radiating strand in which the large base is suppressed. FIG. 4a illustrates, according to a second embodiment, a reference pattern MR2 which is a support triangle for the steering axis AA 'of a radiating strand in which the base is suppressed.

FIG. 5a illustrates, according to a third embodiment, a reference pattern MR3 which is a support square, the steering axis AA 'of a radiating strand in which the base is suppressed.

FIGS. 3b, 4b and 5b respectively illustrate the order 2 of a fractal F1, F2, F3 following an iteration of the reference patterns of FIGS. 3a, 4a and 5a, respectively. FIGS. 3c, 4c and 5c respectively illustrate the order 3 of a fractal

F1 \ F2 ', F3' following two iterations of the reference patterns of Figures 3a, 4a and 5a.

Figures 6a and 7a illustrate so-called "alternating" reference patterns. FIG. 6a illustrates according to a fourth embodiment a reference pattern MR4 which comprises two isosceles trapezes in opposition with respect to the directing axis AA 'of the radiating strand and spaced from the width of the small base, in which the large base has been deleted.

The angle θ between a side extending from the small base towards the large base and the axis AA 'of the radiating strand is set as a compromise between the reduction of the height of the antenna and the performances in cross polarization.

FIG. 7a illustrates according to a fifth embodiment a reference pattern MR5 which comprises two equilateral triangles in opposition to the axis AA 'of the radiating strand and spaced from the width of one side, in which the base has been removed .

FIGS. 6b and 7b illustrate the order 2 of a fractal F4, F5 following an iteration of the reference patterns of FIGS. 6a and 7a respectively.

The radiating strands of the helix antenna comprise an integer number of order fractals at least equal to two.

The number of repetitions depends on the length of the antenna strands. FIGS. 8a and 8b diagrammatically show in development helical type antennas comprising four radiating strands obtained by reference pattern MR4 of FIG. 6a with θ = 30 ° and θ = 45 °, respectively. The use of at least two order fractals for the radiating strands makes it possible to reduce the size of the antenna.

It is therefore understandable that fractals make it possible to "fold" the strands in an optimal manner without degrading the performance of the antenna.

For antennas of quadrifilar helix type, the length of the strands sets the frequency of operation of the antenna.

The use of fractal patterns makes it possible to reduce the effective length of the strands while maintaining an "unfolded" length, to that of an antenna without patterns (strands in the form of metal strips).

The operating frequency of the antenna is therefore unchanged. Such a folding effect is illustrated by FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d.

These figures illustrate Part 1 comprising the radiating strands wound helically. They are four-core antennas, called quadrifilars.

Figure 9a illustrates a four-strand radiating antenna in the form of a metal strip. FIG. 9b illustrates an antenna with four radiating strands with patterns obtained by an iteration of the reference pattern of FIG. 6a with θ = 30 °.

FIG. 9c illustrates an antenna with four radiating strands with patterns obtained by an iteration of the reference pattern of FIG. 6a with θ = 45 °.

Figure 9d illustrates a patterned four-stranded antenna obtained by iteration of the reference pattern of Figure 7b.

For the antennas of FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, the number of turns initiated for the helical winding is identical.

The strands are further all oriented in the same way: they are wound in the same way helically. These figures show a gain in the height of the antenna.

It is found that fractals as patterns for radiating strands can affect the efficiency of the antenna. However, the previously presented patterns having few parallel close lines whose contributions to radiation cancel out and thus degrade the efficiency of the antenna, minimize this effect.

In addition, the number of iterations from the reference pattern makes it possible to reduce the height of the antenna and has an influence on the ellipticity rate and on the purity of the polarization.

The number of iterations is, however, limited by the production of the strands, in particular their width.

An overlap test is necessary to ensure the feasibility of the patterns applied to the radiating strands.

The length and the width of the strands make it possible to adjust the operating frequency.

The width makes it possible in particular to fix the input impedance, the usual value being 50Ω. The helical winding angle α sets the number of turns of the helix and therefore has an impact on the type of radiation pattern, in particular the position of the main polarization directivity maxima.

The spacing d between a support axis of one strand and the next is related to the perimeter of the sleeve 15. In particular, the spacing d is equal to the perimeter of the sleeve divided by the number of strands of the antenna.

From one strand to another the spacing is identical which ensures a symmetrical radiation pattern.

Method of production

In order to produce such an antenna, a simple and inexpensive method is implemented. Such a process is described in EP 0320404.

The method comprises in particular a step during which a plurality of radiating strands are formed according to determined zones in order to be helically wound in a form of revolution.

In addition, each radiating strand comprises a repetition of the same pattern which is defined by a fractal of order at least equal to two.

The method further comprises the following steps.

Figures 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d illustrate the process steps. A double-sided flexible printed circuit board 101, 102 is cut to the corresponding dimensions for a cylindrical sleeve 15 of given dimensions.

A first zone 1 and a second zone 2 intended to contain the radiating strands and a supply circuit 20, respectively, are delimited on the printed circuit 100.

The metallization is eliminated at the first zone on a first face 101 of the printed circuit 100, the metallization being maintained on the whole of the second zone 102 to constitute the reference propagation plane.

On the second face 102 of the printed circuit 100, material is formed at the first zone 1 on the one hand from the metallization according to the determined zones, the radiating strands and the upper conductive zone, and on the second zone 2 on the other hand a conductive area forming with the reference plane of propagation the ribbon line.

The printed circuit board 100 is wound on reference propagation plane side or radiating strand sides on a sleeve 15.

Prototypes In order to validate the antenna structure that has just been described, several prototypes have been simulated.

In particular, the part 1 of the helix type antennas comprises radiating strands to the patterns presented above.

These strands are connected to the feed circuit of part 2. The fractal pattern antennas were compared to a known type of helix antenna as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Fractal radiating strands were generated by a code specifically addressing this need.

This code makes it possible in particular to fix a reference fractal pattern and to apply a given iteration level to it. The fractal order at least equal to two thus obtained is then repeated a whole number of times before being applied to a cylindrical or conical shape.

The outputs of the code are the coordinates of the points defining the radiating strands either flat for the production of the mask necessary for the manufacture of the printed circuit or on a cylindrical or conical shape as an input for a commercial electromagnetic simulation software.

In order to compare performance, the operating frequency is identical between the reference antenna and the fractal pattern antennas. For this purpose the length of the strands has been adjusted.

The antennas at the radiating strands illustrated in Figure 8a (antenna A) and Figure 8b (antenna B) are compared to a reference antenna for an operating frequency equal to 1.85 GHz.

The input impedance of the antennas is 50 Ω. Given the intended applications, the ellipticity rate must be less than 2 dB over the widest possible range of elevation.

In addition to obtaining a circular polarization the four radiating strands are powered by phase voltages respectively equal to 0 °, 90 °, 180 ° and 270 °. The width of the strands has been adapted so that the operating frequency for the three antennas is identical.

A same sleeve 15 is used for the realization of the reference antenna, the antenna A and the antenna B. The sleeve 15 in question has a diameter equal to 25 mm. The distance between two consecutive strands corresponds to a quarter of the perimeter of the sleeve, if we neglect the thickness of the substrate supporting the printed strands. For the three antennas analyzed, this distance is equal to 20 mm.

The table below summarizes the characteristics of the antennas tested.

The gain on the height between the reference antenna and the antennas A and B is respectively 33% with a level of cross polarization in the half-space of interest of -12 dBi and 38% with a level of cross polarization in the half-space of interest of -10 dBi.

Thus, by releasing the constraints on the cross polarization, it is possible to increase the reduction of the height of the antenna.

The desired performances in cross polarization are to be fixed according to the intended application. A gain is also obtained over the total length of the strands which makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of these antennas.

The adaptation of fractal radiating wire antennas is also very good.

Figures 11a and 11b illustrate simulated radiation patterns of antennas A and B and a specified radiation pattern.

In these figures, the curve 80 is the main polarization radiation pattern, the curve 81 is the cross-polarization radiation pattern and the curve 82 is a template representing the minimum required values in main polarization for a telemethra system embedded on stratospheric balloons.

Claims

A helix-type antenna comprising a plurality of radially wound strands helically wound in a form of revolution (15), characterized in that each radiating strand comprises a repetition of the same pattern which is defined by a fractal (F1, FV, F2, F2 ', F3, F3, F4, F5) of at least two order.

2. Antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that the fractal (F1, F1 \ F2, F2 \ F3, F3 \ F4, F5) is generated by iteration of steps of reduction of a reference pattern and application of the pattern obtained on the grounds of reference.

3. Antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that the iterated steps further comprise an operation of rotation and / or flattening and / or shearing of the pattern.

4. Antenna according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the reference pattern (MR1, MR2, MR3) comprises a support geometric shape a steering axis (AA ') of the radiating strand, selected from the following group : trapezoid in which one of the bases is deleted, triangle in which the base is deleted, square in which the base is deleted.

5. Antenna according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the reference pattern (MR4, MR5) comprises two identical geometric support shapes the steering axis (AA ') of the radiating strand, alternated with respect to said axis (AA ').

6. Antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that the reference pattern (MR4) comprises two identical isosceles trapezes supporting the steering axis (AA ') of the radiating strand, alternated with respect to said axis (AA'). and spaced from the width of the small base, in which one of the bases is removed.

7. Antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that the reference pattern (MR5) comprises two identical equilateral triangles supporting the steering axis (AA ') of the radiating strand, alternated with respect to said axis (AA') and spaced from the width of one side, in which the base is removed.

8. Antenna according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each radiating strand comprises an integer number of fractals (F1 _J F1 ', F2 _J F2' _J F3 _J F3 ' _J F4 _J F5).

9. Antenna according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiating strands are each constituted by a specific metallized zone, helically wound on the lateral surface of a sleeve (15), such as the steering axis (AA ', BB', CC, DD ') of each strand is spaced from the axis of the next strand by a determined distance (d), defined along any perpendicular to any guideline (L) of the sleeve (15) as the distance between two points, each defined by an intersection between the axis of a strand and a perpendicular to any guideline (L) of the sleeve (15).

10. Antenna according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the distance (d) between the axis of each strand is equal to the perimeter of the sleeve divided by the number of radiating strands.

11. Antenna according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiating strands are connected firstly in a short circuit at a first end to a conductive area (10) and secondly at the level of a second end to a supply circuit (20).

12. Antenna according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a printed circuit (100) on which are formed the metallized areas, the circuit being adapted to be wound around a sleeve (15) forming a form of revolution.

13. Antenna according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each radiating strand is obtained by removing material from a metallized area of the printed circuit (100) on either side of the patterns of the radiating strands.

14. Antenna according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the form of revolution (15) is cylindrical or conical.

15. Antenna according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radiating strands are identical.

16. Antenna according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the antenna comprises four radiating strands.

17. Telemetry system comprising an antenna according to one of the preceding claims.

18. A method of manufacturing a helical type antenna, comprising a step in which a plurality of radiating strands are formed according to predetermined zones and are designed to be helically wound in a form of revolution (15), characterized in that each radiating strand comprises a repetition of the same pattern which is defined by a fractal of order at least equal to two.

The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: - cutting a sheet of printed circuit (100) double-sided flexible (101, 102) to the corresponding dimensions for a cylindrical sleeve (15) of given dimensions; a first zone (1) and a second zone (2) intended to contain the radiating strands and a supply circuit (20), respectively, are defined on the printed circuit (100); removing the metallization at the first zone (1) on a first face (101) of the printed circuit (100), the metallization being maintained over the whole of the first zone (1) to constitute the reference propagation plane; forming on the second face (102) of the printed circuit (100), at the first zone (1), by removing material from the metallization on either side of the determined zones, the radiating strands and the conducting zone at the level of the second zone (102), by removing from the metallization a conducting zone forming, with the reference plane of propagation, the ribbon line; the printed circuit board (100) is wound on the reference plane of propagation plane or on the radiating strands on a sleeve (15).