L3Harris Technologies has been granted a patent for a communications device that includes an RF device and an antenna. The antenna features a conductive ground plane, an elongate support, and a helically wound conductive strip. The device also includes a coaxial cable that connects the RF device to the antenna. The cable has an inner conductor and an outer conductor, with the outer conductor connected to the ground plane and the inner conductor extending through the ground plane and connected to the helically wound strip. GlobalData’s report on L3Harris Technologies gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on L3Harris Technologies, AR/VR head-up displays was a key innovation area identified from patents. L3Harris Technologies's grant share as of June 2023 was 1%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
A communications device with a helical antenna and coaxial cable
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11682841B2) describes a communications device with an innovative antenna design. The device includes a radio frequency (RF) device and an antenna consisting of a conductive ground plane, an elongate support, and a helically wound conductive strip. The helically wound strip has a unique helical blade shape that resembles an auger, and it is carried by the elongate support. The RF device is connected to the antenna through a coaxial cable, with the inner conductor of the cable extending through the conductive ground plane and coupling to the proximal end of the helically wound strip.
The patent also mentions several variations and features of the communications device. For instance, the proximal end of the helically wound strip can have a gap with adjacent portions of the conductive ground plane. Additionally, the helically wound strip can have different helical pitches along the elongate support, with an increasing pitch in the direction away from the conductive ground plane. The diameter of the helically wound strip can also vary in the same direction, either increasing or decreasing. The elongate support can be made of either a conductive or a dielectric material, providing flexibility in design choices. Furthermore, the width of the conductive ground plane is specified to be greater than the diameter of the helically wound strip.
The patent also includes an embodiment of an antenna device for an RF device. This antenna device shares similar features with the communications device, including the conductive ground plane, elongate support, and helically wound conductive strip. The coaxial cable feed point is carried by the conductive ground plane and connected to the inner conductor of the coaxial cable, which extends through the conductive ground plane and couples to the proximal end of the helically wound strip.
Lastly, the patent describes a method for manufacturing the antenna for a communications device. The method involves coupling the helically wound conductive strip around the elongate support carried by the conductive ground plane. The coaxial cable feed point is then connected to the coaxial cable, with the inner conductor coupling to the proximal end of the helically wound strip.
Overall, this patent presents a novel antenna design for communications devices, offering potential improvements in performance and functionality.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
