How can a wide-beam helical antenna break through the coverage boundary?
Publish Time: 2025-09-09
Amidst the rapid advancement of wireless communication technology, antennas, as core components of signal transmission and reception systems, face significant performance challenges, including radiation efficiency, pattern characteristics, and impedance matching, which directly determine the coverage range, signal stability, and communication quality of communication systems. Wide-beam helical antennas stand out from the crowd thanks to their unique design architecture and exceptional performance, demonstrating unparalleled advantages in scenarios requiring stringent wide-area signal coverage. This article will focus on a wide-beam helical antenna with a coaxial feed, a 3dB beamwidth ≥163°, and a weight of less than 1.66kg, providing an in-depth and detailed analysis of its technical characteristics and application value.I. Wide-beam Helical Antennas: Structural Innovation Achieves Superior Performance(1) The Electromagnetic Magic of the Helical StructureThe core secret of wide-beam helical antennas lies in their unique spiral radiator. The metal wire is meticulously wound according to a specific pitch (the axial distance between two adjacent spiral turns) and radius (the radial dimension of the spiral coil), creating a three-dimensional structure. This ingenious design cleverly overcomes the inherent directional limitations of traditional antennas, enabling omnidirectional electromagnetic radiation in the horizontal plane while also providing wide beam coverage in the vertical plane.From a deeper analysis of electromagnetic principles, when a high-frequency current flows through the spiral coil, Maxwell's equations generate a rotating electromagnetic field. This electromagnetic field couples with electromagnetic waves in space, enabling efficient signal transmission and reception based on the electromagnetic reciprocity theorem. Furthermore, the geometric parameters of the spiral structure, such as the ratio of pitch to radius, significantly influence the distribution characteristics of the electromagnetic field, thus decisively affecting key antenna performance indicators such as the radiation pattern, gain, and beamwidth.(2) Coaxial Feed: A Precisely Matched Signal PathThis antenna utilizes a coaxial feed design, the core function of which is to efficiently and precisely couple signal energy from the transmission line to the spiral radiator. The coaxial structure, consisting of an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and an insulating medium between them, offers excellent shielding properties, effectively blocking the effects of external electromagnetic interference on signal transmission. Based on transmission line theory, this ensures signal purity and stability during transmission.By applying transmission line theory and tools such as the Smith chart, the impedance characteristics of the coaxial feed are precisely calculated, enabling perfect matching with the helical antenna. This impedance matching minimizes signal reflection coefficient and loss during transmission. Based on the Friis transmission equation, this significantly improves the antenna's radiation efficiency and gain stability, ensuring excellent performance in various operating environments.
II. Core Parameter Analysis: The Breakthrough Significance of a 3dB Beamwidth ≥ 163°(1) 3dB Beamwidth: A Quantitative Indicator of CoverageAs a key parameter for measuring antenna directivity, the 3dB beamwidth plays a crucial role in antenna technology. It specifically refers to the angular range where the antenna's radiation intensity drops to half its maximum value (i.e., a 3dB power drop). This antenna boasts a 3dB beamwidth of ≥163°, a remarkable feature that translates to near-hemispherical signal coverage.In the horizontal plane, it achieves 360° omnidirectional radiation, ensuring stable signal coverage in all directions. In the vertical plane, its ultra-wide coverage angle eliminates the need for frequent reorientation, ensuring stable communication in complex terrain (such as mountainous areas and urban areas with densely populated buildings) or in mobile scenarios (such as in vehicles and aircraft). Based on antenna pattern theory, this wide beam characteristic greatly expands the antenna's application range and flexibility.(2) Weight <1.66kg: An Engineering Breakthrough in Lightweight DesignBy combining advanced materials science with sophisticated structural design concepts, this antenna achieves a weight of less than 1.66kg, a significant breakthrough in engineering applications. This lightweight design not only significantly reduces the construction difficulty and cost of the antenna in fixed base station installations, but more importantly, it perfectly meets the stringent payload weight restrictions imposed by mobile platforms such as vehicles and aircraft.In the aerospace industry, every gram of weight saved means reduced fuel consumption and increased payload. In in-vehicle communication systems, lightweight design helps improve vehicle fuel economy and maneuverability. Therefore, this lightweight wide-beam helical antenna provides an extremely flexible and efficient solution for dynamic communication scenarios.III. Application Scenario Analysis: Comprehensive Coverage from Ground to Space(1) Emergency Communications: The Lifeline of Disaster ReliefIn natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, traditional communications infrastructure often suffers devastating damage, leading to communication disruptions and complicating rescue efforts. Wide-beam helical antennas, with their ultra-wide coverage, can quickly establish temporary communication networks, providing vital voice and data transmission support to rescue teams.Their lightweight design makes them easy to airdrop via helicopter or drone to the core of a disaster area, enabling rapid, "drop-and-go" deployment. In the complex and changing terrain of a disaster area, their wide beam ensures stable signal transmission over a wide area, eliminating the need for precise antenna pointing adjustments. This provides a strong guarantee for timely and efficient rescue operations, making them a key communications device in disaster relief operations.(2) Internet of Things (IoT): The Perceptual Nerves of Smart CitiesIn the grand process of building smart cities, a large number of low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) devices, such as smart meters and environmental monitoring sensors, require stable and reliable communication connections to enable intelligent monitoring and management of urban operations. Wide-beam helical antennas offer extensive coverage in complex environments, such as urban streets and underground pipelines, providing robust communication support for these terminal devices.Their omnidirectional radiation eliminates device installation angle restrictions, eliminating the need for precise antenna alignment during deployment, significantly reducing deployment costs and complexity. Furthermore, their wide beam coverage ensures stable signal transmission in complex urban environments, effectively addressing signal attenuation caused by factors such as building obstruction and multipath effects, and providing a reliable perceptual neural network for the efficient operation of smart cities.(3) Aerospace: A Space-Space Integrated Communications BridgeIn the field of satellite communications, this antenna can be widely used in low-orbit satellite ground stations. Low-orbit satellites move at high speeds, making it difficult for traditional antennas to maintain a continuous and stable connection with them. The wide-beam helical antenna, with its wide beam coverage, can capture satellite signals over a wide angle, enabling continuous communication with high-speed moving satellites.Its lightweight design meets the stringent payload weight requirements of spacecraft, helping to reduce launch costs and energy consumption. In the construction of satellite-to-ground links, this antenna provides an efficient and reliable solution for integrated space-ground communications, promoting the widespread application and in-depth development of satellite communication technology worldwide.IV. Design Optimization: Balancing Performance and Cost(1) Material Innovation: The Use of Carbon Fiber CompositesA major highlight of this antenna's design optimization is the use of carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRPs) instead of traditional metal materials for antenna structural components. CFRPs offer numerous excellent properties, including high strength, low density, and corrosion resistance. While maintaining the antenna's structural strength, this material achieves a significant weight reduction of over 30%, effectively reducing the antenna's overall weight.Furthermore, this material exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, making it suitable for harsh environments such as oceans and deserts, extending the antenna's service life and reducing maintenance costs. In fields such as aerospace and marine communications, where material performance requirements are extremely high, the application of carbon fiber composites provides a strong guarantee for the lightweight and reliable performance of antennas.(2) Manufacturing Process: Precision Empowered by 3D Printing TechnologyMetal 3D printing technology is used to manufacture spiral radiators, achieving integrated molding of complex structures. Traditional manufacturing processes often require multiple steps and welding assembly to produce complex spiral structures. This not only increases production costs and manufacturing cycles, but can also introduce signal loss due to welded joints, affecting antenna performance.Metal 3D printing technology, based on additive manufacturing principles, can precisely manufacture complex spiral radiators directly from a 3D model, eliminating the signal loss associated with traditional welding processes and improving antenna radiation efficiency. Furthermore, this process supports customized design, enabling rapid adjustment of the spiral radiator's geometric parameters to suit different frequency bands and coverage requirements, providing strong support for personalized antenna design and rapid iteration.(3) Intelligent Tuning: Adapting to Environmental ChangesIntegrating microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) tuning elements provides the antenna with intelligent tuning capabilities, enabling it to automatically adjust its operating frequency and beam shape based on environmental changes. In 5G millimeter wave applications, due to the linear propagation characteristics of millimeter wave signals, they are susceptible to signal attenuation due to factors such as building obstruction.Through the intelligent sensing and dynamic adjustment of MEMS tuning elements, antennas can compensate for signal attenuation in real time, optimize beam shape, and ensure communication quality. This intelligent tuning technology improves the adaptability and stability of antennas in diverse environments, providing key technical support for the application of 5G and future communication systems in complex environments.V. New Communication Paradigms in the 6G EraWith the accelerated development of 6G technology toward the terahertz band and intelligent metasurfaces (RIS), wide-beam helical antennas will face new evolutionary opportunities and challenges. The terahertz band offers abundant spectrum resources and the potential for extremely high transmission rates, but it also faces challenges such as high signal propagation loss and weak penetration.Through deep integration with metamaterial technology, future antennas are expected to achieve dynamic beam programming. Metamaterials, as artificial materials with unique electromagnetic properties, can flexibly control electromagnetic waves through the precise design of their unit structures. Leveraging metamaterial technology, wide-beam helical antennas can adjust their beam shape in real time to suit different communication scenarios and needs, pushing the boundaries of coverage and capacity.This lightweight, wide-beam antenna will continue to play a key role in cutting-edge fields such as satellite-ground converged communications and holographic communications. Converged communications aims to seamlessly integrate satellite and terrestrial communications, building a globally integrated communications network; holographic communications pursues a three-dimensional, real-time interactive communication experience. With its superior performance and flexible adaptability, wide-beam helical antennas will provide a solid hardware foundation for the development of these cutting-edge communication technologies, driving human communication towards more efficient, intelligent, and immersive forms.From disaster relief to smart cities, from the Internet of Things to aerospace, wide-beam helical antennas are redefining the boundaries of wireless communication coverage with their unique technological advantages. Driven by continuous breakthroughs in materials science and manufacturing processes, this antenna, weighing only 1.66 kg and boasting a beamwidth of 163°, will inject new vitality into the construction of global communications networks, ushering in a new era of global connectivity and leading communications technology towards an even brighter future.
