EP0649181A1 - Antenna for portable radio apparatus, method for manufacturing the same and portable radio apparatus comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antenna (1) of the type for a portable radio device, particularly comprising a helical antenna (2) coupled by its base to a transmitter/receiver, characterised in that the pitch of the helix (8) made of a conducting material constituting the helical antenna (2) is variable according to the height of the helix, and decreasing from the base (8B) of the helical antenna up to its peak (8A). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to an antenna of the type for portable radio device, and in particular for radiotelephone, as well as to a method of manufacturing such an antenna and to a portable radio device comprising such an antenna. This antenna is intended to transmit and receive radio signals.

• une antenne hélicoïdale quart d'onde disposée à la partie supérieure du boîtier du radiotéléphone et alimentée par une ligne coaxiale couplée à l'émetteur/récepteur du dispositif radio, pour l'utilisation dans des conditions normales, l'hélice étant en général constituée d'un fil métallique bobiné autour d'un mandrin support en un matériau isolant,
• éventuellement, pour l'utilisation du dispositif radio dans des conditions fortement perturbées, un brin demi-onde extractible hors du boîtier du dispositif radio, tel que, lorsqu'il se trouve en position rentrée à l'intérieur du boîtier, il est pratiquement entièrement découplé de l'antenne hélicoïdale, et lorsqu'il se trouve en position déployée hors du boîtier, il est couplé de manière capacitive à l'antenne hélicoïdale.

The antennas currently used in portable radio devices, and more particularly in radiotelephones, generally include:

• a quarter-wave helical antenna disposed at the top of the radiotelephone housing and supplied by a coaxial line coupled to the transmitter / receiver of the radio device, for use under normal conditions, the propeller generally being made up of: '' a metal wire wound around a support mandrel made of an insulating material,
• optionally, for the use of the radio device in highly disturbed conditions, a half-wave strand extractable from the radio device box, such that, when it is in the retracted position inside the box, it is practically entirely decoupled from the helical antenna, and when it is in the deployed position outside the housing, it is capacitively coupled to the helical antenna.

Such antennas are described for example in patent application EP-0 367 609 and in patent US-4 121 218.

The radio performances of such antennas, although they are acceptable for the use which is made of them, are not optimal, in particular in terms of efficiency and bandwidth. This is due to the fact that their radiation impedance, characteristic of their radiating power and therefore of their efficiency in as long as the antennas, is weak (in practice much less than 50Ω).

On the other hand, taking into account the current relatively small size of portable radiotelephones, it is desirable, to occupy the least possible space in the radiotelephone casing, to reduce as much as possible the size of the extractable strand, the latter being housed inside the housing when it is in the retracted position. Indeed, the volume occupied inside the box by the extractable strand cannot be occupied there by other elements necessary for the functioning of the radiotelephone (transmitter / receiver, modulator / demodulator, coder / decoder, smart card connector, etc ...).

However, the extractable strands currently known are generally substantially cylindrical, so that they occupy too large a volume in the radiotelephone housing.

In addition, the performance in terms of gain and omnidirectionality of the known antennas of the previous type using an extractable strand are deteriorated by the dependence between the latter and the radiotelephone housing.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an antenna for a portable radio device whose efficiency is increased compared to antennas of this type currently known.

Another object of the present invention is to produce an antenna of the previous type which occupies a volume inside the portable device which is as small as possible.

Finally, another object of the present invention is to provide an antenna of the above type in which the extractable strand is as independent as possible from the housing of the associated radio device.

The present invention provides for this purpose an antenna of the type for portable radio device, comprising in particular a helical antenna coupled by its base to a transmitter receiver,
characterized in that the pitch of the helix made of a conductive material constituting said helical antenna is variable according to the height of the helix, and decreasing from the base of said helical antenna to its top.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description of possible embodiments of an antenna according to the invention, these embodiments being given by way of illustration and in no way limitative.

• la figure 1 représente, en coupe partielle, une portion d'un radiotéléphone au niveau de laquelle est installée une antenne selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe transversale du brin extractible représenté en figure 1,
• la figure 3A représente de manière schématique l'antenne hélicoïdale de la figure 1, et la figure 3B la courbe correspondante donnant l'intensité en fonction de la hauteur depuis la base de l'hélice,
• la figure 4 est un schéma équivalent de l'antenne de la figure 1 lorsque le brin extractible est en position rentrée,
• la figure 5 est un schéma équivalent de l'antenne de la figure 1 lorsque le brin extractible est en position déployée,
• la figure 6A représente de manière schématique une antenne hélicoïdale classique, la figure 6B la courbe correspondante donnant l'intensité en fonction de la hauteur depuis la base de l'hélice, et la figure 6C le schéma équivalent de cette antenne,
• la figure 7A représente de manière schématique une antenne hélicoïdale à hélice à pas variable mais à largeur constante, conforme à la présente invention, la figure 7B la courbe correspondante donnant l'intensité en fonction de la hauteur depuis la base de l'hélice, et la figure 7C le schéma équivalent de cette antenne,
• la figure 8A représente de manière schématique une autre antenne hélicoïdale à hélice à pas variable mais à largeur constante, conforme à la présente invention, la figure 8B la courbe correspondante donnant l'intensité en fonction de la hauteur depuis la base de l'hélice, et la figure 8C le schéma équivalent de cette antenne,
• la figure 9 représente en vue de face et en coupe partielle le brin extractible de l'antenne de la figure 1,
• la figure 10 représente en vue de face et en coupe partielle une première variante du brin extractible de l'antenne de la figure 1, dans son revêtement de protection,
• la figure 11 représente en vue de face et en coupe partielle une deuxième variante du brin extractible de l'antenne de la figure 1, dans son revêtement de protection,
• la figure 12 représente en perspective une variante possible pour le brin extractible de la figure 9,
• la figure 13A représente en vue de face une variante possible pour l'antenne hélicoïdale de la figure 1,
• la figure 13B est une vue en coupe de la paroi de l'antenne hélicoïdale de la figure 13A,
• la figure 13C représente la courbe donnant l'intensité en fonction de la hauteur depuis la base de l'hélice de l'antenne de la figure 13A,
• la figure 14A montre ce qui est obtenu à l'issue d'une étape d'une méthode possible de fabrication d'une antenne hélicoïdale telle que celle de la figure 1,
• la figure 14B montre comment procéder à l'assemblage de ce qui a été obtenu à la figure 14A.

In the following figures:

• FIG. 1 represents, in partial section, a portion of a radiotelephone at the level of which an antenna according to the invention is installed,
• FIG. 2 is a cross section of the extractable strand shown in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3A schematically represents the helical antenna of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B the corresponding curve giving the intensity as a function of the height from the base of the propeller,
• FIG. 4 is an equivalent diagram of the antenna of FIG. 1 when the extractable strand is in the retracted position,
• FIG. 5 is an equivalent diagram of the antenna of FIG. 1 when the extractable strand is in the deployed position,
• FIG. 6A schematically represents a conventional helical antenna, FIG. 6B the corresponding curve giving the intensity as a function of the height from the base of the propeller, and FIG. 6C the equivalent diagram of this antenna,
• FIG. 7A schematically represents a helical antenna with a variable pitch but constant width propeller, in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 7B the corresponding curve giving the intensity as a function of the height from the base of the propeller, and Figure 7C on equivalent diagram of this antenna,
• FIG. 8A schematically represents another helical antenna with a variable pitch but constant width propeller, in accordance with the present invention, FIG. 8B the corresponding curve giving the intensity as a function of the height from the base of the propeller, and FIG. 8C the equivalent diagram of this antenna,
• FIG. 9 represents in front view and in partial section the extractable strand of the antenna of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 10 represents in front view and in partial section a first variant of the extractable strand of the antenna of FIG. 1, in its protective coating,
• FIG. 11 shows in front view and in partial section a second variant of the extractable strand of the antenna of FIG. 1, in its protective coating,
• FIG. 12 shows in perspective a possible variant for the extractable strand of FIG. 9,
• FIG. 13A represents a front view of a possible variant for the helical antenna of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 13B is a sectional view of the wall of the helical antenna of FIG. 13A,
• FIG. 13C represents the curve giving the intensity as a function of the height from the base of the antenna propeller of FIG. 13A,
• FIG. 14A shows what is obtained at the end of a step of a possible method of manufacturing a helical antenna such as that of FIG. 1,
• Figure 14B shows how to assemble what was obtained in Figure 14A.

In all these figures, the common elements have the same reference numbers.

We will first refer to Figure 1.

This figure shows an antenna 1 according to the invention. The antenna 1 comprises a helical antenna 2 and an extractable strand 3.

The helical antenna 2 is housed partly in a recess 4 in a radiotelephone housing 5, partially shown in FIG. 1. The housing 5 is made of an insulating material, possibly metallized, and has a substantially parallelepiped shape. In order to maintain and protect the helical antenna 2, an antenna housing 6 (shown in broken lines) whose base completes the recess 4 is used.

The helical antenna 2 is fully inserted in the antenna housing 6, and exceeds about three-quarters of its height beyond the housing 5 of the radiotelephone.

It consists more particularly of a support mandrel 7 of an insulating material, of substantially cylindrical shape, on the outer surface of which has been deposited by a conventional metal deposition process, a propeller 8. According to the invention, the pitch of the propeller 8 is variable and decreases from its base 8B to its apex 8A. Similarly, still according to the invention, the width of the electrical track constituting the propeller 8 is also variable and decreases from the base 8B to the top 8A. The reasons for such a structure and the advantages it provides will be explained later in this description.

The electrical length of the propeller 8 is substantially equal to half the average wavelength of use.

The base 8B of the propeller 8, located at the base of the mandrel 7, is connected via an interconnection tab 9 to a coaxial cable 10 supplying the helical antenna 2 located in the radiotelephone case 5 and also connected to the latter's transmitter / receiver (not shown).

There is also in the antenna housing 6 a positioning ring 11 (shown in broken lines) made of an insulating material, intended to center and maintain the helical antenna 2.

The extractable strand 3 consists of a metal ribbon 12 of very flat C-shaped cross section (see FIGS. 2 and 9), which will be described as flat. The electrical length of the strip 12 is substantially equal to half the average wavelength of use. The tape 12 is also inserted into a covering 13 made of an insulating material intended to protect it.

Advantageously, the extractable strand 3 further comprises a metal element 15 at its apex 3A, this element 15 extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axis X of the helix 8 (the ribbon 12 extends along a direction substantially parallel to the X axis). The element 15 is also inserted into the covering 13, and it may or may not be electrically connected to the tape 12. Its usefulness will be explained below.

The extractable strand 3 can operate in two positions. In a first position (corresponding to that illustrated in FIG. 1), it is almost entirely retracted into the antenna housing 6 and into a suitable housing 14 formed in the housing 5 of the radiotelephone. In this position, the antenna 1 is of the quarter wave type (that is to say that it uses the box 5 as an electrical counterweight), and only the helical antenna 2 is then used for transmission and reception of radio signals. The walls of the housing 14 are covered with metal 141 to form a shield for the extractable strand 3 in the retracted position.

In a second position (not shown), the extractable strand 3 is fully deployed outside the antenna housing 6. In this case, there is a capacitive coupling between the strand 3 and the top of the helical antenna 2, so that the total height of the antenna 1 and its radiation resistance are increased. In this position of the extractable strand 3, the antenna 1 is still of the quarter-wave type.

In order to limit the travel of the extractable strand 3 during its deployment, the lower end 13B of the covering 13 is of frustoconical shape with its base of larger diameter oriented towards the top of the antenna. The end 13B abuts against the upper wall 14A of the housing 14.

As mentioned above, an essential characteristic of the present invention resides in the fact that a helical antenna is used, the helix of which has a variable pitch, this pitch decreasing when one approaches the top of the helical antenna, that is to say as the theoretical current in a conventional helical antenna (that is to say with constant pitch and width) of the same dimensions decreases. Such a structure makes it possible on the one hand to improve the efficiency of the antenna 1 while ensuring better energy transfer, and on the other hand to increase the bandwidth of the antenna 1.

Indeed, this structure makes it possible to establish in the helical antenna 2 a substantially trapezoidal distribution of the current. This increases the radiation resistance of the antenna, and therefore its efficiency and its bandwidth.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the turns of the propeller 8 are in contact with each other at the top 8A, so that a continuous metallized surface is obtained at the top 8A. Thus, the apex 8A is made capacitive, which makes it possible to obtain the substantially trapezoidal distribution of the current and the advantages which result therefrom. Immediately before the apex 8A, the turns of the propeller 8 constitute a tight spiral without however being in contact with each other. The capacity produced is thus made self-indent, which increases its apparent value. In addition, the fact of carrying out a capacitance at the top of the helical antenna 2 facilitates and improves the capacitive coupling and the adaptation between the latter and the extractable strand 3.

Thus, the variable pitch propeller makes it possible to obtain optimal conditions for adaptation and coupling in the two operating modes (tucked in or deployed strand).

By way of example, there is shown in FIG. 6A, very schematically, a helical antenna 62 with constant pitch and width, according to the prior art. The curve 63 in FIG. 6B represents the intensity of the current i as a function of the height h along the axis X of the helical antenna 62. It can be seen that the distribution of the current i is substantially triangular. Finally, FIG. 6C represents the equivalent diagram of the antenna 62: this antenna is equivalent to a pure inductance 64.

We see in Figure 7A, very schematically, a helical antenna 72 according to the principle of the present invention, and which could be used in place of the helical antenna 2 of Figure 1. The turns of the antenna 72 are in contact with each other at the top of the latter so as to constitute a continuous metallization. The curve 73 of FIG. 7B, which represents the intensity of the current i as a function of the height h along the axis X, clearly shows that the current distribution tends towards a trapezoidal shape. FIG. 7C, which represents the equivalent diagram of the antenna 72, illustrates that the latter is equivalent to an inductor 74 in series with a capacity 75.

Similarly, we see in FIG. 8A, very schematically, a helical antenna 82 in accordance with the principle of the present invention, and which could be used in place of the helical antenna 2 of FIG. 1. The turns of the 'antenna 82 are in contact with each other at the top of the latter so as to constitute a continuous metallization, and tightened without being in contact with each other immediately before reaching the top. The rest of the propeller is at constant pitch. The curve 83 of FIG. 8B, which represents the intensity of the current i as a function of the height h according to the X axis shows clearly that the current distribution tends more and more (compared to FIG. 7B) towards a trapezoidal shape. FIG. 8C, which represents the equivalent diagram of the antenna 82, illustrates that the latter is equivalent to a first inductance 84 (corresponding to the part of the constant pitch propeller), in series with a second inductance 85 (corresponding to the part of the propeller with tight pitch) and with a capacity 86 (corresponding to the top of the propeller where the turns are in contact with each other).

According to an advantageous improvement of the present invention, in order to further increase the radiation resistance of a helical antenna such as that shown in FIG. 7A or in FIG. 8A, that is to say to increase its overvoltage, the width of the electrical track constituting the propeller is optimized, in order to increase the area defined by the current distribution. A further improved efficiency and bandwidth are thus obtained for the antenna according to the invention.

The helical antenna 2 shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the principles which have just been exposed. It is represented diagrammatically in FIG. 3A, and accompanied in FIG. 3B by the corresponding curve 33 representing the intensity of the current i as a function of the height along the axis X. It is noted that the surface comprised between the curve 33 and the axes of coordinates is further increased relative to the area corresponding to Figures 7B or 8B. This has the effect of increasing the radiation resistance and therefore the efficiency and the bandwidth of the antenna.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the equivalent diagrams of the antenna 1 respectively when the extractable strand 3 is in the retracted position and when it is in the deployed position.

• C₁ représente la capacité cumulée ajoutée d'une part par l'élément 15 au sommet 3A du brin extractible 3 et d'autre part par la partie capacitive du sommet 8A de l'hélice 8 ; la partie de C₁ correspondant à l'élément 15 du brin 3 complète l'effet apporté par le sommet capacitif 8A de l'hélice 8,
• L_H représente l'inductance élevée due au spiralage serré immédiatement avant le sommet 8A de l'hélice 8,
• L_B représente l'inductance faible de la partie basse de l'hélice 8 ; L_B est négligeable devant L_H,
• C₂ est une capacité parasite sur la partie basse de l'hélice 8 ; elle est négligeable du fait que L_B est très petite devant L_H.

In figure 4:

• C₁ represents the cumulative capacity added on the one hand by the element 15 at the top 3A of the extractable strand 3 and on the other leaves via the capacitive part of the apex 8A of the propeller 8; the part of C₁ corresponding to the element 15 of the strand 3 completes the effect provided by the capacitive top 8A of the propeller 8,
• L _H represents the high inductance due to the tight spiraling immediately before the apex 8A of the propeller 8,
• L _B represents the low inductance of the lower part of the propeller 8; L _B is negligible compared to L _H ,
• C₂ is a parasitic capacity on the lower part of the propeller 8; it is negligible because L _B is very small compared to L _H.

In FIG. 5, the part of C₁ brought by the element 15 to the top 3A of the extractable strand 3 no longer has an effect when the strand 3 is in the deployed position, and the part of C₁ brought by the top 8A of the propeller 8 has been taken into account in the capacitance C₃ of coupling of the extractable strand 3 with the helical antenna 2; this coupling is high and tends to reduce the effect of L _H , which compensates for the capacity C₄ added by the strand 3 deployed and corresponding to the antenna effect of the strand 3 relative to the external environment.

Increasing the height of the antenna 1 by deploying the extractable strand 3 improves, in known manner, the efficiency of the antenna, by increasing its effective height and its radiation resistance.

Note that the extractable strand 3 is not necessarily located outside of the helical antenna 2; in fact, if the support mandrel is hollow, the extractable strand may be inside the mandrel 7, which has the advantage of providing additional space savings.

FIGS. 10 and 11 have also shown possible variants for the extractable strand 3.

More specifically, FIG. 10 represents a variant usable in place of the tape 12 of the extractable strand 3 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 9 (the element 15 has not been shown in figure 10). Instead of using a metallic strip 12, a metallic conducting line 1012 is used which is deposited so as to form a crenellated line on a film of an insulating material constituting part of the covering 13. The line 1012 is embedded in the covering 13. A such a structure makes it possible to shorten the effective length of the extractable strand 3, while retaining an electrical length equal to half the wavelength. This reduces the space occupied by the extractable strand 3 inside the housing 5 of the radiotelephone. As with the ribbon 12, it is also possible optionally to use the element 15 at the upper part of the strand 3, to obtain the same effect as that described above.

According to another possible variant for the extractable strand 3, illustrated in FIG. 11 (the element 15 has not been shown in these figures, but can also be used in relation to the variant which is illustrated there), one can use in place of the ribbon 12 a metal wire 1112 having a crushed spring structure producing a tile effect without contact between the turns.

The spring 1112 is also embedded in a coating 13 made of an insulating material, and the advantages which it provides are identical to those obtained with the line 1012.

All these structures for the extractable strand 3 (ribbon 12, line 1012, spring 1112) make it possible to reduce more or less the space taken up by the extractable strand 3 in the housing 5 of the radiotelephone, which leaves more space for other elements. essentials of the latter. The insulating material constituting the covering 13 will be chosen both to give the strand 3 a certain flexibility and to ensure sufficient mechanical strength to protect the metal part which it contains.

According to a possible improvement for the extractable strand 3, more particularly suitable for the use of the tape 12, the upper metal part of the strand 3, located immediately before the capacitive element 15, is connected to this the latter by an inductive structure 16. This improves the efficiency in the deployed position of the extractable strand 3.

We will now give details on the manufacture of a helical antenna according to the invention.

As already indicated, the helical antenna 2, as well as all the variants which have been described therein, can be produced by metallic deposition on a support mandrel 7. The helix can thus be obtained according to any conventional method (metallization then screen printing, metallization then masking and photolithography, according to the method described in patent application EP-0 465 658, etc.).

The propeller can be produced on the external or internal surface of a mandrel made of an insulating material (when this mandrel is tubular). Preferably, if the propeller 8 is produced on the outer surface of the mandrel 7 (as shown in FIG. 1), the metallization will be covered with a protective coating (not shown).

When a metallization is carried out inside a support mandrel, the thickness of the wall of the mandrel will preferably be small, to facilitate possible capacitive coupling with an extractable strand. In addition, it may be necessary to ensure the rigidity of the helical antenna thus obtained by inserting into the mandrel any reinforcement piece of an insulating material.

The proposed method of producing the propeller 8 by metallization is advantageous because it makes the helical antenna 2 very compact, which allows the latter to occupy the least possible space inside the housing 5 of the radiotelephone. In addition, the reproducibility of the propeller thus produced is better compared to the use of a wound wire.

In addition, the use of this method in the context of the invention is particularly advantageous, since it makes it possible to easily produce a pitch propeller and variable width. It is well understood in fact that the production of such a propeller using a coiled metal wire, even if it is conceivable, is much more complex.

According to a variant proposed by the present invention in the method of manufacturing the helical antenna, it is possible, instead of carrying out metallization directly on a mandrel having the required shape, to carry out a metallic deposition on a flat and flexible insulating film. (see Figure 14A). The flexible film 20 can consist in particular of Kapton, Mylar or Duroid (registered trademarks). Its shape constitutes the developed shape of the final shape that one wishes to give to the helical antenna. Then eliminating, by screen printing, photolithography or the like, the parts of the metallization which are not necessary, so as to obtain a pattern 21 such that, by joining by joining two opposite sides 20C and 20D of the film 20, a pitch helix is obtained and desired width.

The film 20 has for this purpose metallized vias 22, and on its face opposite to that comprising the pattern 21, around the metallized vias 22, metallized pellets 23 (see FIG. 14B) intended to ensure the electrical continuity of the assembly.

The film 20 is assembled by welding onto a mandrel (not shown) of the desired shape (see FIG. 14B).

This method has the advantage of being simpler to implement (depositing on a flat surface is simpler to carry out than depositing on a surface of revolution), and making it possible to give the helical antenna any shape (frustoconical, cylindrical, rectangular section, etc ...).

It can also be seen, in FIG. 14A, that the film 20 has, at its upper part, a rectangular "tab", with an area smaller than that of the film 20, on which we also see a metallization pattern comprising a central central part 26 full, surrounded by a spiraling 27. This tab 24 is intended to be folded at a right angle during the assembly of the film 20 on a parallelepiped shape with rounded angles. The solid central part 26 will then constitute the capacitive top of the helical antenna, and the spiraling the high inductance part.

When it is desired to use only a crown capacity (cf. FIG. 7A), the tab 24 can be entirely metallized by solid metallization.

The lower recess 28 of the film 20 will be used to produce the interconnection tab with the coaxial supply cable.

All the variants which have just been described for the antenna according to the invention comprise a supply by coaxial cable, this coaxial cable being connected on the one hand to the helical antenna, and on the other hand to the transmitter / receiver of the radiotelephone with which the antenna according to the invention is in relation.

It is possible to supply the antenna according to the invention in another way. There is thus shown in Figures 13A and 13B a possible variant for the helical antenna 2 of Figure 1. Here, the propeller 138 has two portions 138A and 138B. The portion 138A consists of a metallization 1381, for example on the outer surface of the mandrel 7, of width and of variable pitch so as to produce a capacitive peak and a high inductance, in the same manner as in FIG. 1. The part 138B comprises a metallization 1382 on the outer surface extending the metallization 1381 but having a constant pitch and width, and a corresponding metallization 1383 on the inner surface of the mandrel 7 (tubular) facing the metallization 1382 and wider than the latter .

The electrical length of the portion 138A is about a quarter of the wavelength, as is that of the portion 138B.

The corresponding curve 133 giving the intensity of the current i as a function of the height h along the axis X for the helical antenna 132 thus obtained is given in FIG. 13C.

The lower part of the helical antenna 132 thus serves both as a radiating element (metallizations 1381 and 1382) and as a supply line (1382 and 1383), the metallization 1383 corresponding to the ground conductor, i.e. tell the outer conductor of the supply coaxial, and the metallization 1382 corresponding to the core of the supply coaxial (when the metallization 1381-1382 is located on the inner surface of the mandrel 7, the metallization 1383 is then of course outside).

The method of manufacturing the helical antenna according to FIGS. 13A and 13B can be one of the methods described above. The antenna 132 can also be made by winding, although this is much less easy.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described.

In particular, an antenna according to the invention does not necessarily have an extractable strand. Indeed, such a strand is only necessary to allow the antenna to operate whatever the conditions, and such a specification is not always formulated.

Furthermore, the arrangement adopted for the antenna according to the invention with respect to the radiotelephone housing is only one example. Other arrangements are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The fact of using a metallization method to manufacture the helical antenna according to the invention also makes it possible to easily produce circuits with constants distributed or located at the top of the antenna, or even additional impedance correction elements.

It will be understood that the essential characteristic of the invention is to produce a propeller with variable pitch and decreasing towards the top of the helical antenna.

Thus, all of the embodiments of the helical antenna and of the extractable strand given are only examples, and those skilled in the art can freely choose other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Finally, any means can be replaced by equivalent means without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (25)

1 / Antenna (1) of the type for portable radio device, comprising in particular a helical antenna (2) coupled by its base to a transmitter / receiver,
characterized in that the pitch of the helix (8) of a conductive material constituting said helical antenna (2) is variable according to the height of the helix, and decreases from the base (8B) of said helical antenna to its summit (8A). 2 / antenna according to claim 1 characterized in that the turns of said helix (8) at the top of said helical antenna (2) are in contact with each other so as to produce a continuous surface of conductive material, so that said vertex (8A) is capacitive. 3 / antenna according to claim 2 characterized in that the turns of said propeller immediately before said capacitive peak (8A) are very tight without being in contact with each other so as to achieve a higher inductance than that of the rest of said propeller (8). 4 / Antenna according to one of claims 2 or 3 characterized in that a lower portion of said propeller (8) is at constant pitch. 5 / antenna according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said helix (8) consists of a wire of a conductive material whose width decreases from the base of said helical antenna to its top. 6 / antenna according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the electrical length of said propeller (8) is substantially equal to a quarter of the wavelength. 7 / Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that said propeller constitutes at its top a circuit in distributed or localized constants. 8 / antenna according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said propeller (138) consists over a part of its height of a coaxial element (138B) having a core central (1382) and an outer conductor (1383), the coaxial element (138B) starting from the base of said propeller (138) and having an electrical length substantially equal to a quarter of the wavelength, said core (1382) extending to the top of said helix (1381), and said coaxial element (138B) being connected to the coaxial supply cable of said helical antenna (132). 9 / Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that it comprises, in addition to said helical antenna, an extractable strand (3) half-wave mounted on said device and adapted to be capacitively coupled to said helical antenna (2) when it is in the deployed position, and to be decoupled from said helical antenna (2) when it is in the retracted position, the direction of said strand (3) being substantially parallel to the axis (X) of said propeller (8). 10 / antenna according to claim 9 characterized in that said extractable strand (3) is provided at its upper part (3A) with an end (15) of a conductive material of small length in front of that of said strand (3). 11 / Antenna according to claim 10 characterized in that said metal end (15) extends orthogonally to the direction of said strand (3) and is electrically connected to said strand by an inductive portion (16), the assembly being inserted in a coating of insulating material (13). 12 / Antenna according to one of claims 9 to 11 characterized in that said strand (3) consists of a strip (12) of a conductive material of flat section, and is inserted in a coating of an insulating material (13 ). 13 / Antenna according to one of claims 9 to 11 characterized in that said strand (3) consists of a flexible film of an insulating material (13) in which is inserted a conductive line forming a crenellated structure (1012). 14 / Antenna according to one of claims 9 to 11 characterized in that said strand (3) consists of a flexible film of an insulating material (13) into which is inserted a conductive wire (1112) having the shape of a crushed spring. 15 / Antenna according to one of claims 9 to 14 characterized in that said extractable strand (3) is disposed inside the propeller (8) forming said helical antenna (2). 16 / Antenna according to one of claims 9 to 14 characterized in that said extractable strand (3) is arranged outside the propeller (8) forming said helical antenna (2). 17 / Antenna according to one of claims 9 to 16 characterized in that, when said extractable strand (3) is in the retracted position, it is entirely surrounded, inside said radio device, by a metal shielding screen ( 141). 18 / A method of manufacturing an antenna according to one of claims 1 to 17 characterized in that said helix (8) is obtained by depositing metal on the outer surface of a support mandrel (7) of an insulating material. 19 / A method according to claim 18 characterized in that said metal deposit is covered with a protective material. 20 / A method of manufacturing an antenna according to one of claims 1 to 17 characterized in that said helix is obtained by metallic deposition on the inner surface of a tubular support mandrel made of an insulating material. 21 / A method according to claim 20 characterized in that said support mandrel is thin. 22 / A method of manufacturing an antenna according to one of claims 1 to 17 characterized in that said helix (8) is obtained by depositing metal strips (21) on a flexible film (20) substantially planar corresponding to the shape developed from the final shape to be given to the propeller, then assembly by welding of two opposite ends (20C, 20D) of said flexible film (20) to obtain a shape helical deposit (21) made and electrical continuity. 23 / A method according to one of claims 18 to 22 characterized in that said mandrel is cylindrical, frustoconical or parallelepipedic with rounded edges. 24 / portable radio device characterized in that it comprises an antenna (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17, said helical antenna (2) being disposed at the upper part of a housing (5) belonging to said device. 25 / portable radio device characterized in that it comprises an antenna (1) according to one of claims 9 to 17, said helical antenna (2) being disposed at the top of a housing (5) belonging to said device, and said extractable strand (3) being inserted in a housing (14) belonging to said housing (5) when it is in the retracted position, and emerging at the top of said housing (5) when it is in the deployed position.

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