Abstract: Adaptive tunable antenna system includes a first radiating element having an elongated length and a second radiating element extending from a distal end of the first radiating element. The first radiating element is for a high band of operation and the second radiating element is for a low-band of operation. The second radiating element is a helical member including a plurality of turns. A low-band circuit selectively bypasses one or more of the turns of the second radiating element in response to a control signal.

Abstract: Wireless communication device (WCD) for use in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a multi-purpose WCD accessory. The accessory is comprised of a first plate having opposed first and second major faces. The first major face includes a heat transfer surface configured to contact a body of the WCD interior of the UAV when the WCD is secured to the first major face. A second plate is attached to the second major face in a cantilever configuration and extends exterior of the fuselage in a direction away from the second major surface. The second plate comprises at least a portion of a ground plane for an antenna system utilized by the WCD, and together with the first plate forms a heat sink for the WCD.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating UAV. The methods comprise: causing a physical joining of a payload with a fuselage of the UAV without any modification to the fuselage (where the payload comprises a communication relay configured to perform relay operations to extend a range between users of a communication relay link for voice and data communications and a first locator configured to perform location operations to determine and report a location of the UAV to the users of the communication relay link); using a power source to supply power to the payload that is independent from a main power source used to supply power to avionic electronics of the UAV; and continuing to perform the relay operations by the communication relay and the location operations by the first locator, when power is no longer being supplied to the avionic electronics by the main power source of the UAV.

Abstract: Control for a portable communication device (300) includes a control knob (304) which has an outer shell (610, 610a) at least partially formed of a dielectric material. The control knob is sized and shaped to facilitate fingertip control of the portable communication device, and has an integrated antenna (608, 608a) disposed within the outer shell. An axial member (612, 708) is provided on which the outer dielectric shell and the antenna are mounted to facilitate rotation of the control knob. A control device (606, 606a) is provided which is configured to control at least one electronic circuit (806) of a portable communication device responsive to a user rotation of the outer dielectric shell. The integrated antenna (608, 608a) is arranged to interface to at least one radio frequency communication circuit of a portable communication device.

Abstract: Control for a portable communication device (300) includes a control knob (304) which has an outer shell (610, 610a) at least partially formed of a dielectric material. The control knob is sized and shaped to facilitate fingertip control of the portable communication device, and has an integrated antenna (608, 608a) disposed within the outer shell. An axial member (612, 708) is provided on which the outer dielectric shell and the antenna are mounted to facilitate rotation of the control knob. A control device (606, 606a) is provided which is configured to control at least one electronic circuit (806) of a portable communication device responsive to a user rotation of the outer dielectric shell. The integrated antenna (608, 608a) is arranged to interface to at least one radio frequency communication circuit of a portable communication device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing a length of an antenna (402) involves an arrangement which includes an orthogonal antenna feed. An antenna includes a radiating element (404) with a length extending along an axis (418). The orthogonal feed arrangement permits recovery of a portion of the spatial volume comprising the antenna which is normally used for antenna matching circuitry (406). An end portion of the radiating element is chosen to be helically shaped and includes an RF feed gap. The RF feed gap is coupled to a matching network which includes elongated conductors (412). The matching circuitry is positioned so that the elongated conductors are adjacent to the first end portion and extend in a direction aligned with the axis, but orthogonal to the coils forming the helically shaped end portion.

Abstract: Antennas and methods for controlling antennas for producing electromagnetic radiation in a desired direction over a wide range of wavelengths. A current distribution is controlled in one or more conductive radiating elements of an antenna to form, at every wavelength within a pattern wavelength range, an antenna radiation pattern having a peak in a direction substantially orthogonal to a length of an elongated conductive radiating element or elements. By careful control of the current distribution, the pattern wavelength range is made exceptionally broad. In the case of a dipole antenna, the pattern wavelength can range from about ?l to at least about 8l, where l is an approximate combined length of a pair of elongated elements forming a dipole antenna. Alternatively, in the case of a monopole antenna, the pattern wavelength range can extend from about ?l to at least about 4l, where l is an approximate overall length of the monopole antenna.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing a length of an antenna (402) involves an arrangement which includes an orthogonal antenna feed. An antenna includes a radiating element (404) with a length extending along an axis (418). The orthogonal feed arrangement permits recovery of a portion of the spatial volume comprising the antenna which is normally used for antenna matching circuitry (406). An end portion of the radiating element is chosen to be helically shaped and includes an RF feed gap. The RF feed gap is coupled to a matching network which includes elongated conductors (412). The matching circuitry is positioned so that the elongated conductors are adjacent to the first end portion and extend in a direction aligned with the axis, but orthogonal to the coils forming the helically shaped end portion.

Abstract: Antennas and methods for controlling antennas for producing electromagnetic radiation in a desired direction over a wide range of wavelengths. A current distribution is controlled in one or more conductive radiating elements of an antenna to form, at every wavelength within a pattern wavelength range, an antenna radiation pattern having a peak in a direction substantially orthogonal to a length of an elongated conductive radiating element or elements. By careful control of the current distribution, the pattern wavelength range is made exceptionally broad. In the case of a dipole antenna, the pattern wavelength can range from about ?l to at least about 8l, where l is an approximate combined length of a pair of elongated elements forming a dipole antenna. Alternatively, in the case of a monopole antenna, the pattern wavelength range can extend from about ?l to at least about 4l, where l is an approximate overall length of the monopole antenna.

Abstract: A fastening device (200) for releasably securing an antenna assembly (100) on at least one garment (15) of a user (10) is provided. The antenna assembly (100) is part of a portable communication system (50) which includes a portable communication device (125) that is also worn on the garment (15) of the user (10). The fastening device (200) is comprised of a body portion (205) and an elongated receiver portion (210). The elongated receiver portion (210) defines an elongated channel (211) and a pair of resilient undulations (215, 216) which define an elongated opening (212). The pair of resilient undulations (215, 216) serve to guide a segment (110a) of the antenna assembly (100) through the elongated opening (212) and into the elongated channel (211). Once the segment (110a) is urged into the elongated channel (211), the undulations (215, 216) return to the normal position thereby securing the segment (110a) in the elongated channel (211).

Abstract: A fastening device (200) for releasably securing an antenna assembly (100) on at least one garment (15) of a user (10) is provided. The antenna assembly (100) is part of a portable communication system (50) which includes a portable communication device (125) that is also worn on the garment (15) of the user (10). The fastening device (200) is comprised of a body portion (205) and an elongated receiver portion (210). The elongated receiver portion (210) defines an elongated channel (211) and a pair of resilient undulations (215, 216) which define an elongated opening (212), The pair of resilient undulations (215, $16) serve to guide a segment (110a) of the antenna assembly (100) through the elongated opening (212) and into the elongated channel (211). Once the segment (110a) is urged into the elongated channel (211), the undulations (215, 216) return to the normal position thereby securing the segment (110a) in the elongated channel (211).

Abstract: An antenna system (100, 500) for a portable communication device (112) is provided. The antenna system is comprised of a retaining structure (204), an antenna flap (206), and a first pivot coupling (212). The retaining structure provides a means for securing the retaining structure to the portable communication device. The antenna flap includes an antenna structure (302). The antenna structure is comprised of an antenna radiating element (600) and/or an antenna impedance matching network (652). The first pivot coupling pivotally connects the antenna flap to the retaining structure. The first pivot coupling is configured to allow the antenna flap to pivot freely on the first pivot coupling responsive to a force of gravity acting on the antenna flap. The retaining structure is configured as a holster in which the portable communication device can be disposed.

Abstract: Antenna assembly 100 to be worn by a user includes a low-band dipole antenna (310) and at least one high band dipole antenna (312, 612). The high-band dipole antenna is comprised of a high-band dipole feed (102, 602) interposed at a location along a length of a low-band dipole element (105, 110). The high-band dipole feed divides the first low-band dipole element into a first high-band dipole element (128) and a second high-band dipole element (130). One of the high-band dipole elements (130) is formed as a flexible electrically conductive sleeve. An RF control device (308) is provided for selectively directing RF energy in a high-band to the high-band dipole feed (102), and for selectively directing RF energy in a low-band to the low-band dipole feed (202). A transmission line (113) extends from the RF control device (308) to the high-band dipole feed (102).

Abstract: Antenna assembly 100 to be worn by a user includes a low-band dipole antenna (310) and at least one high band dipole antenna (312, 612). The high-band dipole antenna is comprised of a high-band dipole feed (102, 602) interposed at a location along a length of a low-band dipole element (105, 110). The high-band dipole feed divides the first low-band dipole element into a first high-band dipole element (128) and a second high-band dipole element (130). One of the high-band dipole elements (130) is formed as a flexible electrically conductive sleeve. An RF control device (308) is provided for selectively directing RF energy in a high-band to the high-band dipole feed (102), and for selectively directing RF energy in a low-band to the low-band dipole feed (202). A transmission line (113) extends from the RF control device (308) to the high-band dipole feed (102).

Abstract: A compact SATCOM antenna is provided having an LNA integrated into the radiator body which may be mounted to a handheld satellite radio and articulated with respect to the radio to assume a wide variety of positions for communication with a geosynchronous satellite.

Abstract: An antenna system (100, 500) for a portable communication device (112) is provided. The antenna system is comprised of a retaining structure (204), an antenna flap (206), and a first pivot coupling (212). The retaining structure provides a means for securing the retaining structure to the portable communication device. The antenna flap includes an antenna structure (302). The antenna structure is comprised of an antenna radiating element (600) and/or an antenna impedance matching network (652). The first pivot coupling pivotally connects the antenna flap to the retaining structure. The first pivot coupling is configured to allow the antenna flap to pivot freely on the first pivot coupling responsive to a force of gravity acting on the antenna flap. The retaining structure is configured as a holster in which the portable communication device can be disposed.

Abstract: A compact SATCOM antenna is provided having an LNA integrated into the radiator body which may be mounted to a handheld satellite radio and articulated with respect to the radio to assume a wide variety of positions for communication with a geosynchronous satellite.

Abstract: An antenna includes a dipole feed, a first dipole element connected to and extending outwardly from the dipole feed, a transmission line extending from the dipole feed in an opposite direction, and a flexible electrically conductive sleeve surrounding the transmission line and connected to and extending outwardly from the dipole feed. The electrically conductive sleeve may thus serve as a second dipole element and as a balun for the antenna. The antenna may by removably fastened to a garment of the user by at least one fastener, and the antenna may be connected to a radio also carried by the user. To enhance broadband performance, the dipole feed may include a broadband matching network, and the antenna may include a noise filter coupled to the transmission line adjacent an end of the flexible electrically conductive sleeve opposite the dipole feed.