Design of six-mode RF-switch reconfigurable quadrifilar helix antenna with stable circular polarization

Xiangzhen Zhou, Xin Rao, Wen Sun, Wenjia Liu, Liyang Yu and Xiaodong Chen

Journal of Electromagnetic Waves and Applications, 2025, vol. 39, issue 14, 1659-1676

Abstract: This paper proposes a pattern-reconfigurable circularly polarized (CP) antenna based on quadrifilar helix antenna (QHA), presenting a compact QHA that generates six reconfigurable CP radiation patterns through two phase-modulated bifilar helices and a balun feeding network with four RF switches. By dynamically controlling the states of RF switches to excite bifilar helices with simple in-phase or reverse-phase signal combinations, the integrated switch-balun system enables real-time pattern reconfiguration among six distinct CP radiation modes. This approach avoids complex structural modifications, enabling seamless switching between horizontal omnidirectional and front-focused modes with stable circular polarization. The measured results show a 12.6% impedance bandwidth (2.23–2.53 GHz) and a 5.3% axial ratio bandwidth (2.37–2.5 GHz), while radiation patterns align well with simulations. Validated through prototype measurements, this RF-switch-driven design simplifies multi-pattern reconfiguration and provides an efficient solution for adaptive wireless systems requiring multi-directional coverage, particularly in UAV-borne communications and low-earth-orbit satellite terminals.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/09205071.2025.2527360

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