Multi-Mode Conductive Liquid Antenna

A method for providing a multi-mode antenna comprising the following steps:

• providing a conductive liquid;
• fluidically coupling a straight, nonconductive tube to a helical coil comprised of nonconductive tubing;
• filling either the helical coil or the straight tube with the conductive liquid;
• configuring a pump to transfer the conductive liquid between the helical coil and the straight tube;
• feeding the conductive liquid with a radio frequency (RF) signal such that the multi-mode antenna functions as a helical antenna when the conductive liquid is in the helical coil and as a monopole antenna when the conducive liquid is in the straight tube.

A multi-mode antenna comprising:

• a liquid that is electrically conductive;
• a mass of nonconductive material having internal liquid channels capable of containing the liquid, wherein one of the internal liquid channels is a straight, vertical channel, and another internal liquid channel is in the shape of a helical coil wherein the straight channel is disposed along a center axis of the helical coil;
• and
• a pump fluidically coupled to the straight channel and the helical coil, wherein the pump is configured to pump the liquid between the straight channel and the helical coil channel, such that when the liquid fills the straight channel and the helical coil channel is drained, the multi-mode antenna functions as a monopole antenna, and such that when the conductive liquid fills the helical coil channel and the straight channel is drained, the multi-mode antenna functions as a helical antenna.