Rotation-independent helical antenna

A method of making a helical antenna comprising the steps of:

• A. winding an elongated electrical conductor about a central axis, the electrical conductor having a base end and a distal end, including:
• 1) forming an axially tapered end by tapering the conductor in decreasing radius along the central axis and in the direction of the distal end;
• 2) forming a feed line at the base end along the central axis;
• and
• 3) forming a midsection disposed between the feed line and the tapered end, the midsection having a taper angle smaller than a taper angle of the tapered end relative to the central axis and in the direction of the distal end.

A method of adjusting a phase of a helical antenna, the helical antenna comprising an elongated helical coil having a central axis disposed between a base end and a distal end and a feed line disposed at the base end, the method comprising the steps of:

• A. rotatably mounting the base end of the helical antenna to a substrate such that the helical antenna is substantially oriented for at least one of radiation or reception in the direction of the central axis;
• B. disposing the feed line along the central axis and providing a transmission path comprising a coupling junction disposed at the central axis;
• C. coupling the feed line to the coupling junction;
• and
• D. rotating the helical antenna about the central axis until a desired phase is achieved, without decoupling the feed line from the coupling junction.

A helical antenna having a central axis defined between a base end and a distal end, the helical antenna comprising:

• A. a helical coil coaxial with and wound about the central axis, the helical coil comprising:
• 1) a feed line formed at the base end and along the central axis;
• 2) an axially tapered end formed at the distal end, the tapered end decreasing in radius along the central axis and in the direction of the distal end;
• and
• 3) a midsection disposed between the feed line and tapered end, the midsection having a taper angle smaller than a taper angle of the tapered end relative to the central axis and in the direction of the distal end.