Compact dual-band printed square quadrifilar helix antenna for global navigation satellite system receivers

A miniaturized dual-band printed square quadrifilar helix antenna (QHA) is proposed for global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) receivers applications.The antenna consists of four printed helices forming a cube with a very small size of 1 cm3 only. It can cover both L1 and L2 bands, centered at 1.575 and 1.227 GHz, respectively. It can achieve good impedance matching and circularly polarized radiation patterns within both L1 and L2 bands. The antenna is very light weight and easy for fabrication. The feed network for the antenna is also designed. To prove the concept, a prototype is developed, fabricated and measured. Both measured and simulated results are presented and discussed. Because of its advantages of compact size, low mass and low cost, the antenna is useful for GNSS receiver onboard small satellites, and mobile terminals on the ground. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:993–997, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25949