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Difference Between Helix Antenna And Patch Antenna

Difference Between Helix Antenna And Patch Antenna

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31 May 2024

Nowadays, the field of GPS applications is growing rapidly all over the world. Helix and Patch antennas are well-known wireless antennas that are mostly used in GPS applications. If you want to explore these two antennas, then here we have provided you with a detailed overview of these antennas, including the difference between helix antenna and  patch antenna and their benefits.

What is a Helix Antenna?

A helix antenna is one of the simplest types of antenna. It is typically used to interact with UHF and VHF antenna frequency ranges. Helix antennas are named after their helix shape which gives them a unique look from other antennas. These are omnidirectional antennas that share and receive signals from all directions. That means users can integrate these wireless solutions for indoor and outdoor purposes.

Benefits of Helix Antenna

Helix antennas provide many benefits to their users. They have features like wide bandwidth, and circular polarization that make them a great option to integrate into various applications. Helix antennas have the following advantages:

Used With or Without Ground Plane

You can use a Quadrifilar helix antenna with or without ground planes, depending on your requirements. If you want better circular polarization and a broader beamwidth, you can use it without ground planes. On the other hand, if you are looking to improve signal strength and enhance directivity and gain, then in this situation you can attach a ground plane to it.

Suitable For External Or Internal Use

Helix antennas are omnidirectional antennas that provide you with the facilities to use them for communicating signals from all directions. They can be used in diverse environments, both external and internal, and also ensure reliable performance in all conditions. 

Gives Higher Gain

Helix antennas provide higher gain capability than patch antennas. That means it can transmit or receive signals more effectively in a specific direction. These can be used for both VHF and UHF frequency ranges and provide higher directivity than other antennas.

Simple Design

Helix antennas come with an easy design. Engineers can easily design these antennas by using a few components. Aside from that, these antennas are also easy to install for both outdoor and indoor purposes.

What is a Patch Antenna?

Patch antenna or Microstrip patch antenna is a crucial antenna in this modern world. It has a metal patch on top of a dielectric layer, with a ground plane underneath. The metal patch helps in signal sharing and transmitting, and the ground plane is responsible for enhancing the effectiveness of the entire antenna.

Patch antennas are low-profile antennas, but their performance is excellent despite their small physical size. It comes in various shapes and sizes, including rectangular, circular, triangle, etc. That ensures the specific requirements of users and facilitates the ability to mount them over flat surfaces like roofs, walls, poles, vehicles, and ceilings.

Benefits of Patch Antenna

These antennas have many advantages because of their unique features, such as low profile, versatility, and size diversity. Let’s discuss some of the major benefits in this section:

Compact and Lightweight

Patch antennas are lightweight and compact, helping you install them in your small systems and devices. Their diverse shapes and sizes allow for easy integration into portable gadgets, wearables, and other electronic devices without heavy weights.

Dual and Multi-Frequency Band Support

Patch antennas support dual, triple, and multiple frequency bands. They are a better option than traditional antennas and can interact with microwave frequencies. This flexibility allows users to integrate them into modern communication systems to achieve seamless connectivity.

Linear and Circular Polarization

These antennas are a better option for sending and receiving signals with both linear and circular polarization. Taking advantage of these features will help your system effectively handle different signal types and also improve its performance in different conditions, such as indoors and outdoors.

Integration with MMIC and MICS

Patch antennas can be integrated with Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMIC) and Microwave Integrated Circuits (MICS). This integration helps users to get accessibility to advanced functionalities. That boosts overall system performance and enables sophisticated wireless communication solutions.

Difference Between Helix Antenna And Patch Antenna

Helix antennas and patch antennas are two popular antennas used in a variety of applications. Helix antennas are known for their spiral design and circular polarization, while patch antennas are flat, compact, and widely used in modern wireless devices for their ease of integration. Explore these points to understand the difference between a helix antenna and a patch antenna: 

Installation Flexibility

Helix antennas can be mounted on both the internal and external parts of the device. On the other hand, the patch antennas are used on the external part of the devices.

Signal Gain

Helix antennas provide higher gain than patch antennas. If you want a lower-gain antenna in your situation, patch antennas are a good option. The diverse size of patch antennas helps you easily fabricate them on a printed circuit board. On the other hand, you may not find it convenient to fabricate helix antennas on the circuit board due to their small size.

Signal Sensitivity

In terms of sensitivity, helix antennas show lower sensitivity than patch antennas. It is unable to detect weak signals and may ignore them during wireless communication. This is why if you want to improve the sensitivity of your antenna, turn to patch antennas for detecting weak signals.

Directionality

Helix antennas are omnidirectional, which means they can be used for sharing and receiving signals from all directions. On the other hand, patch antennas are direct and provide better support for emitting signals in one direction.

Cost Efficiency

If you want to integrate the best patch antenna into your system, then it may be costlier for you than patch antennas. Usually, helix antennas are more expensive on the market. This is why you can see helix antennas used in multiple GPS applications, whereas patch antennas are used in many portable wireless applications.

Final Words

So these are the major differences between helix antennas and patch antennas, along with their benefits. We hope this guide will help you choose the best wireless solution for you. Make sure to choose the best antennas according to your needs and budget. You can contact any reputable antenna supplier to find the best solution for you.

31 May 2024