Emergent Technologies Corporation (ETC) in conjunction with research partners at West Virginia University has developed and recently patented an innovation antenna that promises to revolutionize the science of antenna design, construction and utilization. The antenna, labeled the Countrawound Toroidal Helical Antenna (CTTHA), offers a number of significant advantages over conventional antennas. The CTHA's unique nearly isotopic radiation pattern are ideal for highly mobile platforms. It is extremely small, (about 1/20th the size of the smallest GPS antenna) and light weigh make it ideal for tactical applications yet provided superior communications performance. The donut shaped CTHA appears to exhibit some of the properties of so-called "Slow wave" devices. It consists of two helical wire radiating elements wrapped around a toroidal core. The two elements are of opposing handedness, creating a number of cross over points around the toroid. At least 17 different design parameters have been identified that impact the CTHA performance. Preliminary test results provide a high degree of confidence that further development of CTHA technology will result in significant benefits to very wide range of antenna users. ETC believes that the CTHA technology, as we continue to research, develop and engineer the antenna's various characteristics, will nature to provide a new generation of lightweight, low profile antennas suitable for a wide range of military and commercial applications.
