Patent ID: 6842101

Claim:
A tunable inductor comprising: an elongate mandrel having a central axis, a first end, an opposed second end, an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner cavity, and having a helical groove of predetermined pitch formed on said outer surface and extending in a direction from said first end toward said second end; a flange proximate said first end of said mandrel and positioned substantially perpendicular to said central axis of said mandrel, said flange having at least one guide member; a wire having a diameter, a first end and a second end, said wire being positioned within said helical groove of said mandrel and wound about said outer surface of said mandrel; and a turn member positioned a distance from said flange in the axial direction of said mandrel and protruding from said outer surface of said mandrel, said turn member being radially offset from one of said at least one guide member by an amount substantially equal to said diameter of said wire; wherein said turn member redirects said wire in a direction substantially parallel to said outer surface of said mandrel from said helical groove back toward said first end of said mandrel.