Date of Award:

8-2013

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Reyan Baktur

Committee

Reyan Baktur

Committee

Bedri A. Cetiner

Committee

Edmund A. Spencer

Committee

Jacob Gunther

Committee

Bela G. Fejer

Abstract

Transparent patch antennas have a certain level of optical transparency. Highly transparent patch antennas can be integrated with the solar panels of small satellites, which are becoming increasingly important in space exploration. Traditional patch antennas, which are not transparent, are employed on small satellites and compete with solar cells for surface area. But a transparent patch antenna can be placed directly on top of the solar cells and alleviate the issue of limited surface real estate. For such an integration, a high optical transparency of the patch antenna is required from the solar cells’ point of view since the solar cells under the meshed patch need sufficient solar light to generate adequate electric power. On the other hand, the antenna should possess at least acceptable electrical properties at the same time so that it can radiate properly and efficiently.

This dissertation proposes different meshed patch antenna designs that meet some specific requirements. For example, an optimization method to improve both the optical transparency and radiation efficiency of the antenna is investigated. Similarly, this study also includes circular meshed patch antenna with harmonic suppression functionality, which can help improve the system’s overall power efficiency such that the power generated by the solar cells would be efficiently utilized by the front end. Other studies are also reported such as the meshed patch antenna with enhanced bandwidth and patch antennas made from transparent conductors, such as transparent conductive oxides films.

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