Session
Technical Session VIII: Frank J. Redd Student Scholarship Competition
Abstract
Small satellites currently suffer from limited surface real estate, imposing challenging constraints on the design of antenna system. Optically transparent meshed patch antennas proposed in this paper enable convenient and direct integration of antennas and solar cells of small satellites. These antennas have many attractive advantages over other antenna types. Two meshed patch antennas were prototyped and measured to verify the feasibility of achieving high optical transparency (>90%) and of integration with solar cells. Furthermore, the design flexibility offered by meshed patch antennas is addressed in details. Designs are presented of solar cell integrated meshed patch antennas and their array configurations characterized by multifunctionality of harmonics tuning, circular polarization, omnidirectional pattern, high directivity or improved bandwidth. These attractive features of the proposed transparent meshed patches are very promising for small satellite applications.
Presentation Slides
Optically Transparent Multifunctional Patch Antennas Integrated with Solar Cells for Small Satellites
Small satellites currently suffer from limited surface real estate, imposing challenging constraints on the design of antenna system. Optically transparent meshed patch antennas proposed in this paper enable convenient and direct integration of antennas and solar cells of small satellites. These antennas have many attractive advantages over other antenna types. Two meshed patch antennas were prototyped and measured to verify the feasibility of achieving high optical transparency (>90%) and of integration with solar cells. Furthermore, the design flexibility offered by meshed patch antennas is addressed in details. Designs are presented of solar cell integrated meshed patch antennas and their array configurations characterized by multifunctionality of harmonics tuning, circular polarization, omnidirectional pattern, high directivity or improved bandwidth. These attractive features of the proposed transparent meshed patches are very promising for small satellite applications.
