Transparent Dielectric Resonator Antenna for Solar Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transparent microstrip antennas and resonator components face challenges in achieving high antenna gain while maintaining transparency, particularly when integrated with solar cell panels, leading to reduced effective illumination areas and undesirable removal of panel parts.
Innovation Solution
A transparent dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) made from borosilicate glass, which serves as both an antenna and a focusing lens, allowing light to pass through and increasing the output voltage and current of solar cells without affecting antenna gain, and can be integrated with solar cell panels without removing any parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a transparent microstrip antenna is used, then transparency is maintained, but antenna gain is reduced to less than 0 dBi
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using dielectric resonator material with specific dielectric constant (εr=3.8) and loss tangent (tanδ=0.0025) instead of conventional transparent conductive films, achieving both transparency and high antenna gain (>4 dBi) simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite structure combining transparent dielectric resonator material with metallic ground plane and feed network, where the dielectric resonator provides both mechanical support for transparency and electromagnetic resonance for high gain performance
2Power
If conductive paste is applied to slot edge to improve radiation efficiency, then antenna gain increases from -5 dBi to 0 dBi, but transparency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conductive paste from the slot edge and replaces it with a dielectric resonator structure that achieves high gain without compromising transparency, eliminating the need for opaque conductive materials in the radiating element
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical application of conductive paste with a dielectric resonator-based electromagnetic coupling mechanism, where energy is transferred through evanescent fields rather than direct conductive contact, preserving transparency
3Area of stationary object
If microstrip antenna is integrated with solar cell panel, then compactness is achieved, but effective illumination area is reduced and antenna gain degrades by 6 dB
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the dielectric resonator serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the antenna radiating element, provides mechanical support structure, and functions as a protective cover for the solar cell, eliminating the need for separate components and maintaining full illumination area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the antenna function from the ground plane and feed network, allowing the dielectric resonator to be positioned optimally for both antenna performance and solar cell illumination, while the ground plane and feed are designed separately to minimize interference
4Length of moving object
If dielectric resonator is used to scale down antenna size, then compactness is achieved, but transparency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the dielectric resonator dimensions (radius R=15mm, height h=7.5mm) and material properties (εr=3.8, tanδ=0.0025) to achieve compact size while selecting transparent borosilicate glass material that maintains optical transparency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The transparent DRA achieves an antenna gain of more than 4 dBi across its entire passband, enhances solar cell performance by focusing light, and maintains compactness by sharing the footprint with solar cell panels, providing a self-sustaining power source for wireless communication devices.
Implementation Method 1
The resonator element may be shaped such that light impinging on a surface of the resonator element is focused by the resonator element
Implementation Method 2
enhances solar cell performance by focusing light
Implementation Method 3
The resonator element may be shaped such that light impinging on a surface of the resonator element is focused by the resonator element
Implementation Method 4
a dielectric resonator (DR) can be used as a circuit element in oscillator and filter circuits, or as an effective radiator that is now commonly known as a DR antenna (DRA)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a circuit for an electronic device having a non-planar transparent resonator. The transparent resonator is mounted on said circuit so as to at least partially occupy a footprint of another component of the circuit. The transparent resonator forms part of a light pathway on said circuit for transmitting light to or from said another component. Also provided is a transparent dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) for optical applications. Since the DRA is transparent, it can let light pass through itself and, thus, the light can be utilized by an optical part of a system or device. The transparent DRA can be placed on top of a solar cell. Since the DRA does not block the light, the light can reach the solar cell panel and power can be generated for the system or device. The system or device so obtained is very compact because no extra footprint is needed within the system or device for the DRA. It finds application in compact wireless applications that need a self-sustaining power device.