Integrated solar panel antennas

Vaccaro, S.; Torres, P.; Mosig, J. R.; Shah, A.; Zürcher, J. F.; Skrivervik, Anja K.; Gardiol, F. E.; Maagt, P. de; Gerlach, L.

doi:10.1049/el:20000350

Cited by 29 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Integration of antennas with solar cells has important applications for small satellites [1], deep space exploration [2], and self-powered ground sensors [3]. Such an integration can be particularly valuable for a CubeSat (a very small satellite designed with modular components to have a minimum payload) [4] as the antennas, when effectively integrated with the solar cells, do not compete with solar cells for the limited surface real estate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such an integration can be particularly valuable for a CubeSat (a very small satellite designed with modular components to have a minimum payload) [4] as the antennas, when effectively integrated with the solar cells, do not compete with solar cells for the limited surface real estate. There have been four main types of integrations reported: (1) antennas integrated under solar cells [1,[5][6][7]; (2) antennas integrated on the same plane with or on the side wall perpendicular to solar cells [8][9][10]; (3) antennas integrated on top of solar cells [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18], and (4) parts of the solar cells function as antenna [19][20][21] (the antenna in [7] also belongs to this category as the solar cell above the antenna acts as a parasitic elements of the antenna). The third type of integration is of particular interest and promise to a CubeSat system as the antenna topology, especially when it is small or optically transparent, facilitates a possible modular design.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An Experimental Study on the Effect of Commercial Triple Junction Solar Cells on Patch Antennas Integrated on Their Cover Glass

Yekan¹,

Baktur²

2016

PIER C

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Abstract-A patch antenna integrated on the cover glass of a commercial space-certified solar cell is examined. Test fixtures were fabricated to study the antenna designed at 4.9 GHz when there was an active solar cell under the antenna. It is found that the solar cell affects the input impedance of the antenna and causes a 2-3 dB gain reduction. Repetitive tests were performed to confirm that the effect from solar cells on the antenna remained the same regardless of the working states of the solar cell, type of cover glass, or the assembly of the solar panel.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Experimental Study on the Effect of Commercial Triple Junction Solar Cells on Patch Antennas Integrated on Their Cover Glass

Yekan¹,

Baktur²

2016

PIER C

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“…The combination of solar cells and antennas within a single unit has attracted significant interest in the last years [1][2]. Furthermore, the emergence of transparent conductors such as Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) [3] or transparent multilayer thin film [2][3] has opened new opportunities for such devices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design of a reflectarray element integrated in a Solar Cell panel

Dreyer

Díaz

Perruisseau‐Carrier

2013

2013 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (APSURSI)

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This paper addresses the integration of a reflectarray antenna (RA) on a thin film Solar Cell (SC) panel, as a mean to save real estate and cost in platforms such as satellites. The challenge is to design a good reflectarray cell in terms of phase and bandwidth, while simultaneously achieving high optical transparency and low microwave reflection loss, so as to preserve good SC and RA energy efficiencies, respectively. Since there is a tradeoff between the transparency and surface conductivity of a conductor, the choice of the conductive material to be used for the RA cell is an important design variable, in addition to all geometrical parameters optimized. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of an integrated RA on SC, preserving for the first time both SC and microwave performances. For instance, microwave loss of 1.15 dB and optical transparency of 92% using a TCO transparent conductor.

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“…Since its first proof-of-concept introduction in 2000 [1], the SOLar ANTenna (SOLANT) has evolved towards advanced designs, which have been further refined [2 -4], thus leading to a sophisticated space-qualified flight model, successfully flown as described in this paper. The underlying idea in SOLANT is the combination of planar antennas and solar cells in a single structure and therefore an increase in the surface available on a spacecraft for other instruments or components.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In-flight experiment for combined planar antennas and solar cells (SOLANT)

Vaccaro¹,

Pereira

Mosig

et al. 2009

IET Microw. Antennas Propag.

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An in-flight experiment to validate advanced solar antenna structures (SOLANT) in space is presented. Two different antennas have been designed and manufactured, one for global positioning system (GPS) reception and one for S-band beacon transmission. Both units use slot aperture radiators embedded in identical mechanical structures. The GPS antenna has been designed to generate an omni-directional radiation pattern with righthanded circular polarisation thus fulfilling NavStar specifications. The S-band beacon antenna is based on a four-element circularly polarised array providing 6 dBic of gain. These antennas are integrated within two solar panels, which form the upper layer of the antenna structure. The two panels are identical, make use of gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells arranged in two strings and provide a peak power of 10 W each. The SOLANTs were launched, fixed to a Cosmos payload adapter and remained operative for 2 years, well beyond their expected lifetime. This study summarises the design and performance tests performed prior the launch and during the orbital operation.

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Integrated solar panel antennas

Cited by 29 publications

References 2 publications

An Experimental Study on the Effect of Commercial Triple Junction Solar Cells on Patch Antennas Integrated on Their Cover Glass

An Experimental Study on the Effect of Commercial Triple Junction Solar Cells on Patch Antennas Integrated on Their Cover Glass

Design of a reflectarray element integrated in a Solar Cell panel

In-flight experiment for combined planar antennas and solar cells (SOLANT)

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