Challenges with optically transparent patch antennas for small satellites

Author

Saberin, Jason R. ; Furse, Cynthia

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

fYear

2010

fDate

11-17 July 2010

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

4

Abstract

This paper reviews the properties of TC´s and analyzes the feasibility of various materials, such as ITO, to be implemented as patch antennas for placement on small satellite solar panels. With the help of an expression that better models the skin depth and non-uniform current distribution of microstrip patch antennas, it is possible to predict the efficiency of thin depositions for TCs. A study is conducted in the frequency range of 100 MHz to 10 GHz frequencies, using different TC thicknesses, to compare the effects on antenna efficiency and surface resistance. In the case of ITO, with a deposition thickness of 1.2 μm, we are able to achieve efficiencies of up to 40% from 5 to 7 GHz, but these antennas are unpractically efficient below 5 GHz.

Keywords

UHF antennas; VHF antennas; microstrip antennas; microwave antennas; satellite antennas; surface resistance; ITO; frequency 100 MHz to 10 GHz; microstrip patch antennas; optically transparent patch antennas; size 1.2 mum; small satellite solar panels; surface resistance; transparent conductors; Indium tin oxide; Materials; Microstrip; Microstrip antennas; Patch antennas; Resistance; Satellites;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (APSURSI), 2010 IEEE

Conference_Location

Toronto, ON

ISSN

1522-3965

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-4967-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/APS.2010.5562069

Filename

5562069