60 GHz optically transparent microstrip antenna made of meshed AuGL material

View Fulltext

Author(s): Julien Hautcoeur ¹ ; Larbi Talbi ¹ ; Khelifa Hettak ² ; Mourad Nedil ³
- Affiliations: 1: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Quebec in Outaouais (UQO), J8X 3X7, Gatineau, Québec, Canada;
  2: Communication Research Center (CRC), 3701 Carling Avenue, K2H 8S2, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada;
  3: Telebec Wireless Underground Communication Laboratory, University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue, 450, 3e Avenue, Local 105, J9P 1S2, Val d'Or, Québec, Canada
Source: Volume 8, Issue 13, 21 October 2014, p. 1091 – 1096
DOI: 10.1049/iet-map.2013.0564 , Print ISSN 1751-8725, Online ISSN 1751-8733

In this study, a 60 GHz optically transparent microstrip (OTM) patch antenna array is designed, fabricated and measured. Gold meshes are implemented for the two layers of the antenna. A numerical parametric study on the positioning of the two meshed layers is performed to give design considerations and optimise both the electromagnetic and optical performances of OTM antennas at 60 GHz band. The simulation and measured results of the OTM antenna with a theoretical maximum transparency up to 74.6% are compared with a light reflecting reference antenna. Both antennas have similar reflection coefficients and radiating performances. This study provides practical design rules to fabricate high gain OTM antennas with performances similar to those of standard topologies at 60 GHz band, with the addition of high optical transparency.

References

1. 1)
  - F. Colombel , X. Castel , M. Himdi , G. Legeay , S. Vigneron , E. Motta Cruz . Ultrathin metal layer, ITO film and ITO/Cu/ITO multilayer towards transparent antenna. IET Sci. Meas. Technol. , 3 , 229 - 234
2. 2)
  - 1. Vettikalladi, H., Le Coq, L., Lafond, O., Himdi, M.: ‘Broadband superstrate aperture antenna for 60 GHz applications’. Microwave Conf. (EuMC), 2010 European, 2010, pp. 687–690.
3. 3)
  - 9. Hautcoeur, J., Talbi, L., Hettak, K.: ‘Feasibility study of optically transparent CPW-fed monopole antenna at 60 GHz ISM bands’, IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., 2013, 61, (4), pp. 1651–1657 (doi: 10.1109/TAP.2012.2232265).
4. 4)
  - 3. Hautcoeur, J., Colombel, F., Castel, X., Himdi, M., Cruz, E.M.: ‘Radiofrequency performances of transparent ultra-wideband antennas’, Prog. Electromagn. Res. C, 2011, 22, pp. 259–271 (doi: 10.2528/PIERC11052606).
5. 5)
  - 10. Hautcoeur, J., Castel, X., Colombel, F., et al: ‘Transparency and electrical properties of meshed metal films’, Thin Solid Films, 2011, 519, pp. 3851–3858 (doi: 10.1016/j.tsf.2011.01.262).
6. 6)
  - 6. Turpin, T.W., Baktur, R.: ‘Meshed patch antennas integrated on solar cells’, IEEE AntennasWirel. Propag. Lett., 2009, 8, pp. 693–696 (doi: 10.1109/LAWP.2009.2025522).
7. 7)
  - 8. Cline, D., Hofstetter, H.W., Griffin, J.R.: ‘Dictionary of visual science’ (Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, 1997, 4th edn.).
8. 8)
  - G. Clasen , R.J. Langley . Meshed patch antennas. IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag. , 1412 - 1416
9. 9)
  - 5. Adams, J.J., Bernhard, J.T.: ‘Modeling of dense metallic grids for transparent transmission lines and antennas’. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Int. Symp. 2013 (APSURSI), July 2013, pp. 700–701.
10. 10)
  - A. Katsounaros , Y. Hao , N. Collings , W.A. Crossland . Optically transparent ultrawideband antenna. Electron. Lett. , 14 , 722 - 723
11. 11)
  - 11. Song, H.J., Hsu, T.Y., Sievenpiper, D.F.: ‘A method for improving the efficiency of transparent film antennas’, IEEE Antennas Wirel. Propag. Lett., 2008, 7, pp. 753–756 (doi: 10.1109/LAWP.2008.2008107).

60 GHz optically transparent microstrip antenna made of meshed AuGL material

References

Related content