Optically Transparent MIMO Antenna with Polarisation Diversity for Vehicular Communications

Abstract

ABSTRACT A unique multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) adaptive intelligent antenna for vehicular communications is addressed in this article. It has a high degree of transparency that can be integrated with the windscreen for intelligent vehicular communications. The proposed diversity antenna has four monopole radiators oriented in orthogonal directions to obtain polarisation diversity. The optically transparent nature is realised using a soda-lime substratum of size 50 × 50 mm2 coated with Transparent Conductive Oxides (TCO). The Aluminium Zinc Oxide (AZO) is sputtered on top of a Fluorine Tin Oxide (FTO) to enhance the material’s conductivity with dual-conductive layer. The fabricated MIMO antenna has a bandwidth of 10 GHz and functions in the entire UWB range (2 to 12 GHz). By incorporating concentric circles into the ground, high confinement between nearly located antenna elements is achieved. The antenna has a peak gain of 2.9 dBi as measured. The Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC) of the antenna in the entire Ultra-wideband (UWB) region attributed to the TCO material shows a very low correlation among the antenna elements. Because of diversity gain of the proposed vehicular antenna is ˃ 9.8 dB, it can also operate with low transmission power. The findings indicate that the antenna is pertinent for current intelligent vehicles that require multiple communications without aesthetic hindrance.