Optically Transparent Subarray Antenna Based on Solar Panel for CubeSat Application

Abstract

This article focuses on the design of a transparent circularly polarized (CP) antenna subarray integrating with Cube satellite’s (CubeSat’s) solar panels. The subarray antenna employs two techniques including the Fabry–Perot cavity (FPC) and sequential rotation-feeding network. These techniques are used to generate CP along with a high level of directivity over a broad bandwidth. The main aim here is to propose a multifunctional antenna with the high radiation properties and the capability of power harvesting, simultaneously. To harvest power using a solar panel, the transparency requirement should be satisfied. Hence, the proposed design is sputtered with the thin layer of indium–tin–oxide (ITO) with a thickness of 200 nm. However, it seems to be sacrificed a large amount of conductivity at the frequency band of interest (x-band). Correspondingly, the performance of conductivity and transparency for both the materials of ITO and copper (Cu) as coated on the proposed design is determined. Alternatively, as an optically transparent conductor (OTC), a combination of both coating layers, including ITO and Cu with thicknesses of 200 and 5 nm, respectively, is applied. In the scattering point of view, the proposed design is also capable of suppressing the radar cross-section (RCS) for the space missions with the aim of space-based observations.