Solar energy collection antennas
AssigneeCity University of Hong Kong
InventorsKwok Wa Leung, Eng Hock Lim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The subject disclosure relates to solar energy collection and use in communications systems and to enhancements thereof. In an aspect, dual function antennas are disclosed that can simultaneously function as an antenna and as a solar energy collection system. In further aspects, disclosed embodiments can focus incident solar radiation to increase output voltage of conventional solar cells. Measured and simulated results demonstrate various aspects of the subject disclosure.
Claims20
A solar energy collection antenna, comprising:
- a suspended plate antenna (SPA) element coupled to a reflective ground plane, wherein the SPA element is adapted to enhance reflected solar radiation associated with the reflective ground plane.
A solar powered antenna, comprising:
- a reflective suspended plate antenna (SPA) element configured to augment reflected solar radiation associated with a reflective ground plane;
- at least one solar cell, proximate to and associated with the SPA element, configured to convert at least a portion of the reflected solar radiation to an electrical potential;
- and
- circuitry adapted to electrically couple the at least one solar cell to the antenna to employ at least a portion of the electrical potential in operation of the antenna.
A method, comprising:
- augmenting reflection of incident solar radiation at an antenna by at least one reflective suspended plate antenna (SPA) element of an antenna to create augmented reflected solar radiation;
- collecting at least a portion of the augmented reflected solar radiation by at least one solar cell proximate to the antenna to create collected solar radiation;
- and
- converting at least a portion of the collected solar radiation into an electrical potential for use by the antenna.
The method of claim 12, further comprising:
- using at least a portion of the electrical potential to operate at least a portion of the antenna.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a suspended plate antenna (SPA) element configured to reflect at least a portion of incident solar radiation in conjunction with a subset of incident solar radiation reflected by a reflective ground plane to at least one solar cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.