Quasi-transparent meshed and circularly polarized patch antenna with metamaterials integrated to a solar cell for S-band CubeSat applications

Abstract

This study presents a quasi-transparent circularly polarized patch antenna integrated to a solar cell using metamaterial. The disadvantages and challenges related to patch antennas and solar cell integration are point out. Then, in order to compensate these detriments to antenna performance metamaterials with reactive impedance surface (RIS) are proposed. A report of the benefits introduced by these elements is shown. Finally, in order to accomplish quasi- transparency, the antenna is meshed adding slots where the currents densities are insignificant. A final prototype with a meshing that do not influence the antenna parameters was achieved and their features are presented.