TW201517374A - Circularly-polarized green antenna integrated with solar cell panel and antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

A circularly polarized green antenna integrated with solar cell panel and antenna is disclosed. The green antenna includes a solar cell panel and an antenna module. Solar cell unit of the solar cell panel forms an array. The solar cell panel includes a back plate, a semiconductor layer, an upper electrode layer and a lower electrode layer. The semiconductor layer converts light energy into electrical energy. The upper electrode layer is disposed on a first side of the semiconductor layer. The lower electrode layer is disposed between a second side of the semiconductor layer and a first side of the back plate. The antenna module includes a metal patch, for generating a radiated electromagnetic wave. The solar cell panel is used to transform the radiated electromagnetic wave into a circularly polarized wave. A central point and a feed-in point of the metal patch and are connected by a virtual line. The angle between the virtual line and the row direction of the array is between 0 and 180 degrees.

Description

Circularly polarized green energy antenna integrating solar panels and antennas

The present invention relates to a green energy antenna, and more particularly to a circularly polarized green energy antenna that integrates a solar panel and an antenna.

Solar energy is inexhaustible and inexhaustible, and it is a clean energy source. Therefore, solar panels that can be photoelectrically converted have been widely used, for example, in satellite communications, relay stations, home power generation systems, and road lighting facilities. On the other hand, with the rapid development of wireless communication and the demand for use, the density of base station antennas has increased rapidly in the past decade. However, if a large number of solar panels and antennas are required, problems such as insufficient installation space, messy appearance, solar panel shielding by the antenna, and signals emitted by the antenna may be encountered by the solar panel. Therefore, how to provide a device combining solar panels and antennas to effectively solve the above problems has become a goal of related industries.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a circularly polarized green energy antenna that can be used for both photoelectric conversion and wireless signal transmission. In addition, the circularly polarized green energy antenna of the present invention can convert a radiated electromagnetic wave into a circularly polarized wave, provide a high gain performance, and increase its circular polarization bandwidth.

In accordance with the above objects of the present invention, a circularly polarized green energy antenna is provided, the circularly polarized green energy antenna comprising a solar panel and an antenna module. Solar panels are used to receive light energy and convert light energy into electrical energy. A solar panel has a plurality of solar cells that form an array of one or more rows. The solar panel includes a backing plate, a semiconductor layer, an upper electrode layer, and a lower electrode layer. The backing plate has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The semiconductor layer is used to convert light energy and electrical energy, the semiconductor layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer are respectively disposed on the first side of the semiconductor layer and between the second side of the semiconductor layer and the first side of the back plate. The upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer collectively conduct electrical energy generated by the semiconductor layer. The antenna module is located on the second side of the opposite backplane. A space is formed between the antenna module and the solar panel. The antenna module includes a grounding plate, a microwave substrate, and a microstrip metal piece. The microwave substrate is disposed on the ground plate, and the microstrip metal piece is disposed on the microwave substrate. The signal is input from the feeding point of the microstrip metal piece, so that the antenna module generates radiated electromagnetic waves. Solar panels are used to convert radiated electromagnetic waves into circularly polarized waves. The center point and the feed point of the microstrip metal piece are connected by a virtual straight line, and in the plane direction of the vertical solar cell panel, the angle formed by the virtual straight line and the array direction of the array is between 0 and 180 degrees.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in each of the solar battery cells, the upper electrode layer includes a grid electrode and a bus bar, and the grid electrode is disposed on the first side of the semiconductor layer. And a bus bar connects the grid electrode.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of metal strips are further included. The second side of the backing plate is disposed in a plane direction of the vertical solar panel, and the length direction of the metal strips is perpendicular to the length direction of the bus bars.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the projection of each of the solar cells in the planar direction of the vertical solar cell overlaps with at least one of the metal strips.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the projection of each of the solar cells in the planar direction of the vertical solar cell overlaps with two of the metal strips.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the included angle is 45 degrees or 135 degrees.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the height of the space is related to the wavelength of the radiated electromagnetic wave, and the height is adjusted such that the space forms a Fabry-Perot cavity.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the radiated electromagnetic wave is a linearly polarized wave.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of rows are equal to the number of the columns.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the microwave substrate is an FR-4 substrate or an FR-5 substrate.

100, 600‧‧‧ circularly polarized green energy antenna

110‧‧‧Solar panels

111‧‧‧Semiconductor layer

112‧‧‧Upper electrode layer

112A‧‧‧ grid electrode

112B‧‧‧Confluence wire

113‧‧‧ lower electrode layer

114‧‧‧ Backboard

115‧‧‧ Coverage

120‧‧‧Antenna module

121‧‧‧Microstrip metal sheet

122‧‧‧Microwave substrate

123‧‧‧ Grounding plate

601‧‧‧Metal strip

C‧‧‧ center point

D‧‧‧ spacing

E _X , E _Y ‧‧‧ electric field component

E _θ ‧‧‧vertical polarization component

E _Φ ‧‧‧ horizontal polarization component

H‧‧‧ Height

L‧‧‧ virtual straight line

P‧‧‧Feeding point

P _X , P _Y ‧‧‧ phase angle

SC‧‧‧Solar battery unit

W‧‧‧Width

X, Y, Z‧‧ Direction

Φ, Φ‧‧‧ angle

Θ‧‧‧ elevation angle

The above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become more <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; FIG. 1B is a side view showing a circularly polarized green energy antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an axial ratio of a circularly polarized green energy antenna according to FIG. 1A; Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram showing the amplitude of the far field electric field of the circularly polarized green energy antenna; Fig. 3B is a schematic diagram showing the phase of the far field electric field of the circularly polarized green energy antenna of Fig. 1A; and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the 1A Schematic diagram of the actual gain of the polarized green energy antenna and the antenna module; FIG. 5A-5B is a schematic diagram showing the far field radiation pattern of the circularly polarized green energy antenna of FIG. 1A; FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the invention according to the present invention A further plan view of a circularly polarized green energy antenna; and a sixth side view of a circularly polarized green energy antenna according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. However, it will be appreciated that the embodiments provide many applicable inventive concepts that can be implemented in a wide variety of specific content. The specific embodiments discussed are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B, which are respectively a plan view and a side view of a circularly polarized green energy antenna 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Circular polarization green energy day Line 100 is a device that integrates a solar cell and an antenna, and includes a solar panel 110 and an antenna module 120. The circularly polarized green energy antenna 100 can be applied to a wireless transmission device such as a satellite, a base station or a relay station, but is not limited thereto. The solar panel 110 is configured to receive light energy and convert the received light energy into electrical energy. The solar panel 110 has a plurality of solar cells SC, and such solar cells SC form an array having multiple rows and columns. In the present invention, the column direction of the array is defined as the direction X, the row direction of the array is defined as the direction Y, and the planar direction of the vertical solar panel 110 is defined as the direction Z. The solar cell panel 110 includes a semiconductor layer 111, an upper electrode layer 112, a lower electrode layer 113, a back plate 114, and a cap layer 115. The semiconductor layer 111 is a place for the solar panel 110 to convert light energy into electrical energy, which includes a semiconductor material that can generate a photoelectric effect, such as a P-N type semiconductor. The semiconductor layer 111 may be made of a material such as mono-silicon, poly-silicon, or amorphous silicon. The upper electrode layer 112 and the lower electrode layer 113 are respectively disposed on the opposite sides of the semiconductor layer 111 to conduct electricity electrically generated by the semiconductor layer 111. In each of the solar battery cells SC, the upper electrode layer 112 includes a grid electrode 112A and a bus line 112B. The gate electrode 112A is disposed on one side of the semiconductor layer 111 opposite to the lower electrode layer 113, and the bus line 112B is connected to the gate electrode 112A. The lower electrode layer 113 and the upper electrode layer 112 are electrically connected to a load to conduct electricity generated by the semiconductor layer 111.

The back plate 114 and the cover layer 115 are used to protect the semiconductor layer 111, the upper electrode layer 112, and the lower electrode layer 113. The back plate 114 is disposed under One side of the electrode layer 113 opposite to the semiconductor layer 111. The backing plate 114 may be composed of, for example, a single layer or a multilayer structure for supporting and fixing the solar panel 110. The cover layer 115 is disposed on one side of the opposite semiconductor layer 111 of the upper electrode layer 112. The material of the cover layer 115 may be made of glass to increase the light transmittance thereof, thereby allowing the semiconductor layer 111 to receive more light energy and generate more electric energy.

In addition, the outer edge portion of the solar panel 110 is further connected to an outer frame (not shown) for reinforcing the structural strength of the solar panel 110. The backing plate 114, the cover layer 115, and the outer frame (not shown) can prevent the semiconductor layer 111, the upper electrode layer 112, and the lower electrode layer 113 from being corroded by an external environment or damaged by an external force.

The antenna module 120 is located outside of the solar panel 110 and opposite to the backing plate 114. The antenna module 120 includes a microstrip metal piece 121, a microwave substrate 122, and a ground plate 123. The microwave substrate 122 is disposed on the ground plate 123, and the microstrip metal sheet 121 is disposed on the microwave substrate 122. The microstrip metal piece 121 has a feed point P. When a signal is input from the feed point P, the antenna module 120 generates a radiated electromagnetic wave. The microstrip metal piece 121 is disposed at a central portion of the opposite solar cell panel 110, that is, the center point C of the microstrip metal piece 121 is aligned with the center of the solar cell panel 110. A straight line connecting the center point C and the feed point P is defined as a virtual straight line L. In the direction Z, the virtual straight line L forms an angle φ with the direction X between 0 and 180 degrees. In the circularly polarized green energy antenna 100, a space having a height H is formed between the ground plate 123 and the solar cell panel 110.

The material of the microwave substrate 122 may be, for example, a FR-4 material grade or a FR-5 material grade substrate, but is not limited thereto. The grounding plate 123 is made of metal It is of a quality and its planar size is equal to the planar size of the solar panel 110. In addition, the antenna module 120 can also be replaced with other antennas with similar characteristics.

A frequency selective surface (FSS) is a structure formed by periodically arranging a plurality of patches in a two-dimensional space. In FIG. 1A, the solar cell panel 110 has solar battery cells SC arranged in a periodic distribution. Therefore, the solar panel 110 serves as a frequency selective surface of the circularly polarized green energy antenna 100 for filtering the radiated electromagnetic waves emitted by the antenna module 120 and converting the radiated electromagnetic waves into circularly polarized waves.

In addition, the height H can be adjusted such that the space between the antenna module 120 and the solar panel 110 forms a Fabry-Perot cavity. In order to effectively increase the gain effect at the operating frequency of the antenna module 120, the height H can be set to be approximately equal to half the wavelength of the radiated electromagnetic wave emitted by the antenna module 120 at the operating frequency. However, since the structure of the solar panel 110 in the direction X and the direction Y is different, the polarization height of the circularly polarized green energy antenna 100 of the present invention in the direction X and the direction Y is different, so the height H can be further fine-tuned to achieve further Gain effect.

In some embodiments, the circularly polarized green energy antenna 100 has a length and width of 256 mm, and the solar panel 110 includes an array of 6 x 6 solar cells SC having a square shape and a length of 27 In millimeters, the distance between the center point C and the feed point P is 5 mm, and the radiated electromagnetic wave emitted by the antenna module 120 is a linearly polarized wave having a center frequency of 2.45 GHz, and the thickness and dielectric constant of the microwave substrate 122 are respectively 3.2 mm and 4.4 Farads/meter.

Referring to FIG. 2, the circular-polarized green energy antenna 100 according to the above embodiment has an axial ratio of 0 degrees, 22.5 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees at a height H of 67.6 mm. Schematic diagram. The axial ratio is defined as the ratio of the electric field component amplitude E _∥ of the parallel bus bar 112B after the electromagnetic wave passes through the solar panel 110 and the electric field component amplitude E _⊥ of the vertical bus bar 112B, which is represented by a logarithmic value. When the axial ratio is less than 3 dB, the amplitude E _∥ of the electric field component is similar to the amplitude E _{⊥ of the} electric field component, and a better circular polarization effect is achieved. As can be seen from Fig. 2, in the frequency range of 2.36 GHz to 2.52 GHz, the minimum axial ratio when the angle φ is 45 degrees is less than 3 dB. Therefore, a circular polarization effect with an angle φ of 45 degrees is preferred. The circular polarization bandwidth is defined as the frequency range in which the axial ratio is below 3 dB. In Fig. 2, the circular polarization bandwidth when the angle φ is 45 degrees is about 75 MHz (2.405 GHz to 2.480 GHz).

In addition, please refer to Table 1, which is the impedance bandwidth and circular polarization of the circularly polarized green energy antenna 100 according to the above embodiment at a height H of 65 mm, 67.6 mm, and 75 mm at an angle φ of 45 degrees, respectively. Bandwidth and maximum actual gain. The impedance bandwidth is a bandwidth in which the return loss of the antenna is less than 10 dB. The maximum actual gain is the maximum gain within the circular polarization bandwidth.

As can be seen from Table 1, by adjusting the height H between the solar panel 110 and the ground plate 123, different impedance bandwidths, circular polarization bandwidths, and maximum actual gains can be obtained. Therefore, the height H can be adjusted according to different needs, so that the circular polarized wave frequency range after passing through the solar panel 110 is located in the frequency band to be operated.

Please refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B , which are schematic diagrams showing the amplitude and phase of the far-field electric field of the circularly-polarized green energy antenna 100 according to the above embodiment at a height H of 67.6 mm and an included angle φ of 45 degrees. As can be seen from Fig. 3A, the electric field components E _X and E _{Y of the} far field electric field in the direction X and the direction Y are similar in amplitude around the frequency of 2.44 GHz. Furthermore, as can be seen from Fig. 3B, at a frequency of 2.44 GHz, the phase angle P _X of the electric field component E _X of the far field electric field in the direction X is about the phase angle P _Y of the far field electric field in the vicinity of the electric field component E _{Y of the} direction Y. 90 degrees. Based on the above results, it is understood that this embodiment can obtain a good right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) at around 2.44 GHz.

In addition, if the angle φ is adjusted to 135 degrees, the electric field component E _X of the far-field electric field in the direction _X is converted to a phase angle of about 90 degrees near the electric field component E _{Y of the} far-field electric field in the direction Y, thereby generating a left-handed circular pole. Left-hand circular polarization (LHCP).

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram showing the actual gain of the green energy antenna 100 and the antenna module 120 using only the height H of 67.6 mm and the angle φ of 45 degrees. As can be seen from Figure 4, here is the green energy antenna. In the circular polarization operating frequency range of 100 (ie 2.405~2.480 GHz), the actual gain of the green energy antenna 100 is between 9.9 and 10.8 dBi. In comparison, the actual gain maximum using only the antenna module 120 is 2.6 dBi. Therefore, the use of the green energy antenna 100 of the present invention can effectively increase the actual gain compared to using only the antenna module 120.

Please refer to FIGS. 5A and 5B , which are schematic diagrams showing the far field radiation patterns on the XZ and YZ planes of the circularly polarized green energy antenna 100 according to the above embodiment at a frequency of 2.44 GHz. As can be seen from the 5A and 5B graphs, the intensity of the vertical polarization component E _θ and the horizontal polarization component E _Φ of the far field electric field are similar, and the radiation field value at the elevation angle θ of 0 degrees is the largest. From the above results, it is understood that the circularly-polarized green energy antenna 100 of the present invention can produce a good vertical radiation pattern and can have good circularly polarized radiation quality.

The above embodiments can be adjusted by those skilled in the art. For example, the solar panel 110 may further comprise an array of 8 x 8 solar cells SC and may vary in length by 310 mm. In addition, the length of the microstrip metal piece 121 of the antenna module 120, the distance between the center point C and the feed point P, and the thickness and dielectric constant of the microwave substrate 122 can also be adjusted according to the requirements of different operating frequencies.

Please refer to FIGS. 6A and 6B, which are respectively a plan view and a side view of a circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The purpose of the circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 is to increase the circular polarization bandwidth. The main difference between the structure of the circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 and the circularly polarized green energy antenna 100 is that the circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 is on one side of the back plate 114 opposite to the lower electrode layer 113. A plurality of metal strips 601 are provided. In the direction Z, the length direction of the metal strip 601 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 112B. The remaining components are described in the preceding paragraphs and will not be described here.

A projection of each solar cell unit SC in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the solar cell panel 110 overlaps with at least one metal strip 601. Fig. 6A is an example of a two metal strip 601, but this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

In some embodiments, the circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 has a length and width of 256 mm, and the solar panel 110 includes an array of 6 x 6 solar cells SC having a square shape and a length of 27 In millimeters, the distance between the center point C and the feed point P is 5 mm, and the electromagnetic wave emitted by the antenna module 120 is a linearly polarized wave having a center frequency of 2.45 GHz, and the thickness and dielectric constant of the microwave substrate 122 are 3.2 mm, respectively. And 4.4 Farads/meter, each solar cell unit is placed with two metal strips 601 each having a width W of 1.6 mm, and the pitch D of the two metal strips 601 is 19.4 mm.

Referring to Table 2, the circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 according to the above embodiment has an impedance bandwidth, a circular polarization bandwidth, and a maximum actual gain when the height H is 67.6 mm at an angle φ of 45 degrees.

Comparing Table 2 and Table 1, it can be seen that the maximum actual gain of the circularly polarized green energy antenna 100 and the circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 are similar, and the impedance bandwidth and the circular polarization bandwidth of the circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 are significantly larger than the circle. Polarized green energy antenna 100. Therefore, the circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 to which the metal strip 601 is applied can effectively increase its impedance bandwidth and circular polarization bandwidth.

The circularly polarized green energy antenna 600 can also be adjusted by those skilled in the art. For example, the solar panel 110 may further comprise an array of 8 x 8 solar cells SC and may vary in length by 310 mm. In addition, the number of the metal strips 601, the pitch D of the two metal strips 601, the length of the microstrip metal sheet 121, the distance between the center point C and the feed point P, and the thickness and dielectric constant of the microwave substrate may also be different according to different operating frequencies. Demand adjustment.

In summary, the circularly polarized green energy antenna of the present invention is combined with a solar panel and an antenna module for simultaneous use in photoelectric conversion and wireless signal transmission. In addition, the circularly polarized green energy antenna of the present invention can convert electromagnetic waves into circularly polarized waves through the arrangement of the antenna module and the height adjustment of the Fabry-Perot resonant cavity, and can significantly increase the gain of the antenna module. which performed. In addition, through the arrangement of the metal strips, the circular polarization bandwidth of the circularly polarized green energy antenna can be effectively increased.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention can be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope is subject to the definition of the scope of the patent application attached.

100‧‧‧Circular Polarized Green Energy Antenna

110‧‧‧Solar panels

112B‧‧‧Confluence wire

113‧‧‧ lower electrode layer

121‧‧‧Microstrip metal sheet

C‧‧‧ center point

L‧‧‧ virtual straight line

P‧‧‧Feeding point

SC‧‧‧Solar battery unit

X, Y‧‧ direction

Φ‧‧‧ angle

Claims (10)

A circularly polarized green energy antenna comprising: a solar panel for receiving light energy and converting light energy into electrical energy, the solar panel having a plurality of solar cells, the solar cells being formed with a plurality of rows and a plurality of An array of one of the columns, and the solar panel comprises: a backing plate having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; a semiconductor layer for converting light energy and electrical energy, the semiconductor The layer has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; and an upper electrode layer and a lower electrode layer are respectively disposed on the first side of the semiconductor layer and the second side of the semiconductor layer Between the first side of the backplane, the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer jointly conduct electrical energy generated by the semiconductor layer; and an antenna module located on the second side opposite to the backplane, Forming a space between the antenna module and the solar panel, the antenna module includes: a grounding plate; a microwave substrate disposed on the grounding plate; and a microstrip metal piece disposed on the microwave substrate, the Microstrip The slab has a feed point, and the feed point inputs a signal to cause the antenna module to generate a radiated electromagnetic wave; wherein the solar panel is used to convert the radiant electromagnetic wave into a circularly polarized wave, the microstrip metal piece One of the center points and the feed point is a virtual The lines are connected in a straight line, and the angle between the virtual straight line and the array direction of the array is between 0 degrees and 180 degrees in a plane direction perpendicular to the solar panel. The circularly polarized green energy antenna of claim 1, wherein in each of the solar battery cells, the upper electrode layer comprises a grid electrode and a bus bar, and the gate electrode is disposed on the semiconductor The first side of the layer is connected to the grid electrode. The circularly polarized green energy antenna of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of metal strips disposed on the second side of the backplane, the length of the metal strips in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the solar panel The direction is perpendicular to the length direction of the bus bars. The circularly polarized green energy antenna of claim 3, wherein each of the solar cells overlaps at least one of the metal strips in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the solar panel. The circularly polarized green energy antenna of claim 4, wherein the projection of each of the solar cells in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the solar panel overlaps with each of the metal strips. The circularly polarized green energy antenna of claim 1, wherein the included angle is 45 degrees or 135 degrees. The circularly polarized green energy antenna of claim 1, wherein the height of the space is related to a wavelength of the radiated electromagnetic wave, and the height is adjusted such that the space forms a Fabry-Perot resonant cavity (Fabry-Perot) Cavity). The circularly polarized green energy antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiated electromagnetic wave is a linearly polarized wave. The circularly polarized green energy antenna of claim 1, wherein the rows are equal to the number of the columns. The circularly polarized green energy antenna of claim 1, wherein the microwave substrate is an FR-4 substrate or an FR-5 substrate.