Photovoltaic Power Supply and Antennas in one Device for Wireless Telecommunication Equipment

This paper describes the application of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells in planar antenna structures. The radiating patch element of a planar antenna is replaced by a solar cell. Furthermore radiating slots are built due to the cell spacing in a solar cell array. The original feature of a solar cell (DC current generation) remains, but additionally the solar cell is now able to receive and transmit electromagnetic waves. One single solar cell can be used as antenna, but it is also possible to integrate an antenna into a complete solar cell module which consists of a series connection of numerous cells. Several applications of this new device in the fields of satellite and mobile communications are outlined