Method for improving the efficiency of transparent thin film antennas and antennas made by such method
First Claim
1. An antenna comprising:
- a surface formed of a transparent thin-film conducting material, the surface having areas in which current flows as a result of the antenna being operated at a desired frequency; and
electrically conductive material overlaying and on a portion of identified areas of the surface having concentrated current flow, the identified areas being determined based upon computed values of current density in areas distributed over the surface formed of the thin-film conducting material, wherein such electrically conductive material decreases surface resistivity of such portion of the identified areas of the surface to provide improved antenna efficiency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for improving the efficiency of antennas having transparent thin-film conductive surfaces, and antennas improved by the method are disclosed. For a selected frequency of antenna operation, values for surface current density in areas distributed over the surface of the thin-film are determined. Regions of the surface containing areas having concentrated current flow are identified based upon the determined values of current density. Antenna efficiency is improved by increasing conductivity in areas of the thin-film surface found to have concentrated current flow. The method enables the improvement of the efficiency of antennas having transparent thin-film conducting surfaces, without unnecessarily obstructing the optical view through the thin-film surfaces of the antennas.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An antenna comprising:
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a surface formed of a transparent thin-film conducting material, the surface having areas in which current flows as a result of the antenna being operated at a desired frequency; and electrically conductive material overlaying and on a portion of identified areas of the surface having concentrated current flow, the identified areas being determined based upon computed values of current density in areas distributed over the surface formed of the thin-film conducting material, wherein such electrically conductive material decreases surface resistivity of such portion of the identified areas of the surface to provide improved antenna efficiency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An antenna comprising:
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a surface formed of a transparent thin-film conducting material, the surface having areas in which current flows as a result of the antenna being operated at a desired frequency; and electrically conductive material overlaying and on identified areas of the surface having concentrated current flow, the identified areas representing defined regions of the surface having current density values larger than current density values for areas of the surface outside the defined regions, wherein the electrically conductive material decreases surface resistivity of the transparent thin-film conducting material in the identified areas, thereby reducing ohmic loss and improving antenna efficiency.
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Specification