Light transmissible resonators for circuit and antenna applications

• US 8,547,287 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
• Original Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
• Inventors: Lim, Eng Hock, Leung, Kwok Wa
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US12/624,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20110122036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 343/785
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas

Abstract

Provided is a circuit for an electronic device having a non-planar transparent resonator. The transparent resonator is mounted on said circuit so as to at least partially occupy a footprint of another component of the circuit. The transparent resonator forms part of a light pathway on said circuit for transmitting light to or from said another component. Also provided is a transparent dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) for optical applications. Since the DRA is transparent, it can let light pass through itself and, thus, the light can be utilized by an optical part of a system or device. The transparent DRA can be placed on top of a solar cell. Since the DRA does not block the light, the light can reach the solar cell panel and power can be generated for the system or device. The system or device so obtained is very compact because no extra footprint is needed within the system or device for the DRA. It finds application in compact wireless applications that need a self-sustaining power device.

Claims

1. A circuit for an electronic device having a non-planar transparent resonator element wherein the transparent resonator element at least partially occupy a footprint of a photovoltaic element of the circuit and wherein said transparent resonator element forms part of a light pathway for transmitting light to said photovoltaic element.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the resonator element is shaped so as to focus light impinging on a surface thereof.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the resonator element is transparent to light at and/or beyond optical frequencies.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the resonator element comprises borosilicate glass.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the resonator element is shaped such that light impinging on a surface of said resonator element is focused by the resonator element towards a selected region of another surface of the resonator element.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the resonator element is a resonator element of a dielectric resonator antenna (DRA), said DRA comprising one of a plurality of DRAs arranged in a DRA array or a DRA reflect-array.