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Black body infrared antenna array

  • US 9,917,225 B2
  • Filed: 09/30/2015
  • Issued: 03/13/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An antenna array configured to convert solar energy into electrical power, comprising:

  • a high-gain low-e glass plate;

    uniformly, horizontally-spaced alternating power and ground sloped metal ridges disposed on a plastic base, wherein the horizontal spacing is in a first direction;

    carbon nanotube antennas of randomly varying lengths connected between the power sloped metal ridges and ground sloped metal ridges;

    thin film metal power lines under the plastic base connecting the power sloped metal ridges together; and

    thin film metal ground lines under the plastic base connecting the ground sloped metal ridges together;

    wherein the power and ground sloped metal ridges are aligned in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, and are sloped with respect to respective planes extending in a third direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the first and second directions; and

    wherein visible light is transmitted to the antennas through the high-gain low-e glass plate, and wherein the antennas are designed to capture black body infrared radiation reflected between the high-gain low-e plate and the thin film metal power lines and thin film metal ground lines.

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