Semiconductor antenna array and solar energy collection array as

Details Semiconductor antenna array and solar energy collection array as Semiconductor antenna array and solar energy collection array as

1999-04-15

2000-07-11

Wong, Don

Communications: radio wave antennas

Antennas

Microstrip

343853, 343DIG2, 244158R, H01Q 138

Patent

active

060879912

ABSTRACT:
A semiconductor array assembly comprises an antenna array portion including a plurality of photonically-activatable semiconductor elements. The array assembly may also include a solar energy collection array portion having a plurality of photovoltaic cells. The two arrays may be supportably positioned on opposing sides of a common support structure (e.g. a dielectric substrate). An activation arrangement is provided to transmit photonic energy from an external source, such as solar radiation from the sun, received on a back side of the assembly to photonically-activatable elements to increase their electrical conductivity and thereby activate them for transmission and/or reception of electromagnetic signals. The activation arrangement may also feed photonic energy from an internal photonic energy source, such as laser diodes, through optical fibers to activate the photonically-activatable elements. A method of operating a solar-activated, antenna assembly involves positioning an array of photonically-activatable elements to receive photonic solar energy. The photonic energy activates the antenna array elements for operation. As such, while photonic energy is being received, the array of photoconductive semiconductor elements may be operated for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3594803 (1971-07-01), Gerald
patent: 3636539 (1972-01-01), Gaddy
patent: 3933323 (1976-01-01), Dudley et al.
patent: 4293172 (1992-09-01), Lamberty et al.
patent: 4594600 (1986-06-01), Arora
patent: 4638111 (1987-01-01), Gay
patent: 4644363 (1987-02-01), Horn et al.
patent: 4788555 (1988-11-01), Schultz et al.
patent: 4846425 (1989-07-01), Champetier
patent: 4864317 (1989-09-01), Sorko-Ram
patent: 5043739 (1991-08-01), Logan et al.
patent: 5307195 (1994-04-01), Nicole
patent: 5373306 (1994-12-01), Amore et al.
patent: 5527001 (1996-06-01), Stuart
patent: 5598989 (1997-02-01), Ross et al.
patent: 5608414 (1997-03-01), Amore
patent: 5641135 (1997-06-01), Stuart et al.
patent: 5666127 (1997-09-01), Kochiyama et al.
patent: 5835058 (1998-11-01), Upton
R.N. Edwards, et al., "Investigation of photoconductive silicon as a reconfigurable antena", SPIE vol. 1918 Smart Sensing, Processing and Instrumentation (1993).
Solar Cell Array Design handbook, vol. 1, Chapter 3.1 Solar Cell Types, NASA-JPL, Oct. 1976, pp. 3.1-1 to 3.1-4.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Semiconductor antenna array and solar energy collection array as does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Semiconductor antenna array and solar energy collection array as, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Semiconductor antenna array and solar energy collection array as will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-546623