Dual-Polarized 5.75 GHz Optically Transparent Antenna Arrays

Optically transparent antenna arrays create opportunities to deploy communication systems in more diverse locations due to their transparency and ability to steer energy. We present horizontally and vertically polarized, optically transparent antenna arrays designed and fabricated with a highly conductive mesh wire on top of a Lexan substrate that operate in the 5-6 GHz unlicensed band. These arrays were modeled in HFSS, fabricated, and tested in an anechoic chamber. Measured results show that each transparent antenna in the array can achieve a peak gain of 6.5 dBi as compared to 7.8 dBi for a traditional antenna array.