FM antenna with soft visual impact made from micrometric mesh metal technology

An optically transparent and electrically small FM radio receiving antenna has been designed and fabricated from a micrometric mesh silver layer printed onto a glass substrate. The studied FM antenna consists of a transparent meandering monopole associated with a micrometric size MESFET transistor. A sheet resistance lower than 0.22Ω/sq and an optical transparency of 87 % in the visible light spectrum are obtained. The Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) are both measured, compared with those of a commercial monopole antenna, and discussed.