Low-Profile Lightweight Slot Array With Solar Cells for 5.8 GHz Band

A 4 × 4 slot array antenna with solar cells is presented for the 5.8 GHz band with a light weight and low profile of 0.039 λ ( λ is 5.8 GHz wavelength in the air). Coplanar waveguide excitation and foam substrate are adopted for a compact and lightweight structure. The measured impedance matching band is from 5.3 to 6 GHz. The gain range is from 13.7 to 16.3 dBi within the pass band. A tested peak gain of 14.8 dBi is achieved for the target band from 5.725 to 5.85 GHz with a unidirectional pattern. The solar cells can cover 72.5% of the total area with an enhanced capacity for photovoltaic power generation.