HEATED PLANAR ANTENNA
A planar antenna providing a heating function includes a radiating element and a ground element disposed over a surface of a substrate, wherein the radiating element and the ground element are conductive. The ground element includes a conduction path between a first connection point and a second connection point. The ground element is adapted to be connected to a power source to provide a voltage between the first connection point and the second connection point, thereby producing heat by providing a current through the ground element along the conduction path.
1 . A planar antenna providing a heating function, comprising:
a planar antenna including:
a substrate;
a radiating element disposed over a surface of the substrate; and
a ground element disposed over a surface of the substrate;
wherein the radiating element and the ground element are conductive;
wherein the ground element includes a conduction path between a first connection point and a second connection point; and
wherein the ground element is adapted to be connected to a power source to provide a voltage between the first connection point and the second connection point, thereby producing heat by providing a current through the ground element along the conduction path.
2 . The planar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the radiating element and the ground element are disposed in a common layer on a same surface of the substrate so that they are coplanar.
3 . The planar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the radiating element is disposed in a signal conductor layer and the ground element is disposed in a ground conductor layer, and wherein the signal conductor layer is separated from the ground conductor layer by a non-conductive layer to form a stacked antenna design.
4 . The planar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the radiating element and the ground element are formed of a metal mesh.
5 . The planar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the radiating element and the ground element have an optical transparency of at least 50%.
6 . The planar antenna of claim 5 , wherein the planar antenna is incorporated into an automotive window, a building window, or a visor, and wherein the produced heat provides a defrosting or defogging function.
7 . The planar antenna of claim 5 , wherein the planar antenna is disposed over the surface of a solar panel, and wherein the produced heat reduces the buildup of snow or ice on the solar panel.
8 . The planar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the conduction path is a serpentine path.
9 . The planar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the planar antenna is adapted to receive or transmit a radio frequency signal.
10 . The planar antenna of claim 1 , further including a power source connected to the ground element at the first connection point and the second connection point.
11 . The planar antenna of claim 10 , wherein the power source is a DC power source.
12 . The planar antenna of claim 10 , wherein the power source is a pulse-width-modulated DC power source or a low-frequency AC power source.
13 . The planar antenna of claim 1 , further including an RF signal receiver or an RF signal transmitter that is coupled to the radiating element.
14 . The planar antenna of claim 1 , wherein the radiating element and the ground element are conductive regions that together define an antenna pattern, and further including a non-conductive material disposed on a surface of the substrate in a fill pattern including one or more non-conductive regions, wherein the fill pattern is an inverse of the antenna pattern within a defined region of interest;
wherein an average optical transparency in the conductive regions is at least 50%, wherein an average optical transparency in the non-conductive regions is at least 50%, and wherein the average optical transparency in the conductive regions differs from the average optical transparency in the non-conductive regions by no more than 10%.
15 . A planar structure including a planar antenna providing a heating function, comprising:
a planar structure;
a planar antenna disposed on the planar structure including:
a substrate;
a radiating element disposed over a surface of the substrate; and
a ground element disposed over a surface of the substrate;
wherein the radiating element and the ground element are conductive; and
wherein the ground element includes a conduction path between a first connection point and a second connection point;
an electrical power connection adapted to be connected to a power source to provide a voltage between the first connection point and the second connection point, thereby producing heat by providing a current through the ground element along the conduction path; and
an electrical signal connection adapted to connect the radiating element to an RF signal receiver or an RF signal transmitter.
16 . The planar structure of claim 15 , wherein the radiating element and the ground element have an optical transparency of at least 50% and the planar structure is an automobile window, a building window, a visor, a solar panel, or a display device.
17 . The planar structure of claim 15 , wherein the produced heat provides a defogging or defrosting function, or reduces the buildup of snow or ice on the planar structure.
18 . A method for heating a planar structure including a planar antenna, comprising:
providing a planar antenna disposed on the planar structure including:
a substrate;
a radiating element disposed over a surface of the substrate; and
a ground element disposed over a surface of the substrate;
wherein the radiating element and the ground element are conductive; and
wherein the ground element includes a conduction path between a first connection point and a second connection point;
connecting an electrical power source to the planar antenna to provide a voltage between the first connection point and the second connection point of the ground element, thereby producing heat by providing a current through the ground element along the conduction path; and
providing an electrical connection between the radiating element and an RF signal detector or an RF signal generator.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the radiating element and the ground element have an optical transparency of at least 50% and wherein the planar structure is an automobile window, a building window, a visor, a solar panel, or a display device.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the produced heat provides a defogging or defrosting function or reduces the buildup of snow or ice on the planar structure.