Black body infrared antenna array
A solar antenna array may comprise an emitter that may convert visible light into black body infrared radiation, and an array of antennas that may capture and convert the black body radiation into electrical power. Methods for constructing the solar antenna array may include using thermal insulation, high-gain low-e glass, and gasses with minimal heat transfer. A black body infrared antenna array may augment the electrical power from a visible light antenna array by converting its waste heat into additional electrical power.
1. An antenna array configured to convert solar energy into electrical power, comprising:
a high-gain low-e glass plate;
uniformly, horizontally-spaced alternating power and ground sloped metal ridges disposed on a plastic base, wherein the horizontal spacing is in a first direction;
carbon nanotube antennas of randomly varying lengths connected between the power sloped metal ridges and ground sloped metal ridges;
thin film metal power lines under the plastic base connecting the power sloped metal ridges together; and
thin film metal ground lines under the plastic base connecting the ground sloped metal ridges together;
wherein the power and ground sloped metal ridges are aligned in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, and are sloped with respect to respective planes extending in a third direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the first and second directions; and
wherein visible light is transmitted to the antennas through the high-gain low-e glass plate, and wherein the antennas are designed to capture black body infrared radiation reflected between the high-gain low-e plate and the thin film metal power lines and thin film metal ground lines.
2. The antenna array as in claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube antennas are randomly connected with known distributions of lengths and directions.
3. The antenna array as in claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube antennas are each connected to the power sloped metal ridges by respective metal-oxide-carbon diodes.
4. The antenna array as in claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube antennas are each connected to the power sloped metal ridges by respective point contact diodes.