Investigation of optically transparent metasurfaces for gain improvement of an ultrawideband antenna for wireless body area networks and vehicular communications

Abstract

Due to higher frequencies which cause signal deterioration, 5G enabled antennas are prone to substantial attenuation. To circumvent this problem, several access points, signal repeaters, and base stations must be installed closer together on building windows, streetlights, and other infrastructure. Optically transparent antennas preserve the aesthetics of the windows by offering the requirements for access points and base stations for providing network connectivity to the cars and pedestrians passing by those buildings. Here we report an ultrawideband (UWB) high gain optically transparent antenna operating from 4-12 GHz. Indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass has been used as an optically transparent substrate for designing the antenna and metasurface. Two optically transparent metasurfaces have been proposed for band-stop filtering action across the UWB frequency range 4-12 GHz. In absence of the metasurface, the antenna operates in the frequency band ranging from 3.8 to 15 GHz. Average gain enhancement is 5.2 dB with radiation efficiency higher than 93% across the UWB frequency band from 4-12 GHz. Numerical simulations have been carried out for analysis of the proposed antenna and metasurfaces. These simulations have been validated by experimental measurements of the fabricated prototypes.