Ph.D. Graduate

PhD in Microwave Antenna Engineering (Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland)
Ingeniero de Telecomunicacion/Electrical Engineer (University of Vigo, Spain)

About

Maria Jose Roo Ons completed her PhD in 2010. She joined the AHFR Group following a 6 month training program within prototyping department of BenQ-Siemens Mobile, Munich, Germany. This followed her Erasmus secondment to the University of Applied Science, Saarbrücken, Germany, where she studied DVB-H small mobile antennas.

Research Interests and Expertise

• Small Broadband antennas for UHF
• Design Principles of Microstrip and Slot Antennas
• Integration of Antennas and Solar Cells

This research work pursues the achievement of a self-powered transceiver for cellular communications suitable to be mounted in a building façade. Vertical façade PV panels are usually designed with a flat external profile, which make them appropriate for integration with low-cost micro cell microstrip antenna elements or array.

The feasibility of planar microstrip patch antenna technology using the electrically conductive back contact of a poly-crystalline silicon solar cell both as antenna ground plane and DC current collector was demonstrated. With all possible orientation of the cell with respect to the patch he measured antenna parameters reveal good operational characteristics of the proposed designs.

But when the active side of the cell is the one that acts as ground plane for the antenna, the shade of the patch diminish the efficiency of the power generation. 3 dimensional antennas like dipoles are currently under study in order to reduce the portion of the solar cell that is hidden by the antenna element.

The integration of separate communication devices with PV technology can save the precious space available for antennas for communication and solar cells for power generation. This means the integration of modern communication systems with photovoltaics, leads to an advanced technology distinguished by reliability, longevity and eco-friendliness.

This research was carried out in collaboration with the Dublin Energy Lab (DEL) at the Focas Institute. It is funded by the Science Foundation Ireland.

Publications