Kwok Wa LEUNG

Transparent antennas are highly attractive for modern applications. They can be integrated with clear substrates such as window glass or combined with solar cells to save surface area on satellites. Traditionally, transparent antennas are realized using planar (2D) structures based on patch antenna theory. Optical transparency is achieved by fabricating meshed or transparent conductors on acrylic or glass substrates. The meshed-conductor approach is particularly straightforward: optical signals pass through the mesh openings, while microwave signals are transmitted or received by the conductive elements. By refining the mesh geometry, both transparency and antenna performance can be optimized. In this talk, we will present the design and results of a transparent antenna implemented using meshed conductors.

Historically, transparent antennas have been limited to 2D planar forms. Recently, however, 3D transparent antennas have emerged as an exciting new development. These are based on dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) theory, where resonance is supported by the entire 3D structure, unlike the cavity-confined resonance in patch antennas. In this talk, we will showcase the characteristics of glass DRAs and introduce the concept of using a 3D glass antenna as a lighting cover. Experimental results reveal that the lighting and antenna functions operate independently, as they utilize entirely different frequency ranges.

Furthermore, we explore the aesthetic potential of 3D transparent antennas designed in the form of glass or crystal art objects. This concept is particularly useful where visual invisibility of the antenna is desired for psychological or design-related reasons. Successful demonstrations using commercially available glass sculptures, such as a swan and an apple, will also be presented.

Biography:

Prof. LEUNG, Kwok Wa received his B.Sc. degree in Electronics and Ph.D. degree in Electronic Engineering from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1990 and 1993, respectively. In 1994, he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong, where he is currently a Chair Professor. He was the Associate Head of the Department and Associate Dean (Research) of College of Engineering. In 2006, he was a Visiting Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, USA.

Professor Leung was the Chair of the IEEE AP/MTT Hong Kong Joint Chapter for the years of 2006 and 2007. He was a General Chair of 2022 IEEE Conference on Antenna Measurements and Applications, Guangzhou, the Technical Program Chair of 2008 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference, Hong Kong, and the Technical Program Co-Chair of 2006 IEEE TENCON, Hong Kong. He was an Editor for HKIE Transactions and a Guest Editor of IET Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation. He was an Associate Editor for the IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters and IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation (TAP). He was selected as outstanding Associate Editor of the TAP twice in 2009 and 2010. From 2013 to 2016, Prof. Leung was appointed as the Editor-in-Chief of the TAP.

Prof. Leung received the USRI Young Scientists Awards in Japan and Russia in 1993 and 1995, respectively. He received the Departmental Outstanding Teacher Awards in 2005, 2010, and 2011. He also received the CityU Research Excellence Award 2013. He was a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society from 2012 to 2014. He is the leading recipient of the prestigious First Class Award (Natural Science) of the 2016 Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Output Awards, the Ministry of Education, China. He was selected as an awardee of the Distinguished Alumni Awards for 2021, Department of Electronic Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His students received the 2015 IEEE AP-S Eugene F. Knott Memorial Pre-Doctoral Research Award and best paper awards in international/regional conferences. He is a Fellow of IEEE.

Email:

Address:Director (ICTC), Information and Communication Technology Centre, CityUHK, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon,Hong Kong SAR, Vietnam, 999077