REFLECTOR-SENSOR WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH A REFLECTOR-SENSOR
The invention concerns a reflector-sensor for receiving/transmitting electromagnetic waves respectively from and to a satellite and for collecting and converting an amount of solar energy into electric power, said reflector-sensor comprising a reflecting surface (2) equipped with a plurality of photovoltaic cells (4) and at least an electronic head (6) receiving/transmitting E.M. waves, said photovoltaic cells (4) are transparent to E.M. waves and are fixed on the greater part of the reflecting surface (2) such that the reflector-sensor operates both as receiver/transmitter antenna and solar energy collector (4). The invention is characterised in that said photovoltaic cells are integrated in the reflecting surface (2) between a first layer (10) transparent to E.M. waves and to solar radiation for protecting said cells (4) and a second layer (12) for reflecting the E.M. waves.