Flexible dual‐diversity wearable wireless node integrated on a dual‐polarised textile patch antenna. Issue 6 (1st November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vanveerdeghem, Peter; Van Torre, Patrick; Stevens, Christiaan; Knockaert, Jos; Rogier, Hendrik
• Is Part Of: IET science, measurement & technology. Volume 8:Issue 6(2014)
• Page Start: 452
• Page End: 458
• Publication Date: 2014-11-01
• Subjects: microstrip antennas -- electromagnetic wave polarisation -- biomedical communication -- fabrics -- diversity reception -- wearable antennas -- clothing -- radiofrequency interference -- antenna feeds -- electromagnetic compatibility -- anechoic chambers (electromagnetic) -- patient monitoring; flexible dual diversity wearable wireless node -- dual polarised textile patch antenna -- textile wearable wireless node -- ISM band -- integrated microcontroller -- sensor -- memory -- frequency 2.45 GHz -- patient monitoring -- autonomous body centric measurement device -- firefighter garment -- free‐space conditions -- anechoic chamber -- flexible system -- autonomous system -- dual polarisation diversity -- communication reliability -- energy efficient off‐body wireless communication -- wireless channel monitoring functionality -- compact module -- flexible module -- signal integrity problem -- electromagnetic compatibility reduction -- antenna feed plane -- radiofrequency signal -- rescue worker monitoring -- fall detection -- transceiver; Measurement -- Periodicals; Electrical engineering -- Periodicals; Electronics -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Electromagnetism -- Periodicals; Medical instruments and apparatus -- Periodicals; 621.3
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-smt.2013.0224
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8822

Abstract

Abstract : A new textile wearable wireless node, for operation in the 2.45 GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band, is proposed. It consists of a dual‐polarised textile patch antenna with integrated microcontroller, sensor, memory and transceiver with receive diversity. Integrated into a garment, the flexible unit may serve for fall detection, as well as for patient or rescue‐worker monitoring. Fragile and lossy interconnections are eliminated. They are replaced by very short radiofrequency signal paths in the antenna feed plane, reducing electromagnetic compatibility and signal integrity problems. The compact and flexible module combines sensing and wireless channel monitoring functionality with reliable and energy‐efficient off‐body wireless communication capability, by fully exploiting dual polarisation diversity. By integrating a battery, a fully autonomous and flexible system is obtained. This novel textile wireless node was validated, both in flat and bent state, in the anechoic chamber, assessing the characteristics of the integrated system in free‐space conditions. Moreover, its performance was verified in various real‐world conditions, integrated into a firefighter garment, and used as an autonomous body‐centric measurement device.