Non‐uniform mesh for embroidered microstrip antennas. Issue 8 (19th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Shiyu; Whittow, William; Seager, Rob; Chauraya, Alford; Vardaxoglou, J(Yiannis) C.
• Is Part Of: IET microwaves, antennas & propagation. Volume 11:Issue 8(2017)
• Page Start: 1086
• Page End: 1091
• Publication Date: 2017-05-19
• Subjects: microstrip antennas -- wearable antennas -- conducting materials -- current distribution -- textile products; embroidered microstrip antennas -- nonuniform meshed embroidered structure -- wearable microstrip patch antennas -- nonuniform meshed patch antenna -- conductive materials -- embroidered NMPA reduced manufacturing cost -- surface current distribution -- fully textile embroidered NMPA -- conductor area coverage -- efficiency 20 percent; Microwaves -- Periodicals; Microwave antennas -- Periodicals; Antennas (Electronics) -- Periodicals; Radio wave propagation -- Periodicals; Microwave communication systems -- Periodicals; 621.381305
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-map.2016.0901
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8725

Abstract

Abstract : This study presents a non‐uniform meshed embroidered structure for wearable microstrip patch antennas. The non‐uniform meshed patch antenna (NMPA) has significantly less conductor coverage than a conventional patch antenna without significantly compromise the antenna performance. For wearable applications, less conductor coverage reduces the usage of the specialised conductive materials which are currently expensive. The embroidered NMPA reduced manufacturing cost and improves the flexibility. In this study, the surface current distribution and the effect of the meshing size of NMPAs have been simulated and analysed. Fully textile embroidered NMPA on felt substrate has been fabricated and measured. Representative results showed the NMPA had a 60% total antenna efficiency with 20% conductor area coverage.