Higher‐mode textile patch antenna with embroidered vias for on‐body communication. Issue 7 (1st May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paraskevopoulos, Anastasios; Fonseca, Duarte de Sousa; Seager, Rob D.; Whittow, William G.; Vardaxoglou, John Costas; Alexandridis, Antonis A.
• Is Part Of: IET microwaves, antennas & propagation. Volume 10:Issue 7(2016)
• Page Start: 802
• Page End: 807
• Publication Date: 2016-05-01
• Subjects: textiles -- microstrip antennas -- wearable antennas -- antenna testing -- antenna radiation patterns -- omnidirectional antennas -- UHF antennas -- conducting materials -- antenna feeds -- anechoic chambers (electromagnetic); on‐body communication -- wearable textile higher‐mode microstrip patch antenna -- omnidirectional radiation -- ISM band -- conductive sewing thread -- embroidery technique -- side‐fed low‐profile antenna -- probe‐fed HMMPA antenna -- rigid copper radiating part -- antenna testing -- near‐field measurement -- anthropomorphic mannequin phantom -- anechoic chamber -- frequency 2.4 GHz; Microwaves -- Periodicals; Microwave antennas -- Periodicals; Antennas (Electronics) -- Periodicals; Radio wave propagation -- Periodicals; Microwave communication systems -- Periodicals; 621.381305
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-map.2015.0650
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8725

Abstract

Abstract : This study presents a wearable textile higher‐mode microstrip patch antenna (HMMPA) that has been designed to radiate omni‐directionally at 2.4 GHz Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band. Emphasis is given to the fabrication process of the textile vias with conductive sewing thread that plays an important role in generating the optimal mode for on‐body radiation. The embroidery technique enabled a side‐fed low‐profile antenna which could be placed directly against the body. The proposed textile HMMPA antenna performance is compared with a probe‐fed HMMPA antenna fabricated with rigid copper radiating parts, for both free space and on‐body conditions. The on‐body antenna performance has been tested by performing near‐field measurements of the antenna on a full‐body specific anthropomorphic mannequin phantom in an anechoic chamber. Results show that the proposed textile HMMPA antenna with vias made from conductive thread can radiate on‐body with good efficiency while minimising the radiation in the broadside direction.