Abstract
The specific advantage of fractal geometry to realize compact antenna features is exploited in this work for the design of a miniaturized Planar Inverted-F Antenna configuration with a large bandwidth. The conventional quadrilateral radiating element of a Planar Inverted-F Antenna is replaced by a Minkowski pre-fractal-based shape, thus increasing the resonant wavelength without affecting the overall antenna dimensions. Consequently, with the new design, a physically smaller antenna can achieve the same resonant frequency of a larger conventional configuration. Measured as well as simulated reflection coefficient and radiation patterns are presented to validate the assumptions. The impedance bandwidth of the antenna (2.19 to 2.52 GHz) covers the ISM band with a boresight gain of 1.5–2 dB over the entire band. Furthermore, to demonstrate the miniaturization effect, a successful comparison is provided with an identically sized, conventional square Planar Inverted-F Antenna design. The proposed antenna design can be usefully adopted for power-efficient communications in the framework of Wireless Body Area Sensor Networks.
Highlights
Planar Inverted-F antennas (PIFA) are arguably the most popular type of antenna and can be found in today’s most popular personal communication devices [1]
Constraints introduced by wearable applications such as Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) have renewed interest in innovative miniaturization techniques for PIFAs [5,6]
This technique cannot be used for WBAN antennas that are completely integrated into garments and clothing [8]
Summary
Planar Inverted-F antennas (PIFA) are arguably the most popular type of antenna and can be found in today’s most popular personal communication devices [1]. PIFAs are commonly designed to be part of circuit boards; the simplest miniaturization method is based on the adoption of a higher permittivity substrate material [7] This technique cannot be used for WBAN antennas that are completely integrated into garments and clothing [8]. The use of exclusively textile-based materials makes it difficult to exploit substrate permittivity for miniaturization since high permittivity textile substrates are very rare [9] Another technique deprecated by the wearable use-case is loading the PIFA with a capacitive or resistive impedance [10]. More refined approaches towards PIFA miniaturization have employed metamaterial ground planes [11] or superstrates [12] Even though these techniques promise good performance, the need for sophisticated manufacturing techniques and specialized materials limits their adoption in WBANs and other wearable applications. The authors propose the use of fractal geometry to create compact and wideband antenna designs that are safe and that can be manufactured economically
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
