Abstract
In this study, the design of a compact and novel millimeter wave cotton textile-based wearable antenna for body-centric communications in healthcare applications is presented. The free space and on-body antenna performance parameters for the proposed antenna at 60 GHz are investigated and analyzed. The antenna is based on a 1.5 mm thick cotton substrate and has an overall dimension of 7.0 × 4.5 × 1.5 mm3. In free space, the antenna is resonant at 60 GHz and achieves a wide impedance bandwidth. The maximum gain at this resonant frequency is 6.74 dBi, and the radiation efficiency is 93.30%. Parametric changes were carried out to study the changes in the resonant frequency, gain, and radiation efficiency. For body-centric communications, the antenna was simulated at 5 different distances from a three-layer human torso-equivalent phantom. The radiation efficiency dropped by 24% and gradually increased with the gap distance. The antenna design was also analyzed by using 10 different textile substrates for both free space and on-body scenarios. The major benefits of the antenna are discussed as follows. Compared to a previous work, the antenna is very efficient, compact, and has a wide bandwidth. In BCWCs for e-health applications, the antenna needs to be very compact due to the longer battery life, and it has to have a wide bandwidth for high data rate communication. Since the antenna will be wearable with a sensor system, the shape of the antenna needs to be planar, and it is better to design the antenna on a textile substrate for integration into clothes. The antenna also needs to show high gain and efficiency for power-efficient communication. This proposed antenna meets all these criteria, and hence, it will be a good candidate for BCWCs in e-health applications.
Highlights
Mohammad Monirujjaman Khan,1 Junayed Hossain,1 Kaisarul Islam,1 Nazmus Sadat Ovi,1 Md
The design of a compact and novel millimeter wave cotton textile-based wearable antenna for body-centric communications in healthcare applications is presented. e free space and on-body antenna performance parameters for the proposed antenna at 60 GHz are investigated and analyzed. e antenna is based on a 1.5 mm thick cotton substrate and has an overall dimension of 7.0 × 4.5 × 1.5 mm3
For body-centric communications, the antenna was simulated at 5 different distances from a three-layer human torso-equivalent phantom. e radiation efficiency dropped by 24% and gradually increased with the gap distance. e antenna design was analyzed by using 10 different textile substrates for both free space and on-body scenarios. e major benefits of the antenna are discussed as follows
Summary
WBAN antennas need to operate in any of the following three available modes: in-body, on-body, and off-body. e first mode is used for implanted devices that need to communicate with other nodes outside the human body. e implanted devices could be medical sensors for collecting vital information from inside the body. Antennas should be designed to minimize the effects on the human body Each antenna type, such as planar inverted F antenna (PIFA), patch, and dipole, shows different radiation patterns. E wavelength of this antenna at 60 GHz is 5 mm Textile substrates such as cotton have low relative permittivity, which lowers the surface wave losses and, in turn, increases the spatial waves and the impedance bandwidth [5, 16]. E ground plane, which is attached to the bottom of the substrate, has slots that cover the radiating patch on the opposite side for matching and improving the bandwidth. E presence of a ground plane can minimize back radiation to the human body [12]. E electrical size of the antenna at the centre frequency of 60 GHz in terms of length and width of the radiating element of the antenna is 1.90 and 1.47
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
