Modernizing Patch Antenna Wearables for 5G Applications

Abstract

For the multiband body-worn scenario, this simulation-based study proposes a new tetra-band wearable textile patch antenna with an inductive Meta surface ground plane. To achieve tetra-band behavior with desired radiation characteristics, the phase distribution is optimized by considering a 5 × 4 array of periodic square patches on the substrate in such a way that the resonant modes of patch slots interact with the resonant modes of the inductive ground. The four bands targeted are sub-6 GHz fifth-generation (5G) bands (1.909–2.426 GHz, 3.498–4.211 GHz) and beyond-6 GHz 5G millimetre wave bands (19.838–21.196 GHz, 24.343–30.687 GHz). The antenna is simulated in bent configurations with radii of 8 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm to test its flexibility. Furthermore, the antenna is attached to various parts of the human body in order to test the integration effect of wearable technology. The simulation results show that the antenna's performance is unaffected by bending and that the specific absorption ratio (SAR) value is within the acceptable range. In the operational bands, the suggested antenna has moderate gains and decent radiation characteristics. The antenna's flexible, compact, and simple designs, as well as its multiband performance, suggest that it is suitable for integration into flexible electronic devices. The proposed antenna has a size of 30 × 42 mm and is mounted on a 1.8 mm thick jeans substrate with a permittivity of 1.6. A free 5 × 4 array of periodic square copper patches, each measuring 5 × 5 mm on the substrate, forms an inductive Meta surface ground. The proposed antenna is designed and simulated using Computer Simulation Technology (CST).