Multiple Integrated Antennas for Wearable Fifth-Generation Communication and Internet of Things Applications

Abstract

This paper proposes integrating multiple antennas into wearable devices for application in fifth-generation (5G) communications and the Internet of Things (IoT). The frequency bands covered were wireless local area network 2.4-GHz/5-GHz channels (2410–2484 MHz), the global positioning system (1575 MHz), narrowband IoT band 8 (880–960 MHz), Global System for Mobile Communications 850/900, and the 5G frequency range 1 n77/78/79 band (3300–5000 MHz). The antennas were configured as a $2\times2$ multiple-input multiple-output system (MIMO). The antenna resonance contribution integrates the slot mode, monopole mode of the three-dimensional frame, and loop coupling monopole mode. The configuration of the independent matching circuits facilitated the effective control of the desired mode and the coverage of the desired bands. All integrated antennas were placed in a watch device ( $37\times 43\times8$ mm3) with a metal body and a metal strap. An integrated miniaturized antenna was designed. The diversity gain and multiplexing efficiency between the MIMO antennas were 9.97dB and above −2dB, respectively. Favorable diversity performance was confirmed. The channel capacity of the $2\times $ 2 MIMO array was determined to be 8.8 bps/Hz. Moreover, its performance was evaluated through the addition of a hand tissue module. The impact of metal straps on antenna radiation performance was discussed. The specific absorption rate (SAR) was examined, and the best results obtained under an SAR of 1 g and 10 g were 0.25 and 0.58 W/kg, respectively. The findings demonstrate the suitability of the antenna for practical applications in 5G communication systems and the IoT.