Abstract
A compact fabric antenna structure integrated with electromagnetic bandgap structures (EBGs) covering the desired frequency spectrum between 2.36 GHz and 2.40 GHz for Medical Body-Area Networks (MBANs), is introduced. The needs of flexible system applications, the antenna is preferably low-profile, compact, directive, and robust to the human body's loading effect have to be satisfied. The EBGs are attractive solutions for such requirements and provide efficient performance. In contrast to earlier documented EBG backed antenna designs, the proposed EBG behaved as shielding from the antenna to the human body, reduced the size, and acted as a radiator. The EBGs reduce the frequency detuning due to the human body and decrease the back radiation, improving the antenna efficiency. The proposed antenna system has an overall dimension of 46×46×2.4 mm3. The computed and experimental results achieved a gain of 7.2 dBi, a Front to Back Ratio (FBR) of 12.2 dB, and an efficiency of 74.8%, respectively. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) demonstrates a reduction of more than 95% compared to the antenna without EBGs. Moreover, the antenna performance robustness to human body loading and bending is also studied experimentally. Hence, the integrated antenna-EBG is a suitable candidate for many wearable applications, including healthcare devices and related applications.
Highlights
Over the past decade, the rapid development in communication systems for body sensor networks (BSN) has grown notably, supporting several applications ranging from patient monitoring systems, tracking, and emergency rescue systems to personalized health care systems and battlefield survival [1,2,3,4]
In contrast to earlier documented electromagnetic bandgap structures (EBGs) backed antenna designs, the proposed EBG behaves as shielding from the antenna to the human body, reduces the size, and acts as a radiator
The miniaturized EBG array in the proposed design has contributed to enhancing the radiation efficiency and providing isolation between the antenna and human tissues
Summary
The rapid development in communication systems for body sensor networks (BSN) has grown notably, supporting several applications ranging from patient monitoring systems, tracking, and emergency rescue systems to personalized health care systems and battlefield survival [1,2,3,4]. Improvements in efficiency and effectiveness of flexible/wearable antennas have become essential in light of these advances in Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) application. An additional essential requirement for flexible/wearable antennas than traditional designs is to reduce the interaction between the radiating elements and the body tissue, despite being close to each other. The bandgap feature is controlled by vias, such as in the case of mushroom-like EBG It may be achieved by a complex structure that can increase the effective inductance, such as multi-layered EBG, meander line EBG, fractal EBG, and interdigitated EBG. Designing EBG from fabric materials with a bandgap feature is challenging. A simple and novel structure based on fabric materials that increased the effective inductance which introduces the bandgap feature is presented.
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