Wideband, Wearable, Printed Monopole Antenna System for Integration into an Electromagnetic Radiation Evaluation Device

Abstract

This paper describes the design steps carried out to prove the concept of a wideband monopole antenna system to be used in a wearable device conceived for the evaluation of electromagnetic field radiation. Such a device is envisaged to be integrated into protective vests worn by professional users in their working space environment as part of intelligent multi-risk protection. Initially, the main characteristics of a simple straight monopole are reviewed to serve as a reference. A modified octagonal monopole antenna element is introduced, and a two dual-linearly polarized configuration of such monopoles is designed, fabricated, and tested to be used in the frequency range of 0.7-3.5 GHz. The expected radiation characteristics (input reflection coefficient and isolation between vertically and horizontally polarized ports) are confirmed experimentally. The effects of a thick lossy foam substrate layer used to mitigate the presence of the metal shield, employed in the vest lining as a Faraday cage protection, are analyzed both by simulation and experimentally. Finally, electromagnetic simulations are carried out to confirm that a system of five dual-linearly polarized monopole elements located in the chest, shoulders, back, and helmet of the user can provide an adequate estimation of the incident electromagnetic field radiation.