Flexible 2.4 GHz node for body area networks with a compact high-gain planar antenna

Wagih, M. , Wei, Y. and Beeby, S. (2019) Flexible 2.4 GHz node for body area networks with a compact high-gain planar antenna. IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, 18(1), pp. 49-53. (doi: 10.1109/LAWP.2018.2880490)

Abstract

A flexible 2.4 GHz wireless sensor node with a bespoke single-layer monopole antenna, tuned for on-body operation for wearable applications, is presented. Multiple antenna design approaches for tuning on-body antennas have been investigated. The proposed antennas patch and meandered, designed for operation in the insole, exhibit a simulated realized gain of -3.98 and -1.97 dB, respectively. The antennas were fabricated on a 25 μm flexible polyimide substrate, exhibiting up to 16% lower insertion losses at 20 GHz than FR4 PCBs. The integrated node incorporates a commercial Bluetooth low energy system-on-chip and exhibits 9 dB higher measured gain than commercial modules with reference antenna design. Moreover, through functional radio test, it was confirmed that the designed node passes Bluetooth transmitter certification tests.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the European Commission through the project EnABLES: European Infrastructure Powering the Internet of Things, funded under H2020-EU.1.4.1.2 and in part by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council through the project Novel Manufacturing Methods for Functional Electronic Textiles under Grant EPSRC EP/M015149/1.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Wagih, Dr Mahmoud
• Authors: Wagih, M., Wei, Y., and Beeby, S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• ISSN: 1536-1225
• ISSN (Online): 1548-5757