volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

This study introduces a compact, low-profile ultra-wideband (UWB) wearable antenna designed for wireless body area network (WBAN) applications. The antenna incorporates a rectangular patch on a flexible jeans substrate, incorporating one patch slot, four identical edge slots, and a defected ground structure (DGS) with a compact dimensions of 23 mm × 30 mm × 1.5 mm. These slots and DGS enable the UWB operation with an excellent bandwidth while maintaining a good balance among the key performance parameters such as efficiency, gain, and SAR, which is the main contribution of this study. The antenna performance was analyzed using a four-layer human body phantom model that includes skin, fat, muscle, and bone layers. It operates across the frequency range of 2.82-11.25 GHz, covering the UWB range for wearable devices, and achieves a peak gain of 3.79 dBi, an average gain of 2.36 dBi, a peak efficiency of 63.36%, and an average efficiency of 52.88%. In addition, the obtained SAR values are 0.549 W/kg and 0.391 W/kg at 5 GHz, and 0.0727 W/kg and 1.97 W/kg at 9 GHz for 1 g and 10 g tissue standards, respectively, complying with SAR regulatory standards. Moreover, bending analysis validated its stable performance under various angles and deformation conditions. The fabrication and on-body testing of the proposed antenna exhibited a bandwidth of 1.38-12 GHz, demonstrating compliance with simulations. Finally, a human body temperature monitoring prototype was developed, which validates its suitability for wearable WBAN applications.

1. Sethuraman, Sibi C., Pranav Kompally, Saraju P. Mohanty, and Uma Choppali, "MyWear: A novel smart garment for automatic continuous vital monitoring," IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Vol. 67, No. 3, 214-222, Aug. 2021.
doi:10.1109/tce.2021.3085888 Google Scholar

2. Kulkarni, Madhusudan B., Sivakumar Rajagopal, Beatriz Prieto-Simón, and Brian W. Pogue, "Recent advances in smart wearable sensors for continuous human health monitoring," Talanta, Vol. 272, 125817, May 2024.
doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125817 Google Scholar

3. Abdi, Arezoo, Farhad Ghorbani, Hadi Aliakbarian, Tan Kim Geok, Sharul K. Abdul Rahim, and Ping Jack Soh, "Electrically small spiral PIFA for deep implantable devices," IEEE Access, Vol. 8, 158459-158474, 2020.
doi:10.1109/access.2020.3018882 Google Scholar

4. Alqadami, Abdulrahman S. M., Konstanty S. Bialkowski, Ahmed Toaha Mobashsher, and Amin M. Abbosh, "Wearable electromagnetic head imaging system using flexible wideband antenna array based on polymer technology for brain stroke diagnosis," IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems, Vol. 13, No. 1, 124-134, Feb. 2019.
doi:10.1109/tbcas.2018.2878057 Google Scholar

5. Al Rasyid, M. Udin Harun, Bih-Hwang Lee, and Amang Sudarsono, "Wireless body area network for monitoring body temperature, heart beat and oxygen in blood," 2015 International Seminar on Intelligent Technology and Its Applications (ISITIA), 95-98, Surabaya, Indonesia, May 2015.
doi:10.1109/isitia.2015.7219960

6. Singh, Mandeep and Neelu Jain, "Performance and evaluation of smartphone based wireless blood pressure monitoring system using Bluetooth," IEEE Sensors Journal, Vol. 16, No. 23, 8322-8328, Dec. 2016.
doi:10.1109/jsen.2016.2597289 Google Scholar

7. Qu, Longyue, Rui Zhang, and Hyeongdong Kim, "High-sensitivity ground radiation antenna system using an adjacent slot for Bluetooth headsets," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 63, No. 12, 5903-5907, Dec. 2015.
doi:10.1109/tap.2015.2481919 Google Scholar

8. Hong, Seungman, Seok Hyon Kang, Youngsung Kim, and Chang Won Jung, "Transparent and flexible antenna for wearable glasses applications," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 64, No. 7, 2797-2804, Jul. 2016.
doi:10.1109/tap.2016.2554626 Google Scholar

9. Alqadami, Abdulrahman S. M., Adnan Trakic, Anthony E. Stancombe, Beadaa Mohammed, Konstanty Bialkowski, and Amin Abbosh, "Flexible electromagnetic cap for head imaging," IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems, Vol. 14, No. 5, 1097-1107, Oct. 2020.
doi:10.1109/tbcas.2020.3025341 Google Scholar

10. Lee, H., H. Yang, S. Myeong, and K. Lee, "Dual-band MNG patch antenna for smart helmet," Electronics Letters, Vol. 54, No. 19, 1101-1102, Sep. 2018.
doi:10.1049/el.2018.6044 Google Scholar

11. Chen, Yen-Sheng and Ting-Yu Ku, "A low-profile wearable antenna using a miniature high impedance surface for smartwatch applications," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 15, 1144-1147, 2016.
doi:10.1109/lawp.2015.2496366 Google Scholar

12. Modak, Sumon and Taimoor Khan, "A slotted UWB-MIMO antenna with quadruple band-notch characteristics using mushroom EBG structure," AEU --- International Journal of Electronics and Communications, Vol. 134, 153673, May 2021.
doi:10.1016/j.aeue.2021.153673 Google Scholar

13. Federal Communications Commission, "Revision of Part 15 of the commission's rules regarding ultra-wideband transmission systems," Tech. Rep., FCC 02-48, First Report Order, Washington, DC, USA, 2002.

14. Meena, Madan Lal, Mithilesh Kumar, Girish Parmar, and Ram Swaroop Meena, "Design analysis and modeling of directional UWB antenna with elliptical slotted ground structure for applications in C- & X-bands," Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, Vol. 63, 193-207, 2016.
doi:10.2528/pierc16030804 Google Scholar

15. Eshtiaghi, Raha, Javad Nourinia, and Changiz Ghobadi, "Electromagnetically coupled band-notched elliptical monopole antenna for UWB applications," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 58, No. 4, 1397-1402, Apr. 2010.
doi:10.1109/tap.2010.2041159 Google Scholar

16. Abbosh, Amin M. and Marek E. Bialkowski, "Design of ultrawideband planar monopole antennas of circular and elliptical shape," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 56, No. 1, 17-23, Jan. 2008.
doi:10.1109/tap.2007.912946 Google Scholar

17. Rahanandeh, Mehdi, Amir Saman Noor Amin, Matin Hosseinzadeh, Pejman Rezai, and Mohammad Sadegh Rostami, "A compact elliptical slot antenna for covering Bluetooth/WiMAX/WLAN/ITU," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 11, 857-860, 2012.
doi:10.1109/lawp.2012.2209109 Google Scholar

18. Angelopoulos, E. S., A. Z. Anastopoulos, D. I. Kaklamani, A. A. Alexandridis, F. Lazarakis, and K. Dangakis, "Circular and elliptical CPW-fed slot and microstrip-fed antennas for ultrawideband applications," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 5, 294-297, 2006.
doi:10.1109/lawp.2006.878882 Google Scholar

19. Yan, Yang-Dong, Yong-Chang Jiao, Zibin Weng, and Chi Zhang, "An umbrella-shaped broadband circularly polarized antenna with wide beamwidth for global navigation satellite systems applications," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 61, No. 11, 2455-2462, Nov. 2019.
doi:10.1002/mop.31917 Google Scholar

20. Kundu, Surajit, Ayan Chatterjee, Sanjay Kumar Jana, and Susanta Kumar Parui, "A compact umbrella-shaped UWB antenna with gain augmentation using frequency selective surface," Radioengineering, Vol. 27, No. 2, 448-454, Jun. 2018.
doi:10.13164/re.2018.0448 Google Scholar

21. Elsheakh, Dalia Nashaat, Hala A. Elsadek, Esmatt A. Abdallah, Magdy F. Iskander, and Hadia Elhenawy, "Ultrawide bandwidth umbrella-shaped microstrip monopole antenna using spiral artificial magnetic conductor (SAMC)," IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 8, 1255-1258, 2009.
doi:10.1109/lawp.2009.2036571 Google Scholar

22. Paracha, Kashif Nisar, Sharul Kamal Abdul Rahim, Ping Jack Soh, and Mohsen Khalily, "Wearable antennas: A review of materials, structures, and innovative features for autonomous communication and sensing," IEEE Access, Vol. 7, 56694-56712, 2019.
doi:10.1109/access.2019.2909146 Google Scholar

23. Sankaralingam, S. and Bhaskar Gupta, "Determination of dielectric constant of fabric materials and their use as substrates for design and development of antennas for wearable applications," IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 59, No. 12, 3122-3130, Dec. 2010.
doi:10.1109/tim.2010.2063090 Google Scholar

24. Rahman, Ashiqur, Mohammad Tariqul Islam, Mandeep Jit Singh, Salehin Kibria, and Md. Akhtaruzzaman, "Electromagnetic performances analysis of an ultra-wideband and flexible material antenna in microwave breast imaging: To implement a wearable medical bra," Scientific Reports, Vol. 6, No. 1, 38906, Dec. 2016.
doi:10.1038/srep38906 Google Scholar

25. Klemm, M. and G. Troester, "Textile UWB antennas for wireless body area networks," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 54, No. 11, 3192-3197, Nov 2026.
doi:10.1109/tap.2006.883978 Google Scholar

26. Li, Xueping, Zhaolong Zhou, Kanghua Wang, Yuan Yang, Zhibo Pang, Xin Zhou, Wei Tang, Zhong Huang, and Dapeng Lan, "UWB metasurface antenna with improved gain and bandwidth for WBAN application," IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Vol. 71, No. 2, 5465-5474, May 2025.
doi:10.1109/tce.2025.3552597 Google Scholar

27. Kanagasabai, Malathi, Padmathilagam Sambandam, M. Gulam Nabi Alsath, Sandeepkumar Palaniswamy, Abinaya Ravichandran, and Cibita Girinathan, "Miniaturized circularly polarized UWB antenna for body centric communication," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 70, No. 1, 189-196, Jul. 2022.
doi:10.1109/tap.2021.3098517 Google Scholar

28. Modak, Sumon, Vikrant Kaim, Taimoor Khan, Binod Kumar Kanaujia, Ladislau Matekovits, and Karumudi Rambabu, "Design and performance measurement of worn-on-body instrumental ultra-miniaturized UWB wearable patch for e-health monitoring," IEEE Access, Vol. 12, 25719-25730, Feb. 2024.
doi:10.1109/access.2024.3365938 Google Scholar

29. Jayant, Shailesh, Garima Srivastava, and Sachin Kumar, "Quad-port UWB MIMO footwear antenna for wearable applications," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 70, No. 9, 7905-7913, Sep. 2022.
doi:10.1109/tap.2022.3177481 Google Scholar

30. Parameswari, S. and C. Chitra, "Textile UWB antenna with metamaterial for healthcare monitoring," International Journal of Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 2021, No. 1, 5855626, Dec. 2021.
doi:10.1155/2021/5855626 Google Scholar

31. Yadav, Ashok, Vinod Kumar Singh, Akash Kumar Bhoi, Gonçalo Marques, Begonya Garcia-Zapirain, and Isabel de la Torre Díez, "Wireless body area networks: UWB wearable textile antenna for telemedicine and mobile health systems," Micromachines, Vol. 11, No. 6, 558, May 2020.
doi:10.3390/mi11060558 Google Scholar

32. Douhi, Saïd, Salesabil Labihi, Adil Eddiai, Soufian Lakrit, Mounir El Achaby, and Ahmed Jamal Abdullah Al-Gburi, "Design, characterization, and electromagnetic performance of a flexible wideband RF antenna using composite materials," Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices, Vol. 10, No. 1, 100847, 2025.
doi:10.1016/j.jsamd.2024.100847 Google Scholar

33. Zhang, Meng, Peng Xu, Huaxin Peng, and Faxiang Qin, "A rational design of core-shell-satellite structured BaTiO3 fillers for epoxy-based composites with enhanced microwave dielectric constant and low loss," Composites Part B: Engineering, Vol. 215, 108764, 2021.
doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.108764 Google Scholar

34. Zhang, Senhao, Jia Zhu, Yingying Zhang, Zhensheng Chen, Chaoyun Song, Jiuqiang Li, Ning Yi, Donghai Qiu, Kai Guo, Cheng Zhang, et al. "Standalone stretchable RF systems based on asymmetric 3D microstrip antennas with on-body wireless communication and energy harvesting," Nano Energy, Vol. 96, 107069, 2022.
doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107069 Google Scholar

35. Al-Gburi, Ahmed Jamal Abdullah, Nor Hadzfizah Mohd Radi, Tale Saeidi, Naba Jasim Mohammed, Zahriladha Zakaria, Gouree Shankar Das, Akash Buragohain, and Mohd Muzafar Ismail, "Superconductive and flexible antenna based on a tri-nanocomposite of graphene nanoplatelets, silver, and copper for wearable electronic devices," Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices, Vol. 9, No. 3, 100773, 2024.
doi:10.1016/j.jsamd.2024.100773 Google Scholar

36. Balanis, Constantine A., Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, 3rd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, USA, 2005.

Mr. Md. Ariful Islam

Professor Md. Masud Rana

Dr. Amrito Paul

Dr. Abdul Kayum Muhammad Zakir Hossain

Dr. Noor Badariah Asan