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Design and Performance Analysis of Flexible Wearable Antenna for Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) Applications

Year 2025, Volume: 21 Issue: 2, 25 - 34, 21.12.2025

Abstract

This paper presents a compact and flexible wearable antenna designed for wireless body area network applications. The antenna is implemented on a jeans-fabric substrate with overall dimensions of 35 × 40 × 1 mm³ and is designed and analyzed using commercial electromagnetic simulation software. The suggested antenna resonates at 2.45GHz, 3.30GHz, 5.33GHz, 7.13GHz, and 12.01GHz, providing realized gains of 1.44 dBi, 2.01dBi, 1.23dBi, 3.77dBi, and 4.57dBi, respectively. The performance of the antenna structure is investigated under both flat and bent conditions. The results show that bending has a negligible effect on the reflection coefficient. A prototype of the suggested antenna was fabricated and measured, and despite small differences and slight shifts in the resonance frequencies, the agreement between the simulated and measured reflection coefficients is satisfactory. Overall, the simulation and measurement results confirm that the suggested design is suitable for wearable technology applications.

References

  • [1] C. Du, G. Jin, A compact CPW-fed band-notched UWB-MIMO flexible antenna for WBAN application, J Electromagn Waves Appl 35 (2021) 1046–1058. https://doi.org/10.1080/09205071.2020.1868354.
  • [2] G.P. Gao, C. Yang, B. Hu, R.F. Zhang, S.F. Wang, A Wearable PIFA With an All-Textile Metasurface for 5 GHz WBAN Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 18 (2019) 288–292. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2018.2889117.
  • [3] P.B. Samal, P.J. Soh, Z. Zakaria, Compact microstrip-based textile antenna for 802.15.6 WBan-UWB with full ground plane, Int J Antennas Propag 2019 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8283236.
  • [4] R. Joshi, E.F.N.M. Hussin, P.J. Soh, M.F. Jamlos, H. Lago, A.A. Al-Hadi, S.K. Podilchak, Dual-Band, Dual-Sense Textile Antenna with AMC Backing for Localization Using GPS and WBAN/WLAN, IEEE Access 8 (2020) 89468–89478. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2993371.
  • [5] P. Sambandam, M. Kanagasabai, R. Natarajan, M.G.N. Alsath, S. Palaniswamy, Miniaturized Button-Like WBAN Antenna for Off-Body Communication, IEEE Trans Antennas Propag 68 (2020) 5228–5235. https://doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2020.2980367.
  • [6] D.K. Janapala, M. Nesasudha, T. Mary Neebha, R. Kumar, Design and Development of Flexible PDMS Antenna for UWB-WBAN Applications, Wireless Personal Communications 2021 122:4 122 (2021) 3467–3483. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11277-021-09095-7.
  • [7] T. Pathan, R. Karn, A compact circular polarized metamaterial-inspired fabric antenna for WBAN applications, Microw Opt Technol Lett 63 (2021) 2651–2655. https://doi.org/10.1002/MOP.32958.
  • [8] X. Yin, S.J. Chen, C. Fumeaux, Wearable Dual-Band Dual-Polarization Button Antenna for WBAN Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 19 (2020) 2240–2244. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2020.3028868.
  • [9] S. Kiani, P. Rezaei, M. Fakhr, A CPW-fed wearable antenna at ISM band for biomedical and WBAN applications, Wireless Networks 2020 27:1 27 (2020) 735–745. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11276-020-02490-1.
  • [10] W. Wang, X.W. Xuan, P. Pan, Y.J. Hua, H.B. Zhao, K. Li, A low-profile dual-band omnidirectional Alford antenna for wearable WBAN applications, Microw Opt Technol Lett 62 (2020) 2040–2046. https://doi.org/10.1002/MOP.32270.
  • [11] H. Li, J. Du, X.X. Yang, S. Gao, Low-Profile All-Textile Multiband Microstrip Circular Patch Antenna for WBAN Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 21 (2022) 779–783. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2022.3146435.
  • [12] H. Yalduz, B. Koç, L. Kuzu, M. Turkmen, An ultra-wide band low-SAR flexible metasurface-enabled antenna for WBAN applications, Appl Phys A Mater Sci Process 125 (2019) 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00339-019-2902-4/TABLES/3.
  • [13] H. Yalduz, T.E. Tabaru, V.T. Kilic, M. Turkmen, Design and analysis of low profile and low SAR full-textile UWB wearable antenna with metamaterial for WBAN applications, AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications 126 (2020) 153465. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEUE.2020.153465.
  • [14] H. Kisioglu, Design, Performance, and SAR Analysis of a Low-Profile Metamaterial-Integrated UWB Antenna for Wireless Body Area Networks, International Journal of Numerical Modelling: Electronic Networks, Devices and Fields 38 (2025) e70133. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnm.70133.
  • [15] S. Hassan, S.H. Shehab, Evaluation of an Ultra Wideband (UWB) textile antenna in the vicinity of human body model for WBAN applications, 2015 IEEE International WIE Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering, WIECON-ECE 2015 (2016) 195–198. https://doi.org/10.1109/WIECON-ECE.2015.7443895.
  • [16] S. Yan, L.A.Y. Poffelie, P.J. Soh, X. Zheng, G.A.E. Vandenbosch, On-body performance of wearable UWB textile antenna with full ground plane, 2016 10th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2016 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1109/EUCAP.2016.7481477.
  • [17] S. Mohandoss, S.K. Palaniswamy, R.R. Thipparaju, M. Kanagasabai, B.R. Bobbili Naga, S. Kumar, On the bending and time domain analysis of compact wideband flexible monopole antennas, AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications 101 (2019) 168–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEUE.2019.01.015.
  • [18] A.Y.I. Ashyap, Z. Zainal Abidin, S.H. Dahlan, H.A. Majid, S.M. Shah, M.R. Kamarudin, A. Alomainy, Compact and Low-Profile Textile EBG-Based Antenna for Wearable Medical Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 16 (2017) 2550–2553. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2017.2732355.
  • [19] L.J. Xu, H. Wang, Y. Chang, Y. Bo, A flexible UWB inverted-F antenna for wearable application, Microw Opt Technol Lett 59 (2017) 2514–2518. https://doi.org/10.1002/MOP.30772.
  • [20] G. Srivastava, A. Mohan, A. Chakrabarty, Compact Reconfigurable UWB Slot Antenna for Cognitive Radio Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 16 (2017) 1139–1142. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2016.2624736.
  • [21] Z.H. Jiang, D.E. Brocker, P.E. Sieber, D.H. Werner, A compact, low-profile metasurface-enabled antenna for wearable medical body-area network devices, IEEE Trans Antennas Propag 62 (2014) 4021–4030. https://doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2014.2327650.
  • [22] Y.S. Chen, T.Y. Ku, A Low-Profile Wearable Antenna Using a Miniature High Impedance Surface for Smartwatch Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 15 (2016) 1144–1147. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2015.2496366.
  • [23] A.Y.I. Ashyap, S.H. Bin Dahlan, Z.Z. Abidin, S.K.A. Rahim, H.A. Majid, A.S.M. Alqadami, M. El Atrash, Fully Fabric High Impedance Surface-Enabled Antenna for Wearable Medical Applications, IEEE Access 9 (2021) 6948–6960. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3049491.
  • [24] Y. Hong, J. Tak, J. Choi, An All-Textile SIW Cavity-Backed Circular Ring-Slot Antenna for WBAN Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 15 (2016) 1995–1999. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2016.2549578.
  • [25] R. Moro, S. Agneessens, H. Rogier, A. Dierck, M. Bozzi, Textile microwave components in substrate integrated waveguide technology, IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech 63 (2015) 422–432. https://doi.org/10.1109/TMTT.2014.2387272.
  • [26] R. Salvado, C. Loss, Gon, P. Pinho, Textile Materials for the Design of Wearable Antennas: A Survey, Sensors 2012, Vol. 12, Pages 15841-15857 12 (2012) 15841–15857. https://doi.org/10.3390/S121115841.
  • [27] S. Amit, V. Talasila, P. Shastry, A semi-circular slot textile antenna for ultrawideband applications, 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting, APSURSI 2019 - Proceedings (2019) 249–250. https://doi.org/10.1109/APUSNCURSINRSM.2019.8889148.
  • [28] S. Singh, S. Verma, Printed compact asymmetric dual L-strip fed split-ring shaped EBG-based textile antenna for WBAN applications, Microw Opt Technol Lett 62 (2020) 3897–3904. https://doi.org/10.1002/MOP.32512.
  • [29] A. Yadav, V.K. Singh, A.K. Bhoi, G. Marques, B. Garcia-Zapirain, I. de la T. Díez, Wireless body area networks: UWB wearable textile antenna for telemedicine and mobile health systems, Micromachines (Basel) 11 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/MI11060558.
  • [30] H. Kişioğlu, Design and Performance Analysis of Multiband Microstrip Antenna for Wireless Communication Applications, International Journal of Engineering Research and Development 17 (2025) 44–54. https://doi.org/10.29137/umagd.1439924.
  • [31] H. Kisioglu, Multiband antenna design with a defected ground structure for 5G and X-band applications, AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications 190 (2025) 155651. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEUE.2024.155651.
  • [32] M.M.H. Mahfuz, M.R. Islam, C.W. Park, E.A.A. Elsheikh, F.M. Suliman, M.H. Habaebi, N.A. Malek, N. Sakib, Wearable Textile Patch Antenna: Challenges and Future Directions, IEEE Access 10 (2022) 38406–38427. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3161564.
  • [33] CST, https://www.3ds.com/products-services/simulia/products/cst-studio-suite/solvers/ Accessed: September 2025.
  • [34] S. Sankaralingam, B. Gupta, Development of textile antennas for body wearable applications and investigations on their performance under bent conditions, Progress In Electromagnetics Research B (2010) 53–71. https://doi.org/10.2528/PIERB10032705.
  • [35] B. Hu, G.P. Gao, L. Le He, X.D. Cong, J.N. Zhao, Bending and On-Arm Effects on a Wearable Antenna for 2.45 GHz Body Area Network, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 15 (2016) 378–381. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2015.2446512.
  • [36] U. Ali, S. Ullah, B. Kamal, L. Matekovits, A. Altaf, Design, Analysis and Applications of Wearable Antennas: A Review, IEEE Access 11 (2023) 14458–14486. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3243292.

Kablosuz Vücut Alan Ağı Uygulamaları için Esnek Giyilebilir Anten Tasarımı ve Performans Analizi

Year 2025, Volume: 21 Issue: 2, 25 - 34, 21.12.2025

Abstract

Bu makale, kablosuz vücut alan ağı uygulamaları için tasarlanmış kompakt ve esnek bir giyilebilir anteni tanıtmaktadır. Anten, 35 × 40 × 1 mm³ boyutlarına sahip kot kumaş bir taban üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiş olup ticari bir elektromanyetik benzetim yazılımı kullanılarak tasarlanmış ve analiz edilmiştir. Önerilen anten, 2.45GHz, 3.30GHz, 5.33GHz, 7.13GHz ve 12.01GHz rezonans frekanslarında sırasıyla 1.44 dBi, 2.01 dBi, 1.23 dBi, 3.77 dBi ve 4.57 dBi gerçekleşen kazanç değerleri sağlamaktadır. Antenin performansı, anten yapısının düz ve bükülmüş koşullar altında incelenmiştir. Sonuçlar, bükülmenin yansıma katsayısı üzerinde ihmal edilebilir bir etkiye sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Önerilen anteni üretimi yapılarak ölçümü gerçekleştirilmiştir. Rezonans frekanslarında küçük farklılıklar ve hafif kaymalar bulunsa da, benzetim ve ölçümle elde edilen yansıma katsayıları arasındaki uyum tatmin edicidir. Genel olarak, benzetim ve ölçüm sonuçları, önerilen tasarımın giyilebilir teknoloji uygulamaları için uygun olduğunu doğrulamaktadır.

References

  • [1] C. Du, G. Jin, A compact CPW-fed band-notched UWB-MIMO flexible antenna for WBAN application, J Electromagn Waves Appl 35 (2021) 1046–1058. https://doi.org/10.1080/09205071.2020.1868354.
  • [2] G.P. Gao, C. Yang, B. Hu, R.F. Zhang, S.F. Wang, A Wearable PIFA With an All-Textile Metasurface for 5 GHz WBAN Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 18 (2019) 288–292. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2018.2889117.
  • [3] P.B. Samal, P.J. Soh, Z. Zakaria, Compact microstrip-based textile antenna for 802.15.6 WBan-UWB with full ground plane, Int J Antennas Propag 2019 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8283236.
  • [4] R. Joshi, E.F.N.M. Hussin, P.J. Soh, M.F. Jamlos, H. Lago, A.A. Al-Hadi, S.K. Podilchak, Dual-Band, Dual-Sense Textile Antenna with AMC Backing for Localization Using GPS and WBAN/WLAN, IEEE Access 8 (2020) 89468–89478. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2993371.
  • [5] P. Sambandam, M. Kanagasabai, R. Natarajan, M.G.N. Alsath, S. Palaniswamy, Miniaturized Button-Like WBAN Antenna for Off-Body Communication, IEEE Trans Antennas Propag 68 (2020) 5228–5235. https://doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2020.2980367.
  • [6] D.K. Janapala, M. Nesasudha, T. Mary Neebha, R. Kumar, Design and Development of Flexible PDMS Antenna for UWB-WBAN Applications, Wireless Personal Communications 2021 122:4 122 (2021) 3467–3483. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11277-021-09095-7.
  • [7] T. Pathan, R. Karn, A compact circular polarized metamaterial-inspired fabric antenna for WBAN applications, Microw Opt Technol Lett 63 (2021) 2651–2655. https://doi.org/10.1002/MOP.32958.
  • [8] X. Yin, S.J. Chen, C. Fumeaux, Wearable Dual-Band Dual-Polarization Button Antenna for WBAN Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 19 (2020) 2240–2244. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2020.3028868.
  • [9] S. Kiani, P. Rezaei, M. Fakhr, A CPW-fed wearable antenna at ISM band for biomedical and WBAN applications, Wireless Networks 2020 27:1 27 (2020) 735–745. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11276-020-02490-1.
  • [10] W. Wang, X.W. Xuan, P. Pan, Y.J. Hua, H.B. Zhao, K. Li, A low-profile dual-band omnidirectional Alford antenna for wearable WBAN applications, Microw Opt Technol Lett 62 (2020) 2040–2046. https://doi.org/10.1002/MOP.32270.
  • [11] H. Li, J. Du, X.X. Yang, S. Gao, Low-Profile All-Textile Multiband Microstrip Circular Patch Antenna for WBAN Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 21 (2022) 779–783. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2022.3146435.
  • [12] H. Yalduz, B. Koç, L. Kuzu, M. Turkmen, An ultra-wide band low-SAR flexible metasurface-enabled antenna for WBAN applications, Appl Phys A Mater Sci Process 125 (2019) 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/S00339-019-2902-4/TABLES/3.
  • [13] H. Yalduz, T.E. Tabaru, V.T. Kilic, M. Turkmen, Design and analysis of low profile and low SAR full-textile UWB wearable antenna with metamaterial for WBAN applications, AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications 126 (2020) 153465. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEUE.2020.153465.
  • [14] H. Kisioglu, Design, Performance, and SAR Analysis of a Low-Profile Metamaterial-Integrated UWB Antenna for Wireless Body Area Networks, International Journal of Numerical Modelling: Electronic Networks, Devices and Fields 38 (2025) e70133. https://doi.org/10.1002/jnm.70133.
  • [15] S. Hassan, S.H. Shehab, Evaluation of an Ultra Wideband (UWB) textile antenna in the vicinity of human body model for WBAN applications, 2015 IEEE International WIE Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering, WIECON-ECE 2015 (2016) 195–198. https://doi.org/10.1109/WIECON-ECE.2015.7443895.
  • [16] S. Yan, L.A.Y. Poffelie, P.J. Soh, X. Zheng, G.A.E. Vandenbosch, On-body performance of wearable UWB textile antenna with full ground plane, 2016 10th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation, EuCAP 2016 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1109/EUCAP.2016.7481477.
  • [17] S. Mohandoss, S.K. Palaniswamy, R.R. Thipparaju, M. Kanagasabai, B.R. Bobbili Naga, S. Kumar, On the bending and time domain analysis of compact wideband flexible monopole antennas, AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications 101 (2019) 168–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEUE.2019.01.015.
  • [18] A.Y.I. Ashyap, Z. Zainal Abidin, S.H. Dahlan, H.A. Majid, S.M. Shah, M.R. Kamarudin, A. Alomainy, Compact and Low-Profile Textile EBG-Based Antenna for Wearable Medical Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 16 (2017) 2550–2553. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2017.2732355.
  • [19] L.J. Xu, H. Wang, Y. Chang, Y. Bo, A flexible UWB inverted-F antenna for wearable application, Microw Opt Technol Lett 59 (2017) 2514–2518. https://doi.org/10.1002/MOP.30772.
  • [20] G. Srivastava, A. Mohan, A. Chakrabarty, Compact Reconfigurable UWB Slot Antenna for Cognitive Radio Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 16 (2017) 1139–1142. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2016.2624736.
  • [21] Z.H. Jiang, D.E. Brocker, P.E. Sieber, D.H. Werner, A compact, low-profile metasurface-enabled antenna for wearable medical body-area network devices, IEEE Trans Antennas Propag 62 (2014) 4021–4030. https://doi.org/10.1109/TAP.2014.2327650.
  • [22] Y.S. Chen, T.Y. Ku, A Low-Profile Wearable Antenna Using a Miniature High Impedance Surface for Smartwatch Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 15 (2016) 1144–1147. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2015.2496366.
  • [23] A.Y.I. Ashyap, S.H. Bin Dahlan, Z.Z. Abidin, S.K.A. Rahim, H.A. Majid, A.S.M. Alqadami, M. El Atrash, Fully Fabric High Impedance Surface-Enabled Antenna for Wearable Medical Applications, IEEE Access 9 (2021) 6948–6960. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3049491.
  • [24] Y. Hong, J. Tak, J. Choi, An All-Textile SIW Cavity-Backed Circular Ring-Slot Antenna for WBAN Applications, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 15 (2016) 1995–1999. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2016.2549578.
  • [25] R. Moro, S. Agneessens, H. Rogier, A. Dierck, M. Bozzi, Textile microwave components in substrate integrated waveguide technology, IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech 63 (2015) 422–432. https://doi.org/10.1109/TMTT.2014.2387272.
  • [26] R. Salvado, C. Loss, Gon, P. Pinho, Textile Materials for the Design of Wearable Antennas: A Survey, Sensors 2012, Vol. 12, Pages 15841-15857 12 (2012) 15841–15857. https://doi.org/10.3390/S121115841.
  • [27] S. Amit, V. Talasila, P. Shastry, A semi-circular slot textile antenna for ultrawideband applications, 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting, APSURSI 2019 - Proceedings (2019) 249–250. https://doi.org/10.1109/APUSNCURSINRSM.2019.8889148.
  • [28] S. Singh, S. Verma, Printed compact asymmetric dual L-strip fed split-ring shaped EBG-based textile antenna for WBAN applications, Microw Opt Technol Lett 62 (2020) 3897–3904. https://doi.org/10.1002/MOP.32512.
  • [29] A. Yadav, V.K. Singh, A.K. Bhoi, G. Marques, B. Garcia-Zapirain, I. de la T. Díez, Wireless body area networks: UWB wearable textile antenna for telemedicine and mobile health systems, Micromachines (Basel) 11 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/MI11060558.
  • [30] H. Kişioğlu, Design and Performance Analysis of Multiband Microstrip Antenna for Wireless Communication Applications, International Journal of Engineering Research and Development 17 (2025) 44–54. https://doi.org/10.29137/umagd.1439924.
  • [31] H. Kisioglu, Multiband antenna design with a defected ground structure for 5G and X-band applications, AEU - International Journal of Electronics and Communications 190 (2025) 155651. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AEUE.2024.155651.
  • [32] M.M.H. Mahfuz, M.R. Islam, C.W. Park, E.A.A. Elsheikh, F.M. Suliman, M.H. Habaebi, N.A. Malek, N. Sakib, Wearable Textile Patch Antenna: Challenges and Future Directions, IEEE Access 10 (2022) 38406–38427. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3161564.
  • [33] CST, https://www.3ds.com/products-services/simulia/products/cst-studio-suite/solvers/ Accessed: September 2025.
  • [34] S. Sankaralingam, B. Gupta, Development of textile antennas for body wearable applications and investigations on their performance under bent conditions, Progress In Electromagnetics Research B (2010) 53–71. https://doi.org/10.2528/PIERB10032705.
  • [35] B. Hu, G.P. Gao, L. Le He, X.D. Cong, J.N. Zhao, Bending and On-Arm Effects on a Wearable Antenna for 2.45 GHz Body Area Network, IEEE Antennas Wirel Propag Lett 15 (2016) 378–381. https://doi.org/10.1109/LAWP.2015.2446512.
  • [36] U. Ali, S. Ullah, B. Kamal, L. Matekovits, A. Altaf, Design, Analysis and Applications of Wearable Antennas: A Review, IEEE Access 11 (2023) 14458–14486. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3243292.
There are 36 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Theory of Computation (Other)
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Hakan Kişioğlu 0000-0002-5913-9758

Submission Date November 30, 2025
Acceptance Date December 15, 2025
Early Pub Date December 16, 2025
Publication Date December 21, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 21 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Kişioğlu, H. (2025). Design and Performance Analysis of Flexible Wearable Antenna for Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) Applications. Electronic Letters on Science and Engineering, 21(2), 25-34.