Textile antennas for on-body communications: techniques and properties

Abstract

Due to the increased demand on multi-frequency and multi-function antenna to be utilised in smart clothing and future consumer-centric communication technologies, fabric and textile antenna designs have received a vast amount of attention in the last few years. The fabrication techniques and materials used in designing textile antennas play a significant role in defining and determining the overall performance. This paper investigates different methods of fabrications applying various material types to analyse the effect those parameters have on a rectangular microstrip patch antenna to be deployed in general wearable applications providing cost-effectiveness, ease of system integration and immunity to performance degradation when placed ont he body. (4 pages)