Parasitic Array Antenna With Enhanced Surface Wave Launching for On-Body Communications

Author

Akhoondzadeh-Asl, Lida ; Nechayev, Y. ; Hall, Peter S. ; Constantinou, Constantinos C.

Author_Institution

Univ. of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Volume

61

Issue

4

fYear

2013

fDate

4/1/2013 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1976

Lastpage

1985

Abstract

This paper presents a novel planar directive antenna array with enhanced coupling to the surface wave on the human body. Coupling of a small wearable antenna into the Norton surface wave and creeping wave modes on the surface of the human body is first discussed. Based on these observations, the surface wave parasitic array (SWPA) antenna was designed, and parametric studies were performed to optimize the antenna directivity on the body phantom surface. The antenna was fabricated and measured. Its performance was tested by path gain simulations and measurements. The measurements were performed on a liquid phantom inside an anechoic chamber. Comparison of the performance of the new antenna with other antennas is also presented.

Keywords

anechoic chambers (electromagnetic); biomedical communication; directive antennas; planar antenna arrays; wearable antennas; Norton surface wave; SWPA antenna; anechoic chamber; body phantom surface; creeping wave modes; enhanced surface wave coupling; liquid phantom; on-body communications; path gain simulations; planar directive antenna array; surface wave parasitic array antenna; wearable antenna; Dipole antennas; Directive antennas; Electric fields; Muscles; Phantoms; Surface waves; Norton waves; on-body communication; surface wave antenna;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-926X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TAP.2012.2231918

Filename

6374209