A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer: Assessment of suitability for wearable applications

Roy B. V. B. Simorangkir; Yang Yang; Karu P. Esselle; Yinliang Diao

doi:10.1109/MWSYM.2017.8059059

A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer: Assessment of suitability for wearable applications

Roy B. V. B. Simorangkir, Yang Yang, Karu P. Esselle, Yinliang Diao

School of Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper, we present a novel class of wearable antennas that are flexible, electronically tunable, and robust. They consist of conductive fabric parts, used as the radiator, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer utilized to form the substrate as well as the full encapsulation of the radiator including its electronic tuning elements. To validate the concept, a prototype that provides frequency tuning from 2.3 to 2.65 GHz has been fabricated and tested. The fabrication process is detailed and experimental investigations on its suitability for wearable applications are presented. To assess the antenna robustness, its reconfigurability under severe physical deformations has been studied through washing the antenna and also by wrapping it on the head and wrist of a UWB human muscle equivalent phantom. The antenna's effect on body has also been investigated through Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) measurement. The results confirm that the antenna is a promising candidate for modern wearable devices.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS)
Subtitle of host publication	proceedings
Place of Publication	Piscataway, NJ, USA
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Pages	204-207
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9781509063604
ISBN (Print)	9781509063611
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/MWSYM.2017.8059059
Publication status	Published - Oct 2017
Event	2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2017 - Honololu, United States Duration: 4 Jun 2017 → 9 Jun 2017

Conference

Conference	2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2017
Country/Territory	United States
City	Honololu
Period	4/06/17 → 9/06/17

Keywords

Conductive fabric
Flexible antenna
Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS)
Reconfigurable antenna

Access to Document

10.1109/MWSYM.2017.8059059

Cite this

Simorangkir, R. B. V. B., Yang, Y., Esselle, K. P., & Diao, Y. (2017). A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer: Assessment of suitability for wearable applications. In 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS): proceedings (pp. 204-207). [8059059] Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). https://doi.org/10.1109/MWSYM.2017.8059059

Simorangkir, Roy B. V. B. ; Yang, Yang ; Esselle, Karu P. ; Diao, Yinliang. / A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer : Assessment of suitability for wearable applications. 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS): proceedings. Piscataway, NJ, USA : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2017. pp. 204-207

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title = "A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer: Assessment of suitability for wearable applications",

abstract = "In this paper, we present a novel class of wearable antennas that are flexible, electronically tunable, and robust. They consist of conductive fabric parts, used as the radiator, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer utilized to form the substrate as well as the full encapsulation of the radiator including its electronic tuning elements. To validate the concept, a prototype that provides frequency tuning from 2.3 to 2.65 GHz has been fabricated and tested. The fabrication process is detailed and experimental investigations on its suitability for wearable applications are presented. To assess the antenna robustness, its reconfigurability under severe physical deformations has been studied through washing the antenna and also by wrapping it on the head and wrist of a UWB human muscle equivalent phantom. The antenna's effect on body has also been investigated through Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) measurement. The results confirm that the antenna is a promising candidate for modern wearable devices.",

keywords = "Conductive fabric, Flexible antenna, Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS), Reconfigurable antenna",

author = "Simorangkir, {Roy B. V. B.} and Yang Yang and Esselle, {Karu P.} and Yinliang Diao",

year = "2017",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1109/MWSYM.2017.8059059",

language = "English",

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booktitle = "2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS)",

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Simorangkir, RBVB, Yang, Y, Esselle, KP & Diao, Y 2017, A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer: Assessment of suitability for wearable applications. in 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS): proceedings., 8059059, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Piscataway, NJ, USA, pp. 204-207, 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2017, Honololu, United States, 4/06/17. https://doi.org/10.1109/MWSYM.2017.8059059

A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer : Assessment of suitability for wearable applications. / Simorangkir, Roy B. V. B.; Yang, Yang; Esselle, Karu P.; Diao, Yinliang.

2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS): proceedings. Piscataway, NJ, USA : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), 2017. p. 204-207 8059059.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

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T2 - 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2017

AU - Simorangkir, Roy B. V. B.

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AU - Esselle, Karu P.

AU - Diao, Yinliang

PY - 2017/10

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N2 - In this paper, we present a novel class of wearable antennas that are flexible, electronically tunable, and robust. They consist of conductive fabric parts, used as the radiator, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer utilized to form the substrate as well as the full encapsulation of the radiator including its electronic tuning elements. To validate the concept, a prototype that provides frequency tuning from 2.3 to 2.65 GHz has been fabricated and tested. The fabrication process is detailed and experimental investigations on its suitability for wearable applications are presented. To assess the antenna robustness, its reconfigurability under severe physical deformations has been studied through washing the antenna and also by wrapping it on the head and wrist of a UWB human muscle equivalent phantom. The antenna's effect on body has also been investigated through Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) measurement. The results confirm that the antenna is a promising candidate for modern wearable devices.

AB - In this paper, we present a novel class of wearable antennas that are flexible, electronically tunable, and robust. They consist of conductive fabric parts, used as the radiator, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer utilized to form the substrate as well as the full encapsulation of the radiator including its electronic tuning elements. To validate the concept, a prototype that provides frequency tuning from 2.3 to 2.65 GHz has been fabricated and tested. The fabrication process is detailed and experimental investigations on its suitability for wearable applications are presented. To assess the antenna robustness, its reconfigurability under severe physical deformations has been studied through washing the antenna and also by wrapping it on the head and wrist of a UWB human muscle equivalent phantom. The antenna's effect on body has also been investigated through Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) measurement. The results confirm that the antenna is a promising candidate for modern wearable devices.

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BT - 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS)

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ER -

Simorangkir RBVB, Yang Y, Esselle KP, Diao Y. A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer: Assessment of suitability for wearable applications. In 2017 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS): proceedings. Piscataway, NJ, USA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 2017. p. 204-207. 8059059 https://doi.org/10.1109/MWSYM.2017.8059059

A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer: Assessment of suitability for wearable applications

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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First price in the 2017 IEEE Region 10 Student Paper Contest, Postgraduate Category

Cite this

A varactor-tuned frequency-reconfigurable fabric antenna embedded in polymer: Assessment of suitability for wearable applications

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Prizes

First price in the 2017 IEEE Region 10 Student Paper Contest, Postgraduate Category

Cite this