Metasurface-inspired flexible wearable MIMO antenna array for wireless body area network applications and biomedical telemetry devices

This article presents a sub-6GHz ISM-band flexible wearable MIMO antenna array for wireless body area networks (WBANs) and biomedical telemetry devices. The array is based on metasurface inspired technology. The antenna array consists of 2× 2 matrix of triangular-shaped radiation elements that were...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Althuwayb, Ayman Abdulhadi, Alibakhshikenari, Mohammad, Virdee, Bal S., Rashid, Nasr, Kaaniche, Khaled, Atitallah, Ahmed Ben, Armghan, Ammar, Elhamrawy, Osama I., See, Chan H., Falcone Lanas, Francisco
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Universidad Pública de Navarra
Repositorio:Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra
OAI Identifier:oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/44999
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2454/44999
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Biomedical telemetry devices
Electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) devices
Flexible antennas
Metasurface (MTS) antennas
MIMO antenna array
On-body antennas
Wearable antennas
Wireless body area network (WBAN)
Descripción
Sumario:This article presents a sub-6GHz ISM-band flexible wearable MIMO antenna array for wireless body area networks (WBANs) and biomedical telemetry devices. The array is based on metasurface inspired technology. The antenna array consists of 2× 2 matrix of triangular-shaped radiation elements that were realized on 0.8 mm thick Rogers RT/duroid 5880 substrate. Radiation characteristics of the array are enhanced by isolating the surface current interaction between the individual radiators in the array. This is achieved by inserting an electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) decoupling structure between the radiating elements. The radiating elements were transformed into a metasurface by etching sub-wavelength slots inside them. The periodic arrangement of slots acts like resonant scatterers that manipulate the electromagnetic response of the surface. Results confirm that by employing the decoupling structure and sub-wavelength slots the isolation between the radiators is significantly improved (>34.8 dB). Moreover, there is an improvement in the array's fractional bandwidth, gain and the radiation efficiency. The optimized array design for operation over 5.0-6.6 GHz has an average gain and efficiency of 10 dBi and 83%, respectively. Results show that the array's performance is not greatly affected by a certain amount of bending. In fact, the antenna maintains a gain between 8.65-10.5 dBi and the efficiency between 77-83%. The proposed MIMO antenna array is relatively compact, can be easily fabricated on one side of a dielectric material, allows easy integration with RF circuitry, is robust, and maintains its characteristics with some bending. These features make it suitable for various wearable applications and biomedical telemetry devices.