Textile multilayer cavity slot monopole for UHF applications

Abstract

A low-profile multilayer textile antenna inspired by a folded cavity with a broad slot monopole is presented for wearable applications in the UHF band. The proposed geometry has total dimensions of 0.34λ 0 × 0.22λ 0 × 0.0149λ 0 at a targeted resonance frequency of 923 MHz and achieves a fractional bandwidth of 3.0% on-body. The antenna is fed by a flexible shielded stripline to enhance wearability, and a substantial overall size reduction is achieved through a combination of miniaturization techniques amenable for textile implementation. A systematic design procedure along with a simple fabrication process including the use of computerized embroidery is a salient feature of the proposed geometry. Good agreement between simulation and measurement results in various conditions validates the proposed structure.