732 PIERS Proceedings, Prague, Czech Republic, July 69, 2015

Impact of Bending on the Performance of Circularly Polarized

Wearable Antenna
Muhammad Rizwan, Lauri Sydanheimo, and Leena Ukkonen
Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering
Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland

Abstract Wearable electronic devices are becoming a part of human clothing for applications
such as sensing, navigation and health monitoring. Textile antennas are a strong candidate for
transceiver node in wearable applications due to their flexibility and low cost. In wearable sys-
tems, flat surfaces are not always available so the antenna should be able to retain its performance
in bent conditions. This paper analyses the effects of bending on the performance of a circularly
polarized textile antenna. The antenna under test is made on Denim substrate for Industrial,
Scientific and Medical (ISM) band and Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) applications at
2.45 GHz. Copper tape is used as the conductive material for the patch and the ground plane on
1 mm thick Denim substrate. Rectangular slot along diagonal axes at the center of the circular
patch is used for achieving circular polarization at 2.45 GHz while bandwidth enhancement is
done by using partial and slotted ground plane. The measured operating frequency range of
antenna spans from 2.42 GHz to 2.58 GHz with gain of 2.25 dB at 2.45 GHz. Bending in both xz
and yz plane is done by placing the antenna on cylinders with different radii (50 mm and 75 mm)
and then analyzing the effects on return loss, bandwidth, axial ratio and radiation characteristics.
Fabricated antenna shows good conformity between simulated and measured results. A set of
comparative results of antenna in free space and bending conditions are compared to validate the
operability of antenna with bending in different planes. In future, the performance of antenna
can be analyzed on different body parts like arms and legs etc. to validate its operability for
BAN applications in vicinity of human body.

1. INTRODUCTION
Wearable electronics is an emerging technology of the present time that attracts interest in many
applications, ranging from health monitoring, multimedia, sports, and military. One of the most
important parts of any such system is the antenna, which is required to ensure reliable communi-
cation. With the development of wearable electronics, a new type of antennas is introduced which
can easily be embedded inside human clothing, called textile antennas. Textile antennas have the
advantage of flexibility, lightweight and low cost, and can easily be integrated in daily used gar-
ments. Multiple techniques have been proposed for designing and improving the performance of
textile antennas for use in WBAN applications [1]. However, flexibility of the textile antenna allows
it to easily bend when mounted on human body; hence it becomes necessary to study the effects
of bending on the performance of textile antennas [1].
In WBAN applications, single or multiple antennas are mounted as transceiver nodes on human
body. The transceiver nodes may communicate with one another or some remote server for sending
data depending on the application. Due to the constant motion of the body, it becomes difficult
to always align the transceiver nodes for better power reception. Circular polarization (CP) oper-
ation eliminates the need to continuously align the two nodes for receiving maximum power [2, 3].
Previously reported wearable antennas are mostly non-flexible [3], thick substrate [4], linearly po-
larized [4, 5] or large in size [5] which makes them difficult to be used in wearable applications.
Literature review shows that the bending analysis of linearly polarized textile antennas has been
done to study the effect toward antennas performance in terms of return loss, gain and radiation
pattern [68] but it misses the details of effect on the efficiency and beam width of the antennas.
In this study, we analyzed the impact of bending on the performance of circularly polarized wear-
able antenna in free space. The antenna operates for ISM and WBAN applications at 2.45 GHz. The
antenna uses thin substrate and has improved impedance and 3-dB Axial Ratio (AR) bandwidth, in
free space measured results, than previously reported work [3, 6]. Simulated and measured results
are compared in different antenna positions and bending. The test setup for bending includes two
cylinders with the radii of 50 mm and 75 mm. These dimensions are typical for the human body
parts, e.g., arm and leg. Antennas are bent around the cylinder along two principal planes, xz
and yz planes, respectively, and results are measured for comparison purposes. Performance with
respect to return loss, axial ratio and radiation characteristics have been presented, compared and
Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings 733

discussed briefly. Design of the antenna is explained in Section 2, while Section 3 discusses the flat
antenna performance in free space. Section 4 presents the effects of bending on the performance of
the antenna in free space whereas section 5 concludes the paper.
2. ANTENNA DESIGN
Figure 1 shows the fabricated antenna with dimensions. The antenna is fabricated on Denim fabric
(commonly used in jeans) with the dimensions of 90 90 1 mm3 , dielectric constant (r ) 1.68 and
loss tangent() 0.03. Copper tape with thickness 0.25 mm is used as conductive material (patch
and ground). To achieve circular polarization a slot s is introduced on the patch. The position of
slot s will excite two orthogonal modes of equal amplitude while their phase is controlled by its
length. The resonant frequency of the antenna should be slightly higher than the desired resonant
frequency because inserting the slot will shift the frequencies downward. Increasing the length of
slot s till certain point (14 mm), increases the return loss and shifts the frequency to lower bands,
but afterwards it splits the single frequency band into two bands and starts decreasing the return
loss, which is not desirable. The designed antenna is fed by transmission line having the impedance
of 50 and width of 3.4 mm. The angle between the slot s and feed line is 45 .

(a) (b)

Figure 1: Fabricated antenna. (a) Patch. (b) Ground.

Micro-strip patch antennas are typically narrowband; to increase the bandwidth, partial and
slotted ground plane techniques are used. The reason for the increase in bandwidth is due to the
lowering of the Q factor of the antenna, which is inversely related to bandwidth [9]. Q factor of
the antenna depends on the gap capacitance between the patch and the ground. Using partial
ground will reduce the energy stored in capacitance between patch and ground, thus lowering the
Q factor [9]. After partial grounding the bandwidth is increased to 80 MHz; starting from 2.40 GHz
to 2.48 GHz. To cover the complete ISM band (2.40 GHz to 2.50 GHz), without changing the size
of the radiating patch, slot gs was added to the ground plane which further lowers the Q factor
of the antenna and increases the bandwidth. Due to the small size of the slot gs, it will have
very small effect on the resonant frequency. The increase in backward radiation due to slot gs is
1.4 dB, which shows that leakage radiation from slot is less. The final bandwidth of the antenna,
after using slotted ground plane, increases to 120 MHz; starting from 2.39 GHz to 2.51 GHz.
3. FLAT ANTENNA PERFORMANCE
Measurements are carried out using vector network analyzer (VNA) Agilent PNA E8358A and
near field measurement device Satimo Starlab. Figure 2 shows the comparison of simulated and
measured results in terms of return loss and axial ratio of the antenna.
Measured return loss is similar to simulated with a shift towards higher frequencies. The reason
for shifting is inaccuracies in fabrication as the antenna is fabricated by manually cutting the jeans
and copper tape. The measured impedance bandwidth of the antenna is 160 MHz (2.42 GHz
2.58 GHz). The same trend is followed in the axial ratio, as it shifts toward higher frequencies with
circular polarization (AR < 3 dB). The measured 3-dB AR bandwidth of the antenna is 60 MHz
(2.45 GHz2.51 GHz).
Figure 3 shows the comparison of simulated and measured results in terms of the axial ratio and
gain at 2.45 GHz in xz plane. The measured 3-dB AR beam width at 2.45 GHz is approx. 218 in xz
plane (from 157 to +61 ). Flat antenna measurements show that antenna can efficiently operate
on the desired frequency band with circular polarization in the main beam. The measured Front
734 PIERS Proceedings, Prague, Czech Republic, July 69, 2015

0 15

-5

-10 Simulated (Flat Antenna)

Axial Ratio [dB]

10
S(1,1) [dB]
Measured (Flat Antenna)
-15

-20
Simulated Free Space 5
-25 Measured Free Space
-30

-35 0
2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3 2.38 2.4 2.42 2.44 2.46 2.48
Frequeency [Hz] x 10 9 Frequency [GHz]

(a) (b)

Figure 2: Simulated and measured results. (a) Return loss. (b) Axial ratio.

Figure 3: Simulated and measured results for gain and axial ratio at 2.45 GHz.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 4: Bending. (a) xz 75 mm. (b) yz 75 mm. (c) xz 50 mm. (d) yz 50 mm.

to Back Ratio (FBR) is 20.09 dB which is good for wearable applications as maximum radiation
is away from the antenna even with partial grounding. The antenna exhibits left hand circular
polarization (LHCP).

4. ANTENNA BENDING
To demonstrate the effect of bending, two cylindrical shaped plastic bottles with radii 50 mm (small
cylinder) and 75 mm (large cylinder) are used. The radius of the cylinder is inversely proportional to
the bending angle. The selected radii are for typical human body parts like arms and legs etc.. The
material of the cylinder does not affect the surface currents of the antenna. The antenna is bent on
the cylinder in both xz and yz plane. Transparent paper tape is used to hold the antenna in proper
positions during experiments. Performance of the antenna is evaluated by analyzing the effects of
bending on return loss, axial ratio and radiation characteristics. Radiation characteristics include
radiation patterns (xz and yz plane), peak gain, and radiation efficiency at 2.45 GHz. Figure 4
shows the bent antenna in different planes.
4.1. Effects on Return Loss and Bandwidth
Figure 5 compares the measured return loss of the antenna in flat and bent states. In general,
bending an antenna changes the effective length which ultimately changes the resonant frequency.
Increasing the bending, decreases the effective length, thus the resonant frequency is shifted to
Progress In Electromagnetics Research Symposium Proceedings 735

0 10
Simulated (Flat Antenna)
Measured (Flat Antenna)
8 Measured Bend (xz) 75 mm
-10
Return Loss [dB]

Axial Ratio [dB]

Measured Bend (yz)75 mm
6 Measured Bend (xz) 50 mm
-20 Simulated (Flat Antenna) Measured Bend (yz) 50 mm
Measured (Flat Antenna) 4
Measured Bend (xz) 75 mm
-30 Measured Bend (xz) 75 mm
2
Measured Bend (xz) 50 mm
Measured Bend (yz) 50 mm
-40 0
2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3 2.4 2.42 2.44 2.46 2.48
Frequeency [Hz] x 10 9 Frequency [GHz]

Figure 5: Variation of return loss with bending. Figure 6: Variation of axial ratio with bending.

Table 1: Change in radiation characteristics of antenna with bending.

Antenna Position Return Loss at 2.45 GHz [dB] Bandwidth [MHz]

Simulated (Flat) 19.620 120 (2.39 GHz2.51 GHz)
Measured (Flat) 15.378 160 (2.42 GHz2.58 GHz)
Bending 50 mm xz 11.850 180 (2.442.62 GHz)
Bending 50 mm yz 9.537 50 (2.572.62 GHz)
Bending 75 mm xz 11.010 150 (2.44 GHz2.59 GHz)
Bending 75 mm yz 9.628 160 (2.45 GHz2.61 GHz)

higher bands. From the measured data, this is very clear in case of bending on the small cylinder.
Return loss on the large cylinder is almost similar to the measured return loss of the flat antenna
because of the small bending angle. The impedance band breaks into two when the antenna is bent
in xz plane on the large cylinder. Effect of bending in yz plane is the worst as it shifts the resonant
frequency to higher bands as well as degrades the return loss. One reason for this can be that the
effective dimensions of transmission line and slot s are slightly modified, which detunes the input
matching of the antenna. Compared with the measured results (flat antenna), yz plane bending
does not have significant effect on the return loss. In all studied cases of the antenna bending,
except small cylinder in yz plane, the measured impedance bandwidth is larger (25% to 50%) than
the simulated impedance bandwidth of 120 MHz. Table 1 summarizes the change in return loss and
bandwidth of antenna with bending.
4.2. Effects on Axial Ratio (AR)
Figure 6 compares the measured axial ratio of the antenna in flat and bent states. The measured
AR follows the same trend as measured return loss in different bending scenarios. AR < 3 dB is
maintained at 2.45 GHz when the antenna is bent in xz plane, while in yz plane, AR degrades
at 2.45 GHz. Circular polarization changes to linear (or is highly elliptical) in yz plane bending.
Improvement in AR is observed for xz plane bending. Circular polarization can easily change with
bending because both length and width are in resonance with 90 phase shift and bending affects
the effective resonating area of patch. It is always preferred to place the textile antenna on flat
body parts like back and chest etc.. One solution to this problem can be designing an elliptically
polarized antenna and bending it along the longer dimension to achieve circular polarization. The
antenna then should be placed in specific bending for use in the wearable applications.
4.3. Effects on Radiation Characteristics
Figure 7 shows the 2D radiation patterns of antenna in xz and yz plane. Position of the antenna is
shown in Figure 7 to have a better understanding of the radiation pattern around it. In xz plane
bending, the beam width increases in both planes (xz and yz ) on the larger cylinder, but as the
bending is increased more by placing the antenna on smaller cylinder, the beam width tends to
increase more in the plane of bending. The same change is observed in yz plane bending. This leads
to the conclusion that antenna bending broadens the radiation pattern in the bending plane. The
gain and efficiency of the antenna mainly reduces with bending. Table 2 summarizes the change in
radiation characteristics of the antenna with bending. The measured results follow the theoretical
relationship between gain, efficiency and directivity (calculated using beam widths) of the antenna.
736 PIERS Proceedings, Prague, Czech Republic, July 69, 2015

0 o5 dB 0 o5 dB
o
-30 o 0 30 o -30 0 30 o
-5 -5
-10 -10
-60 o -15 60 o -60 o -15 60 o
-20 -20
-25 -25
-30 -30
-90o 90o -90 o 90 o
-30 -30
-25 -25
-20 -20
-15 -15
-120 o -10 Antenna)
Simulated (Flat 120 o -120 o Simulated (Flat
-10 Antenna) 120 o
Measured (Flat
-5 Antenna) Measured (Flat Antenna)
-5
Measured Bend (xz) 75 mm Measured Bend (xz) 75 mm
0 0 (yz) 75 mm
Measured Bend (yz) 75 mm Measured Bend
o
-150 5dB (xz) 50 mm
Measured Bend 150 o -150o Measured Bend
5dB(xz) 50 mm15 0o
Measured Bend o (yz) 50 mm Measured Bend(yz) 50 mm
180 180 o

(a) (b)

Figure 7: Radiation patterns. (a) xz plane. (b) yz plane.

Table 2: Change in radiation characteristics of antenna with bending.

3 dB Beam width 3 dB Beam width Peak Gain at Efficiency at
Antenna Position
(xz-plane or Phi 0) (yz-plane or Phi 90) 2.45 GHz [dB] 2.45 GHz [%]
Simulated (Flat) 77 (+37 to 40 ) 72 (+37 to 35 ) 2.2612 27.505

Measured (Flat) 73 (+30 to 43 ) 74 (+35 to 39 ) 2.2524 25.076

Bending 50 mm xz 78 (+13 to 65 ) 74 (+37 to 37 ) 1.6579 22.387
Bending 50 mm yz 74 (+32 to 42 ) 80 (+37 to 43 ) 1.9904 26.699
Bending 75 mm xz 78 (+30 to 48 ) 75 (+32 to 43 ) 1.8872 24.582

Bending 75 mm yz 77 (+31 to 46 ) 77 (+33 to 44 ) 2.1133 26.345

5. CONCLUSION
The paper focuses on the effects of bending on the performance of the circularly polarized wearable
antenna. A prototype antenna, with Denim fabric as substrate and copper tape as conductive
material, is used for analysis. Two different planes, xz and yz, were selected to study the effects
of bending on return loss, axial ratio and radiation characteristics of the antenna. Results show
that the effect on performance is increased when the antenna is bent along the direction which
determines its resonance length. In the presented work, the yz direction specifies the resonance
length. Impedance matching is improved when the antenna is bent in xz plane. Beam width
increases in the plane of bending which results in decreased antenna gain. Even after bending,
the antenna is able to operate efficiently on the resonance frequency of 2.45 GHz. In future, the
performance analysis of the antenna on different body parts like arms and legs etc. will be done to
validate its operability for WBAN applications in the vicinity of human body.
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