A wearable low profile asymmetrical slotted ultra-wide band antenna for WBAN applications

In this article a low profile asymmetrical slotted Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) antenna is proposed for Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) applications. The antenna was fabricated using Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). An improved radiation pattern was obtained with an optimized patch shape of the antenna that broadens the bandwidth and lowers the antenna's profile. The proposed antenna is simulated in HFSS and CST Simulator, and the proposed antenna is fabricated on FR4 substrate with the reduced ground plane. In frequency ranges from 2.50 to 10.97 GHz simulation as well as measured results show that the reflection coefficient (S-11) of the antenna is below - 10 dB and increased impedance bandwidth of 126%. The proposed antenna has desired radiation pattern and gain for wearable application. The wearable performance of proposed antenna on chest, leg, and the arms of the human body is analyzed with Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). The maximum value of the SAR is 0.785 W/Kg which is less than threshold value of 1.6 W/kg. The time-domain behavior of proposed antenna is investigated with the time domain parameters such as Group delay, Fidelity factor and Mean realized gain. The time domain results are evident for the proposed antenna is capable of pulse signal transmission and reception.