PhD Thesis Explores Multiband Wearable Antenna Design for Wireless Applications

In a groundbreaking achievement, Aya Nabil Abdul-Zahra, a PhD candidate in the Department of Electrical Engineering, successfully defended her thesis titled Design and Implementation of Multiband Wearable Antennas for Wireless Applications. The research addresses the growing need for compact, efficient, and wearable antennas suitable for modern wireless communication systems.

Innovations in Wearable Antenna Design

The thesis encompasses the design, analysis, and fabrication of three compact, wearable antennas tailored for wireless communication systems:

1. Triple-Band Dipole Antenna
   The first proposed antenna is a triple-band integrated dipole design. Each half of the dipole features three branches, with each branch dedicated to a specific frequency band. Constructed on a flexible rubber substrate measuring 33.4×29×1.5 mm³, the antenna supports frequency bands of 2.38–2.62 GHz, 3.32–3.57 GHz, and 5.13–5.41 GHz, achieving an S11 parameter below −10 dB. This design offers high gain and efficiency, making it suitable for various wireless applications.
2. Tree-Shaped Dual-Band Antenna
   The second design incorporates a molecular tree-shaped geometry printed on a semi-flexible Rogers RT5870 substrate with a relative permittivity of 2.33 and a loss tangent of 0.0012. The dual-band antenna operates within 1.72–1.88 GHz and 5.1–5.33 GHz, with simulated results showing partial bandwidths of 8.9% and 4.8% and gains of 1.47 dBi and 5.67 dBi at 1.81 GHz and 5.2 GHz, respectively. The total size of the antenna is 45×41×0.25 mm³.
3. Compact Monopole Antenna
   The third antenna features a compact monopole design with a substrate made of denim fabric. The substrate has a relative permittivity of approximately 1.7 and a thickness of 1 mm. This antenna demonstrates dual-band behavior at 2.45 GHz and 5.2 GHz, with reflection coefficients of −65 dB and −31.2 dB, respectively, and gains of 1.98 dB and 3.35 dB at the operating frequencies.

Committee Acknowledgement

The examination committee, chaired by Dr. Jabbar Salman Aziz, included Dr. Jamal Mohammed Rasul, Dr. Ashwaq Qasim Hamid, Dr. Ali Jabbar Salem, Dr. Ahmed Hamid Rija, Dr. Sinan Majid Abdul Sattar, and Dr. Jawad Kazim Ali (supervisor). The committee commended the research for its innovative approach and practical significance in advancing wearable antenna technology.

This work highlights the potential for integrating high-performance, flexible antennas into modern communication systems, paving the way for future developments in wearable wireless technologies.