Dual band and dual mode antenna for power efficient body-centric wireless communications

This paper presents a dual band and diverse radiation mode antenna for power efficient and reliable on-body and off-body communications. The antenna is dual band with omnidirectional radiation pattern over the body surface at 2.45 GHz (ISM band) to communicate power efficiently with other co-located body worn devices scattered on the body or body worn base station. At 1.9 GHz (PCS band), it has with directive radiation pattern towards off-the body to communicate power efficiently from on-body device to off-body units/access point or other wider e-health networks. Free space and on-body measured and simulated performances of the proposed antenna are shown and analyzed. The antenna shows very good on-body radiation efficiency as 58.23 % for 1.9 GHz and 50.41 % for 2.45 GHz. In addition, good measured on-body gain is noticed at both frequency bands. Increase of 17.39 % gain at 2.45 GHz is noticed when measured on the body.