Wearable embroidered GPS textile antenna

Abstract

The integration of embroidered antennas into clothing is one of the best solutions for wearable wireless communication systems, such as Global Positioning System (GPS). In this work, a wearable GPS patch antenna based on a contour fill stitch pattern is designed, manufactured and tested. The simulations have been performed by means of the full 3D electromagnetic CST Microwave Studio 2016, including bending effects and complex heterogeneous human model impact. The antenna operates at the GPS L1 band (1575.42 MHz) with good performance:return loss S 11 = −13 dB and gain G = −0.4 dBi at the operation frequency. Specific absorption rate (SAR) has been simulated and values under the electromagnetic radiation exposure limits have been obtained, with a safe margin of 24.3% in the worst case.