Performance of a novel military shape compact tri-band textile patch antenna for short range communications applications

This paper introduces a novel design for a wearable tri-band textile patch antenna, integrated with the emblem of the Algerian Gendarmerie Nationale. The antenna is engineered to operate across three distinct frequency bands, making it suitable for various wireless communication applications. The first operational band targets the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) and Wi-Fi spectrum for Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) applications at 2.45GHz(2.37GHz - 2.52 GHz). The second band is centered at 4.42GHz(4.2GHz 4.5 GHz), while the third band covers the 6.58 GHz range (6.4 GHz - 6.8 GHz), catering to Wi-Fi 6 E applications. The design utilizes a commercially available flexible denim substrate with a compact footprint of 32×30×0.6 mm3 with a partial ground plane. We conducted extensive evaluations of the antenna’s performance under various bending conditions and its proximity to the human body. Results indicate that the antenna maintains satisfactory performance in both free-space and on-body scenarios. This low-cost, flexible antenna offers a promising solution for a range of wearable consumer electronics applications. Its potential extends to enhanced workforce management, secure access control, and identification systems.