Wideband textile slot antenna array

Wideband textile slot antennas have been developed with high precision. The antennas are composed of three textile layers: the top and bottom are conducting layers and are precisely defined by a laser cutting machine, while the third layer is a textile dielectric layer and sandwiched between these two conducting layers. A single and two-element array slot antenna has been developed and successfully tested. The developed antennas offer flexible, light-weight and bendable properties. The antennas can be easily incorporated into clothing using a simple iron-on adhesive process. The iron-on process allows for the fabric to be washed without losing its adhesion. Details of antenna fabrication and the capabilities of the laser precision technique and its extension to development of large area antenna arrays will be presented.