Compact and conformal ultra wideband antenna for wearable applications

This paper presents the characteristics of a compact and conformal ultra wideband (UWB) antenna fabricated on Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) substrate to be used in wearable applications. The presented return loss and radiation pattern measurements demonstrated that the characteristics of the antenna are not compromised when the antenna is bent or even folded. The antenna shows similar and reliable electrical and mechanical performances in wearable electronics, where their planar condition cannot be guaranteed. The antenna´s ability to work under adverse environments (i.e. under heating and in water) are also investigated and negligible impact of these conditions on antenna performance promises the use of such antenna in wearable applications.