Electromagnetic performance of a three-dimensional woven fabric antenna conformal with cylindrical surfaces

Abstract

Textile structural antenna is one of the most important components for wearable electronics. To obtain structural integrity and stability, three-dimensional orthogonal weaving technology is adopted to weave three-dimensional fabric antennas (3DFAs). The electromagnetic performance of the 3DFAs with the radii of curvature of 75, 60, 45 and 25 mm are simulated with a High Frequency Structural Simulator and tested experimentally. The simulated and tested results agree reasonably well. The results show that the return losses are less than –10 dB, while the resonant frequencies and radiation patterns are significantly influenced by the curvature and the feeding direction. The 3DFAs with the curvature perpendicular to the feeding direction show more stable resonant frequencies and radiation patterns than those of the 3DFAs with the curvature parallel to their feeding direction.