ERC Designs Flexible and Highly Efficient Textile-Based Antenna
Using advanced screen-printing technology, the NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) at Penn State University designed a flexible and highly efficient textile-based antenna, making it a good candidate for wearable applications.
Wearable monitoring systems require light and flexible antennas that are also robust and highly efficient. This textile-based antenna easily conforms to an arm or a leg, making it possible to integrate into smart clothing for the transmission of health data from the body.
Advancements in printing technologies have improved the ability to manufacture flexible and wearable electronics, but a lack of flexible antennas hinders effective wireless communication and data transfer. Using enhanced screen-printing technology, the Center team designed a flexible, textile-based, and highly efficient antenna capable of operating in full duplex mode. This gives wearable electronics the ability to send and receive simultaneously in different frequencies, with a high area of signal coverage and transmitting power.
When integrated into wearable devices, the antenna has the potential to improve the ability to communicate with health monitoring systems, such as an electrocardiogram, and to allow for remote monitoring by medical professionals.
