Design of Dual-Element MIMO Antenna for
Wearable WBAN Applications
Gaurav Kumar Soni
2023 IEEE Microwaves, Antennas, and Propagation Conference (MAPCON) | 979-8-3503-2826-4/23/$31.00 ©2023 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/MAPCON58678.2023.10464095
Department of ECE
Manipal University Jaipur,
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
gksoni2709@gmail.com
Ashok Kumar
Department of ECE
Government Mahila Engineering College,
Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
kumarashoksaini@gmail.com
Abstract—The relentless advancement of wireless
communication technology has spurred the development of
Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs), ushering in a new
era of personalized healthcare, fitness monitoring, and
wearable technology. In the context of WBANs, the demand
for efficient, reliable, and seamless communication between
wearable devices has grown exponentially. However, these
devices often face challenges related to wireless
communication, such as limited range, interference, and signal
degradation. To overcome these obstacles and enhance the
communication capabilities of wearable devices, the
integration of Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO)
antenna technology has garnered significant attention. In this
present a dual element MIMO antenna design for wearable
WBAN application at frequency of 2.45GHz. Different
simulation analysis of presented antenna is done with four
layer (bone, muscle, fat and skin) human tissue model for on
and off body wearable WBAN application.
Keywords—MIMO Antenna, Wearable Application, On
Body, Off Body, ISM Band, WBAN.
I. INTRODUCTION
MIMO technology has gained considerable attention in
wireless communication systems for its ability to enhance
system capacity and reliability [1]. MIMO employs multiple
antennas at both the sender and receiver to enable
simultaneous transmission and reception of multiple data
streams, leading to enhanced data rates, expanded coverage,
and improved signal reliability [2-3]. While MIMO has been
extensively studied and applied in various wireless
communication scenarios, its potential for wearable
applications has only recently started to be explored [4].
A Wearable Body Area Network (WBAN) is a type of
wireless network that involves the use of wearable devices to
monitor and communicate with various sensors and devices
placed on or around a person's body. WBANs are often used
in healthcare and medical applications, sports and fitness
tracking, and other scenarios where real-time monitoring and
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Dinesh Yadav
Department of ECE
Manipal University Jaipur,
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
dinesh.yadav@jaipur.manipal.edu
Manish Varun Yadav
Department of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering
Manipal Institute of Technology,
MAHE, Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, India
yadav.manish@manipal.edu
communication of physiological or environmental data are
essential [5-6]. Wearable devices often face unique
challenges in terms of size, power consumption, and
environment-induced signal degradation. These challenges
necessitate the development of specialized antennas that can
meet the stringent requirements of wearable applications [6-
7]. MIMO antennas designed specifically for wearable can
provide numerous benefits, including increased data
throughput, improved signal quality, and enhanced
communication reliability [8]. By developing MIMO
antennas specifically tailored for wearables, we anticipate
significant improvements in wireless communication
performance and reliability, thereby enhancing the user
experience and expanding the range of applications for
wearable technology. The findings of this study will
contribute to the growing body of knowledge on MIMO
antenna design for wearable’s and serve as a foundation for
future research and development in this rapidly evolving
field [9]. As wearable technology continues to advance,
MIMO antennas offer a promising avenue to enhance
wireless communication performance, providing users with
faster, more reliable connectivity in compact and versatile
devices. Ongoing research and innovation in MIMO antenna
design will undoubtedly contribute to the seamless
integration of wearables into our everyday lives.
II. ANTENNA DESIGN & ITS PARAMETERS
The presented wearable antenna is design using the
Rogers RT5880 subtract with dielectric constant 2.2,
thickness is 0.508mm and thermal conductivity 0.2W/K/m.
The size of the antenna is 110×130×0.508mm3. In fig 1 and
2 display that the dual element MIMO antenna with fully
ground and partial ground respectively and their designing
parameters are represented in the table 1 and 2 respectively.
For on and off body analysis of antenna used 4 layer human
tissue model that shown in the fig 3 and its designing
parameters is represented in the table 3. This used human
tissue model consist of the skin, bone, fat and muscle.
 Fig. 3. Four layer human body tissue model

TABLE III. PROPERTIES OF USED HUMAN BODY TISSUE

T MODEL [10]

Human Relative Conductivity Mass Thickness

Fig. 1. Dual element fully ground wearable MIMO antenna
ntenna Tissue Permittivity σ (S/m) Density (mm)
(ϵr) (Kg/m3)
TABLE I. PARAMETERS OF 2×2 FULLY GROUND WEARABLE MIMO
ANTENNA Skin 37.95 1.49 1001 2
Fat 5.27 0.11 900 5
Parameters Values (mm)
Width of Subtract (X) 110 Muscle 52.67 1.77 1006 20

Length of Subtract (Y) 130 Bone 18.49 0.82 1008 13

Length of patch (PL) 48 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Width of patch (PW)
Width between both patch (GL)
Length between both patch (GW)
41
A. Return Loss
12
The return losses of the presented antennas are analysis
15
for the on and off body both the applications. For on body
analysis antenna is place on the human body tissue model
with distance of 0mm and for off body analysis places the
antenna from the human body tissue model at 5mm and
10mm distance. In fig 4 shown that the magnitude of return
loss (|S11|, |S22|) of dual element fully ground MIMO
antenna for WBAN on and off body applications.
application The value
of S11, S22 of fully ground MIMO antenna for on body is -
39.14,, for off body at distance of 5mm is -33.33 and off
body at distance of 10mm is -31.56. In fig 5, shown that the
magnitude of the return loss (|S12|, |S21|) of fully ground
MIMO antenna for on body and off body application. The
value of S12, S21 of fully ground MIMO antenna for on
body is -40.96,, for off body at distance of 5mm is -42.31 and
off body at distance of 10mm is -43.75.

Fig. 2. Dual element partial ground wearable MIMO antenna

TABLE II. PARAMETERS OF 2×2 PARTIAL GROUND WEARABLE

MIMO ANTENNA

Parameters Values (mm)

Width of Subtract (X) 110
Length of Subtract (Y) 130
Length of patch (PL) 48
Width of patch (PW) 41
Width between both patch (GL) 12
Length between both patch (GW) 15
Length of ground patch (GPL) 70
Width of ground patch (GPW) 50
Width between both ground patch G1W 10
Fig. 4. Magnitude of the return loss (|S11|, |S22|) of dual element fully
Length between both ground patch (G1L) 10 ground dual element wearable MIMO antenna

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Fig. 5. Magnitude of the return loss (|S12|, |S21|) of dual element fully
ground dual element wearable MIMO antenna
In fig 6, shown that the |S11|, |S22| of partial ground
MIMO antenna for on body and off body application. The
value of S11, S22 of partial ground MIMO antenna for on
body is -44.45, for off body at distance of 5mm is -39.45
and off body at distance of 10mm is -38.29. In fig 7, shown
that |S12|, |S21| of partial ground MIMO antenna for on
body and off body application. The value of S12, S21 of
partial ground MIMO antenna for on body is -40.93, for off
body at distance of 5mm is -42.47 and off body at distance
of 10mm is -44.27.
Fig. 6. Magnitude of the return loss (|S11|, |S22|) of dual element
partial ground wearable MIMO antenna
Fig. 7. Magnitude of the return loss (|S12|, |S21|) of dual element
partial ground wearable MIMO antenna
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B. Farfield
In fig 8 and 9 shown that the farfield of dual element
fully ground MIMO antenna at port 1 and port 2 for on and
off body application. The maximum gain of this MIMO
antenna is for on body is 6.8dBi, for off body at distance of
5mm is 7.19dBi and off body at distance of 10mm is
7.3dBi. In fig 10 and 11 shown that the farfield of dual
element partial ground MIMO antenna at port 1 and port 2
for on and off body application. The maximum gain of dual
element partial ground MIMO antenna is for on body is
6.81dBi, for off body at distance of 5mm is 7.13dBi and off
body at distance of 10mm is 7.27dBi.
(a) (b) (c)
Fig. 8. Farfield of dual element fully ground wearable MIMO antenna
at port 1 for (a) On body (b) off body (distance = 5mm) (c) Off
body (distance = 10mm)
(a) (b) (c)
Fig. 9. Farfield of dual element fully ground wearable MIMO antenna
at port 2 for (a) On body (b) off body (distance = 5mm) (c) Off
body (distance = 10mm)
(a) (b) (c)
Fig. 10. Farfield of dual element partial ground wearable MIMO
antenna at port 1 for (a) On body (b) off body (distance = 5mm)
(c) Off body (distance = 10mm)
(a) (b) (c)
Fig. 11. Farfield of dual element partial ground wearable MIMO
antenna at port 2 for (a) On body (b) off body (distance = 5mm)
(c) Off body (distance = 10mm)
C. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
The SAR(1g) and SAR(10g) value of the dual element
fully ground MIMO antenna for on body is 2.65kg/m3 and
0.848kg/m3, for off body at distance of 5mm is 0.657kg/m3
and 0.26kg/m3 and off body at distance of 10mm is
0.33kg/m3 and 0.142kg/m3. The SAR(1g) and SAR(10g)
value of the dual element partial ground MIMO antenna for
on body is 3.77kg/m3 and 1.36kg/m3, for off body at
distance of 5mm is 1.07kg/m3 and 0.427kg/m3 and off body
at distance of 10mm is 0.52kg/m3 and 0.232kg/m3.
D. Bending Effect
In fig 12 and 13 showed the bending effect of the dual
element fully ground and partial ground MIMO antenna
respectively.

(a) Bend at 5o (b) Bend at 10o

Fig. 16. Simulated gain of dual element partial ground wearable MIMO
antenna at port 1 for (a) at 5o bending (b) at 10o bending

(a) Bend at 0o (b) Bend at 5o (c) Bend at 10o

Fig. 12. Bending effect of fully ground wearable MIMO antenna at (a)
0o (b) 5o (c) 10o

(a) Bend at 5o (b) Bend at 10o

Fig. 17. Simulated gain of dual element partial ground wearable MIMO
antenna at port 2 for (a) at 5o bending (b) at 10o bending

The SAR (1g) value of the fully ground MIMO antenna

(a) Bend at 0o (b) Bend at 5o (c) Bend at 10o
Fig. 13. Bending effect of partial ground wearable MIMO antenna at (a)
0o (b) 5o (c) 10o
In Fig 14 to Fig 17 shown that the simulated gain of the
fully ground and partial ground wearable MIMO antenna
from port 1 and port 2 at bending 5o and 10o respectively.
Simulated gain of the fully ground wearable MIMO antenna
at bending of 5o and 10o is 2.82dBi and 2.56dBi
respectively and simulated gain of the partial ground
wearable MIMO antenna at bending of 5o and 10o is
5.38dBi and 5.53dBi respectively.
for on body is at without bending 2.65kg/m3, at 5o bending
of antenna SAR(1g) value is 0.00403kg/m3 and at 10o
bending of antenna SAR(1g) value is 0.00511kg/m3. The
SAR (1g) value of the partial ground MIMO antenna for on
body is at without bending 3.77kg/m3, at 5o bending of
antenna SAR(1g) value is 0.00436kg/m3 and at 10o bending
of antenna SAR(1g) value is 0.00419kg/m3. From the
simulation analysis of both the antenna it’s shown that the
value of SAR is reduced when antenna is bend on the
human body tissue model. The gain of the fully ground
MIMO antenna is for on body at bending of 5o is 2.82dBi
and at bending of 10o is 2.56dBi. The gain of the partial
ground MIMO antenna for on body at bending of 5o is
5.38dBi and at bending of 10o is 5.53dBi.
In table IV display the both antenna obtained result for
on body and off body communication. In table V shown
that the obtained bending results of both the presented
antenna design.

TABLE IV. OBTAINED RESULTS

(a) Bend at 5o (b) Bend at 10o
Dual Element Fully Dual Element Partial
Fig. 14. Simulated gain of dual element fully ground wearable MIMO Ground MIMO Ground MIMO
antenna at port 1 for (a) at 5o bending (b) at 10o bending Antenna Antenna
Off Body Off Body
On On
Body At At Body At At
5mm 10mm 5mm 10mm
- -
Return
-39.14 33.3 -31.56 -44.45 39.4 -38.29
Loss
3 5
Gain
6.8 7.19 7.3 6.81 7.13 7.27
o o
dBi
(a) Bend at 5 (b) Bend at 10 SAR
0.42
Fig. 15. Simulated gain of dual element fully ground wearable MIMO (10g) 0.848 0.26 0.142 1.36 0.232
7
antenna at port 2 for (a) at 5o bending (b) at 10o bending kg/m3

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 TABLE V. OBTAINED BENDING ANALYSIS RESULTS simulation results it observes that the dual element partial
Dual Element Fully Dual Element Partial ground MIMO antenna is work better for the wearable
Ground MIMO Ground MIMO WBAN application.
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design will undoubtedly contribute to the seamless 208, 2022.
integration of wearables into our everyday lives. In this
paper present the two different dual element MIMO antenna
design with full ground and partial ground for wearable
WBAN application at 2.45GHz frequency. Different
simulation analysis is done like return loss, farfield, SAR(1),
SAR(10g) and various bending analysis is also done. From
the simulation analysis of both the antenna it’s shown that
the value of SAR is reduced when antenna is bend on the
human body tissue model. From all the above discussed

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