21 MHz/2.4 GHz Dual-use Wearable Antenna for IEEE 802.15.6 Wireless Body Area Network

This study explores the development of a wearable antenna designed for use within a wireless body area network (WBAN), based on the IEEE 802.15.6 WBAN standard. We present a novel, dual-purpose antenna designed to operate on the human body communication physical layer at 21 MHz and the narrow band physical layer at 2.4 GHz. Furthermore, we evaluate the performance of the proposed antenna using electromagnetic field simulation, incorporating a multilayered arm model to consider human impact. Our findings suggest its effectiveness for WBAN applications, as indicated by reflection coefficients, radiation efficiencies, and radiation patterns.