Operation of conformal handset antennas in the presence of human body

Student: Eng Hoe Yap

Supervisor: Marek Bialkowski

Category: Engineering Thesis Project - Communications

A rapid growing market for wireless communication has create a remarkable trend towards the development of integrated antennas for mobile phones. Due to the ongoing miniaturization of components and marketing requirements, the size of modern mobile handsets have decreased tremendous over the last few years. In addition, these handsets also come in different shapes and sizes. This leads to one of the most desired innovations in modern antenna technology, which is the widespread use of conformal designs.

Traditionally used external antennas such as monopoles and helical antennas increased the size of the handset (especially the retractable ones) and are easy broken or bended. These antennas also have significant effect on human body because they are not easy to shield. In addition, they are sensitive in only one polarization and offer poor electrical performance in the field next to the human body. Probably the most promising technique to solve all the disadvantages that external antennas possessed is to use integrated antennas such as the planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA). PIFA has a low profile, and it can easily be incorporated into wireless handsets.

The objective of this thesis is to compare a planar inverted-F antenna, which resonant at 1800MHz, with a conformal PIFA antenna and investigate their performances in the presence of human body. With the results, the feasibility of the adoption of conformal PIFA in modern handset will be determined.

Thesis Document (PDF)

Poster Presentation (PDF)