A Review of Clothing Components in the Development of Wearable Textile Antennas: Design and Experimental Procedure

Wearable antenna systems have attracted significant research efforts during the last decade and a rich pool of review papers can be found in the literature. Each scientific work contributes to various fields of wearable technology focusing, mainly, on constructing materials, manufacturing techniques, targeting applications, and miniaturization methods. In this review paper, we examine the use of clothing components in wearable antenna technology. By the term clothing components (CC), dressmaking accessories/materials such as buttons, snap-on buttons, Velcro tapes, or zips are considered. In light of their utilization in the development of wearable antennas, the clothing components can play a triple role: (i) that of a clothing item, (ii) that of an antenna part or the main radiator, and (iii) that of an integration means of the antennas into clothes. One of their advantages is that they consist of conductive elements, integrated into the clothes, which can be effectively exploited as operating parts of wearable antennas. This review paper includes classification and description of the clothing components used so far in the development of wearable textile antennas with an emphasis on designs, applications and performance. Furthermore, a step-by-step design procedure for textile antennas that use clothing components as a functional part of their configuration is recorded, reviewed, and described in detail. The design procedure takes into account the detailed geometrical models required for the clothing components and the way they are embedded into the wearable antenna structure. In addition to the design procedure, aspects of experimental procedures (parameters, scenarios, and processes) that should be followed in wearable textile antennas with an emphasis on antennas that use clothing components (e.g., repeatability measurements) are presented. Finally, the potential of textile technology through the application of clothing components into wearable antennas is outlined.

Automated summary

This review paper examines the use of clothing components in wearable antenna technology. Clothing components can serve as clothing items, antenna parts or radiators, and integration means for antennas into clothes. The paper categorizes and describes clothing components used in the development of wearable textile antennas, with a focus on designs, applications, and performance. It also presents a step-by-step design procedure, including detailed geometrical models and embedding clothing components into wearable antenna structures. Experimental procedures for wearable textile antennas, specifically those using clothing components, are discussed. The potential of textile technology in wearable antennas through the application of clothing components is outlined.