Applying design of experiments to the design of 60 GHz antennas for off-body communications

Abstract

A 2k factorial design with 3 factors was applied to perform analysis of skin, antenna type, and solution frequency. A homogeneous skin model was used to contrast the antenna's behavior in free-space and on-skin in order to determine if the antenna tested will withstand the effects of the human body when used as part of a body area network. It was determined that: the bandwidth was not affected in the frequencies of interest; the front-to-back ratio is strongly dependent on the presence of skin and the interaction of the antenna type with the presence of skin; and the measured gain is dependent on the antenna type.