Prof. Sima Noghanian of CommScope Ruckess Networks

Abstract

Empowering Connectivity: Wearable Antennas for Wi-Fi and 5G Applications

Wireless connectivity plays a major part in our daily lives. Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), mostly operating through Wi-Fi technology, is one of the major technologies to provide this connectivity. 5G is another technology that promises a significant increase in data transmission speed. The goal of this talk is to highlight some of the aspects of the evolution of wearable antennas designed for applications in Wi-Fi and 5G, emphasizing their significance in enabling continuous, reliable connectivity for various wearable devices utilized in diverse applications and industries.

With the focus on wearable wireless devices, it is desired to have a direct connection to networks such as Wi-Fi or 5G networks. Therefore, there is a need for wearable antennas in the WiFi or 5G bands (especially the sub 6 GHz band) that can seamlessly be integrated into clothing. Such antennas should be small. However, the small antennas usually have omnidirectional patterns, and their input impedance may be affected significantly by the lossy human tissue in their vicinities. On the other hand, the radiation toward the body can cause a high Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), requiring a reduction in the input power to comply with the standard SAR levels.

In addition, wearable antennas must be lightweight and flexible. There are multiple options for flexible materials that may be considered. Other conditions specific to wearable antennas are being low-profile, compact, and efficient.  Some of the factors that need careful consideration are the performance of the antennas under bending, crumpling, and stretching. The other factors are the cost, availability, washability, and endurance under extreme and harsh conditions. Some of the wearable antennas may be integrated as parts of the clothing such as buttons or zippers, while others may be integrated into the surface area of the clothes.

This talk is an exploration of wearable antennas for 5G and Wi-Fi, highlighting their pivotal role in enabling ubiquitous and reliable wireless connectivity.

Biography:

Sima Noghanian is currently a Distinguished Hardware Engineer at CommScope Ruckus Networks. She is also an Antenna/RF consultant with Neuspera Medical Inc. Dr. Noghanian received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Manitoba in 2001, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada at the University of Waterloo in 2002. She was an Assistant Professor at the Sharif University of Technology, Iran in 2002, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Manitoba, Canada (2003-2008). She was an Assistant/Associate Professor and the Director of the Applied Electromagnetic and Antenna Engineering Laboratory in the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of North Dakota, USA (2008 – 2018). She also served as the Chair of the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of North Dakota (2014 – 2016). She was a visiting professor at San Diego State University (2018). She was an Electromagnetic Application Engineer with PADT Inc. (2019-2020)  and a Principal Antenna Design Engineering at Wafer LLC (2020-2021).

Dr. Noghanian is a senior member of IEEE, a fellow of ACES, and a senior member of URSI Commissions B and K. Dr. Noghanian currently serves as the associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation (OJAP), IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, IET Microwave, Antennas and Propagation, Elsevier International Journal of Electronics and Communications, Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society (ACES) Journal, and Frontiers in Antennas and Propagation. She was an associate editor of IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters (2016-2022). She was elected as an IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society Adcom Member from 2023 to 2025. Dr. Noghanian was a Board of Director Member of ACES and is currently serving as ACES Membership and Communication Committee Chair. She also serves as USNC-URSI Commission K Chair (2024-2026). Her research interests include antenna design and modeling, wearable and implanted antennas, 3D printed antennas, wireless power transfer, microwave imaging, and wireless channel modeling. She is the author of Microwave Tomography Book, over 250 publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.

Address:CommScope Ruckess Networks, Sunnyvale, California, India