This article has been accepted for publication in IEEE Access.

This is the author's version which has not been fully edited and
content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3384371

Design and Implementation of Active Antennas

for IoT-Based Healthcare Monitoring System
Umar Musa1,3, Shaharil Mohd Shah1, Huda A Majid1, Ismail Ahmad Mahadi 2, Mohamad
Kamal A Rahim4, Muhammad Sani Yahya5 and Zuhairiah Zainal Abidin1
1
Advanced Telecommunication Research Center (ATRC), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), 86400 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
2
Faculty of Exact and Applied Science, University of N'Djamena, Box: 1117, N'Djamena, Chad
3
Department of Electrical Engineering, Bayero University Kano, 700006, Nigeria
4
Advanced RF and Microwave Research Group, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310, UTM JB, Johor, Malaysia
5
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, 740272, Nigeria
Corresponding authors: Shaharil Mohd Shah ([email protected]), Ismail Ahmat Mahadi ([email protected]), Umar Musa
([email protected])
This work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) Malaysia under FRGS Grant FRGS/1/2020/TK0/UTHM/02/44.

ABSTRACT This work presents the design and implementation of active antennas as a part of a healthcare
monitoring system that is based on the Internet of Things (IoT). The monitoring system comprises a
SEN11547 pulse sensor and an LM35 temperature sensor for measuring heart rate in Beats Per Minute
(BPM) and body temperature in Degree Celsius (°C). This data is then sent to the ThingSpeak IoT platform,
which necessitates the integration with the NodeMCU ESP-32S Wi-Fi module to ensure the availability of
data. Two dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz) microstrip patch antennas, one with a PIN diode and one
without, are fabricated using Rogers Duroid RO3003™ substrate. Both antennas have dimensions of
41 × 44 mm². In order to achieve a dual-band operation at 2.4 GHz, a slot in the shape of an inverted letter
U is introduced, to the existing patch which generates a 5.8 GHz frequency band. By controlling the PIN
diode's ON and OFF state, the active antenna can switch between a single band of 5.8 GHz and a dual-band
of 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. At both frequencies, the measured radiation patterns exhibit bidirectional and
directional characteristics in the E-plane, whereas an omnidirectional pattern can be observed in the
H-plane. In terms of nonlinear characteristics of the antenna, the third-order intermodulation distortion
products (IMD3) frequencies are generated within an input power range of 0 to 20 dBm from the two-tone
nonlinear measurements. Specifically, the IMD3 at 2.4 GHz is measured at -36.18 dBm and -47.19 dBm at
5.8 GHz. Additionally, the measurement showed that the 1-dB gain compression point (P1-dB) was not
detected at 2.4 GHz, indicating linear behavior within the RF input power range. However, at 5.8 GHz, the
P1-dB was observed at an RF input power level of 13.8 dBm, suggesting linear functionality up to this power
level. The experimental data are obtained from ten participants with ages ranging between 18 and 40 years
old for 10-minutes duration with a 1-minute step size which implies 10 samples. For comparison and
validation, the measurements are compared with the commercially available Laird Connectivity
2.4GHz/5.8GHz dipole antenna. It can be observed that the heart rate ranges from 85 BPM to 92 BPM for
the active antenna whereas for the reference antenna, the values range from 84 to 90 BPM, which implies a
good agreement. On the other hand, the body temperature ranges from 29 to 37°C for the active antenna
and from 30 to 36°C for the reference antenna, which infers a good agreement as well. Therefore, it is
shown that the proposed dual-band active antennas in this work can be effectively integrated into the
IoT-based healthcare monitoring system.

INDEX TERMS IoT platform, healthcare monitoring, patch antenna, PIN diode, vital sign, sensor

I. INTRODUCTION employed on the microcontroller to perform the required

Internet of Things (IoT) has integrated into contemporary tasks and display the data on the IoT platform. The
society, serving as a platform for acquiring data and application of IoT technologies spans a wide range of fields,
facilitating long-distance wireless communication [1]–[3]. In including healthcare systems for monitoring heartbeat, and
order to implement the IoT concept, multiple sensors are

1
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body temperature, military operations, smart cities, smart Although medical practitioners employ conventional
homes, as well as agricultural applications [4]–[7]. methods for assessing patients' vital signs within hospital
These applications aim to enhance resource allocation and settings, this equipment's reliance on traditional approaches
overall efficiency. The Internet of Things (IoT) applications' [32] results in inherent inefficiencies concerning time. This
general performance and device access to the Internet are situation distinctly impacts real-time patient healthcare
being further improved by wireless network technologies [8]. services [33], particularly during the diagnostic phase of
An integral component within wireless sensor technology is illnesses, leading to escalated operational expenses and
the antenna, which plays a crucial role as IoT techniques augmented medical personnel workloads. IoT-based
continue to rapidly evolve, discovering more and more uses healthcare monitoring appears as an opportunity to improve
in a variety of industries, including monitoring, agriculture, the sector in real-time and get beyond the drawbacks of
intelligent cities, intelligent homes, and surveillance. The traditional healthcare devices [34]. Due to the presence of
expanding need in communication technology for multi- IoT-enabled health monitoring systems, individuals can now
frequency and multi-function antennas has led to significant access essential physiological data from the comfort of their
attention being focused on the design of compact and easily homes. This advancement notably benefits elderly patients,
integrated antennas in recent years [9]. for whom the arduous journey to a medical facility can be
In the realm of advanced wireless communication devices, both physically demanding and taxing.
there is a growing need for versatile antennas that can adapt Numerous researchers are actively exploring investigations
to rapidly changing user requirements [10]. Traditional fixed on vital signs to diagnose various medical conditions. The
antennas are insufficient to meet this demand. Depending on implementation of the proposed designs encompasses the
specific circumstances and limitations, it becomes necessary utilization of Arduino-based IoT technology to monitor
to modify antenna characteristics to ensure the delivery of heartbeats [35] and body temperature [36], [37]. Research
high-quality services. Reconfigurable antennas are designed findings indicate that data related to heartbeat diagnoses can
to address this need, as they can alter their frequency, be managed via smartphones [38] and computer servers
radiation pattern, polarization, or any combination thereof [39]–[41]. Authors in [42] examine IoT-driven patient
[11]–[14]. Numerous efforts have been dedicated to the monitoring systems employing sensors for the identification,
development of reconfigurable antenna designs [15]–[19]. In assessment, and continuous tracking of two fundamental vital
order to achieve antenna reconfiguration, active devices are signs. The system's architecture incorporates the Arduino
commonly employed, including PIN diodes, varactor diodes, Mega 2560, ESP8266 Wi-Fi Module, and two sensor
and RF MEMS switches [20]–[22]. Varactor and PIN diodes modules to formulate an IoT-centered patient monitoring
offer advantages such as low insertion loss and seamless setup. This configuration proficiently detects core vital signs,
frequency band adjustments, but they exhibit nonlinear namely body temperature and respiratory rate.
behavior. On the other hand, RF MEMS switches provide Furthermore, it assesses these vital sign levels for the
excellent isolation properties but are characterized by a patient's age, delivers notifications for irregular conditions,
slower switching speed [23]–[25]. and transmits the results wirelessly through Android
Due to the nonlinear characteristics of active devices at high applications. An alternative design, involving wearable
frequencies, when these devices are integrated into the IoT-enabled real-time healthcare monitoring
antenna system, they exhibit nonlinear behavior that requires systems [43]–[45], entails the development of a wearable
careful consideration to avoid impacting the performance of IoT-cloud-based healthcare monitoring framework tailored
the front-end communication system [26]. Nonlinear for continuous individual health surveillance.
components such as diodes and transistors offer significant This undertaking involves an assortment of wearable sensors,
advantages in applications involving amplification, detection, encompassing heartbeat and body temperature monitoring.
and frequency reconfiguration. However, they also possess Similarly, a review of IoT-based health monitoring systems,
undesirable traits, including gain compression and the characterized by the integration of Raspberry Pi, LPC2129,
generation of unwanted frequency components. These and wearable biomedical devices [46], delves into
consequences can result in increased signal losses, distortion, IoT-driven health monitoring approaches employing the
and interference with other radio channels or services [27]. mentioned components. In [47], the authors propose a system
Consequently, it is essential to assess active antennas in for the measurement of body temperature and heart rate.
terms of parameters such as intermodulation distortion (IMD) Notably, across these various studies, heart rate and body
to understand their dynamic behavior. Higher frequencies are temperature emerge as consistent focal points. In a separate
used to transmit mixed communication data; these study [48], the author presents a comprehensive system
frequencies fall between 2.4 and 5.8 GHz, which are capable of measuring body temperature and heart rate, with
unlicensed ISM bands. the capacity to transmit this data to both a mobile application
Medical practitioners can benefit greatly from IoT-based and a wearable device.
healthcare applications including wellness examinations, This proposed work introduces the design and
which lower expenses, improve the standard of living, implementation of active antennas for an IoT-based
improve medical diagnosis, and make medical procedures healthcare monitoring system. Two types of antennas: one
easier [28]. Among the various health services, the with a PIN diode and one without, are fabricated using
monitoring of vital signs is of particular importance [29]. Rogers Duroid RO3003™ substrate. The antennas can be
Prioritizing the monitoring of vital signs [30] stands as a integrated into the wireless healthcare monitoring system that
critical imperative for healthcare institutions aiming to
operates within the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz unlicensed ISM bands.
facilitate early prevention [31] and diminish mortality rates.
The performance of a wireless healthcare monitoring system

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using active antennas is evaluated using both laboratory

equipment and real-world operating scenarios, and they are
compared against a dipole antenna as a benchmark.
The implemented system streamlines processes for patients,
caregivers, physicians, and other healthcare professionals
involved. It also automates the periodic measurement of vital
signals for multiple patients, ensuring dependable healthcare
services. Additionally, vital signals play a pivotal role in
monitoring and deducing an individual's physiological
condition. They offer valuable insights into overall health
status and are indispensable for determining treatment plans
and prioritizing care. (a)

II. DESIGN AND CONFIGURATION OF THE ANTENNAS

In order to meet the requirements of this work, a dual-band
antenna is designed and simulated in the initial stage. Two
versions of the antenna: one with a PIN diode and one
without are considered. The simulations are conducted using
CST MWS® software, a finite integration-based 3D
electromagnetic (EM) simulator. The dimensions of the
antennas are calculated using the transmission line model
theory outlined in [49]. Based on a recent study in [50],
incorporating inset feeding and integrating slots into the
radiating structure leads to enhanced compactness and
bandwidth, along with the generation of additional resonant
frequencies. The dual-band characteristics are achieved by
the introduction of an inverted U-slot to the patch. (b)
Additionally, a partial ground plane and two smaller slots are FIGURE 1. Active antennas geometry: (a) Without a PIN diode (b) With a
included at the bottom edge of the patch to improve the PIN diode. Dimensions are Ls = 41 mm, Ws = 44 mm, Wp = 29 mm,
antenna's bandwidth. For the proposed antenna with a PIN Lp = 21 mm, Lpg = 25 mm, Wslot = 28 mm, Lslot = 3.7 mm, h = 1.52 mm,
diode, a frequency reconfiguration technique is employed Wf = 2.98 mm, Lf = 15 mm, Lg = 5 mm Wg = 2 mm, Wo = 1.5 mm,
that allows it to switch between the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz of
Lo = 1.4 mm, W1 = 2.2 mm, L1 = 1 mm.
the ISM bands. Fig. 1 illustrates the design and geometry of
the active antennas, both having dimensions of 41 × 44 mm².
These antennas are fabricated on a Rogers Duroid RO3003™
substrate with specific properties (dielectric constant, εr = 3,
thickness, h = 1.52 mm, and loss tangent, tan δ = 0.0013).
The antennas are fed through microstrip lines connected to a
central coaxial-fed sub-miniature version A (SMA)
connector. Skyworks Technologies' SMP1321-079LF PIN
diode is used [51] as an active device. This diode has a very
low capacitance of 0.18 pF and operates within a frequency
range of 10 MHz to 10 GHz. Fig. 2 shows the equivalent
circuits of PIN diode and its detailed biasing circuit. In ON (a) (b)
state, the diode exhibits series resistance and inductance
values of R = 1.05 Ω and L = 0.7 nH, respectively as
depicted in Fig. 2(a). In its OFF state, the diode is shunt
configured with resistance and capacitance values of
R = 2 kΩ and C = 0.18 pF, respectively as depicted in
Fig. 2(b). The bias network, based on the design presented in
[27], is used to control the PIN diode's operation. Fig. 2(c)
depicts the PIN diode biasing network and its equivalent
circuit. The values of the biasing circuit's inductor
Lp = 27 nH and capacitor Cb = 1800 pF are chosen so that
the biassing circuit and the RF line's impedance match.
Whereas the inductor offers a conduit for the DC bias current
needed for the PIN diode, the capacitor functions as
insulation to avoid the DC bias current from damaging the (c)
RF signal. FIGURE 2. PIN diode lumped elements in (a) ON state (b) OFF state
(c) detailed biasing circuit.

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III. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE ANTENNAS

This section presents an investigation of the designed active
antennas' functionality for IoT applications. Fig. 3 shows the
fabricated antenna with Fig. 3(a) and (b) showcase the
antenna without and with a PIN diode, respectively. N5234B
Keysight Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) is employed for
measuring the reflection coefficient (S11) in dB, as illustrated
in Fig. 4. The performances of the proposed antennas are
assessed by comparing the simulated and measured S11. The
radiation patterns are measured in the anechoic chamber and
are also compared with the simulations.
(b)
FIGURE 4. S11 measurement setup (a) Without a PIN diode
(b) With a PIN diode.

Fig. 5 compares the S11 between the antenna with and

without a PIN diode. For the antenna without a PIN diode, as
can be viewed in Fig. 5(a), The measured bandwidth at
2.4 GHz, which spans from 2.358 GHz to 2.447 GHz, is
3.8% (-10 dB). Similarly, the measured bandwidth at
5.8 GHz spans 5.2% (-10 dB) from 5.675 GHz to 5.975 GHz.
The simulated and measured S11 findings have an acceptable
(a)
agreement. Fig. 5(b) compares the measured and simulated
S11 for the antenna with a PIN diode in ON and OFF states.
The antenna functions at both 2.4 and 5.8 GHz while it is in
ON state. At 2.4 GHz measures 3.8% (-10 dB) between
2.358 GHz to 2.447 GHz, while at 5.8 GHz measures 5.2%
(-10 dB) from 5.675 GHz to 5.975 GHz. When the antenna is
turned off, it functions at a single 5.8 GHz frequency band,
with a measured bandwidth of 5.4% (-10 dB) spanning
between 5.684 GHz to 5.989 GHz.

(b)
FIGURE 3. Fabricated active antennas: (a) Without a PIN diode (b) With a
PIN diode.

(a)

(a)

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(b)
FIGURE 5. S11 comparison (a) Without a PIN diode (b) With a PIN diode. (b)
FIGURE 6. Radiation patterns without a PIN diode at (a) 2.4 GHz

The assessment of antenna radiation involves analyzing 2D (b) 5.8 GHz.

radiation patterns at each resonant frequency. The antenna's

radiation patterns without a PIN diode are illustrated in
Fig. 6. At 2.4 GHz, the E-plane exhibits bidirectional
patterns, while the H-plane shows omnidirectional patterns as
seen in Fig. 6(a). At 5.8 GHz, the E-plane patterns become
directional, and the H-plane patterns remain omnidirectional
as seen in Fig. 6(b). Additionally, Fig. 7 presents the 2D
radiation patterns of the antenna with a PIN diode. In ON
state, specific characteristics emerge at 2.4 GHz as seen in
Fig. 7(a), the E-plane shows bidirectional patterns, and the
H-plane exhibits omnidirectional patterns; at 5.8 GHz as seen
in Fig. 7(b), the E-plane patterns are directional, and the
H-plane patterns are omnidirectional. In OFF state, the
antenna's behavior changes, with directional E-plane patterns
at 5.8 GHz as seen in Fig. 7(c) and persistent omnidirectional
H-plane patterns at the same frequency.
(a)

(a) (b)

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(b)
FIGURE 8. Simulated and measured gain and efficiency without a PIN
diode at (a) 2.4 GHz (b) 5.8 GHz.
(c)
FIGURE 7. Radiation pattern with a PIN diode at (a) 2.4 GHz (ON state)
(b) 5.8 GHz (ON state) (c) 5.8 GHz (OFF state).

Fig. 8 shows the comparison between the simulated and

measured gain and efficiency of the dual-band antenna
without a PIN diode, the gain, G (dBi) was measured to be
3.73 dBi and 5.08 dBi at 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz which leads
to efficiency, η (%) of 90% and 91.4% as shown in Fig. 8(a)
and (b).
On the other hand, Fig. 9 shows the comparison between the
simulated and measured gain and efficiency of the dual-band
antenna with a PIN diode. In ON state, the gain, G (dBi) was
measured to be 4.82 dBi and 5.75 dBi at 2.4 GHz and
5.8 GHz which leads to efficiency, η (%) of 90.1% and
87.4% as shown in Fig. 9(a) and (b). Whereas in OFF state,
the gain, G (dBi) was measured to be 5.9 dBi at 5.8 GHz (a)
which leads to efficiency, η (%) of 90% as shown in
Fig. 9(c).

(b)

(a)

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(a) (b)
FIGURE 10. Current distribution without a PIN diode at (a) 2.4 GHz
(b) 5.8 GHz

(c)
FIGURE 9. Simulated and measured gain and efficiency with a PIN diode
at (a) 2.4 GHz (ON state) (b) 5.8 GHz (ON state) (c) 5.8 GHz (OFF state).

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the operational

principles behind the dual-band antenna without and with a
PIN diode design, the current distribution diagrams at various (a) (b)
FIGURE 11. Current distribution with a PIN diode in ON state at (a) 2.4 GHz
resonant modes are examined and illustrated in Fig. 10. In
(b) 5.8 GHz
Fig. 10(a), the current distribution of the antenna with the
main radiating patch reveals concentration around the
transmission line and the edges of the patch, emphasizing the
crucial role of the main radiating patch in generating the
resonant frequency of 5.8 GHz. Conversely, Fig. 10(b)
demonstrates that at 2.4 GHz, the maximum current
concentration occurs along the edges of the inverted U-slot.
Fig. 11 depicts the current distribution of the antenna with a
PIN diode. In ON state, the highest current concentration is
evident along the edges of the slot at 2.4 GHz as seen in Fig.
11(a). In contrast, at 5.8 GHz, a significant current
(a) (b)
concentration is observed around the center of the main
FIGURE 12. Current distribution with a PIN diode in OFF state at
radiating patch as seen in Fig. 11(b). Fig. 12 further
(a) 2.4 GHz (b) 5.8 GHz
illustrates the current distribution of the antenna with a PIN
diode in OFF state, focusing on 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. In
A. NONLINEARITY ANALYSIS OF THE ANTENNAS
Fig. 12(a), during the OFF state, the current flow is minimal
PIN diodes demonstrate nonlinear characteristics when
(barely noticeable) along the edges of the slot responsible for
exposed to varying input power levels. This nonlinearity
the 2.4 GHz. However, at 5.8 GHz, depicted in Fig. 12(b), a arises from the diode's operational state and the interaction
substantial current concentration is still noticeable around the between the RF signal and the diode's internal junction
center of the main radiating patch. The findings are capacitance. Intermodulation distortion (IMD) products are
consistent with the theoretical framework described in multi-tone distortions resulting from the presence of two or
previous research [9], which asserts that the operating more signals at the input of a non-linear device [52]. As the
frequency is influenced by the current path length along the input power level increases, PIN diodes used for antenna
antenna's patch. Specifically, as the current path on the reconfiguration exhibit nonlinear behavior, leading to the
radiating structure of antennas extends, the resonant generation of harmonics and intermodulation distortions.
frequency decreases, and conversely, a shorter current path These nonlinear effects diminish the antenna's ability to
leads to a higher resonant frequency. handle high RF power and can potentially interfere with
other systems. IMD products can either transmit or reflect
through the feed network [53]. Antennas designed for indoor
and short-range communication applications need to operate
within frequency bands that can deliver output power levels
of up to 30 dBm [36]. In such systems, active antennas must
perform effectively at each power level with minimal
distortion. Consequently, a comprehensive characterization
process is essential for reconfigurable antennas, more so than
for passive conventional antennas. Moreover, the 1-dB gain

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compression point, often referred to as P1-dB, is a fundamental The experimental setup used in this study to assess the
and widely used figure of merit in the nonlinear nonlinear characteristics of the active antennas in
characterization of electronic devices and systems. It is transmitting mode is shown in Fig. 13. Initially, the
another key indicator of a device's linearity and its ability to generator's output power and power combiner's output power
control the gain in the presence of varying input signal power are measured to assess the losses that might be incurred in
levels. P1-dB plays a crucial role in the design and the cables. Subsequently, the power of radiated signals is
performance assessment of active switches linearity measured using the commercial ETS 3106B horn antenna
performance [54]. This indicates that the input power is (reference antenna) positioned at 1 meter away from the
raised beyond the 1-dB point. The P1-dB point also measures active antenna as shown in Fig. 13(a). Horn antenna's
the dynamic range of the device, a crucial aspect for signal orientation is changed to correspond with the antenna's
processing, communication systems, and various polarization. The incoming signals are then displayed using a
applications. A higher P1-dB value suggests that the device can Keysight N9951A spectrum analyzer to identify the received
manage a broader input power range without experiencing signal power. Fig. 13(b) illustrates the experimental setup for
significant gain compression or distortion. This is especially measuring the P1-dB. The received power of the transmitted
important in applications where signals with varying signals is produced across a range of input power levels,
amplitudes need to be processed, as it ensures that the device spanning from 0 to 20 dBm at the specified IMD3 frequency.
can maintain linearity and signal fidelity. P1-dB is typically The determination of P1-dB involves identifying the point on
determined experimentally by gradually increasing the input the graph plotting received power against input power where
power and measuring the corresponding gain reduction. This the output power experiences a 1 dB decrease. Nonlinearity
measurement is often performed using network analyzers, assessments are conducted in the laboratory for the proposed
spectrum analyzers, or specialized test setups [55]. active antenna, as depicted in Fig. 13(c).

(a)

(b)

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(c)
FIGURE 13. Experimental setup to measure the nonlinearity of active antennas (a) IMD3 products (b) P1-dB (c) The laboratory setup.

dual-band mode of 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. In this scenario, a

Prior to the nonlinearity measurement, the S11 of the antenna two-tone input signal is employed, consisting of two closely
is measured based on the input power from 0 dBm to spaced tone signals: f1 = 2.399 GHz and f2 = 2.401 GHz for
20 dBm. The behavior of the active antenna starts to change the 2.4 GHz band, and f1 = 5.799 GHz and f2 = 5.801 GHz
as the RF power increases. Consequently, the antenna's for the 5.8 GHz band. These two-tone signals are combined
impedance undergoes variations with changing input power using a power combiner, and the proposed antenna receives
levels, leading to a degradation in impedance matching and the resulting mixed two-tone signals. A horn antenna ranging
resulting in higher S11 values. Fig. 14 shows the S11 for each from 1 to 6 GHz is utilized, followed by a spectrum analyzer
input power level. When the RF input power reaches to detect the fundamental signals and intermodulation
20 dBm, the antenna operates within the linear region. products. The power of the two-tone RF signal is
However, the changes in S11 are relatively minor, with only incrementally increased from 0 dBm to 20 dBm, with the
negligible fluctuations observed beyond the 15 dBm power analysis focusing on two cases at different power levels
level, which implies that the presence of a PIN diode will not (10 dBm and 20 dBm). For an input power level of 10 dBm
affect the S11 of active antennas in this work. at 2.4 GHz, the received signal strength for the primary
signals is recorded at -11.86 dBm and -10.56 dBm,
respectively. In Fig. 15(a), it's evident that the received signal
strengths for IMD3 are notably lower than the standard noise
level of -70 dBm at this power level. When the RF input
power to the antenna reaches 20 dBm at 2.4 GHz,
asymmetric IMD3 products become evident at 2.397 GHz
and 2.403 GHz, registering values of -36.18 dBm and
-34.32 dBm, respectively. Both of these values are
observable and exceed the noise level. In contrast, the
strengths of the fundamental signals are 11.22 dBm and
11.3 dBm, as seen in Fig. 15(b).

FIGURE 14. The measured S11 at different input power levels.

Another crucial aspect associated with the device's

nonlinearity is the potential for IMD3 products, which can
lead to signal distortion and interference with various
systems or channels featuring closely spaced carriers. Hence,
it becomes imperative to investigate harmonic distortions for
nonlinear circuits, given that the proposed antenna operates
in two modes: a single-band mode of 5.8 GHz and a

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(a) (a)

(b)
FIGURE 15. Received signal strength at 2.4 GHz (a) Pin=10 dBm (b)
(b) Pin=20 dBm. FIGURE 16. Received signal strength at 5.8 GHz (a) Pin=10 dBm
(b) Pin=20 dBm.

At an input power level of 10 dBm at 5.8 GHz, the received

signal strength for the primary signal measures -15.67 dBm In order to find the P1-dB, a single-tone input signal of
and -15.37 dBm, respectively. Fig. 16(a) illustrates that the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz were used. Fig. 17 shows the P1-dB at
received signal strengths for IMD3 remain below the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. The P1-dB could not be found at
standard noise level of -70 dBm at this power level. When 2.4 GHz as shown in Fig. 17(a), which implies that the
antenna behaves linearly within the range of RF input power
the RF input power to the antenna is elevated to 20 dBm at
levels. Conversely, the P1-dB can be observed at 5.8 GHz with
5.8 GHz, you can also detect asymmetric IMD3 products at
a value of 13.8 dBm of RF input power level as can be
5.797 GHz and 5.803 GHz, measuring -31.5 dBm and
viewed in Fig. 17(b). Hence, the antenna functions linearly
-47.19 dBm, respectively. These values are both discernible up to 13.8 dBm input power.
and surpass the noise level. In contrast, the strengths of the
fundamental signals are 7.91 dBm and 8.1 dBm, as illustrated
in Fig. 16(b). Based on the nonlinearity measurement, it is
hence demonstrated that the active antennas in this study
function in the linear region up to an input power level of
15 dBm, when the received signal intensity of the IMD3 is
negligible.

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(b)
(a) FIGURE 17. Measured 1-dB gain compression point of the dual-band
antenna with a PIN diode: (a) 2.4 GHz (b) 5.8 GHz.

The nonlinearity measurement results of the dual-band

antenna with a PIN diode are also compared with the
previous work in terms of size, substrate material, type of
reconfigurations, gain, IMD3 products and P1-dB, which can
be seen in Tab. 1. From the table, the proposed antenna in
this work has a compact size of 41 × 44 mm2 and high gain at
both frequency bands. Moreover, the proposed antenna only
uses a single switch, which reduces the antenna’s
complexity.

TABLE 1. Comparison of this work and previous work in the literature in terms of nonlinearity measurements

Number IMD3
Size Type of Freq. Gain P1-dB
Ref. Material of products
(mm2) reconfigurations (GHz) (dBi) (dBm)
switches (dBm)
[56] 60 × 60 FR-4 Radiation pattern 3 2.4 4.76 -19.3 30
[57] 20 × 28.5 Arlon Frequency 1 2 / 2.4 2.15 / 2.8 NA / -18.5 NA / 14
[58] 50 × 20 Glass Frequency 1 2 NA -12.8 NA
[59] 65 × 65 Alumina Frequency 12 3.2 / 3.5 6.5 NA / -35 NA / 20
Rogers
[60] 150 × 75 Frequency 2 0.8 / 1.05 NA -55 / -60 NA
RO5880™
This Rogers
41 × 44 Frequency 1 2.4 / 5.8 4.82 / 5.75 -36.18 / 47.19 NA / 13.8
work RO3003™
Note: A – Available; NA – Not available

IV. IoT-BASED HEALTHCARE MONITORING SYSTEM

The objective of the proposed medical monitoring system is A. PROPOSED SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
to gauge a patient's body temperature and heart rate, which A functional prototype model is developed with a SEN11547
are shown on the ThingSpeak application. The system pulse sensor and LM35 temperature sensor from Spark Fun
hardware specifications define the features and services that Electronics for measuring heartbeat and body temperature.
the healthcare monitoring system shall provide, as well as the Prominent vital indicators that indicate the state of processes
limitations that it must work within. Defining the system that support life and the extent of medical conditions are
requirements assists in making better component choices and body temperature and heart rate. Once the vital parameters
optimizing resources. are measured, they are transmitted and stored in the database
of the ThingSpeak application through a NodeMCU
ESP-32S Wi-Fi module connected to the active antennas for
further analysis or long-term storage which might benefit the

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patients and medical personnel. The proposed healthcare which has an external antenna connected to pin 35
monitoring system is illustrated in Fig. 18, called VITALS. (GPI01/TX0) of the NodeMCU ESP-32S module. Power is
The main objective of VITALS is to automate the supplied to the NodeMCU ESP-32S module through a 12-V
measurement of vital signals, leading to improved healthcare DC adapter. However, in the event of a power supply failure,
services. Fig. 18(a) illustrates the complete block diagram of a battery can act as a reliable backup power source. The
the healthcare monitoring system. From the figure, it can be system includes an LCD display connected to the I2C
seen that the healthcare monitoring system is controlled by a module, which contains SDA, and SCL connected to pin 33
NodeMCU ESP-32S Wi-Fi module connected to the active (GPI021) and pin 36 (GPI022) respectively, for displaying
antennas as the main controlling unit. The key components, the output results. For heart rate monitoring, the pulse sensor
which are the SEN11547 pulse sensor and LM35 temperature incorporates an integrated optical amplification circuit and a
sensor these inputs will send signals to the microcontroller to noise-reducing circuit sensor, making it suitable for clipping
be analyzed and processed. Open-source Arduino IDE onto the earlobe or fingertip and interfacing with the
software is employed, which is compatible with multiple NodeMCU-32S module. The pulse sensor has three pins:
operating systems. It facilitates uploading sketches to the VCC, GND, and an analog pin connected to pin 5 (GPI034).
prototype and retrieving data from the pulse sensor and Additionally, the system incorporates the LM35 temperature
temperature sensor through the serial monitor. The processed sensor, which provides an analog response proportional to
signals will then be sent to the output which includes the I2C the current temperature. The output voltage can be directly
Serial Interface 1602 LCD module, and they are transmitted translated into Celsius temperature values. In order to
and stored in the database of the ThingSpeak application. program and control the NodeMCU ESP-32S Wi-Fi module.
Fig. 18(b) illustrates the complete circuit diagram of the The LM35 temperature sensor has three pins: VCC, GND,
health care monitoring system featuring active antennas. This and an analog pin connected to pin 6 (GPI035).
circuit is driven by the NodeMCU ESP-32S Wi-Fi module,

(a)

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(b)
FIGURE 18.The proposed healthcare monitoring system called VITALS (a) Block diagram (b) Circuit diagram.

B. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE SYSTEM

The IoT-based wireless healthcare monitoring system in this
work, known as VITALS, is shown in Fig. 19. The circuit
connections of VITALS when viewed internally is shown in
Fig. 19(a), whereas Fig. 19(b) depicts the final product of
VITALS. The monitoring system which utilizes different
types of antennas is shown in Fig. 20. The experimental
setup of VITALS using a dual-band antenna (without and
with a PIN diode) and a commercial Laird Connectivity
dipole antenna as the reference antenna can be viewed in
Fig. 20(a) - (c), respectively. The microcontroller processes
medical data, and the resulting signals are sent to the output,
displayed on the I2C Serial Interface 1602 LCD module.
Concurrently, the data is transmitted to the ThingSpeak
application and stored in its database. (b)
FIGURE 19. VITALS: (a) circuit connection when viewed internally (b) final
product.

(a)

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In order to conduct the experiment, ten participants, with

their ages ranging between 18 and 40 years old, are selected
to measure their heartbeats and body temperatures using the
proposed system. The data of the ten participants are
measured for 10 minutes duration with a 1-minute step size
which implies 10 samples, under relaxed conditions or while
they are not engaging in any physical activities. For
comparison and validation, the measurements are compared
with the reference antenna.
Graphical representations of patient vital signs can be viewed
in Fig. 21. Fig. 21(a) - (j) illustrates the heart rate and body
temperatures of ten volunteers which consists of data
obtained from the healthcare monitoring system using the
reference antenna and the proposed active antennas, without
and with a PIN diode. From the figures, it can be observed
that the heart rate of the volunteers ranges from 72 to
96 BPM which shows that despite variations in heart rate, all
(a) the recorded values remain within the normal range for an
adult, which is between 60 and 100 BPM [61].
Moreover, the collection of body temperature data is carried
out to assess the patient's body temperature condition. A rise
in body temperature correlates with an increase in heart rate,
while a decrease in body temperature corresponds to a
decrease in heart rate. The temperature ranges from 30.20 to
37.80 °C, indicating a healthy range for an adult which is
between 35 and 38 °C [61]. However, it is worth noting that
some values might fall below or slightly above this range,
which could be due to factors like individual variability,
recent activities, or environmental conditions.
The acquired data is subjected to analysis by computing the
average values. In this context, the tabulated readings are
presented in Tab. 2. This comparison serves to assess the
accuracies of those antennas. From the table, the average
heart rate measurements were taken across different
(b) conditions for three different antennas: the active antenna
without a PIN diode, the active antenna with a PIN diode,
and the commercially available Laird Connectivity antenna.
The observed heart rates ranged from 85.5 BPM to
89.7 BPM for the active antenna without a PIN diode, 86.2 to
89.7 BPM for the active antenna with a PIN diode, and 88 to
89.7 BPM for the reference antenna. These results suggest
that all three antennas provide consistent heart rate
measurements, with minimal variation in the observed
values. The close alignment of values between the active
antennas and the reference antenna demonstrates the
reliability and accuracy of the active antenna system, both
with and without the PIN diode. Similarly, body temperature
measurements were recorded under different conditions for
the three antennas. The temperature range for the active
antenna without a PIN diode was from 29.6 to 35.6°C, while
for the active antenna with a PIN diode, it ranged from
30.4 to 35.5°C. In contrast, the reference antenna showed a
(c)
slightly wider range, from 29.8 to 37.1°C. The overlapping
FIGURE 20. The experimental setup of VITALS using different types of
temperature ranges for the active antennas and the reference
antennas: (a) antenna without a PIN diode (b) antenna with a PIN diode
antenna indicate that all three antennas provide consistent
(c) commercial Laird Connectivity dipole antenna as a reference antenna.
and comparable body temperature measurements. Overall,
the results of this analysis show a strong agreement between
the measurements obtained using the active antennas (both

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 This article has been accepted for publication in IEEE Access. This is the author's version which has not been fully edited and
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with and without the PIN diode) and the commercially

available Laird Connectivity antenna. Minor variations in
temperature ranges can be ascribed to factors such as antenna
design or measurement conditions. However, these
differences do not markedly impact the overall accuracy and
utility of the active antennas. In addition, the 10-minute time
intervals can be considered sufficient based on the data
obtained. This approach enables healthcare professionals to
detect subtle changes, respond to emergencies, and provide
tailored care, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

(d)

(a)

(e)

(b)
(f)

(c)

(g)

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(h) (j)
FIGURE 21. Comparisons of volunteers’ heart rate and body
temperature using various antennas (a) vol. A (b) vol. B (c) vol. C
(d) vol. D (e) vol. E (f) vol. F (g) vol. G (h) vol. H (i) vol. I (j) vol. J.

The current IoT-based wireless healthcare monitoring system

and the IoT wireless healthcare monitoring system with
dual-band active antennas are compared in Tab. 3. In contrast
to all of the designs, the comparison demonstrates that the
suggested antenna has a satisfactory gain and efficiency. The
comparison table makes it clear that the majority of the
current antenna dimensions are greater than those of the
suggested active antennas. In contrast, the suggested
antenna's performance has been tested in an IoT application
(i) running in real-time. According to the table, the suggested
antenna performs better than the others, making it a suitable
option for IoT applications. The primary benefit of the
suggested IoT wireless healthcare monitoring system is its
effective integration of dual-band active antennas appropriate
for IoT applications.

TABLE 2. Comparison of the heart rate and body temperature obtained from ten volunteers using the proposed healthcare monitoring
system with various antennas

Antenna with a Dipole Antenna with a

Dipole
Antenna Antenna
PIN diode antenna PIN diodeAntenna
without a PIN without a
(Reference (Reference
diode ON State OFF State PIN diode
ON State OFF State
antenna) antenna)
Name Age
Average heart Average heart Average heart Average Average
Average heart Average body Average body
rate rate rate body body
rate temperature temperature
(BPM) (BPM) (BPM) temperature temperature
(BPM) (°C) (°C)
(°C) (°C)
Vol. A 25 88.9 89.3 86.6 88 34.3 34.5 34.5 34.1
Vol. B 19 91.4 89.2 86.5 88.5 35.6 35.3 33.8 36.2
Vol. C 18 85.5 86.2 81.3 84.1 31.4 30.4 31.7 32.3
Vol. D 32 87.3 89.6 85.5 87.7 36.4 35.5 33 37.1
Vol. E 38 88.7 88.8 86.6 88.8 29.6 33 32.3 29.9
Vol. F 30 87.8 87.5 85.8 88.1 33.9 34.2 34.1 33.7
Vol. G 18 88.7 88.5 85.8 84.4 30.6 32.1 31.7 29.8
Vol. H 25 91.4 89.1 86.5 85.3 34.6 35 32.3 35.3
Vol. I 28 86.7 87.5 84.7 85.2 30.9 30.3 30.1 31.3
Vol. J 20 89.3 89.2 88.2 89.7 34.3 34.8 33.9 33.8

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TABLE 3. Comparison of the IoT-based wireless healthcare monitoring system currently in use and the IoT-enabled wireless healthcare
monitoring system utilizing dual-band active antennas

Size Material Electronic Freq. Gain (dBi)/ Application Proposed antenna

Ref
(mm)2 (Type) Circuit (GHz) Efficiency (%) IoT used in the system

Thick Felt 2.1 / 2.2

[62] 45 × 45 A 2.4 / 5.8 Yes Yes
(Flexible) 65.1 / 75
PDMS 0.7 / 0.9
[63] 40 × 40 NA 2.4 / 5.8 No No
(Flexible) 43.8 / 73.8
FR-4 1.722
[64] 150 × 95 A 2.4 Yes Yes
(Rigid) 82.7
FR-4 2.9 / 3.2
[65] 120 × 65 A 2.4 / 5.8 Yes Yes
(Rigid) NA
FR-4 1.347
[66] 40 × 10 A 2.4 Yes Yes
(Rigid) 79
Polyester 6.47
[67] 90 × 90 A 2.4 No No
(Flexible) 62
Rogers 1.1 / 4.5
[68] 80 × 80 NA 2.4 / 5.8 No No
(Flexible) 90 / 84
This Rogers 4.82 / 5.75
41 × 44 A 2.4 / 5.8 Yes Yes
Work (Flexible) 90 / 91.4
Note: A – Available; NA – Not available

available Laird Connectivity 2.4GHz/5.8GHz dipole antenna.

V. CONCLUSION The heart rate ranged from 85 BPM to 92 BPM for the active
This work introduces the design and implementation of antennas and from 84 to 90 BPM for the reference antenna,
active antennas within a healthcare monitoring system for demonstrating good agreement. Similarly, body temperature
IoT applications. This monitoring system incorporates a ranged from 29 to 37°C for the active antennas and from 30
SEN11547 pulse sensor and an LM35 temperature sensor to to 36°C for the reference antenna, confirming strong
capture heart rate and body temperature data. These agreement. Consequently, this study highlights the effective
measurements are then transmitted to the ThingSpeak IoT integration of the proposed dual-band active antenna into an
platform, necessitating integration with the NodeMCU IoT-based healthcare monitoring system.
ESP-32S Wi-Fi module to ensure data availability.
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 This article has been accepted for publication in IEEE Access. This is the author's version which has not been fully edited and
content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3384371

Antenna for On-Body Monitoring Activity in Healthcare

Applications,” Micromachines, vol. 13, no. 3, 2022, doi: HUDA BIN A MAJID (Member IEEE).
10.3390/mi13030475. Received the B Eng. degree in Electrical
Engineering (Telecommunication) from
[63] S. Chen, D. Ranasinghe, and C. Fumeaux, “A Robust Snap-On Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, in 2007. He
Button Solution for Reconfigurable Wearable Textile Antennas,” then obtained his M. Eng. in 2010 and PhD
IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., vol. PP, p. 1, 2018, doi: degrees in Electrical Engineering in 2013, at
10.1109/TAP.2018.2851288. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He is
currently a lecturer in the Department of
Electrical Engineering Technology, Faculty
[64] A. Romputtal and C. Phongcharoenpanich, “T-Slot Antennas- of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun
Embedded ZigBee Wireless Sensor Network System for IoT- Hussein Onn Malaysia. His research interest includes the areas of design
Enabled Monitoring and Control Systems,” IEEE Internet of microstrip antennas, small antennas, Reconfigurable antennas,
Things J., p. 1, 2023, doi: 10.1109/JIOT.2023.3284005. metamaterial’s structure, metamaterial antennas and millimetre wave
antennas. He has published over 90 articles in journals and conference
[65] K. R. Jha, B. Bukhari, C. Singh, G. Mishra, and S. K. Sharma, papers.
“Compact Planar Multistandard MIMO Antenna for IoT
Applications,” IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., vol. 66, no. 7, pp. ISMAIL AHMAT MAHADI (Student
3327–3336, 2018, doi: 10.1109/TAP.2018.2829533. Member, IEEE). He is a postgraduate
research student at Universiti Tun Hussein
[66] M. Shahidul Islam, M. T. Islam, M. D. A. Ullah, G. Kok Beng, Onn Malaysia (UTHM), he received his
N. Amin, and N. Misran, “A Modified Meander Line Microstrip bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering
Patch Antenna With Enhanced Bandwidth for 2.4 GHz ISM- from the same university in 2020. Currently,
Band Internet of Things (IoT) Applications,” IEEE Access, vol. he is pursuing his master’s degree in UTHM
7, pp. 127850–127861, 2019, doi: in Electrical and Electronics Engineering
10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2940049. focusing on Power Electronics. His research
interests include Wireless Power Transfer, and control system for AC
high-frequency inverters.
[67] H. Harris, R. Anwar, Y. Wahyu, M. I. Sulaiman, Z. Mansor, and
D. Nurmantris, “DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
MOHAMAD KAMAL A RAHIM (Senior
WEARABLE ANTENNA TEXTILE FOR ISM BAND,” Prog.
Member, IEEE). Received the B.Eng.
Electromagn. Res. C, vol. 120, pp. 11–26, 2022, doi:
degree in electrical and electronic engineering
10.2528/PIERC22022501.
from the University of Strathclyde, U.K., in
1987, the M.Eng. degree in science from the
[68] H. Xiaomu, S. Yan, and G. A. E. Vandenbosch, “Wearable University of New South Wales Australia, in
Button Antenna for Dual-Band WLAN Applications With 1992, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical
Combined on and off-Body Radiation Patterns,” IEEE Trans. engineering from the University of
Antennas Propag., vol. 65, no. 3, pp. 1384–1387, Mar. 2017, Birmingham, U.K., in 2003. From 1987 to
doi: 10.1109/TAP.2017.2653768. 1989, he worked as a Management Trainee
with Sime Tyres Mer gong Alor Star Kedah and a Production Supervisor
with Sime Shoes, Kulim Kedah. He joined the Department of
UMAR MUSA (Student Member, IEEE). Communication Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti
Obtained his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, as an Assistant Lecturer, in 1989.
Engineering from Bayero University Kano, After receiving his master's, he was appointed as a Lecturer with the
Nigeria, in 2012, and M. Eng. Electronic & Faculty of Electrical Engineering. He was appointed as a Senior Lecturer,
Telecommunication Engineering in 2016 from in 2005. He was appointed as an Associate Professor with the Faculty. He
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), is currently a Professor of RF and antenna with the Faculty of Electrical
Malaysia. He is currently a PhD student in the Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. His research interests include
Department of Communication Engineering, design of dielectric resonator antennas, microstrip antennas, small
Faculty of Electrical and Electronic antennas, microwave sensors, RFID antennas for readers and tags,
Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). He is multifunction antennas, microwave circuits, EBG, artificial magnetic
currently a lecturer in the Department of Electrical engineering Bayero conductors, metamaterials, phased array antennas, computer-aided design
University Kano, Nigeria and, he is a member of Council for the for antennas, and design of Millimeter frequency antennas.
Regulation of Engineering of Nigeria since 2019. His area of research
includes, but not limited to, design of RF and microwave devices, active MUHAMMAD SANI YAHYA (Student
antennas measurement. Member, IEEE). Received his B. Eng.
degree in Electrical and Electronics
SHAHARIL MOHD SHAH. Obtained his Engineering from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
B. Eng. in Microwave and Communication University Bauchi (ATBU), Nigeria, in 2010,
from Multimedia University (MMU) in 2002. and M. Eng. degree (Electronic and
He received his M.Sc. in Microwave Telecommunication Engineering) from
Engineering and Wireless Subsystems Design Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in
from the University of Surrey, UK in 2004 2016. He is currently a PhD student in the
and pursuing his Ph.D. in Communication Department of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering from the University of Engineering of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia. His
Birmingham, UK before graduating in 2016. research interests is in the area of RF and Microwave: antenna design and
He is currently a senior lecturer in the characterizations. He has published some articles in both local and
Department of Communication Engineering, Faculty of Electrical and international journals and have attended several both local and
Electronic Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). international conferences.
His area of research includes, but not limited to, design of microwave
devices, active antennas measurement and nonlinear characterization of
active devices.

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 This article has been accepted for publication in IEEE Access. This is the author's version which has not been fully edited and
content may change prior to final publication. Citation information: DOI 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3384371

Zuhairiah Zainal Abidin (Senior Member

IEEE). Received the PhD degree from
Bradford University, U.K., in 2011. She is an
Associate Professor and Head of Advanced
Telecommunication Research Center (ATRC),
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. Her
research interests include MIMO antenna,
printed microstrip antenna, wearable antennas,
metamaterial resonator, electromagnetic
bandgap (EBG) for wireless and mobile, and
high-speed digital circuit’s applications. She has authored and co-authored
numbers of journals and proceedings.

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