Numerical and experimental evaluation of phantoms for off-body wireless communications

The effects of a numerical and a physical phantom on different antenna configurations are evaluated. Input response, radiation patterns and efficiency are considered in the presence of the phantoms. In order to validate the phantoms as a substitute for human tissue, these effects are compared to those experienced due to the proximity of the human body. The detuning effects on a patch antenna due to the phantom were demonstrated and shown to match the effects of the human body. The radiation pattern of a loop antenna was measured on and off the phantom. The presence of the phantom was found to reduce the efficiency of the loop antenna by 88%.