Antenna-Based Sensing for Eye Blink Detection and Ocular Fatigue Monitoring

This paper proposes a lightweight and miniaturized wearable sensing approach based on a printed dipole antenna integrated into eyeglass frames for real-time eyeblinking detection. The antenna is designed to operate at 5.8 GHz, where compactness and near-field sensitivity enable effective interaction with the anterior eye region. First, an electromagnetic model of the wearable eye-loaded antenna system is developed, with the eye tissues represented as a multilayer structure and evaluated at various distances from the antenna, to predict open- and closed-eye conditions. Full-wave simulations demonstrate measurable and repeatable variations in the antenna reflection response between open- and closed-eye states, validating the feasibility of antenna-based blink detection. The results highlight the potential of the proposed solution for non-invasive, low-power ocular monitoring and pave the way for future wearable systems dedicated to continuous fatigue and workload assessment.