Title: UWB systems for body area networks

Authors: Marco Hernandez; Ryuji Kohno

Addresses: Medical Information and Communications Technology Group, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), 3-4 Hikarino-oka, 239-0847 Yokosuka, Japan. ' Division of Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Yokohama National University, 240-8501 Yokohama, Japan

Abstract: The paper describes a survey of the UWB physical layer for body area networks currently in development by the IEEE Standardisation 802.15.6 Task Group. Such UWB PHY consists of impulse radio-based UWB technology as well as CP-2FSK and wideband frequency modulation (FM-UWB) technology. IR-UWB systems employ on-off signalling modulation and FM-UWB modulation for medical and non-medical applications, while differentially encoded PSK modulation for high QoS medical applications. Such systems are optimised for low power consumption and reliable operation, especially in medical applications. Furthermore, the UWB signal power levels are in the order of those used in the MICS band (implant devices like pacemakers), therefore providing safety power levels for the human body and low interference to other systems| devices.

Keywords: UWB; ultra wideband; body area networks; BANs; wideband frequency modulation; medical applications; healthcare technology; differentially encoded PSK modulation; implant devices; implants; safety; energy consumption; reliability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJUWBCS.2011.044598

International Journal of Ultra Wideband Communications and Systems, 2011 Vol.2 No.2, pp.58 - 72

Published online: 31 Mar 2015 *

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