Antenna and propagation for body-centric wireless communications

Prof. Peter Hall
University of Birmingham, UK

and

Prof. Yang Hao
Queen Mary, University of London, UK

16 hours, 4 credits (final test)

September 1 - September 4, 2008

Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione: Elettronica, Informatica, Telecomunicazioni, via G. Caruso, meeting room, ground floor

Contacts: Prof. Paolo Nepa

Aims

Body-centric wireless networks are seen to be a central component in the 4th generation communication systems. Such networks have distinctive features in comparison to other available wireless networks due to the rapid changes in communication channel behavior on the body during the network operation. This series of lessons raises some important issues regarding antenna design and propagation channel characteristics, radio systems compatibility with such an environment and the effect that the human body has on these networks. Meanwhile, physical dimensions, directivity, mutual coupling and so on in antenna design, are classically constrained by the wavelength of the radiation involved.

Combined with complex on-body channel characteristics, extra issues may be raised related to human body presence and movement, such as resonant frequency detuning in narrow band systems, signal dispersion and variable gain in UWB network etc. These topics represent research and design challenges in antenna system for future body-centric wireless networks and also form the premise of these lessons.

Syllabus

1. What are body-centric wireless communications?

• Applications specification of domains of communications
• Challenges

2. Electromagnetic properties and numerical modeling of the human body

• Electromagnetic properties of body tissues
• Design and construction of physical phantoms
• Design and operation of numerical phantoms

3. On-body communication channels at ISM, UWB and millimeterwave frequencies

• Channel characterisation at microwave frequencies
• Channel characterisation for ultra wideband systems
• Channels at millimetre wavelengths
• Antenna design for on-body channels
• Diversity on the body
• Angle of arrival techniques for antenna design

4. Wearable and textile antennas

• Design challenges for textile antennas
• Current design examples

5. Flexible metamaterials for on-body applications

• Opportunities for metamaterials on the body
• Design of body metamaterials

6. Antennas and propagation for telemedicine and telecare including implantable devices

• Application areas
• Telemedicine systems
• Implant systems
• Antenna design for implants

7. Future challenges and industrial applications