Antenna for 60 GHz Body Area Networks

Communications is a key component in body area networks (BANs) that work close to or in the human body. Two likely uses of these networks are the support of medical technology, in body sensor networks (BSNs), or to connect various electronic systems as in the personal network of a dismounted soldier. These two applications are now seen as the dominant drivers for body centric communications, with each having different needs. BSNs are very cost sensitive and must be user friendly, whilst data rates are relatively low. Data security is also an issue here, due to patient confidentiality. In the soldier case, a typical use may be the connection between a rifle sight and a helmet mounted display, which will require much higher data rates. Observability is crucial and radiation away from the body must be reduced so that enemy forces do not detect and attack the soldier.
Joint research between the Universities of Birmingham and Durham, and Queen Mary University of London, on BANs at 60 GHz will be described. The prime driver here is to reduce the interference between networks and the observability of each network. The high distance attenuation at 60 GHz is an significant advantage. However channel shadowing is a major problem. Antennas need to have high gain and reconfigurability. Some novel on body antennas will shown based on substrate integrated waveguide technology. Results of channel behaviour and interference will be shown, both on and off the body, together with results for reconfigurability to offset body motion effects.