Antenna and Propagation for Body-Centric Wireless Communications

Professor Peter S. Hall, (PSH)
Department of Electronic, Electrical and Computer Engineering
School of Engineering
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham, B15 2TT
United Knigdom
p.s.hall@elec.qmul.ac.uk

Professor Yang Hao, (YH)
Department of Electronic Engineering,
Queen Mary, University of London,
London E1 4NS
y.hao@elec.qmul.ac.uk

14:00-17:00     September 20, 2010

Proposed length/format of event (and reason for choosing this format):
Half –day short course

Synopsis:

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 short course 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 this short course.

The main topic/technical areas to be covered by this event:

What are Body-Centric Wireless Communications?
Electromagnetic Properties and Numerical Modeling of the Human Body
On-Body Communication Channels at ISM, UWB and millimeterwave frequencies
Wearable and Textile Antennas,
Flexible Metamaterials for On-body Applications
Antennas and Propagation for Telemedicine and Telecare including implantable devices

Future Challenges and Industrial Applications