A low-power star-topology body area network controller for periodic data monitoring around and inside the human body

Abstract

More than hundred sensor devices are required to monitor various body signals. The body area network (BAN) connecting the sensor devices with the controller needs low power consumption and real-time operations, which is difficult to implement by conventional controller chips. In this paper, a low power controller chip is designed and fabricated to manage the proposed network with low power consumption. It periodically monitors the data from maximum 255 sensor devices with less than 2-mW power consumption. The controller is implemented in 25mm(2) silicon area and its operation is successfully demonstrated on the test system board.