Energy-efficient body area network transceiver using body-coupled communication

Abstract

This chapter addresses the challenges and design strategies in body area network (BAN) transceivers. Stringent energy constraint in BAN application means the transceiver circuit must operate in energy-efficient manner. Yet the human body absorbing majority of radio frequency (RF) energy makes the RF-based transceivers unattractive for BAN applications. In this chapter, we discuss an alternative solution which utilizes the human body itself as a communication medium namely the body-coupled communication (BCC).