Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Body Area Networks Using the Finite-Difference-Time-Domain Method

Abstract

A rigorous full-wave solution, via the Finite-Difference-Time-Domain (FDTD) method, is performed in an attempt to obtain realistic communication channel models for on-body wireless transmission in Body-Area-Networks (BANs), which are local data networks using the human body as a propagation medium. The problem of modeling the coupling between body mounted antennas is often not amenable to attack by hybrid techniques owing to the complex nature of the human body. For instance, the time-domain Green's function approach becomes more involved when the antennas are not conformal. Furthermore, the human body is irregular in shape and has dispersion properties that are unique. One consequence of this is that we must resort to modeling the antenna network mounted on the body in its entirety, and the number of degrees of freedom (DoFs) can be on the order of billions. Even so, this type of problem can still be modeled by employing a parallel version of the FDTD algorithm running on a cluster. Lastly, we note that the results of rigorous simulation of BANs can serve as benchmarks for comparison with the abundance of measurement data.

Simplified human phantoms for narrowband and ultra-wideband body area network modelling

“…An in-depth simulation-based analysis of the coupling between body mounted antennas using computational electrodynamics methods, such as the FDTD method and numerical phantoms, can be found in literature (e.g. Bringuier and Mittra, 2012;Yan Zhao et al, 2009;Chen and Babij, 1996;Reusens et al, 2008). These considerations focus on the case of WBAN operating in free space where the influence of reflecting objects in the environment around the human body is neglected (Chen and Babij, 1996;Reusens et al, 2008).…”

Data Packet Transmission Through Fat Tissue for Wireless IntraBody Networks

“…Generally, three different techniques have been used to propagate a signal onto the human body: Galvanic coupling [14][15][16][17][18], capacitive coupling [17][18][19][20][21][22], and RF links [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Usually higher frequencies are not suitable for intrabody communication due to the lossy nature of biological tissues [30,31].…”

Numerical Techniques at Millimeter Wave Frequencies for Wireless Body Area Networks-A Review

“…Extensive study on the effects of different numerical phantoms [18]- [20] in on-body communication scenarios is performed using FDTD. This technique has also been widely used for the investigation of the radiation from implanted devices [21], to evaluate the behavior of body-worn antennas [22], [23]. Frequency-dependent FDTD codes [24]- [26] are developed handling the human body, which is a dispersive and lossy dielectric medium.…”