Body Area Network Using Free Space Optical Link
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current body area network (BAN) technologies face challenges in achieving secure and high-throughput communication while minimizing electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency (RF) exposure, especially in medical environments, due to the limitations of traditional ultra-wideband (UWB) and radio frequency (RF) systems.
Innovation Solution
Integration of ultra-wideband (UWB) and free space optical (FSO) communication using spectral amplitude coding-optical code division multiple access (SAC-OCDMA) and on-off keying (OOK) modulation, which encodes and transmits physiological data through a free space optics link, enhancing security and reducing EMI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional RF communication is used in BAN, then communication coverage is improved, but electromagnetic interference and RF exposure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces RF electromagnetic communication with optical communication using FSO links. The control node and remote node use optical transmitters and receivers to communicate, substituting the traditional RF mechanical/electromagnetic system with an optical system that is immune to EMI and reduces RF exposure to patients.
2Productivity
If UWB communication is used in BAN, then data transmission rate is improved, but security against eavesdropping deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical FSO link as an intermediary between the control node and remote node. This optical intermediary maintains the high data rate capability while providing security against eavesdropping, as optical beams are harder to intercept compared to UWB radio signals.
3Reliability
If FSO technology is used for communication, then immunity to EMI is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BAN system into distinct functional modules: UWB BAN nodes for patient monitoring, a control node with optical transmitter, and a remote node with optical receiver. Each module is independently designed and optimized, which manages overall system complexity while achieving EMI immunity through the optical FSO link.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a secure, high-throughput, and cost-effective BAN architecture with reduced RF exposure and EMI, suitable for medical applications, by leveraging the low power and high data rate capabilities of UWB signals combined with the immunity to interference of FSO technology.
Implementation Method 1
transmit the combined optical signal to the remote node device through an FSO link
Implementation Method 2
convert the decoded optical signal into an electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
A body area network (BAN) architecture including a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) BAN node devices, a control node device, and a remote node device is described. The plurality of UWB BAN node devices measures real-time physiological data of a patient and transmits the physiological data to the control node device using UWB signals. The control node device encodes the UWB signals using an spectral amplitude coding-optical code division multiple access (SAC-OCDMA) encoder, modulates the encoded UWB signals using an on-off keying (OOK) scheme, combines the modulated UWB signals into an optical signal using an optical coupler, and transmits the combined optical signal through a free space optical (FSO) link to the remote node device. The remote node device decodes the combined optical signal using an SAC-OCDMA decoder, converts the decoded optical signal into an electrical signal, and analyzes the physiological data based on the electrical signal.