Low duty-cycle UWB communications design for body area network

Low duty-cycle (LDC) algorithm is interference mitigation technique, which can reduce the average interference to the existing radio systems by lowering pulse repetition interval or pulse occupation time. Moreover, LDC algorithm is also low power consumption by using lowering pulse repetition interval or pulse occupation time. Thus, in order to design a novel ultra wideband (UWB) system for body area network (BAN) application in the low data low power regime, it is necessary to pay special attentions in the energy requirements and the risk factor for tissue heating (damage) of UWB systems from theoretical and practical viewpoints. In this paper, the coexistence environment between low data rate UWB system such as wireless sensor network including BAN and the existing wideband system using OFDM is considered. In order to analyze the interference mitigation capability of LDC algorithm with impulse based UWB (LDC-UWB) system, the frame error rate (FER) of wideband OFDM system is examined for two types of LDC-UWB system: binary pole signals and mono pole signals. We present that LDC algorithm is an efficient interference mitigation technique for low data rate UWB communication for BAN via computer simulations regardless of definitions of transmitted energy of UWB communication system, and also that the binary pole signal is suitable for LDC-UWB system to mitigate interference to the other radio systems. We further investigate the adequate duty-cycle of LDC-UWB system for each definition of transmitted power of UWB communication.