Remote respiration monitoring sensor using stepped-FM

This paper presents a respiratory rate monitoring sensor using stepped-FM ultra-wideband impulse-radio (UWB-IR), which does not require high speed A/D devices unlike conventional UWB-IR sensors. This sensor is also capable of co-existing with other narrowband systems operating in overlaid frequency band, since it can be designed to have any spectrum hole without causing interference with other wireless systems. The set-up has been fabricated where the algorithm detecting the respiration rate and other movements are developed. Please note that the A/D used in the set-up of 1GHz UWB is 10ks/s. It is found from the measurement results that the stepped-FM sensor is useful to detect the respiration rate and various movements without causing the other narrowband system.