Wearable DC powerline communication network using conductive fabrics

A wearable DC power line communication network is proposed for health sensing and rehabilitation. This system provides a network through which multiple sensors and actuators can send and receive both information and power. With such a network, sensors placed at many remote locations on the human body can send and receive information to a centralized power/data coordinator. This system consists of three main components: (1) the centralized power/data coordinator which coordinates communication among the nodes, (2) smart sensors and actuators, which have some localized data processing, and (3) the communications bus, which consists of two electrical conductors. The system operates using a two-tiered protocol, which relies on both polling and prioritization. During normal operation, the centralized coordinator constantly polls the sensors and actuators, obtaining biological information; When an emergency signal is generated by one of the nodes, it immediately notifies the central components, which in turn notify an Internet provider in order to alert a doctor, paramedic, or other safety personnel. First, a unique DC power line communication system is reviewed. Next, the details of our wearable DC power line communication network is discussed. Next, the design process for such a system is discussed in terms of the medium type and the number of sensor nodes in the network. Finally, a preliminary design of the proposed system is presented.