This part of IEC 62779 defines a measurement method on electrical performances of an electrode that composes a semiconductor interface for human body communication (HBC). In the measurement method, a signal transmitter is electrically isolated from a signal receiver, so an isolation condition between the transmitter and receiver is maintained to accurately measure the electrode’s performances. This part includes general and functional specifications of the measurement method.
HBC uses the body of a user as a transmission medium using near-field coupling inside the body: a signal transmitter and receiver are coupled with each other through a near field that is formed inside the human body and air. The intensity of the near field is strong especially inside the body due to high dielectric constant of the body, so a data signal is transmitted through the human body by modulating the near field. A signal transmitter and receiver for HBC include an internal ground respectively, and, in most HBC applications, the grounds are separated from each other as maintaining the coupling condition through the air. Quality of a data transmission strongly depends on a coupling degree between the grounds; hence, it is important to maintain the coupling degree between grounds of a signal transmitter and receiver for an accurate measurement of the electrode’s performances. This part defines a measurement method to measure electrical performances of an electrode while the coupling degree between grounds of a signal transmitter and receiver is maintained.
NOTE 1 HBC semiconductor interface consists of an electrode and analog front end.
NOTE 2 General analog and digital modulation techniques can be used to modulate a near field used in HBC, and a modulation technique to be used is determined according to required performances for a data transmission and a HBC application.
