Design Issues for Sensor Network RF Receivers

Low data rate wireless sensor networks are emerging as potential solutions for many valuable applications, ranging from security and industrial control, to wildlife monitoring. This paper addresses some of the major design challenges involved with integrating RF communication functionality in sensor network nodes. Characteristics of the sensor network node design space, including transmitted range, sensitivity, power consumption, and integration are extracted and discussed. Current state-of-the-art low power receivers are examined with respect to the design space presented. Finally, the physical limitations of these receivers when they scale down to the sensor network design space are explored.