EN 62779-3:2016

• Abstract:

  IEC 62779-3:2016 defines a functional type of a semiconductor interface for human body communication (HBC). This part includes the categorization of the interface for HBC according to the contact condition; and performance parameters characterizing the interface of each category.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-2016
• Withdrawal Date: 30-May-2019
• ICS: 31.080.01 - Semiconductor devices in general
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 47X - Semiconductor devices and trusted chips
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 47 - IEC_TC_47
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 15-Dec-2025
• Completion Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Ref Project: SIST EN 62779-3:2016 - Semiconductor devices - Semiconductor interface for human body communication - Part 3: Functional type and its operational conditions (IEC 62779-3:2016)

Overview

EN 62779-3:2016 (equivalent to IEC 62779-3:2016) specifies the functional types and operational conditions for semiconductor interfaces used in human body communication (HBC). The standard defines how an HBC interface is categorized by contact condition, describes the electrode as the physical element that couples signals to/from the human body, and lists the performance parameters and limiting conditions that characterize each interface type.

Key Topics

• Interface categorization
  • Contact-type HBC interface: electrode physically contacts the body; produces relatively strong field coupling and lower load impedance.
  • Non-contact-type HBC interface: electrode does not touch the body; coupling occurs through an intervening object and produces weaker fields.
• Detection methods
  • Contact detection for contact-type interfaces.
  • Proximity detection for non-contact interfaces.
• Electromagnetic field coupling
  • Definitions of field coupling, directional coupling, and non-directional coupling depending on how coupling varies with electrode orientation and distance.
• Essential ratings and characteristics
  • Signal transmission metrics such as coupling loss and other performance parameters that quantify how the electrode transmits/receives data.
  • Electrical specifications including coupling, directional, and transient specifications (see tables in the standard).
  • Limiting values and operational conditions covering electrical limits, temperature and humidity ranges and details to be stated by manufacturers.
• Structure and tools
  • Block diagrams, figures of contact vs non-contact interfaces, and normative tables guide specification and testing.
  • Cross-references to IEC 62779-1 (general requirements) and IEC 62779-2 (measurement methods).

Applications and Who Uses It

EN 62779-3:2016 is intended for stakeholders designing, testing or certifying HBC components and devices:

• Semiconductor and IC designers implementing HBC electrodes or interface circuits.
• Wearable and medical device manufacturers developing body-area networking, implantables or on-body sensors that use the human body as a communication channel.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies that evaluate HBC electrode performance under specified operational conditions.
• System integrators and product managers ensuring compatibility and interoperability across devices that communicate via HBC.

Practical benefits include consistent terminology, defined detection modes (contact/proximity), and standardized performance parameters to ensure reliable HBC link behavior in real-world use (clothing, body movement, environmental conditions).

Related Standards

• IEC 62779-1: General requirements for semiconductor HBC interfaces
• IEC 62779-2: Measurement methods for electrode electrical performance
• IEC 60748-4: Interface IC requirements (contextual)
• IEEE 802.15.6: Body area network protocols (includes HBC-related protocol aspects)

Keywords: EN 62779-3:2016, IEC 62779-3, human body communication, HBC, semiconductor interface, electrode, contact-type, non-contact-type, coupling loss, proximity detection.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
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Semiconductor devices - Semiconductor interface for human body communication - Part
3: Functional type and its operational conditions (IEC 62779-3:2016)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 62779-3:2016
ICS:
31.080.01 Polprevodniški elementi Semiconductor devices in
(naprave) na splošno general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 62779-3
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
June 2016
ICS 31.080.01
English Version
Semiconductor devices - Semiconductor interface for human
body communication - Part 3: Functional type and its operational
conditions
(IEC 62779-3:2016)
Dispositifs à semiconducteurs - Interface à Halbleiterbauelemente - Halbleiterschnittstelle zur
semiconducteurs pour les communications via le corps Kommunikation über den menschlichen Körper -
humain - Partie 3: Type fonctionnel et ses conditions Teil 3: Funktionstyp und seine Betriebsbedingungen
d'utilisation (IEC 62779-3:2016)
(IEC 62779-3:2016)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2016-05-31. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2016 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 62779-3:2016 E
European foreword
The text of document 47/2282/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 62779-3, prepared by IEC/TC 47
"Semiconductor devices" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 62779-3:2016.
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2017-02-28
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at
national level by publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2019-05-31
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with
the document have to be withdrawn

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 62779-3:2016 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following note has to be added for the standard indicated :
IEC 62779 NOTE Harmonized in EN 62779 series.

IEC 62779-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2016-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Semiconductor devices – Semiconductor interface for human body

communication –
Part 3: Functional type and its operational conditions

Dispositifs à semiconducteurs – Interface à semiconducteurs pour les

communications via le corps humain –

Partie 3: Type fonctionnel et ses conditions d’utilisation

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 31.080.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-3298-9

– 2 – IEC 62779-3:2016 © IEC 2016
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references. 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
3.1 Interface type . 7
3.2 Detection of HBC interface . 7
3.3 Electromagnetic field coupling . 7
3.4 Essential rating and characteristics. 7
3.4.1 Signal transmission . 7
3.4.2 Signal radiation . 8
3.5 Other terms and definitions . 8
4 Interface type . 9
4.1 General specifications . 9
4.1.1 Function . 9
4.1.2 Implementation . 10
4.1.3 Compatibility . 10
4.2 Electrical specifications . 10
4.2.1 Coupling specifications . 10
4.2.2 Directional specifications . 10
4.2.3 Transient specifications . 11
4.3 Limiting values . 11
4.3.1 Details to be stated . 11
4.3.2 Electrical limiting values . 11
4.3.3 Temperatures . 11
4.3.4 Humidity . 11
Bibliography . 12

Figure 1 – HBC interfaces . 6
Figure 2 – Block diagram of interface . 9

Table 1 – Coupling specifications of a HBC interface . 10
Table 2 – Direction specifications of a HBC interface . 11
Table 3 – Transient specifications of a HBC electrode . 11

IEC 62779-3:2016 © IEC 2016 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES –
SEMICONDUCTOR INTERFACE FOR HUMAN BODY COMMUNICATION –

Part 3: Functional type and its operational conditions

FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 62779-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 47:
Semiconductor devices.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
47/2282/FDIS 47/2292/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

– 4 – IEC 62779-3:2016 © IEC 2016
A list of all parts in the IEC 62779 series, published under the general title Semiconductor
devices – Semiconductor interface for human body communication, can be found on the IEC
website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
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related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
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